What do we have to look forward to on Trade Deadline Day now?!

Ilya Kovalchuk was traded to the New Jersey Devils last night for Oduya, Bergfors, Cormier (yes, THAT Cormier), and a first round draft pick. Apparently the Devils didn't get the memo that Ilya doesn't really backcheck...they're going to get a rude awakening once he plays tonight, I'm sure. Also, I'm pretty sure he's the leading goal scorer on the team, or at least right behind Parise. I'm too lazy to check up on my facts at the moment but if you feel like being exact, let me know in the comments.

Now that this is all over, I don't know what 'big name' guy we have to look forward to getting traded the day OF trade deadline day. Phaneuf is gone, Kovalchuk is gone...I can't really think of anyone else that's huge and might be traded. I'm probably overlooking people of course so when the day comes and someone is traded, I'll be like 'OH YEAH, I FORGOT ABOUT HIM!' Still, trade deadline day is one of the most exciting days of the year and I might skip school for it depending on what day it is.

I might as well make this note here too. For those of you who are posting nasty comments directed at Tamara, STOP. If you were mature enough you would not attack her on a site and maybe email or talk to her personally. It's simple really. Let's all be professional here and talk about this - and professionally, I say go fuck yourselves. Thanks.

Postgame: 1-15-10

So in the second most boring game of ever this season, the Sabres defeated the Thrashers 2-1 in overtime. Again. For the second time in a row they've played these guys. Derek Roy scored again in overtime just like last game. Except this time there was not a wide open net staring at him in the face, there was a goalie in net. It makes me wonder why the Thrashers didn't put Hedberg in against the Sabres. His record is awesome against this team but they instead opted for Pavalec. He played awesome last night but it makes you wonder if the score would have been different had Hedberg been in net.

The Sabres were also extremely sloppy with the puck, and I blame the fact they hadn't played in four days. Good thing they have a tight schedule for this road trip because I would go insane if they didn't play for five days in a row again.

Now they play the Isles on Saturday, and I certainly hope the result doesn't turn out the same way like it did last time they were at Nassau...

Oh hey, there's a game on tonight!

That's right, after what feels like a million years, the Sabres are finally playing the Thrashers tonight. I guess the league wanted them to have a few days off before playing seven games in fourteen days. Totally fine with me, since approximately every other day there will be a game on except for a few cases.

Pavalec is in net tonight for the Thrashers, which I do not understand because Hedberg has a record against us that is crazy good. Also, I am pretty sure that Kari Lethonen is dead or something. Is he injured again, or is he basically a third string goalie at this point? Poor guy. Rick DiPietro got to come back, why not him too?!

I'm sure that today at some point, Kevin will talk to some guy from the Atlanta organization and talk about how contract talks are going with Kovy. I know that's what's going to happen, because it always does.

Go Sabres!

Postgame: 1-1-10

It's so weird to put '10' in the subject line because of it now being '2010'. Still pretty cool though.

I have a feeling that this season's Sabres are becoming more like the 06-07 Sabres. Do any of you remember when they would comeback in games, like it was nothing? We KNEW they would come back from two or three goal deficits to win the game. This year, not so much but they pulled it off again last night after they did it against the Penguins on Tuesday. It was great to see it against the Penguins because they're the Stanley Cup Champions, and it as better to see it against the Thrashers because we haven't beaten them in seven straight games before last night's.

I just hope that this doesn't happen all the time. There's nothing more I love than winning but seriously, you have got to play better in the first period. Especially when you are at home. I still have no comment on the power play (excuse me, 'failure' play) because I am pretty sure that is beyond help at this point. The power play is like a sick dog now. You want to put it down so that it doesn't suffer, but then you think about and wonder 'could it get better? Maybe.' so you wait longer and it just gets worse and worse...too bad you can't forfeit a power play. The Sabres would have to use that option.

Team Germany is probably like 'what the heck?' right now after the game Jochen had last night. Still can't believe he's only on the reserve list for Germany, but I have a feeling he'll be on the actual team come February. Someone is bound to get injured (unless those Germans are superhuman and I know they aren't.)

A reminder to everyone that Sunday's game is at three. That's a weird time for a game, I'll tell ya...

We Haven't Lost!...This Year.

Last night, my dad and I continued our awkward tradition of going to one game a season together. 

For those who don't know, my dad lives overseas in the Middle East. He's home roughly three to four times a year, and only once during a legitimate hockey season (he's usually home for part of the playoffs, but, the Sabres are not). We had between last night and the Penguins game on the 29th to go to, and he picked this one much to my now kicking myself. 

Anywho, he is a hockey fan, but was raised in Canada during the Habs being the only team worthy of anything, so his outlook on American hockey remains shaky. His only updated knowledge of the Sabres comes from what he hears from me on the phone, the Patty bobblehead, and Drew Stafford. An awkward, and at times lethal, combination, but he caught on really quick with lots of me going ' that's the one who/that/is...'

Or he just didn't care, one of the two. 

He was getting very frustrated, which we all were I'm sure. He openly commented on the power play being a joke, our shots on goal, and players constantly dumping the puck. I sat there twirling my hair on my finger and nodding. I think he expected me to be more angry, but I'm so use to it. And, I think it says a lot that a guy who sees like one or two Sabres games a year catches on to this nonsense that fast. 

The sign you see above I had prepared and promised myself I'd only bring it out if they scored three goals before we scored any. That, obviously, happened and Shelby (who wasn't there) was more excited for it than anybody. Had Jochen waited a minute or two before his first goal, it would have been all Patty. 

Quick side note about Patty, his middle daughter turned six (?) yesterday! How awesome to be a New Years baby, and get your name on the jumbotron!

Anywho, Ryan stayed in and thankfully decided to no longer let goals in. I jokingly told myself that my New Years Resolution would be to stop ragging on Ryan so much, but with the Olympics getting even closer I don't see that happening. My dad commented on how he had to make Team USA for a reason and I muttered something along the lines of ' four American goalies, three are picked, it's not hard.'

I understand that they totally outshot us, and it was eventually going to happen, but that doesn't entirely cut it for me. Someone who thinks too highly of herself commented that my status of ' holy shit, miller won a game' leads to the belief that I know nothing about hockey. 

Though I admit I am sometimes far too hard on the guy, I usually only do it to be silly and get a rise out of people (it works far too well). It's not that I don't know anything, it's just that I refuse to get on board THAT ship. 

Anywho, Timmy scored which was pleasant as always. The guy sitting next to me, who is responsible for why I cannot hear out of my left ear, kept ragging on Timmy. He was rather bi-polar about it...he'd yell when Timmy wouldn't dump the puck (which isn't a good idea as it is) but was happy when he scored, then mad again. However, he was a big Tyler Myers fan and at that point, I stopped taking him seriously. 

He also yelled a mean comment to Max in regards to why he no longer plays for us, and I took the time to remind him that Max is three goals ahead of our leading goal scorer. Not to mention I would have Thomas Vanek's full support on that one. 

Yo Yo also continued to win me over after a season of upset...and Adam Mair still scored in MY play by play. 

Woah, we passed the Caps in the standings? Scary stuff, hopefully it won't last. 

I should end this before I start to ramble, hehehe. 

I stumbled across this picture on my memory card from the team practice on the 29th. I cannot help but find it adorable: