We <3 Buffalo.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Considering it's the Sabres that the Blue Jackets are playing tomorrow night, I feel almost obligated to write a pre-game, much to my chagrin. Don't get me wrong, if I wasn't so busy strangling myself over my mid-term test results and getting ready for a long day of classes and other things tomorrow, I'd be all over this like Paris Hilton at a photo shoot.
That, and I'm once more going to miss a majority of the game, much like I missed the majority of the game against the Avalanche. I promised my cousin that I'd take her to the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets' home opener, without actually thinking about the fact that it conflicted with the Jackets/Sabres game. I'm sure I'll be able to catch some of it on the televisions at the Dispatch Ice Haus, but we'll see how it goes.
In any event, what should we expect from tomorrow's game? Well, the Sabres are currently moving along with a three game winning streak, after being thrashed by the New York Islanders in their first two games of the season. Given, the wins were against an 0-6 Thrashers team (now 1-6 as I type this), a Capitals team that'll be 3-3 after tonight, and a pretty 'meh' Toronto team who also sits at 3-3 at the moment. Not to take away from their wins, or anything. Just keeping things in perspective for those ever-so-cheery Sabres fans (I mock you because I love you).
Ryan Miller, the Sabres' goalie, has also been pretty 'meh', just going off of his .887 save percentage. But then again, considering the Sabres' -- prior to factoring in tonight's games -- lead the league in most goals for, he doesn't exactly have to be that good. I guess the loss of Chris Drury and Daniel Briere isn't hurting them too much; not yet, at least.
On the Jackets' side, well, I really think it's a coin flip on who will start in net tomorrow night. Although Pascal Leclaire did have the two shutouts to start the season off, the 5-1 loss to Colorado was all kinds of ugly, regardless of how much or how little he was responsible for letting five goals in. Fredrik Norrena has so far had one average outing, and one pretty good outing, but both of them have resulted in losses (one of them an SOL, mind you). So I'm not going to make any predictions ... they never go the way I think they'll go, anyway.
Fredrik Modin will continue to stay out, as he'll be scratched for at least another week due to his slight groin tear, as reported on by the Dispatch Boys at Puck Rakers. I don't think there's a snowball's chance in something hot that Jody Shelley suits up for the game against Buffalo, even if it's a good presumption that it's going to be a hard-hitting affair, especially after last year's wild tilt, coupled with the two pre-season games these two teams had. So once again, expect Curtis Glencross to get a chance to play.
Something I'd like to see -- or at least read about if I can't see much of the game -- tomorrow night? More of a presence from David Vyborny. I have faith that he'll begin to pick things up at some point. Also, let's see if Jared Boll can't get another point ... he's actually come close a few times since his goal against Phoenix, and I just have a good feeling that if he keeps up this style of play, something is bound to happen.
Labels: Buffalo Sabres, pre-game
