Written on Wednesday, December 26th, 2007 at 10:37am by Kevin | No Comments

Sens at Sabres Tonight

I enjoy the little break the NHL grants us for the Christmas Holiday, and I’m not real sure I’m ready to jump back into hockey tonight. But that’s probably because I’m not going to the game.

The Sabres turnaround has been documented well enough here on BfloBlog and elsewhere. From a depressing 6-10-1 start that saw them bordering on last place in the conference (thank you, Caps!), to a 13-4 record since then – the best in the conference over the same span – that has allowed them to creep to within one point of fourth place with two games-in-hand.

Clearly, tonight is a big test for a team that is trying to announce that they are “back” as Cup contenders. A win would pull Buffalo to within nine points of the Senators (with one game in hand), but would also serve as a nice mental boost for a team that I’m not sure truly believes in itself as yet.

Ottawa is not (7-1-2 in their last ten) and relatively injury-free. Defenseman Joe Corvo has a little tweak in his groin and could miss tonight’s game, so Lawrence Nycholat has been called up from Binghampton. RW Patrick Eaves and defenseman Anton Volchenkov are both on the IR as well, so the Sens are definitely missing a little toughness.

Rumor has it that Martin Gerber will get the start tonight after Ray Emery failed to impress in a 4-3 loss against Chicago the other night.

7:00 start on MSG and Sabres HD Channel 700.

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  1. Matt S. says:
    December 26, 2007 at 11:00 am

    Standings-wise, I could care less if the Sabres pull to within 9 points of the Sens tonight.

    It’s far more important psyche-wise. Saturday’s game against Philly was a statement game for them. This game is even more so.

    Just please, for the love of God, do not let The Murderer score any goals or injure any of our players tonight.

  2. Matt S. says:
    December 26, 2007 at 11:01 am

    Which reminds me, any word on Connolly?

    With Neil on the ice, might not be a bad idea to keep Timmy out one more game…

  3. Jonathan says:
    December 26, 2007 at 11:21 am

    I will check a bit of this game out, since, the old watch and lose curse is over. Which is good because that Sabres Flyers game was fun to watch.

  4. Jonathan says:
    December 26, 2007 at 12:20 pm

    Connolly and Stafford will be in the lineup

  5. Wolf says:
    December 26, 2007 at 1:37 pm

    I saw that. I didn’t even realize Staff was hurt.

  6. Matt S. says:
    December 26, 2007 at 1:43 pm

    Someone named Sam Roberts will be singing during the 2nd intermission of the Ice Bowl. Don’t ask me who the hell that is.

    Ronan Tynan will be singing God Bless America, Doug Allen’s doing O Canada.

    Just saw in the TBN.

  7. Jonathan says:
    December 26, 2007 at 1:49 pm

    Sam Roberts is a pretty big Canadian artist. If only they could get the Hip to play the first intermission.

  8. TheTick says:
    December 26, 2007 at 2:14 pm

    “Someone named Sam Roberts will be singing during the 2nd intermission of the Ice Bowl. Don’t ask me who the hell that is.”

    Had to Google ‘em myself. I’m pretty out of touch musically anyway, though. I wonder if Tynan’s GBA is taking the place of the US anthem. Doug Allen’s rendition of O Canada always gets me fired up so that is cool.

  9. vtTom says:
    December 26, 2007 at 3:28 pm

    Sabres need to bring the “A” game tonight – run & stop the run.

  10. Talkin_Proud says:
    December 26, 2007 at 3:37 pm

    I just emailed my lady friend about the Sam Roberts news. He’s played The Square twice and I’ve paid to see him twice at Town Ballroom. I’m pretty pumped about this — he has a good following here.

    Ronan’s a good guy with a helluva story but if the Sabres don’t win the Cup again this year I officially call “curse” on his motivational phrase: “The will is inside you [to fail].”