Yeah, I know. WTF. No posts in forever. I know.
So, in trying to repay my debt, to you, the reader, we're LIVE BLOGGIN' it.
Sabres vs. Ducks at 10:00 PM ET.
The Sabres are 8-0-2 in their last 10 meetings with the Ducks, and currently ride a 7 game win streak. Their last meeting was ended by an overtime goal by Max Afinogenov.
These two teams were expected to meet in the Stanley Cup Finals last season, but obviously, that never happened. And now the two teams finally meet, absent two star players. Anaheim is without Scott Niedermayer (
well, for now at least), and Teemu Selanne. Buffalo without a couple of their players from last season... I think one of them was named Chris... last name started with a D.
This also marks the first NHL matchup between brothers Ryan and Drew Miller. Ryan Miller plays for the Sabres (betcha couldn't figure that out), Drew a Duck. This is not the first time a Sabre has played against a brother (Dave & Ken Dryden, Pierre & Sylvain Turgeon, Wayne & Keith Primeau, Martin & Mathieu Biron...). Or possibly the first time a brother of a Sabre has scored on a Sabre (Mathieu scored on Martin). While not important, an interesting subplot.
We'll see you for faceoff at 10:00. Comments are always welcome.
By the way, feel free to join us in the
BSI CHAT ROOM. If you say something witty enough, it might make it into the post.
FIRST PERIOD
10:04: Just getting ready to go. Giguere vs. Miller in net. And of course, Scott Niedermayer is coming back. The Ducks will be looking to make a roster move to make room for him in the near future.
10:09: Game starts. Sabres in blue tonight? Wonder why. And unfortunately, Andrew Peters IS playing. Well, he's dressed. "Playing" is a loose term for him.
10:14: Pominville to Hecht on a 2-on-0 break. Beautiful. Where the hell was the Ducks defense? Giguere had no shot.
BUF GOAL: 04:07 Jochen Hecht, Wrist Shot - Assists: Jason Pominville and Tim Connolly
10:20: In a familiar sight, the Ducks sustain offensive pressure thanks to Sabres' inability to clear the puck out of the zone. They really need to work on their breakouts.
10:27: The Sabres are sleepwalking through this first period. Thank god they got that first goal because they aren't exactly tearing it up right now.
10:30: Andrew Peters makes an appearance, holding his own against George Parros. The good thing about this is he can't play for five minutes.
10:34: Thomas Vanek puts the puck right into J.S. Giguere on a great opportunity. TV's gotta bury those.
10:35: ... and the Ducks tie it up. Was that a high stick?
ANA GOAL: 15:33 Andy McDonald, Tip-In - Assists: Kent Huskins and Joe Dipenta
10:42: End of the first period. I can't believe there were no minor penalties whatsoever in that first period. This league is becoming a joke. The game has regressed to the dark ages (see: before the lockout). It's brutal to watch. I'll be back at the start of the 2nd.
After 1st: Sabres 1, Ducks 1
SECOND PERIOD
11:01: We're underway. The Sabres gotta pick it up or they won't be in this game for long.
11:04: Miller bails out the Sabres as the Ducks get a couple opportunities because the Sabres were shorthanded. Well, Peters was on the ice. Same thing.
11:11: Nothing like a pointless story by Harry Neale. There's gotta be a drinking game someone can come up with in there somewhere.
11:13: Sabres get their first shot of the second period. Gaustad is talking shit with Bertuzzi... Paul, watch yourself. This Bertuzzi character has been known to go a bit over the edge at times.
11:15: Whoever had over 8 1/2 minutes into the second period in the "time of the first penalty" pool is a winner. Spacek for tripping. Honestly, I'm surprised they called it.
11:18: Sabres kill it with relative ease. The special teams has been phenomenal this year, like it was two years ago. The powerplay is a big factor in why this team has been successful so far. Too bad that only helps when the refs are calling any penalties.
11:20: It drives me nuts how the linesman call offsides in this league now. If the player entering the zone doesn't have control of the puck, it's automatically called offside. Hey refs: Just because the guy doesn't have full control of the puck doesn't mean he's across the line before the puck! Seriously, I can't stand it. Call the play by the rules.
11:22: Spacek in the box again...
11:24: ... and Ducks score. Somehow, I'm not surprised.
ANA GOAL: 12:22 PPG - Mathieu Schneider, Slap Shot - Assists: Chris Pronger and Ryan Getzlaf
11:25: The Ducks continue to punish the Sabres and get away with things that should be called. The Sabres need to make sure they don't crawl into their shell and take it. They need to pick it up.
11:29: Stafford fires it wide of the net from the wing. Shots on goal in the 2nd period, so far: Ducks 13, Sabres 1.
11:31: After much deliberation by referee Rob Martel, he decides to call a penalty after Andrej Sekera is taken down three feet in front of him. It almost looked like he wanted to let it go. Sabres on the PP...
11:34: Nothing doing on the PP. Ducks return to full strength... and they score. Mair can't get it out of the zone, and Bertuzzi deflects one in from right in front.
ANA GOAL: 18:20 Todd Bertuzzi, Tip-In - Assists: Andy McDonald
11:36: It really appears the Sabres are struggling to stay in this game. Thankfully, the Ducks take another penalty with 11 seconds left in the period.
11:38: End of the 2nd... Sabres outshot 15-3 in the second period. Pathetic. Be back with the 3rd.
After 2nd: Ducks 3, Sabres 1
THIRD PERIOD
11:57: We're underway. The Sabres gotta do something with this powerplay.
11:59: So much for that.
12:01: Mair really struggles with the whole "get the puck out of your zone" thing.
12:02: Gaustad and Bertuzzi square off. Doesn't look like Gaustad was able to get any good shots off. Bertuzzi heads to the dressing room for some reason.
12:04: And here goes Peters and Parros again. Starting to look like some old-time hockey here. And now Peters is making fun of his mustache. That's uncalled for, Petey. At least he's off the ice for five minutes.
12:11: Kunitz takes a penalty after that scrum in front of the net. Sabres on the PP.
12:14: Sabres can't do anything, but Pronger takes an interference penalty. Here's another opportunity for the Sabres...
12:15: Kotalik misses a glorious opportunity. They're getting some better pressure on the Ducks here in the 3rd.
12:17: Kotalik is penalized for Pahlsson falling after the faceoff. And the Ducks score soon after they return to full strength. The shot broke Pominville's stick in half.
12:20: And they're looking at it. Perry deflected it with his skate. Was it a kick? Looks like it. We'll see if they think so in Toronto.
12:22: It counts. Ducks up 4-1.
ANA GOAL: 11:03 Corey Perry, Tip-In - Assists: Francois Beauchemin and Mathieu Schneider
12:25: Miller makes a nice save on a breakaway by Anaheim. The Sabres can't expect to win playing like this. They aren't doing anything impressive at all.
12:33: Andrej Sekera is having a decent game. For once.
12:34: Miller makes a nice save on a point blank opportunity. For allowing four goals, he's been solid tonight.
12:37: And things get interesting as the clock runs out. Pratt drops the gloves, and Connolly gets involved with Perry. And now Peters is yelling at the entire Ducks team... what a joke.
FINAL SCORE: Ducks 4, Sabres 1
Labels: anaheim ducks, bsi exclusive, LIVE BLOG, sabres
