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The Hockey News:
We all like underdogs for different reasons.
Some people enjoy learning more about the less-talented teams, who rarely receive the ink or airtime the juggernauts do.
Some like the idea that heart/grit/nerve/drive/guts/spunk can overcome superior skills or bad breaks.
And some just plain hate the George Steinbrenners and Jerry Joneses of the world.
The NHL has more than a few underdogs this year, the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers two of the more prominent examples. But there is no horse darker, no onetime remote possibility growing less remote every day, than the mighty Sabres of Buffalo.
This is an organization that couldn’t lure any of the big-name free agents – and most middle-tier NHLers, too – to sign with them last summer. They were laughed at by most members of the media, including yours truly (and often, cluelessly). And while doubters keep waiting for their ship to sink, GM Darcy Regier, coach Lindy Ruff, and their players keep sailing along.
They should stop waiting, and start appreciating. The season is 50 games old, and this group of not-quite-there-yets, forgotten-abouts and counted-outs is for real.
The Sabres win at home (15-7-0-2), and they win on the road (16-8-0-1). They win with Ryan Miller in net (15-7-0), and they win with Martin Biron in net (15-6-3). Their scoring glory gets spread around - thirteen Sabres have game-winning goals. They are tied for 12th in the league in goals-scored, seventh in goals-against.
(cont.)
We all like underdogs for different reasons.
Some people enjoy learning more about the less-talented teams, who rarely receive the ink or airtime the juggernauts do.
Some like the idea that heart/grit/nerve/drive/guts/spunk can overcome superior skills or bad breaks.
And some just plain hate the George Steinbrenners and Jerry Joneses of the world.
The NHL has more than a few underdogs this year, the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers two of the more prominent examples. But there is no horse darker, no onetime remote possibility growing less remote every day, than the mighty Sabres of Buffalo.
This is an organization that couldn’t lure any of the big-name free agents – and most middle-tier NHLers, too – to sign with them last summer. They were laughed at by most members of the media, including yours truly (and often, cluelessly). And while doubters keep waiting for their ship to sink, GM Darcy Regier, coach Lindy Ruff, and their players keep sailing along.
They should stop waiting, and start appreciating. The season is 50 games old, and this group of not-quite-there-yets, forgotten-abouts and counted-outs is for real.
The Sabres win at home (15-7-0-2), and they win on the road (16-8-0-1). They win with Ryan Miller in net (15-7-0), and they win with Martin Biron in net (15-6-3). Their scoring glory gets spread around - thirteen Sabres have game-winning goals. They are tied for 12th in the league in goals-scored, seventh in goals-against.
(cont.)
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