Because all of us aren’t already in love with the awesomeness that is Marcus Foligno, the Rochester Americans treated us to this little gem during the 3rd period of tonights game…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YSOesouK6U&feature=relmfu

Also lets just take a minute appreciate how much Mark Pysyk, Matt MacKenzie and Kevin Sundher appear to be enjoying themselves. What better way to make people love you than to make fools of yourselves! Well done Amerks, this video made my night and now I will never be able to listen to this song without laughing hysterically!!

The Sabres are continuing their trend of signing tough guys. This morning the team announced the signings TJ Brennan and Nick Tarnasky to one year contracts. Brennan is a former 2nd round draft selection of the Sabres and Tarnasky was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 9th round of the 2003 draft.

Nick Tarnasky played last season in the KHL after playing parts of 5 season with the Lightning, the Nashville Predators and the Florida Panthers. In those 5 season 30 points, 297 PIM’s in 245 games. Tarnasky also appeared in 36 games while playing for Vityaz Chekov of the KHL and racked up 12 points and 173 PIM’s.

While the point total is not impressive, the tough guy mentality is something the Sabres felt they needed to acquire in bulk quantities this off season. Tarnasky joins the list of John Scott and Steve Ott as the tough guys acquired through free agency/trades. The 3 of them will join Patrick Kaleta (hopefully), Cody McCormick, Marcus Foligno and Corey Tropp. Apparently our goal this offseason was to get mean, very, very mean… Should be an interesting experiment.

» Continue reading “Sabres Sign Brennan, Tarnasky”

The Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins will face off in what will be the final game of the regular season and a lackluster final game it will be. Both teams have nothing to play for, with the Bruins already clinching the Northeast Division and the 2 seed in the post season and the Sabres being eliminated from post season contention after a loss to the Flyers two nights ago.

If there is anything right in the world, Jhonas Enroth will play tonight’s game in its entirety. There is no need to play Ryan Miller in this game, no need to risk injury, no need to make him more tired than he most likely already is. There is nothing on the line in this game and Enroth deserves a chance to play.

Marcus Foligno and Corey Tropp were returned to Rochester today as they are no longer needed in Buffalo. Its better to get them playing time and let them have a chance for postseason play, even if its not NHL postseason play. Both Foligno and Tropp provided and injection of energy for this team and now they can go back to Rochester better players and give the Amerks a better chance at the AHL Playoffs. Once tonight’s game is over, Brayden McNabb will also return to the Amerks.

» Continue reading “Sabres Face Bruins In Season Finale”

In the words of a very famous rabbit, thats all folks. The push for the playoffs came to an end for the Buffalo Sabres last night in Philadelphia after a 2-1 loss to the Flyers. If the Panthers had managed to come back and beat the Capitals last night, there would be very different conversations floating around right now.

It was heartbreaking, to say the least. The Sabres took an early lead on Ville Leino‘s 8th goal of the year, yep thats right people I said EIGHT… Either way, Leino scored late in the second period and it looked like the Sabres were going to pull off another miracle. This team is normally very strong when carrying a lead into the third, but this time they just couldn’t hold on.

Marc-Andre Bourdon tied it up on a booming shot from the blue line that found its way through a screen and past Ryan Miller. That was just around the 6 minute mark of the third period, meaning that should have been plenty of time to pull together and get something done, considering this game meant EVERYTHING for the season to continue. The Flyers responded with physical play that left the Sabres scrambling. Matt Read iced the game with his 24th of the year with 4 minutes remaining in the period.

» Continue reading “Buffalo Sabres Eliminated From Playoff Contention”

Many of the Buffalo Sabres faithful were probably hoping for better news on the injury front than what was presented today. Tyler Myers, who was injured after blocking a shot in a home loss to Pittsburgh, will miss “a while” according to Lindy Ruff. Many Sabres fans were hoping to see Myers on the ice again before the regular season finale on Saturday, but that doesn’t look likely. Many are speculating he has a broken foot, but the team is (of course) mum on the nature of the injury.

The questions now circulating involve how the Sabres will fare without two of their biggest pieces for the remainder of the season, as well as the post season (if they manage to squeak in). If last night is any indication, we’re in for a few nail biters folks!

» Continue reading “Buffalo Sabres: Myers To Miss More Time Than Expected”

Well at least something good happened in the universe currently being occupied by the Buffalo Sabres. Marcus Foligno, who was only recently recalled from Rochester, was named the NHL’s rookie of the month for March. A solid effort by the rookie forward, combined with impressive play from his linemates Drew Stafford and Tyler Ennis, landed him on top of an impressive pack.

Foligno accumulated 12 points (5G 7A) in 11 games from March 10th against the Ottawa Senators through March 31st against the Toronto Maple Leafs…which was a disappointing loss, to the Maple Leafs… Either way, at least we have a rookie to be proud of, since any hopes of making the playoffs are dwindling by the day, unless the Caps play the Lightning, because then Super Stammer saves the day. Anywhooooo… congrats Marcus!!

Well, for the Buffalo Sabres, its not over yet. After another dominating win against the Washington Capitals last night, that hope is growing into something real. Two months ago, this team was in the middle of a franchise record road losing streak and was sitting in the basement of the Eastern Conference and now they managed to turn a ten point gap into the eighth and final playoff spot. At least thats where they sit today.

Currently the Sabres are on a 5 game win streak after posting dominating wins against Tampa Bay, Montreal, the New York Rangers, Minnesota and Washington. Through this current streak, the Sabres have outscored their opponents 22-6, thanks in large part to the line of Drew Stafford-Tyler Ennis-Marcus Foligno and the stellar play of Ryan Miller.

» Continue reading “Buffalo Sabres Seize 8th Place From Caps”

Now this is what the Buffalo Sabres were expecting when they rewarded Drew Stafford with his contract extension. His two goals last night continued to prove that all he needed was the right line mate’s to awaken him from his slumber for most of the season. In his last 6 games, he has 12 points and has had separate 3 point games. Stafford has been a streaky player through out his career and tends to score in bunches, but many get the sense that this time seems to be a little different.

His line mates, Tyler Ennis and recent call-up Marcus Foligno, have certainly helped bring out what many believe is the “real” Drew Stafford. Foligno has played in 8 total NHL games, his first coming back in December against the Senators. While his name didn’t appear on the scoresheet that night, many were excited to see what the youngest Foligno had to offer. In his next appearance, which was 7 games ago, he would score his first goal. After that he was promoted to the line with Ennis and Stafford and the rest in pretty much history. Foligno has accumulated 10 points in 7 games, including 5 goals.

» Continue reading “Will The Real Drew Stafford Please Stand Up?”

It took 9 games, but Cody Hodgson has finally arrived. He scored his first point as a Buffalo Sabre on Monday night against Tampa Bay by picking up the primary assist on Jason Pominville's power play goal late in the first period. He followed that up by adding a secondary assist on Corey Tropp's third goal of the season in the second period. After that game, the CoHo haters quieted down a bit, but after tonight there is really nothing left for them to complain about.

Hodgson scored what would become the game winning goal 6:15 into the first period. The ovation Hodgson received when his name was announced was glorious to say the least. He’s worked hard and is finally starting to feel comfortable with his new teammates, which is becoming more and more obvious as we watch his puck handling. He is starting to figure out where players are going to be and his passing has become much stronger as games have progressed. just to add icing to the cake (and to silence the rest of the haters out there), he scored again .

» Continue reading “Welcome to the CoHo Show”

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it
was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness. . . .

A rather fitting quote of this game. It was the best of times, see Tyler Ennis’ game. It was the worst of times, see Montreal’s game tying goal with 3 seconds left in the game. It was he age of wisdom, see Derek Roy’s pass to Tyler Myers to win the game in overtime. It was the age of foolishness, see Ville Leino’s giveaway in the first that led to the first Habs goal.

The entire game, the last ten minutes or so being the exception, was completely dominated by the Sabres. It became very evident almost immediately that the Canadiens were a little tired, as Buffalo skated all over them. Somehow, the Habs came out of the first period with a 1-0 lead, despite the tilted shot totals (14 – 6 in favor of Buffalo). Erik Cole opened the scoring after an untimely giveaway by Ville Leino off the wall. Desharnais picked up the loose puck and dumped it back to Cole who slapped it over Miller’s shoulder.

» Continue reading “A Tale Of Two Tyler’s”