Sabres vs. Sens

by phil333 on May 19, 2007 8:13 AM PDT Comment 114 comments

Wow this is going to be a great series. I'm obviously very upset that my Rangers didn't make it to the Eastern Conference Finals, but this will be a fun series to watch. These teams hate each other. Check out this video if you don't remember their fight from earlier in the year

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49sqgSv5SE0

I guess this is an open thread on the series.

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I am nervous.

by Jeff on May 9, 2007 8:19 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

So...

...In what order do you rank your desire for your teams to win a championship?

The poster formerly known as KnightofKingK

by Robert on May 9, 2007 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm.

I guess M's, Sens, Seahawks, then Terriers (college hockey).

It's close at the top, though - given how many playoff disappointments Ottawa's had over the past decade, I think an Ottawa championship might give me more instant gratification.

by Jeff on May 9, 2007 9:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And it's not like the M's have had

playoff disappoin- oh.

by eponymous coward on May 9, 2007 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not annually they haven't.

96/97: lost 1st round, Buffalo
97/98: lost 2nd round, Washington
98/99: lost 1st round, Buffalo
99/00: lost 1st round, Toronto
00/01: lost 1st round, Toronto
01/02: lost 2nd round, Toronto
02/03: lost 3rd round, New Jersey
03/04: lost 1st round, Toronto
04/05: (strike)
05/06: lost 2nd round, Buffalo

by Jeff on May 9, 2007 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hell

It's much more depressing when it's listed out like that :(

by ningwers on May 9, 2007 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

At least they made the playoffs

It sucks so bad when the Rangers didn't make the playoffs for like seven straight years. The last couple, making it but losing, has been much better.

For me, Mariners are tops on disapointments right now. I was there when the Rangers won the Stanley Cup, and the Mariners won 116 games and didn't make the World Series. That was painful.

by phil333 on May 9, 2007 4:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry

sounds painful, but after 1999, the Sabres DESERVE the Cup.

We'll see, it should be fun. While I think the Sabres are the better team, the Sens have been probably the hottest team in the NHL.

The bad news is, Lundqvist was the only reason the Sabres didnt rack up the scores against the Rangers. They were outplayed by MILES other than him. Coulda been worse, but the Rangers were scrappy little fuckers. Gotta give them their due. : ).

Im not worried. I have terrible news for you. This month has been an A+ for me thus far. Everything has been going right for me. So either this is the big letdown, or my streak cools off the Senators. : ).

Oh yeah, and...

... : ).

by Slica on May 9, 2007 5:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it's much easier to reach the playoffs

in hockey though.

"Dammit monster, I ain't givin you no treefiddy!"

by Thingray on May 15, 2007 4:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It is.

But that often?

by Jeff on May 15, 2007 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's an Atlanta Braves style run,

but without even winning one Stanley Cup? Ouch!

I don't know a ton about hockey, but I've been learning more since we got a minor league team up in Everett.

Great games to go to. Cheap parking, tickets and food, fun and (seemingly) knowledgable crowds, and it's only about 10 minutes from home!

"Dammit monster, I ain't givin you no treefiddy!"

by Thingray on May 15, 2007 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

In fact

After the Red Wings (going on 16 straight seasons), the Senators (10 seasons), and the Devils (10 seasons) the next two teams down are only at 4 seasons. As far as NHL teams go it's a pretty good run.

by ningwers on May 15, 2007 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haha

awesome fight.

I reject your reality and substitute my own!

by Phildopip on May 9, 2007 8:46 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Woot

Sweet goal to start off the series.

by phil333 on May 10, 2007 4:19 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

woOOO!O!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Jeff on May 10, 2007 7:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Since Seattle doesnt have a team yet

I have a soft spot for Canadian teams.

