Sabres Prospect Camp Report at First Niagara Center

Here at the First Niagara Center where the prospect camp for the Sabres is taking place and 3 players have really caught not just my eye but the entire crowds and those people are, Former First Round Pick Zemgus Girgensons, 2013 second round pick from Buffalo Justin Bailey and 2013 first round pick Nikita Zadorov and for really good reasons. During the scrimmage Girgensons was all over the ice, making some key defensive plays and big hits plus he totally out played and skated fellow first round pick Mikhal Grigorenko as he tallied 1 goal and 2 assists plus a shoot out goal. He was fast, physical, and making plays on both ends of the ice which is why I personally think he is going to be in Buffalo for the entire year this year. Buffalo needs a third line center to go with Steve Ott and Girgensons is the perfect fit. I don't expect him to score a boat load of goals but the grit and smart defensive plays help give him chances in the offensive zone and brings a certain attitude to the team that Buffalo really could use right about now. Going over to first round pick defense men Nikita Zadorov, the dude can just simply hit! He came on the ice like a monster, he rallied 3 monstrous hits that got the crowd crazy! His big size is a great factor for Buffalo taking him but also he led a great offensive scoring play tallying a assist on the night, so his offensive ability is there. He showed unlike fellow first round pick Ristolainen the ability to limit turnovers and play smart, conservative defense but also contributing significantly in the offensive zone. Now lets get to the fan favorite, second round pick from Buffalo New York.....Justin Bailey. He was the best player on the ice, his speed was incredible along with his skating, he can really handle the puck plus he is a pretty big guy. Every time he touched the puck the crowd cheered and for the right reasons. The big play I saw was when Bailey totally destroyed the defense with a through the legs move then pushing the puck back to a wide open Nelson for the goal. The ability to make plays by yourself and with his speed and great touch with the puck might just get him on the roster for the Sabres, and if not this year than for sure next year. The crowd was impressive today here in downtown Buffalo and the Sabres are in good hands with their young prospects.

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Sabres Go Defense in First Round of Draft

Here at the Buffalo Sabres Draft Party at the First Niagara Center for a quick article report. The Buffalo Sabres have made two solid draft picks with the 8th overall pick and the 16th overall pick as they took two big defense men in Finnish Rasmus Ristolainien who is a 6'3 big checking defense men with great potential and will most likely be with Buffalo for the season and adds a great big presence to a smaller defense. With the 16th overall pick the Sabres selected another defense men and with this pick they selected Nikita Zadorov who is a 6'5 defense men with a really underrated offensive ability that will go really well with Ristolainien who is more like former Sabre Regher who is based on conservative defense. Zadrovo averaged around a point every other game before coming to the NHL so he has the ability to become some big with Buffalo. These two picks are going to really help the defense and it shows the Sabres are looking to go young as they also made a trade that just came in here at First Niagara center where they have just traded Andre Sekera for Jamie McBain and a second round pick from the Carolina Hurricanes which is a huge deal for the Sabres and yet very confusing for the Hurricanes as I believe McBain is a better player than Sekera but I guess they could use the more offensive defense men. As for right now the Sabres have taken a defensive approach in the draft which doesn't surprise me as they like what they have in their young prospects such as Mikhal Grigorenko, Zemgus Girgensons, Joel Armorea and many more that are starting the Sabres rebuilding project. For more Sabres and NHL Draft coverage go check out GetRealHockey.com!

