So lets be realistic for a moment, shall we? Our chances of making the playoffs were slim to none just a few months ago, but then the Buffalo Sabres managed to battle back on the strong play of Ryan Miller and Co. Now, the Sabres find themselves sitting just two points out of the eighth and final playoff spot with a game in hand on the Washington Capitals. Now before we all go getting our hopes crazy high, a lot still has to go right for the Sabres to squeak their way in and a win tonight will certainly help matters.

The Capitals, or should I say the Tampa Bay Lightning (cough, Steven Stamkos), gave the Sabres a little boost with their regulation loss, or win depending on which side you are looking at this from. Tonight presents yet another opportunity to pull even and stay on pace with the Caps.

However, the Sabres will still be without defensemen Christian Ehrhoff and Tyler Myers, which normally equals bad news bears for this team. Ehrhoff was injured in a 5-1 win against the Caps a week ago. The news on the Hoff is not very promising and he has already been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season, if not longer. Myers is suffering from a foot injury, the result of absorbing a hard shot during the 5-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Myers’ return is possible before the regular season finale in Boston on Saturday.

» Continue reading “Buffalo Sabres: Lets Go Rake Up Some Leafs”

According to Sabres.com the Buffalo Sabres signed a purchase agreement with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (the transaction was unanimously approved by the AHL Board of Governors). The team also announced that with this purchase, their agreement with the Portland Pirates has ended.  This means that the Sabres will reunite with their old farm club and have their prospects closer to Buffalo.  For fans, this is awesome news, it means we can make the hour trek to Blue Cross Arena to check out the baby Sabres without paying a small fortune (woot!).

Now comes the decision of who will coach the baby Sabres? Kevin Dineen coached the Pirates from 2005 (when they were affiliated with the Ducks) to the end of last season, he was recently named the new coach of the Florida Panthers.  He coached prospects such as Mike Weber, Tyler Ennis, Nathan Gerbe, Luke Adam and Marc-Andre Gragnani.  Under his leadership Gerbe, Ennis and Adam have all won AHL Rookie of the Year and Gragnani won Defenseman of the Year this season.  Many suspect ex-Sabres Associate Coach Brian McCutcheon to be named coach (he coached the Amerks for 3 season before joining the Sabres).

Stay tuned for more!