The poster formerly known as KnightofKingK

by Robert on May 10, 2007 7:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Hehe

I like how the Maple Leaf is just hanging on, being dragged.

by phil333 on May 11, 2007 1:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, just too bad

the Leafs didn't make the playoffs. The Sens would already be out

by ppl4life on May 12, 2007 3:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

We wouldn't have played

the 8th seed yet though...

by Graham on May 12, 2007 3:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Forgot the NHL

reworks the bracket after a lower seed wins.

by ppl4life on May 12, 2007 4:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I find this image hilarious

by Gomez on May 12, 2007 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

WIN

by Jeff on May 12, 2007 2:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

2-1 So Far

Bleh. Sabres need to stop lazing around. Senators are faster than the Sabres give them credit for.

Soon as I turn to the game, I see 2-0 and think YAY! Boom, 2-1. BOO!

by Slica on May 12, 2007 5:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Interesting dichotomy

Eastern Conference - all offense
Western Conference - all defense

Stanley Cup Finals - unstoppable force v. immovable object?

by peterpeter on May 12, 2007 6:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

All offense?

I wouldn't say the Sens defense is anything to take lightly.

In other news, GO SENS!

by ningwers on May 13, 2007 1:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know...

5-2, 4-3 is a pretty offensively potent series. Whichever team comes out of the West (let's go Wings!!!) will have a formidable D to overcome. Lidstrom, Chelios, Pronger, Niedermeyer, who do the Sens have?

by peterpeter on May 13, 2007 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Phillips/Volchenkov

Ask Sidney Crosby who's got the toughest defensive unit in the East.

by Jeff on May 13, 2007 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

fair enough

but I stand by my original point - the East is a little light on the D. I we'll see come finals time.

I really hope both our teams make it so I can talk smack to you, Jeff.

by peterpeter on May 13, 2007 11:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dear God I'm happy right now.

by Jeff on May 13, 2007 7:25 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Game 2

was annoying.

There was a couple missed penalties on the Sens in the overtimes. Particularly when they knocked one of our players out.

More annoying was the '1 centimeter and 1/billionth second' off shots the Sabres had. When you're on fire, you're also lucky. Sens were both last night.

They're just too hot right now. Last night was terrible luck for my guys. I rather lose like we did in the 1st game.

2-0. To their credit, they have outplayed my Sabres in this series. But its close.

Bet that game tying shot made you shit yourself. But all must be well after the overtime goal.

Its not over yet.

by Slica on May 13, 2007 10:31 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Honestly

I wasn't too worried when the Sabres tied it up because their goal was against the run of play. I figured that given the way both teams had been playing the Sens were the much more likely team to score again.

Of course that's not to say that I wasn't nervous during the overtimes :)

by ningwers on May 13, 2007 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I also wasn't worried.

It was an unusual feeling.

by Jeff on May 13, 2007 6:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, and as to the penalty issue

I was extremely happy that the refs finally put their whistles away in the overtimes and let the teams play. There have been far too many ticky-tacky penalties called in the playoffs this year.

by ningwers on May 13, 2007 4:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeh

I cant really disagree there.

But because of the ticky tack calls, I expected consistency.

Again, I can live with it---im a Seahawk/Sonic/Mariner/Mich St fan. Im used to bad calls.

Its the billion times the Sabres had a score that just BARRRRRRRRELLLLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYY missed or got smacked away. At such a high speed, I was stunned that they couldnt get one of those in.

by Slica on May 13, 2007 4:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

Ducks-Red Wings. I don't know who I can't stand more.

by Gomez on May 13, 2007 9:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Wings, definitely the Wings

Go Ducks!

by phil333 on May 14, 2007 1:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Okay, agree

DOWN WITH THE RED WINGS

by Gomez on May 14, 2007 10:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thirded

Especially because then I can go to the Finals down in Anaheim and watch the Sens kick some OC ass!

by ningwers on May 15, 2007 12:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anaheim, Detroit

which city do I hate more? Can't decide.

by Matthew on May 15, 2007 5:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

HUGE GAME TONIGHT

by phil333 on May 14, 2007 4:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

So...