Why Sabres Fans should be appreciative of this team

The Buffalo Sabres are marching back into the playoff race only a few points out. There are about 5 teams fighting for 2 spots with Sabres, Rangers, Islanders, Flyers, Jets all battling for the 8th and 7th spot and yet you still have Sabre fans screaming at the T.V. for the Sabres to lose. I don't know if people realize by now that there is pretty much no way the Sabres are going to be with a top 4 pick its just not going to happen with this team Mckinon will not be a Sabre and its about time all fans rally around this late push that has been very impressive. Miller has been playing lights out behind a week defense and our young players look good as well highlighting Defense man Zach Pysk has been solid with Pardy as his partner and Brian Flynn has 4 goals. GetRealHockey writer for the Sabres as well Ryan Womeldorf is on the side that the Sabres should give up on the season and get a higher pick. Not that its a wrong opinion but first off you can't expect the Sabres players to give up on the season with 2 wins away from a playoff spot do you? Buffalo has done this before in 2011 after the Derek Roy injury the Sabres rallied around Thomas Vanek to make a mad rush to seal a playoff seed at #7 in the East after starting off just as slow as the Sabres have now well the difference.....time. The NHL season was shortened to 48 games due to the lockout so the slow start will hurt in the end if the Sabres aren't playing in the post season but it is very impressive what they have been doing as of late. Darcy Regier made a big move at the NHL Trade Deadline dealing Captain Jason Pominville to the Wild for a 2013 1st rd pick, 2014 2nd rd pick, Goaltender Matt Hackett and Forward Johan Larsson who both played very well in their debut with the Rochester Americans, So they got younger and got 2 really good picks for a very good player who did a lot for this organization including the go ahead goal against the Senators in the 2nd round to advance to the eastern conference finals. Back to the fans, I am not attacking the fans but booing the Sabres at FN center right now isn't the best thing and yes they have a right too after the way the season has gone but giving up now does nothing to help this team. The Sabres have 8 games remaining with most teams that are battling with the Sabres for that spot including a game with the Islanders, Jets, and Flyers. To me you have to win 6 of the last 8 in order to make the playoffs with help as well.

Sabres end Penguins streak. What to expect from NHL Trade Deadline.

A good positive thing to look on this miserable season will be ending the Penguins 15 game win streak. Before I get to the game I'd like to just complement Darcy Regier on two good decisions trading D-Man Jordan Leopold and Robyn Regher for draft picks. This is exactly what we need to do to change and that's probably whats going to happen right before the deadline. The Sabres are going to be sellers and with a amazing win against the Penguins where Jason Pominville had a very good game he might be on his way out of Buffalo as well. I expect 2 more moves for the Sabres as they are most likely giving up (Front Office that is) on the playoffs even though they are only 3 points out. I am still hoping that Ott can rally the team to make one final push for the playoffs because if you can man handle the Penguins with Kevin Porter scoring two of the four goals when he hasn't scored a goal all year and having Miller play good can show what this team is capable of. The game started great for the Sabres who came out swinging and after Jason Pomminville stole the puck Kevin Porter sniped a beauty to put the Sabres up 1 well that lead didn't last long as newly traded Winger Jerome Iginla put it past Miller to tie the game. The Sabres would then strike back with Cody Hodgson taking advantage of Vokoun who fell and couldn't recover as CoHo rapped around to score. Buffalo wouldn't look back with Ott and Porter scoring to seal up the game. So the Sabres get some media attention ending the streak to the much hatted rival Penguins but its not the streak that matters its how we man handled the best team in the East this shows what this team is capable of as I already said but it's true and its time all Sabres fans try to look at both sides. You don't honestly believe the Sabres are going to stop trying and fail so they can get the first overall pick do you? At the same time though you know its most likely they are not making the playoffs there just isn't enough time in most peoples eyes (Except for mine). Well the deadline is tomorrow and its going to be very interesting to see what the Sabres do and who is off to another team. My prediction is Pominville is traded for a first rd pick hey if we could manage to get a first for Paul Gaustad then why not Pommers?

The Sabres are hot....Yes you heard that right.

