The Sabres Go Wild - Game Thread

[SkateZilla]

(Last Updated 9:00 PM EST)
My Notes:
BUF:
Dumont - Out, Abdominal Injury, Sports Hernia, Surgery Required
Briere - Dressed
Miller - Practicing In ROCH
Pyatt - Out, Fractured Wrist


Useful Links:
NHL.com RECAP (http://www.nhl.com/scores/recaps/440_2_recap.html)

NHL.com Preview (http://www.nhl.com/scores/previews/440_2_preview.html)
NHL.com Official Score Sheet (http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20052006/GS020440.HTM)
NHL.com Official Super Stats (http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20052006/ES020440.HTM)
WGR-550 AM Stream (http://wgr550.com/sabres/live.php)

Final

Buffalo
Sabres - 3
(GP-28, 18-10-1, 35 pts, Win % .642) (GF-95,GA-93)(Div:2nd, Con:5th, Lg:9th)
Special Teams : Power Play = 21.9% (37 For 169, 3rd), Penalty Killing 83.2% (124 For 149, 9th)

Minnesota
Wild - 2
(GP-28, 11-13-4, 26 pts, Win % .392) (GF-75, GA-68)(Div:5th, Con: 12th, Lg:25th)
Special Teams : Power Play = 18.6% (27 For 145, 10th), Penalty Killing 88.4% (134 For 151, 1st)

Goalies:
BUF-Biron (11-4-1, 0 SO, 3.12 GAA), Noronen (1-1-0, 0 SO, 3.06 GAA)
MIN-Roloson (3-9-1, 1 SO, 2.52 GAA), Fernandez (8-3-3, 1 SO, 1.87 GAA)



1st Period Scoring:
08:03-BUF-T. VANEK (6), Assists : D. ROY (6), M. AFINOGENOV (13) - Ev - 5 On 5
11:17-MIN-M. KOIVU (4), Assists : R. ROBITAILLE (11), B. ROLSTON (12) - PP - 5 On 3

2nd Period Scoring:
11:47-MIN-B. ROLSTON (12), Assists : M. GABORIK (11), B. BURNS (6) - Ev - 5 on 5
19:21-BUF-C. DRURY (9), Assists : M. GRIER (4), J. MCKEE (4) - Ev - 5 On 5

3rd Period Scoring:
16:28-BUF-M. GRIER (5), C. DRURY (11), J. HECHT (8) - Ev - 5 On 5


Shots On Goal (by Period)
Team: 1st-2nd-3rd-OT
BUF: 07+14+09 - Total : 30
MIN: 12+10+14 - Total : 36

BUF-Biron: 1/12, 1/10, 0/14 - 2/36
MIN-Roloson: 1/07, 1/14, 1/09 - 3/30

Power Plays (by Period)
Team: 1st-2nd-3rd-OT
BUF: 0 For 2, 0 For 2, 0 For 1 - Total : 0 For 05 ( 00%)
MIN: 1 For 4, 0 For 2, 0 For 2 - Total : 1 For 08 ( 12%)

Penalties In Minutes (by Period)
BUF: 4 For 08, 3 For 06, 2 For 04 - Total : 09 For 18
MIN: 2 For 03, 3 For 06, 1 For 02 - Total : 06 For 12

Penalty Summary:
BUF:
1st-05:21-T. LYDMAN-2:00-Hooking
1st-09:23-D. KALININ-2:00-Hooking
1st-10:08-C. DRURY-2:00-Hooking
1st-14:39-A. KOTALIK-2:00-Holding
2nd-12:36-M. AFINOGENOV-2:00-Diving
2nd-13:01-T. NUMMINEN-2:00-Holding
2nd-15:11-B. CAMPBELL-2:00-Holding stick
3rd-05:23-T. VANEK-2:00-Hooking
3rd-13:17-M. AFINOGENOV-2:00-Hooking

MIN:
1st-02:32-D. BOOGAARD-2:00-Tripping
1st-13:33-R. ROBITAILLE-2:00-Hooking
2nd-03:18-N. SCHULTZ-2:00-Tripping
2nd-06:25-A. HENRY-2:00-Hooking
2nd-12:36-W. MITCHELL-2:00-Tripping
3rd-01:36-M. GABORIK-2:00-Hooking

3 Stars:
1. M. Griere (BUF)
2. D. Roloson (MIN)
3. T. Vanek (BUF)

Officials:
Referee: Stephane Auger
Referee: Brad Meier
Linesman: Thor Nelson
Linesman: Tony Sericolo

[pyrrhonist]

Let's go, Buffalo!


**Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap**


:scooter:

[pyrrhonist]

I don't like what I see so far. Minnesota is flying up and down the ice at will.