Looks as though the hockey Gods have conspired to make me look rather foolish.

Wings 3 Ducks 4
Sens 1 Sabres 0

I s'pose the Eastern Conference does have some defense after all....

by peterpeter on May 14, 2007 6:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

by Jeff on May 14, 2007 9:59 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm still having a hard time

fully grasping that the Sens are only one game away from the Stanley Cup Finals :D HELL YEAH!

by ningwers on May 15, 2007 12:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ace

by Graham on May 15, 2007 12:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am a sad panda.

I guess if they are going to lose, I would rather have them lose now to the Sens and not in heartbreaking fashion to Anaheim in the finals.

by jtopps on May 15, 2007 9:29 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, that's our job.

by Jeff on May 15, 2007 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If it was anyone but the Sens

I'd be able to laugh that off :(

by ningwers on May 15, 2007 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dunno.

I was joking. This playoffs has filled me with a really strange kind of confidence, the likes of which I've never felt before, even when the M's won 116 games. I don't think this is a team that can lose four times out of seven.

by Jeff on May 15, 2007 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hahaha, I caught the joke

I just found it funny how hard it still is for me (and presumably a lot of Sens fans) to make jokes like that without feeling at least a little tinge of anxiety in the back of my head.

I'm right there with you about the confidence this team is exuding and inspiring right now. They're just playing such fantastic hockey. A Canadian buddy of mine went so far as to say that the Sens look like the Oilers from the 80's. I'm too young to have seen those Oilers teams, but given how well they're playing it's hard to argue with him. The Sens had such total control over almost every aspect of the game that they made a good Sabres team look like a junior hockey team. I think I can honestly say for first time that this Sens team looks like a Championship team.

God it feels good to finally be able to say that :)

by ningwers on May 15, 2007 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

After game two

I didn't really know what to feel. Obviously I was elated with the victory, but in the back of my head I couldn't shake the feeling that the worst choke in franchise history was imminent.

Now, though, after seeing how they handled game three...I dunno. I suppose a choke now would be epic, but I don't see it. This is the best the Sens have ever looked.

by Jeff on May 15, 2007 12:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

By the way

It's long been a vow of mine to go streaking the instant one of my teams wins a championship.

...

...I might need to start working on my tan.

by Jeff on May 15, 2007 10:47 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Have you considered

That the bad runs of the M's and Sens have been the work of dark forces that are doing everything they can from keeping said streaking from happening for fear of severe mental trauma?

by Graham on May 15, 2007 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No.

I'd think the universe would recognize that I make a good naked.

by Jeff on May 15, 2007 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heh.

I had a long standing bet with my best friend that if Dan Wilson ever hit .300 for the season (100+ games) I'd have to piss my pants.

I had quite a scare in 2002.

I reject your reality and substitute my own!

by Phildopip on May 15, 2007 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If the Brewers win their division

there's currently a ton of people who have signed up to wet themselves. If there wasn't reason to root for the Brewers before, here you go.

by jtopps on May 15, 2007 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

ain't that a pisser

by Gomez on May 15, 2007 3:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've got infinity years to work on mine

The poster formerly known as KnightofKingK

by Robert on May 15, 2007 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jake Woods may have something that can help

by Gomez on May 15, 2007 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

An observation:

There've been a lot of differences between the Sens and Sabres so far in the series, but here's one of the biggest ones:

Wade Redden's making an extra effort to block both the shot and the pass to the man in front, even though there's already an Ottawa defender on the shooter. Meanwhile, on the right, the Buffalo defender is all by himself and just watches while Vermette takes a clean wrist shot at Miller. He doesn't even move.