Well that was a very quick turn of events, a couple games really made the difference for this Sabres club that now only stand 3 points behind the New York rangers for the 8th spot in the eastern conference. The Sabres are riding a 3 game win streak all division wins, 2 against the Canadiens and the other was a thriller against the Maple Leafs. What I'm seeing from the Sabres more than before is their will to win. All though that is a obvious thing you need to have in order to win, it just wasn't their with this Sabres team in the past weeks of the season which might be big in if the Sabres get in or not. Another bright spot in their win skid is their goaltender play. Ryan Miller has been having one of the worst seasons of is career but him and backup Jhonas Enroth have stolen a couple games for us including the last game against the Habs where Miller made 38 saves out of 39 saves including a big play on a breakaway robbing the Hab forward. I still can't believe how fast its turned the Sabres went from 15th all the way to 10th and a win behind the playoffs and then dropped to 12th without playing, that just shows how stacked the East is heck even the Islanders are right there (No disrespect Isles). Another thing that has been bugging me is and don't get me wrong I can totally understand this but it really gets to some Sabres fans when some fans have already given up and want the first overall pick. I totally understand that idea but to me the goal for every year is to win a Stanley cup thats why they wake up in the morning and put in all the dedication they do. Ryan Wolmerdof of getrealhockey.com the other Sabres writer made a fascinating point, if the Sabres make the playoffs they will most likely save Regier for another year and how good of a chance do we have at a Stanley cup. My response is all we need is a chance look at the Kings, yes we don't have some of the star power they had as a 8th seed but if we get in I think we can do some serious damage with our grit and toughness that we have shown this year. How bad do we want that 8th seed? Honestly I don't want it we need to go after the 7th and 6th seed because I won't lie, I am scared of the Pittsburgh Penguins but hey bring them on! At this point we are 6 points out of 7th, Not that bad for how we have played so it is a legitimate goal to get that spot or higher. Yes at one point we did have a serious chance at being the #1 pick but at this point already we are not that bad to get that pick so to me its all in for the playoffs, This city deserves some post season action as they have stuck by this team the whole season. I like how Ryan Miller put it in his post game press conference a few weeks back saying all we need is at the end of the season a chance to compete for a Stanley Cup, I loved hearing those two words out of a Sabre mouth (Stanley Cup) because that's the goal and not enough Sabres are looking at that but one that is and is the big reason we are in this is forward Steve Ott who believes in this team more than anyone to get in the playoffs and he has been huge for this organization. Sorry Derek Roy but we ripped Dallas in that trade, Hey I guess they owe us one after 1999....sorry still too soon? The Sabres take on Tampa Bay on Tuesday and will be big for both to stay in the playoff chase.

