What a time to be a Sabres fan?!?!  Last week's additions of Christian Ehrhoff and Ville Leino demonstrated a commitment to winning the ultimate prize-the Stanley Cup.  Being committed and actually achieving the goal are two separate things.

Late last month (before the new additions) I attempted to predict the amount of points the Sabres would earn in  2011.  As a recap, I predicted the Sabres would skate into 2012 with 46 out of a possible 76 points from 2011.

JANUARY

Outlook: 12 games (3 home/9 away)

The Good: Not much. Buffalo "only" has three back-to-backers.  Three of their first five games are at home, so hopefully they'll be able to garner some traction for the tough road (literally) that lies ahead.

The Bad: A seven game, eighteen day road swing with trips to Detroit, Chicago, and Montreal.

My Prediction: 13 points. The Sabres should sweep Winnipeg and split with Toronto.  More wins could come against Edmonton (3rd), @ the Islanders (14th), and @ Brad Boyes' former Blues (21st).  Another point from an overtime game would be nice.

FEBRUARY

Outlook: 13 games (9 home/4 away)

The Good: Nine home games in 24 days with only two jaunts to Long Island (4th) and Philly (16th) in between.  A Sunday NBC game at home against Crosby and the Pens on the 19th?

The Bad: Consecutive contests four times (including the January 31st game @ Montreal).  Only two Western Conference foes so these games will certainly determine seeding.

My Prediction: 20 points.  I foresee a sweep of both the Islanders AND the Bruins and victories against Dallas (10th), Tampa Bay (11th), New Jersey on Valentine's Day, @ Philly (16th), Montreal (17th). One more victory makes 20 points.

MARCH

Outlook: 16 games (6 home/10 away)

The Good: In the busiest month of the season there are several winnable games.  The home games are more spread out but the Sabres do finish with three at HSBC Arena in the last 10 days in the month.

The Bad: A west coast roadie to begin March.  Four back-to-backs again (beginning on leap year day).  Nine games against playoff teams from a year ago.

My Prediction: 20 points.  Look for Ehrhoff to fly around trying to prove that the Canucks (3rd) made a mistake.  Buffalo also should take care of business against the Jets (@-5th), Canes (7th), Sens (@-10th), Avs (14th), Panthers (@-17th), and Wild (24th).  A split with Montreal and four more points in the seven remaining games seems quite plausible.

APRIL

Outlook: 3 games (1 home/2 away)

The Good: The Leafs for the last home game of the season.  Is there any other way?

The Bad: Once again the Sabres end the season on the road.

My Prediction: 4 points. I say Buffalo beats Toronto (3rd) and either Philly (@-5th) or Boston (@-7th).

2011-2012 Total 103 points.  That was good enough for the Bruins to win the Northeast last year.  Even if the Sabres don't win the division, they should be in contention for a top four seed.  What say you?  Will the additions lead to a division crown?  How many points do you think Buffalo will amass?

Perhaps lost amidst the other happenings of this past weekend (the draft, a trade, and the purchase of the Amerks) was the release of the schedule.  Last year I predicted 110 points.  Ok so I was a bit off.  Fourteen to be exact.  But who's counting?

While we're a little less than a week from free agency and no one knows what the opening night lineup will look like, it's time that I break out the crystal ball.  This two part series will try to answer how many points the Sabres will record in the upcoming season.  After the jump we'll look at the 2011 portion of the schedule.

Continue reading this post »

About a year ago now I started my tenure as a writer here at Die By The Blade with a fanpost that was moved to the front page.  It was entitled My Offseason Moves.  The premise was/is obvious.  If I were Darcy Regier, what tweaks would I make to upgrade the roster?

There are three ways in which to build a team in the offseason: trades, free agency (both unrestricted and restricted), and the draft.  Last year, I dealt with each of those in one larger post.  This year, I'm breaking them down and analyzing each aspect individually.  Oh there's one more big difference.  Instead of spending Tom Golisano's money, now I'm spending fifteen percent more on the payroll thanks to Terry Pegula.