Effort doesn't beat talent, but effort + talent mops the floor with talent alone.

by Jeff on May 15, 2007 3:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I've got to go by the store on my way home

to pick up a broom to bring with me to the bar tomorrow :)

Hopefully I can find one of those little ones like we used back in elementary school gym class for broom ball.

by ningwers on May 15, 2007 7:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice start Jeff

lol

by phil333 on May 16, 2007 4:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't think the fans even noticed at first.

by Jeff on May 16, 2007 4:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Too many...

power plays...oye. I dont have enough fingernails left.

by Slica on May 16, 2007 4:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

By the way, that opening play

is exactly why I'm probably never going to trust Andrej Meszaros to do anything good.

by Jeff on May 16, 2007 4:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

That was a close one...

woo. Dodging bullets so far, still looks like Ottawa is the better team.

Gonna have to pop in the Panther-Seahawk NFC Championship in afterwards to calm me down. Not often your two favorite teams meet at the highest level possible.

by Slica on May 16, 2007 4:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Is it bad

that I still watch that game on a weekly basis and keep a copy on my ipod?

by Robert on May 16, 2007 4:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nope

nothing wrong with it. The only downside is knowing what happened two weeks later.

I hate refs/umps. HATE THEM.

by Slica on May 16, 2007 5:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for all the free powerplays.

by Jeff on May 16, 2007 4:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ok I'm gonna ask a stupid question

Can somebody explain the +/- stat? It's the one part of hockey that I haven't caught onto yet and I can't find an explanation online.

by Robert on May 16, 2007 4:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Sure.

If you're on the ice when an even-strength/shorthanded goal is scored by your team, you get a +. If you're on the ice when an even-strength/shorthanded goal is scored by the other team, you get a -.

by Jeff on May 16, 2007 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

I've been wondering about that for the better part of a decade.

by Robert on May 16, 2007 5:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

2-0

Thanks for all the free powerplays. : P.

by Slica on May 16, 2007 5:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I forgot what this feels like.

It's unpleasant.

by Jeff on May 16, 2007 5:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Now I can breathe...

Buffalo is BACK babes!

by Slica on May 16, 2007 5:19 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

That'll do it.

Here comes the choke.

by Jeff on May 16, 2007 5:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Might this have something to do

with the fact that your not drunk right now?

by Robert on May 16, 2007 5:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No.

I think it has something to do with the fact that the Senators are.

by Jeff on May 16, 2007 5:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dude

Buffalo had a 2-0 lead in one game and still lost.

The game isnt over, and your team is still up 3-0. If you wanna trade, ill take it. : ).

I just want Buffalo to scare the Sens a bit...make a statement that they will be back next year.

But ill take a 4-3 series win...

See? Ottawa just scored...

by Slica on May 16, 2007 5:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hi, I'm Jeff!

I'm overdramatic.

by Jeff on May 16, 2007 5:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You can't be blamed for that

after what this team has put you through over the years.

by ningwers on May 17, 2007 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

3-2

Damnit. Dont complain anymore about depression.

Boooo.

by Slica on May 16, 2007 5:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

...buhhh

by Jeff on May 16, 2007 5:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Zubrus played half of one shift in the second.

Methinks he's not as healthy as Ruff would have us believe.

by Jeff on May 16, 2007 5:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I will

use any excuse I can for Buffalo being outplayed in this series...so thanks! I dunno, but we need Zubrus...an injured Zubrus is better than no Zubrus, I guess.

This is making me nervous. All the stars are aligned for Ottawa to tie the game in the final 20 seconds...and beat us in overtime. It would be a fitting way to end Buffalo's season.

by Slica on May 16, 2007 6:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, fuck.

by Jeff on May 16, 2007 6:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

:) Good times

: D.

Didnt expect a shutout in the last period for one team, yet alone both.

by Slica on May 16, 2007 6:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

0-0

After one.

Im, nervous-er.

by Slica on May 19, 2007 11:51 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm sorry Jeff

but watching this, I'm getting the feeling that I'm watching a historic comeback. I hope for your sake that I am wrong.

by Robert on May 19, 2007 12:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

My Sabres

aint going down like little bitches, thats for sure.

