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.