[pyrrhonist]

Outstanding sequence of saves by Marty! :up:

[pyrrhonist]

Sweet Xmas, did Max get raped on that one! :down:

I am shocked the ref put up his hand for the delayed penalty, as lopsided as calls have been against us lately. :rolleyes:

Vanek makes 'em pay! 1-0, Buffalo.

[pyrrhonist]

Yikes for Derek Roy. :crap:

I thought it would've hit him in the ankle or foot in general, but it looked like he was holding his midsection, or his hand.

Giving up a goal on a 5-on-3 disadvantage is almost a foregone conclusion. Dammit! :down:

[pyrrhonist]

Wow, they finally called something on that exchange! :rolleyes:

On a lighter note, Rick called Minnesota "the North Stars". :D :D :D

[pyrrhonist]

It's great to see Danny back on the ice again.

Now, if the blueline corps would just stop taking all of these penalties. :down:

[SkateZilla]

It's great to see Danny back on the ice again.
Now, if the blueline corps would just stop taking all of these penalties. :down:

Amen...

[SabreEleven]

Ref's are doing there best to give this game to Minnesota. Two Sabres got hit from behind into the boards head first and no call. Unbelievable..

[pyrrhonist]

I've felt like a crybaby, but ever since these Eastern vs Western tilts have begun, there has been a lopsided amount of penalties called against the Eastern teams. I've watched each game Buffalo has played (Obviously), as well as the Sharks games (Due to my wife). The Sharks have gotten many calls for them, and the Eastern conference team they've played hardly gets an penalties called in their favor.

Tonight is sadly the same story. What are the refs doing on half of these plays when Buffalo has the puck? :rage: :rage:

[pyrrhonist]

Mike Grier----An offensive force tonight!

3-2, Buffalo. Still 3 minutes to go, though.

[Myers57]

Wow! Another incredible win! Is there anything this team can't do (other than beat ottawa)???

[pyrrhonist]

Wow! Another incredible win! Is there anything this team can't do (other than beat ottawa)???

Apparently, there are 2 things they can't seem to do (Aside from beating Ottawa):

1) Get any penalties called in their favor
2) Score more than 3 goals :D


Other than that, it's refreshing to once again be able to enjoy Sabres games. I haven't felt this giddy since 2001! :scooter:

[SkateZilla]

man i feel like writing a letter,


Max's Diving call was B.S.

Kotalik, Briere, and Roy all got cheapshots, Roy was bleedign everywhere and ref was like.. boo frickedy hoo.. 2 minutes for whining..

then they whistled us for everything they could.. ****..

[SkateZilla]

Apparently, there are 2 things they can't seem to do (Aside from beating Ottawa):
1) Get any penalties called in their favor
2) Score more than 3 goals :D
Other than that, it's refreshing to once again be able to enjoy Sabres games. I haven't felt this giddy since 2001! :scooter:


we scored 6 in the come from ahead victory over colorado..

[pyrrhonist]

we scored 6 in the come from ahead victory over colorado..

But still got raped by the refs. Honestly, I had tried to put the Colorado game out of my head. That was one of those games that should've never taken more goals to win.

Alas, 2 more points tonight, though! :peace:

[SkateZilla]

Now Im Getting Called a Cheeser for using Buffalo on NHL 2K6 on Xbox Live.. lmao..

[SabreEleven]

They were going to a commercial in the after game show and Sylvester said something about Owen Nolan a Sabre and then my satellite screwed up. What was that about?

[BironsGirl43]

What a great win!!

CLUTCH!

Congrats to Marty on his record! This feels so good!

[SkateZilla]

yup, Marty is on Fire...... (doing that Dr. Evil thing..)

[SkateZilla]

Grier, Gets #3 NHL.com Star:
http://www.nhl.com/features/threestars/three_stars.html

[JD]

Owen Nolan a Sabre? I dont get it. Any more info behind this?

[SabreEleven]

I was hoping somebody saw after the commercial what Sylvester meant. I haven't seen anything on the net about it.

[JD]

Didnt find anything either but I did find this....."Reports that there were 4 scouts at the game last night (Thursday) between the Sabres and Ducks. Two were believed to be Mike Keenan and the Florida goalie coach. Interesting. "


Giguere, Luongo, Aebisher are all most likely going to be looked at as well...where do you think Biron falls in place with them?

[SabreEleven]

I read on another board that during the show they asked Ray and Robiatille(sp?) if they wanted Owen Nolan on the team. I guess he is a free agent and they both said. Hell No!

[JD]

Oic, lol.

[pyrrhonist]

I don't think Owen Nolan is going to be playing any time soon. Plus, he still has that whole buyout deal with Toronto that's unsettled.