1-0 Buffalo. Drury is a badass.

by Slica on May 19, 2007 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm also an idiot

Go Sens! Bring the cup back to Canada.

by Robert on May 19, 2007 2:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hopefully

if/when a Senator takes his skate off and tries to stab one of our players, the refs wont miss it.

Im pissed off now.

by Slica on May 19, 2007 12:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Congrats, Sens

Canadians everywhere, and Jeff, are howling right now.

by peterpeter on May 19, 2007 2:16 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Eh yeah

Congrats.

Have fun, enjoy.

by Slica on May 19, 2007 2:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Congrats Sens

Congrats Jeff.

by phil333 on May 19, 2007 2:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

by Jeff on May 19, 2007 2:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Wooooooo

Up yours. Suck it.

: ).

by Slica on May 19, 2007 2:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here's to beating the crap

out of the Redwings/Ducks! Guess I am a Sens fan for the next couple of weeks.

Go Sabres (in 2008)!

by jtopps on May 20, 2007 8:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was wearing my Sens jersey around Vegas

I've never gotten more high fives from random strangers in my life :)

by ningwers on May 20, 2007 11:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have to say

the one redeeming quality about my team being ousted here is that you guys appreciate advancing.

Thats pretty cool.

by Slica on May 20, 2007 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks, Slica

I do have to say that pretty much all of the Buffalo fans that I've met over the series have been really nice. In fact even before the series started every Sens and Sabres fan I knew agreed that whoever came out of the series we were rooting for them to win the Cup. Of course that really had more to do with a general dislike of the Wings and Ducks than love of each other's teams, but it was still fun to see a little camaraderie between the teams' fans.

by ningwers on May 21, 2007 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Go Ducks!

Having Ottawa playing at least two Cup games an hour and a half up the freeway presents intriguing possibilities.

by Jeff on May 21, 2007 8:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I second that!

A buddy of mine from Ottawa and I are going for sure if the Ducks finish things off (finally a lone Senators related perk to living in Los Angeles!). You should definitely come up for the games, Jeff. It'd be great to have at least one more Sens fan in the arena (up from our initial estimate of two).

by ningwers on May 22, 2007 1:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Whoa, wait, you're in LA?

If the Ducks win, shoot me an email. We're doing this.

by Jeff on May 22, 2007 8:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Welcome aboard!

I'll keep watching the Ducks website like a hawk for word on tickets.

by ningwers on May 22, 2007 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

How many games would you be going to?

Apparently these Anaheim tickets are freaking expensive. If the Ducks make it, I'll probably have to limit myself to one, and maybe - maybe - two.

by Jeff on May 22, 2007 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I guess it depends

on just how expensive we're talking. It looks like tickets for tonight's game originally started at $71 for the cheap seats (although it'll be a bit more for the Finals). If that's doable I'll try to make it to all of them, but if it's really expensive then I may have to limit myself to one or two.

by ningwers on May 22, 2007 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

In good news

I'm pretty sure Anaheim's had trouble selling out this postseason, so we'll probably have ample time to decide.

by Jeff on May 22, 2007 1:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Come oooooon!

there's GOT to be another Wings fan SOMEWHERE on this site!!!

What's so bad about the Wings? They're talented, fun to watch, and play a great brand of hockey.

by peterpeter on May 21, 2007 8:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

But they would play the Sens

too damn far away from my apartment

by ningwers on May 22, 2007 1:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The NHL has released the Finals schedule

(Courtesy of James Mirtle)

2007 STANLEY CUP FINAL SCHEDULE
(all start times 8 p.m., ET)

Game 1 Monday, May 28
Game 2 Wednesday, May 30
Game 3 Saturday, June 2
Game 4 Monday, June 4
Game 5 * Wednesday, June 6
Game 6 * Saturday, June 9
Game 7 * Monday, June 11

* if necessary

Games 1-2 on Versus, 3-7 on NBC. Great. Possibly 5 more games worth of Brett Hull commentary.

by ningwers on May 22, 2007 12:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs