I had a hyper puppy and company in the form of my mother-in-law and brother-in-law today so I wasn't paying full attention to every part of the game but it certainly seemed like a good one. This game actually exemplifies one of my biggest frustrations with the Sabres this season: They've shown time and again that they are perfectly capable of playing with the better teams in the Eastern Conference. They seem to always get up for those games. It's the crappy teams in the bottom half of the conference that they struggle against. Still two wins are two wins. That said, I am curious to see how they respond against a struggling Ottawa team. If they follow their pattern for this season they'll let up after two good wins, lose to a team they should beat and return to their up and down routine. I hope that isn't the case. I hope they've finally (FINALLY) learned how important it is to show up and work hard every night. We'll see.
For all the complaining I did earlier in the season about how boring the Bruins are, I have to admit, I've almost come around to enjoying them. Before the season I had a preview entry that I ended up scrapping because let's face it, the hockey blogosphere did not need another preview from someone who watches one team, knows a little bit about a few others and nothing about anyone else. But in that entry - and you'll just have to trust me on this - one of the things I said was that I thought everyone was overrating the Flyers and underrating the Bruins. Which is not to say that I expected them to be at the top of the conference at this point in the season. No, I definitely can't claim that. But I thought they would be good. I find them to be a very appealing mix of skill and hard work. They are definitely a team where the sum is better than the whole of its parts and I do find those teams kind of appealing. And I like Zdeno Chara. That's right, I said it. I even like him beating up on poor little Roy-Z. Come on, it's not like he doesn't deserve a punch to the head every once in a while. You know he does.
The Boston player I really, really want however is Milan Lucic. Surely Boston will give him to us for Connolly, Kotalik, Afinogenov, and Paetsch? That's FOUR players and we're only getting ONE. That's more than fair.
One more note, a more serious response to a comment on the previous post. I am, by nature, a pretty optimistic person. I always try to see the good side of things. Heck, I spent almost all of last season insisting that no, the Sabres really can be good at hockey! Next year they'll be great! They will! If you haven't noticed, Buffalo fans tend to be a liiiittle on the cynical side. (With very good reason. If I'd been doing this for 37 years, I might be too. In the grand scheme of things, I'm still a rookie.) I do try to be a little different, a voice of hope and optimism if you will. However, if there's one thing that I want this blog to be, it's an honest reflection of how I'm feeling about the Sabres and recently that hasn't been very good. I always, always want and hope the best for them, just like every other Sabres fan in the world but occasionally I find them frustrating or discouraging or just plain unlikable. Despite that, I will keep watching the games, I will keep cheering for them and I'll keep falling for it when they start to actually look like they know how to play hockey. A week from now I might be loudly proclaiming how much I love them all and you know what? That's my right as a fan. There's no contradiction there, not as far as I'm concerned. For better or for worse, the Sabres are mine now. (Here's to hoping it's not all "for worse.")
7 comments:
It was indeed a much better effort, and without a lot of fanfare, Boston is now a pretty high-scoring team. Lucic and Kessel make their games quite fun to watch.
Tick, I have a Kessel block. There is absolutely no reason for me to not like him that I can think of and yet... he bugs me. I dunno. Just one of those weird things.
And I like Zdeno Chara. That's right, I said it. I even like him beating up on poor little Roy-Z.
I think the Roy/Chara battles are one of the best parts of any Boston game. One of these days Chara is going to go all flyswatter on him and send Roy flying halfway down the ice.
And I've also noticed that "good" Miller seems to show up for Boston games. That also makes Boston games a little more enjoyable.
And I like Zdeno Chara.
Oh Heather, you had my total respect for being a Tallinder fan, but this statement made a little of that respect go away. How can you like Chara. He's a giant meanie.
I'm with you on Chara and Kessel, Heather. I think it's hilarious that Roy/Chara battles are inevitable every time we play Boston, not because Chara's a bully, but because Roy LOVES pestering the big guys, that little punk. It was great to see him try to defend Vanek, even if all it got him was a headlock and a couple of swats to the face. As for Kessel, I also have no concrete reasons for not liking him, I just do.
I disagree on Chara. Though Roy needs a good fist to the face sometimes, I cannot stand how it often seems that there are NHL Rules, and NHL Rules for People named Zdeno Chara. He cross checks, hooks, holds, slashes during game play. Then he punches, cross checks, shoves, etc. after a whistle. It is the after the whistle action (That draws penalties for 100% of other NHL players) that really bugs me. It has been an ongoing issue with me.
I do like Milan Lucic, but in the shoes of the Boston GM, I would respectfully reject the offer for Connolly, Kotalik, Afinogenov and Paestch. But I do like the talk radio caller trade offer effort. Three of those four have a trade value of zero. Though Paestch could actually get something in return. Much like Stafford, a team could be tricked into thinking he is really good.
Seriously? Biting people? I think I learned not to do that in kindergarten.
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