Speed Kills

If a hockey team allows 5 goals for two consecutive games, one would think that this hockey team would have been lucky to come away with a point from either of those games, especially if those teams would be in the playoffs in the season ended today. The Sabres not only earned one point they earned all four in their past two games by scores of 8-5 and 6-5 over defending Stanley Cup champions the Tampa Linghtning and playoff bound Philadelphia Flyers. In both games the Sabres were able to utilize their team speed and wear down the opposition, never taking the game over until the third period.
During this recent tear the Sabres have been on, one can't help but draw comparisons to their red-hot December when they asserted themselves as one the leagues elite teams. One characteristic of both of these stretches is the schedule. It can be described in one word as grueling. For a team to play well when playing 4 games a week bodes well for the Sabres playoff fortunes when the games are tight and time for rest is low.
Hopefully the status of Lindy Ruff's daughter will improve and she can return to perfect health. Family is more important than any hockey game and I wish the Ruff family a quick and full recovery to this medical nightmare. The Sabres have a top-notch coaching staff and will be able to the load while more important matters are attended to.

Mika Gone but No D

Darcy Reiger accomplished one of his two goals at the tradeline this Thursday by moving goalie Mika Noronen for a second round draft pick in the upcoming NHL entry draft. Receiving a second roudn draft pick for Noronen should be considered a victory, failing to bolster the weak Sabres defense will hurt the Sabres when the playoffs arrive. Even a Brad Lukowich or Cory Cross would have been an upgrade over Rory Fitzpatrick. Each of those players was acquired for a draft pick in the 3rd or 4th round of the 2006 and 2007 drafts. Holding onto to Marty to acquire full value for him was a wise move however. Trade him in the offseason and receive more in return. Biron's salary is too high for the backup role he will be playing.
One trade I found very interesting was the Predators acquistion of Brendan Witt from the Capitals. By giving up just a first round pick in a weak draft and forward Kris Beech the Predators managed gain a rental player they could turn them into a serious Stanley Cup threat. The Capitals also gained some building blocks for the future. Too bad the Sabres could not have made a better offer.
The Senators are also in better shape, gaining help at forward in Tylar Arnason and claiming goalie Mike Morrison from the Oilers off of waivers. Arnason is an enigma that has not lived up to his full potential in Chicago. Perhaps the environment in Ottawa can help him reach new peaks of performance. Morrison has played well for stretches with the Oilers and was waived due to roster constraints. He should provide the Sens with a solid backup for the stretch run until Dominik Hasek returns.

Roloson to Oil; Where do Biron or Noronen go?

The Oilers have addressed their goaltending need. Dwayne Roloson moved to Edmonton for a first round draft pick and a conditional pick. The 2006 draft is not supposed to be very deep so if the Oilers make the playoffs, Wild can't expect much in return. No players were moved. The first round pick could be worth more if the Oilers tank.
What does this mean to Buffalo? One less team competing for the services of the Sabres goaltenders. Most likely suitor is now the Vancouver Canucks for Biron and any team in West for Noronen.

Shuffle Up and Deal

It was only two weeks ago that the Sabres embraced high stakes gaming for a good cause at Aces and Blades. Among the games on hand were poker and blackjack. It is time for Darcy Reiger to sit at the table and put some chips in the pot.The Sabres are a legitimate cup contender. They have the goaltending and they have 4 lines capable of scoring every night. The defense is a little less dependable. Center depth is also an issue with Tim Connolly still missing time for an injury that only supposed to take 3 weeks to heal. Will Darcy use the apporach of caution he exhibited in 2004 when he acquired Brad Brown or in 2002 when he traded for Bob Corkum? Or will he be more risky and find players that could put Buffalo over the top.
It has been rumoured that a Bertuzzi for Biron trade could be in the works. I don't see this happening. I don't think Bertuzzi would be a good fit in the lockerroom. A Teppo Numminen type player on the blueline would be the best addition. A wily veteran with a desire to win and will do the little things necessary to do so.
I flip flop on this daily but it may be best to trade Biron. Miller is the starter and you don't rotate goalies in the playoffs. You ride one guy. Miller is the man. Unless Darcy is remembering Miller's postseason flops in the past with the Amerks. Biron is more valuable than Noronen so the Sabres should get more immediate help in return for Biron. The trade deadline is Thursday. It can't come quickly enough.

Not Bears

Make it five for five against the Bruins this year for the suddenly surging Buffalo Sabres. With 3 more tilts this month against the B's, the Sabres have to like their chances against a team they have handled well all season. The Sabres were strong again on home ice, peppering Bruin goalie Tim Thomas with 35 shots and sending the fans home happy. Another good sign was the effectiveness of the power play, scoring two goals. The PP unit had been slumping as of late.
In an interesting side note the Bruins are the only team that each Sabre goaltender has registered a victory against. Miller has three wins with Biron and Noronen splitting the other two.

