Nothing like an 8-1 win to get you feeling good about the home team, and there’s nothing like an 8-1 win to make sure your five-year-old kid has a good time. What’s really amazing is that I’m not sure he saw a single goal. We were up in the first row of the 300’s (ebay purchase for $95 for the pair - that’s a bargain) and his eyes were everywhere but the ice. The ribbon board was a big hit, but then again, so was the press box. Who knows, maybe he was looking for Bucky Gleason to try and figure out what exactly Daddy’s fascination is…

I’m not sure how it’s possible to look like shit in an 8-1 game, but Thomas Vanek sure managed to pull it off. It was as if his goal for the night was to give Carolina a power play for the entire second period while missing - or hesitating on - every single chance he had. Well, except one, that is. I don’t mean to diminish his goal, but it came at a time when the game was long decided and after misplaying multiple chances. I know he’s got about $10 million worth of gripping on his mind, but he just needs to let the puck fly and hope they start going in. Maybe his goal tonight will change that.

The Winter Classic House Party presented by BlueCross BlueShield will feature a pre-game scrimmage at 11:30 a.m. with the Sabres Alumni facing off against members from the Buffalo Police and Fire Departments, followed by a live HDTV broadcast of the Winter Classic on HSBC Arena’s new HD video scoreboard.

General admission tickets for the Winter Classic House Party are $5 each, with all proceeds going to the Buffalo Sabres Foundation. Fans attending the event will be eligible to win autographed Buffalo Sabres Winter Classic jerseys that will be given away during the game. In addition, one lucky family will win the ultimate seat upgrade, as they will be whisked away by limousine to watch the Winter Classic live at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Bisons left-hander Juan Lara was seriously injured leaving a Winter League game in the Dominican Saturday night and may need to be transported to the United States to undergo surgery.

Lara was stopped at an intersection traveling home from his teams game in San Pedro de Macoris when a motorcycle collided with his vehicle, killing the two people on the bike. Further details about the extent Lara’s injuries are not yet available.

Lara went 4-3 with a 3.88 ERA and 50 K’s in 58 innings of work out of Buffalo’s bullpen last season.

Let’s all hope he comes out of this okay and makes a full recovery.