Sabres’ Ott: Playoffs are ‘in our grasp’

[DetDannyWilliams]

Over at the Buffalo News (http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130321/SPORTS/130329870/1004), John Vogl has penned a rather interesting piece about Steve Ott (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nhl/1304/steve-ott)‘s emergence following the firing of Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff.
The piece highlights a lot of things — Ott taking the heat off captain Jason Pominville (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nhl/1501/jason-pominville) by intercepting a TV crew, Ott’s increased minutes under Ron Rolston, Ott’s faceoff prowess — but it’s one thing in particular that stands out:
Ott’s belief in his team’s playoff chances.
“Our last game of the year, that will be the judge,” he said. “If we’re a playoff team, that’s my expectations of this team. That hasn’t changed.
“We’ve got some work cut out ahead of us, but by all means it’s in our grasp.”
http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/21/sabres-ott-playoffs-are-in-our-grasp/

[YankeeInRaleigh]

Damn...I really like this guy.

[trapezeus]

he interecepted the cameras because they were looking for a captain. and on a team devoid of leadership, Ott stands out like a really interested person to be on the team. the camera people probably just assumed.

When we trade pominville, ott to captain would be pretty good.

[OpIv37]

I like Ott, but I think someone put some Jack Daniels in his Gatorade bottle.

[YardRat]

My favorite player on this squad, for sure. Give him the C next season, no questions asked.

[Skooby]

I like Ott, but I think someone put some Jack Daniels in his Gatorade bottle.

Well, he got drunk at the right time now didn't he?

[SkateZilla]

that fact that he stepped in from of Poms means he wants it more.

[Skooby]

Give him the A now, just to be sure he knows.

[Cali512]

Hes becomming the face of our team. Ive loved him since day 1

[sukie]

Playoffs in our grasp? How about a grasp of reality?

[SkateZilla]

4 points buddy

[OpIv37]

4 points buddy

Well, Carolina and the Rangers are both 4 points ahead of us, but they each have a game in hand. Atlanta has played the same number of games as us but are 6 points ahead. And TB is only 1 point behind us with a game in hand. And we have to stop giving up the extra point to teams like Toronto that are ahead of us in the standings but within our reach.

[OpIv37]

and BTW, I like Ott and his toughness, and I don't mind an occasional penalty for being too aggressive, but that unsportsmanlike conduct penalty he took was just stupid and it put the team down 1-0. He has to keep up the intensity without the stupidity.

[PTI]

Ott is not a Captain people, he is the heart of the team but just is not a team representative on the ice, he is not even close to diplomatic, which is what a Captain somewhat needs to be. I take back my Derek Roy stuff for now (even though he is pretty productive too, albeit on another mediocre to bad team), I guess without Ott this team would have less than zero entertainment value.

http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2013/3/21/4133458/steve-ott-jerk-maple-leafs-sabres-dion-phaneuf

Maple Leafs vs. Sabres: Steve Ott is a jerk
Steve Ott did some dumb Steve Ott-style stuff and took a costly penalty.

Midway through the first period of the game between the Toronto Maple Leafs (http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/toronto-maple-leafs) and the Buffalo Sabres (http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/buffalo-sabres), noted agitator Steve Ott (http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/55193/steve-ott) took a hard hit from Toronto captain Dion Phaneuf (http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54651/dion-phaneuf). Ott seemed upset about the hit, and so he retaliated by charging 100 feet across the rink to take a shot at Toronto's Mikhail Grabovski (http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54327/mikhail-grabovski). Phaneuf hit Ott again, and this time Ott responded by stumbling around and then sending Phaneuf a blown kiss.

Boy, is Steve Ott ever a punk.

[rbochan]

That may be some of the worst writing I've ever seen in my life.

And you copy/pasted the whole thing.

I don't know which is worse.

[PTI]

That may be some of the worst writing I've ever seen in my life.

And you copy/pasted the whole thing.

I don't know which is worse.

Taking the penalty and blowing the kiss was worse. Actually, defending his actions could even be worse.

[SkateZilla]

I dont see how Blowing a kiss is worth 2 minutes with all the trash talk and BS that goes on.

If that's teh case, NYR should get 2 minutes every time tortorella opens his mouth.

[OpIv37]

I dont see how Blowing a kiss is worth 2 minutes with all the trash talk and BS that goes on.

If that's teh case, NYR should get 2 minutes every time tortorella opens his mouth.

Fans can't hear the trash talk- at least not the overwhelming majority or the ones watching on TV. Everyone can see the gesture. You can't show a guy up like that DURING a play and not expect to get called.

[Skooby]

There needs to be some pretty boy / Rob Lowe reference in here somewhere, I can feel it.

[Mski]

and BTW, I like Ott and his toughness, and I don't mind an occasional penalty for being too aggressive, but that unsportsmanlike conduct penalty he took was just stupid and it put the team down 1-0. He has to keep up the intensity without the stupidity.that was a joke of a penalty, the ref's were trying to "send a message" with that one to keep the game somewhat under control

[Mski]

Otss is one of my favorite players on the team, but he is NOT a capitain... they guys wearing the letters need to beable to talk to the ref's with out any pre concieved notions or reputations... the refs think of ott the same as kaleta. but thats doesnt mean he cant be the locker room leader.... perfect example was Ray towards the end of his career... he was the true leader of the team, but never got a letter

[WagonCircler]

Well, Carolina and the Rangers are both 4 points ahead of us, but they each have a game in hand. Atlanta has played the same number of games as us but are 6 points ahead. And TB is only 1 point behind us with a game in hand. And we have to stop giving up the extra point to teams like Toronto that are ahead of us in the standings but within our reach.

Carolina has two injured Goaltenders.

[YardRat]

Otss is one of my favorite players on the team, but he is NOT a capitain... they guys wearing the letters need to beable to talk to the ref's with out any pre concieved notions or reputations... the refs think of ott the same as kaleta. but thats doesnt mean he cant be the locker room leader.... perfect example was Ray towards the end of his career... he was the true leader of the team, but never got a letter

Good point with Ray, but I wouldn't mind trading off some diplomacy in favor of piss and vinegar for a C right about now.

[Cali512]

Hodgson- C
Ott- A
Kaleta/Pom- A

[Skooby]

Ott is a man amongst boys.