Who on the ice played their last game in a Sabres uniform? The trade deadline is Thursday at 3:00 pm so if dealin' Darcy finds a willing dance partner we may have seen the last of Mika Noronen or Martin Biron. The good people at Chef's would prefer to see Noronen go. They would have to reshoot those McKee-Biron catering service commercials that are run during the games.
Speaking of commercials, whatever happened to the Bud Light bubble hockey players? I enjoyed their banter.

Biron Beats Boston; Trade Thoughts

The Sabres are beginning to heat up again after a brief cool spot just before and after the olympic break. Leading the way on Saturday night was the line of Daniel Briere, JP Dumont and Jochen Hecht and the stellar play of goaltender Martin Biron. In a game that either team could have won, Biron was the difference as the Sabres were outshoot by an almost 2-1 margin.
The game last night highlighted the teams need for greated depth along the blueline. A trade of a goaltender and a forward seems to be the logical trade Darcy Reiger will make at the deadline. The question remain which goalie and which forward?
The goalie question has been discussed as nauseum by the local and national media but I feel a need to through add my thoughts on the situation. Marty's performance increased his value with his continuing strong play but his not a proven playoff commodity but than again neither are any of the goalies on the market, unless you consider Ed Belfour and JS Giguere as available. Curtis Jospeh is also available but he is proven playoff disappointment (ex Sabres 4-1 series win in 1999, Geoff Sanderson's one handed goal in game 1 of that series). Noronen has potential. What that potential will amount to remains to be seen. Ruff has never given the Finn a chance to succeed in Buffalo. If Mika played well for a stretch he would be pulled after his first bad game and Biron or Miller would be put back into play. Not a good way to groom a goaltender to be an everyday NHL stopper. One of them must be traded now. Even if the Sabres may get more value in the offseason, the time to deal is now. The Sabres will make the playoffs this year. Can they do it next year? I don't know but I would rather take my chances now when the confidence is there.
Which forward will be moved is a little more dicey. Drury, Briere, Connolly, Hecht, and Vanek are the untouchables. Grier and Dumont play well with Drury and Briere respectively and will not be moved either. I don't think there is much of a market for Andrew Peters and Adam Mair, leaving Pominville, Gaustad, Roy, Pyatt, and Afinogenov as those most likely to move. Gaustad and Roy I would think are safe. Pominville is unknown commodity and it is not known if this is as good as he will ever be or if he can improve. Pyatt and Afinogenov are my picks to be moved. I would rather see Pyatt leave. It would be best for his career and it could prove to the public that Darcy is willing to admit some failure in the Michael Peca trade. Connolly seems to be working out but Pyatt may one day be a force, it probably won't happen with Buffalo.
The trade deadline is soon approaching and I can't wait to see what happens.

Blown Away

Yes it is cliche but blow leafs, blow. All the way up the QEW back to Toronto. In a building that has been historically crippling to their hockey playing ability, the Toronto Mapleleafs were once again taken back behind the woodshed by the Buffalo Sabres and beaten with a leather belt.
The Buffalo Sabres dominated the Leafs on Pat Lafontaine night. Despite a lengthy pre-game ceremony that included the current Sabres squad standing on the ice for close to 20 minutes, The Sabres came out as the team with better skating legs in a display that saw the home team with a 10-1 lead shots at teh half way mark of the first period. Toronto goalie Mikael Tellequivst was superb for much of the early going, turning away opportunity after opportunity vaulted on him by the Sabres relentless onslaught. This was a night the Sabres would not be denied. Derek Roy scord his first career hat-trick and the Leafs selfdestructed.
This year will give the Sabres an opportunity with four games left against the leafs to eliminate them from playoff contention. A big change from the previous 3 season in which the Sabres have been watching the Leafs skate for playoff goalie.
The late game on Friday gives the Sabres one more obstacle to overcome when they face the rested Beantown Bears on Saturday night. I predict a start for Marty Biron tonight. With a brutal march schedule, Ryan Miller will need as much rest as possible. Tonight provides a perfect opportunity to keep Miller fresh for Tuesday's home tilt with the Bruins. With the Sabres thinking Stanley Cup, it is becoming less and less likely that Biron will be moved at the deadline, leaving Noronen as the goalie most likely to go. If Noronen plays well in his conditioning assignments, Sabres brass may change their minds and deal Biron if they are comfortable with Mika as a backup.