Sabres win thriller vs Toronto 5-4 in Shootout

What a game! The Sabres won a thriller at First Niagara Center 5-4 in a shootout against the Maple Leafs in a physical, gritty, high scoring game that was one of if not the best of the year. The game started off as it has usually this year for the Sabres. The Maple Leafs quickly got to a 2-0 lead in the first period as Miller was not on his A game really until late in the third period. The Arena was packed full of Sabres and Maple Leaf fans in which many brawls broke out in the arena. That shows the rivalry these two cities have in Hockey. The ice had some brawls as well in the first period John Scott dropped the gloves against Frazer Mclaren and boy was it a awesome fight both getting some huge ones in but Scott got the best of Frazer in the end getting him against the boards and unloading the guns. On the other side of the ice Patrick Kaleta was getting attacked by Colton Orr as Kaleta did not drop the gloves until the Refs came in and it was too late. Well that really got the crowd pumped. Tyler Ennis then made a nice effort goal to put the game within one. So the 2nd period rolls along, yes Sabres fans we all dread the feared second period which has been a nightmare for the Sabres this year and it started off just like that as Mikhail Grabovski scored under Miller to put the game at 3-1. Foligno really impressed me in this game with his puck possession. He threw the puck on net and made a great effort to keep digging and get the puck in to put it back again within one. Ehroff and Porter had the assists on the game and it was one of 3 points for Ehroff who had a great offensive game. More aggressive play came when Steve Ott had a bone crushing hit getting the crowd back into it. He was the big hero in this game but we will talk about that in a bit. Cody Hodgson and Pominville ran the offense into the zone and as Hodgson held the puck behind the net, Pommers drifted to the front of the net being put a perfect pass and put it between the pads of goaltender James Reimer. So now its tied heading into the third and I was very positive on how the Sabres were playing aggressive and disciplined hockey which they need to do more of and last night proved they are a tough team to play against. The Sabres went on the power play early in the third and 22 seconds in, D-man Christian Ehroff rocketed a shot from the point and in to put the Sabres up 4-3. Although the Sabres have been very weak at the defense, Ehroff has been the bright spot with 14 total points on the year which is 6th on the team and a team high +/- of 6. The Sabres went on the penalty kill later in the period, The Sabres were playing good zone D on the PK but after a shot from Franson at the point, Miller who was screened had no chance of seeing the puck and Nazem Kadri made a nice tip to tie up the game. So the game heads into OT and as bad as I wanted the regulation win as Toronto is 4 points ahead of Buffalo, a point is a point but the Sabres have struggled in extra time this year but this time it was different. Nobody could score in OT so it went to a shoot out where it took 3 skaters for the first goal when Tyler Bozak put it behind Miller to put the Leafs up 1. So its all down to the next Sabre skater who in my head I'm thinking either Vanek or Hodgson......Drew Stafford to the center of the ice....What? Well it seemed to pay off but it may have had a post ST. Patrick's  day luck as Stafford took the shot over Reimer who seemed to have made the save but no it trickled down Reimers back and into the net to tie the game. What luck well it got better, Steve Ott was up and came flying into the O-Zone at first I am thinking hes gonna over skate it but just as he is apporaching Reimer, he makes the right turn and puts the backhand in between Reimer's pad and the goal post Goal! Ott was the big player of the game to me with his physical play all game long and then the SO goal to win the game. Why isn't he Captain? No disrespect to Pominville but he doesn't seem like a vocal leader and Ott sure does. Anyway last up is former Buffalo Sabre Clarke Mcarthur who before did not have a goal ever in a shootout, well that continued as Miller made a nice save to end the game. The Sabres won it 5-4 in a shootout and are now only 4 points out of 8th the race for eight is on! Sorry for all you fans who wanted the first overall pick and to select Mikinon....well that's not what the Sabres have in mind. Regier before the game talked about possible trades including Vanek, Pommers, and Ryan Miller who have been with the team for a while. Hey I'm all for trading these guys but at the right price of course. Regier said trading a experienced for a unproven young skater is ideal for Buffalo but I don't wanna rush into getting rid of these guys who will be essential to the Sabres getting into the playoffs. Next up is a rematch between the divison rival Sabres vs Canadiens Saturday  at 7 and will be huge for the Sabres to go within a game of eight possibly.

Sabres fall in another close one 5-3 to the Caps

Well the hole is getting deeper and deeper. The Sabres traveled to the Capital of our country on a nationally televised game on NBC and what could of got worse really didn't get much better either. The Capitals capitalized quickly as Ovechkin scored only 19 seconds in to the game. Well here we go again most Sabres fans thought but the Sabres battled back with a nice goal from Cody Hodgson who notched in his 12th goal of the year. The remainder of the first period was a bit defensive and carried over to the 2nd until midway through the second, Washington's Jason Chimera and Marcus Johannsson scored less than a minute apart. Ugh......too many turnovers and Miller playing lazily out of position caused the Sabres to go down 3-1. The Sabres again battled back as a guy who has impressed me a lot in his short stint Brian Flynn put in his 3rd as a Sabre, His physical play in the offensive zone has really helped out the Sabres third line get some scoring production which really didn't have much before when Flynn was down in Rochester. The Sabres couldn't make the comeback as the Caps scored again and again the defense costly mistakes ends up killing them in the end. Cody Hodgson then again impressed with a nice goal from a Ennis and Pominville pass to get his 13th of the year. Like Flynn, Hodgson has been one of the few bright spots of the Sabres pretty bad season so far to say the least but his face offs last year were just plain awful. The Sabres are now 0-3-2 in their last 5 road games which the ability to not finish on the road in OT has been one of the reasons why they currently stand at 7 points behind the 8th place Hurricanes. Ryan Miller in the post game interview was clearly not happy saying "We knew we had to be ready coming off back to back have to be smart but got caught running around a bit in the second period again". He was agitated behind belief it seemed after every question then calling out Kaleta's comments on not playing in Sunday nights game. Saying he just needs to grow up. The Sabres next take on the Montreal Canadiens Tuesday night at 7:30 ET and need to have a desperate type of play in order to turn this last final playoff push around.