DYNASTY Building the Buffalo Sabres

[tcblcommish]

The offseason was a busy one for the Sabres. Gone is the GM and a new winning attitude in place. The new GM made a few moves with the Sabres so far making trades with the Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins.

The Oilers landed a couple of prospects and Tyler Myers and Ryan Miller in exchange for Darnell Nurse, Jordan Eberle, Sam Gagner and Jeff Petry. The Oilers also picked up 2 draft picks including the Sabres 2nd round.

The Bruins also sent Loui Eriksson to the Sabres for a draft pick and a fairly solid prospect.

Scouts have been sent all over the world to look for that next big thing to come to the NHL.

Free Agents were slim so no real movement there. The season is right around the corner...

[tcblcommish]

First game of the season was vs the Red Wings and they beat us 3-1. We outshot the Wings 40-38 and Enroth played great which is good since this is his team now. Sadly, we went down early as Joakim Andersson scored in the first few minutes to make it 1-0. In the second Weiss and Nyqvist scored to make it 3-0 and in the 3rd, Tomas Vanek scored his first of the season from Ennis and Eberle.

Darnell Nurse was solid tonight, 2 hits, 26 minutes on ice and even in plus minus with a shot. Our leader, Christian Ehrhoff was very solid blocking 5 shots. A lot rests on his shoulders this season.

Overall, not a bad game but we need to score.

Record after game: 0-1-0 0 pts

[tcblcommish]

We picked up our first win of the season beating the Senators 5-3. Loui Eriksson was outstanding in this game and certainly made up for his performance in the first game.

Eriksson opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal, assisted from Stafford and Ehrhoff. After Spezza made it 1-1, Hodgson scored his first of the season on a pass from Steve Ott. The other assist to Ville Leino. Steve Ott scored shorthanded as well on a great PK with the assists to Leino and Weber.

Ottawa scored 2 quick goals from Ryan and Weirchoch before Girgensons scored his first from Eriksson and Petry to make it 4-3 and the game winner. Eriksson added a power play goal from Petry late.

Record after the game: 1-1-0 2pts

[tcblcommish]

A big win vs one of the best teams in the NHL, the Penguins in a thrilling shootout.

Bryan Flinn opened the Sabres scoring after being down 2-0 in the first on assists from Girgensons and Porter. Then after the Penguins went out in front 3-1, we aswered back with 3 straight goals. Ennis from Tallinder and Petry, Vanek from Eberle and Ehrhoff and Hodgson from Ott and McBain.

After Crosby scored to tie the game we went on to the longest shoootout I have ever seen. 23 shooters and only 5 goals and we were fortunate enough that Hodgson, Porter and Eriksson were able to score to give us the win.

LOL @ 23 shooters and 5 goals.

[truebatman]

I can imagine the Pittsburgh locker room was not a happy one after that game!

[tcblcommish]

The Lightning beat us tonight 4-3 but a very good game overall. Johan Larssen scored his first goal as a Sabre from Loui Eriksson and Mike Weber to start off the gaame in the first period. Cody Hodgson scored to make it 2-0 from Eriksson and Steve Ott. The Lightning scored 3 quick goals to take a 3-2 lead before the start of the 3rd.

In the 3rd, Tomas Vanek scored his 3rd of the season from Eberle and Ennis but about 2 minutes later, Martin St. Louis scored the winner. Enroth played solid inn goal for us facing 30 shots and has played well overall.

Our record is 2-2 so far. .500 isn't good enough but not as bad as we were predicted.

[tcblcommish]

We got Marcus Foligno back tonight however it really didn't help us any at all. We got smashed by them 7-3. Foligno did have a goal and an assist but it was Nick that did the damage and not Marcus. Darnell Nurse and Christian Ehrhoff were victimized by being a -8 combined.

Vanek, Larssen and Ott scored for us but we were just outplayed right from the start.

Record 2-3-0

[truebatman]

Ouch that is a rough loss... hopefully you can keep end the losing streak at two!