Though it remains uncertain what that fifteen percent will actually translate to, if I am the GM (and have a $60M cap to work with) these are the following moves that I would make to improve this club.  Check out Part Three-Unrestricted Free Agency after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

About a year ago now I started my tenure as a writer here at Die By The Blade with a fanpost that was moved to the front page.  It was entitled My Offseason Moves.  The premise was/is obvious.  If I were Darcy Regier, what tweaks would I make to upgrade the roster?

There are three ways in which to build a team in the offseason: trades, free agency (both unrestricted and restricted), and the draft.  Last year, I dealt with each of those in one larger post.  This year, I'm breaking them down and analyzing each aspect individually.  Oh there's one more big difference.  Instead of spending Tom Golisano's money, now I'm spending fifteen percent more on the payroll thanks to Terry Pegula.

Though it remains uncertain what that fifteen percent will actually translate to, if I am the GM (and have a $60M cap to work with) these are the following moves that I would make to improve this club.  Check out Part Three-Unrestricted Free Agency after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

About a year ago now I started my tenure as a writer here at Die By The Blade with a fanpost that was moved to the front page.  It was entitled My Offseason Moves.  Clever I know.  The premise was/is obvious.  If I were Darcy Regier, what tweaks would I make to upgrade the roster?

There are three ways in which to build a team in the offseason: trades, free agency (both unrestricted and restricted), and the draft.  Last year, I dealt with each of those in one larger post.  This year, I'm breaking them down and analyzing each aspect individually.  Oh there's one more big difference.  Instead of spending Tom Golisano's money, now I'm spending fifteen percent more on the payroll thanks to Terry Pegula.

Though it remains uncertain what that fifteen percent will actually translate to, if I am the GM (and have a $60M cap to work with) these are the following moves that I would make to improve this club.  Check out Part Two-Restricted Free Agency after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

About a year ago now I started my tenure as a writer here at Die By The Blade with a fanpost that was moved to the front page.  It was entitled My Offseason Moves.  Clever I know.  The premise was/is obvious.  If I were Darcy Regier, what tweaks would I make to upgrade the roster?

There are three ways in which to build a team in the offseason: trades, free agency (both unrestricted and restricted), and the draft.  Last year, I dealt with each of those in one larger post.  This year, I'm breaking them down and analyzing each aspect individually.  Oh there's one more big difference.  Instead of spending Tom Golisano's money, now I'm spending fifteen percent more on the payroll, though it remains uncertain what that will actually translate to.

Nevertheless, if I am the GM (and a $60M cap to work with) these are the following moves that I would make to improve this club.  Check out Part One-the Draft after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

We interrupt this Sabres/Flyers coverage to breakdown the rest of the Eastern Conference Playoffs.  Today's installment looks at the matchup that is 4) Penguins vs. 5) Lightning.  Make sure you vote after the jump on who you think will win this series.

Series

Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay split four contests, winning two apiece. The Pens outscored the Bolts 17-8, but most of that came in an 8-1 drubbing on January 5, 2011. The Lightning won the last contest on March 31st, 2-1.

Continue reading this post »

We interrupt this Sabres/Flyers coverage to breakdown the rest of the Eastern Conference Playoffs.  Today's installment looks at the matchup that is 3) Bruins vs. 6) Canadiens.  Make sure you vote after the jump on who you think will win this series.

Series

The Habs beat the Bruins four times out of six but were outscored by the Northeastern Division Champs 22-20, including being shutout 7-0 in their last meeting on March 24, 2011.

Continue reading this post »

We interrupt this Sabres/Flyers coverage to breakdown the rest of the Eastern Conference Playoffs.  Today's installment looks at the matchup that is 1) Capitals vs. 8) Rangers.  Make sure you vote after the jump on who you think will win this series.

Series

The Rangers beat the Capitals three times out of four and outscored the Southeastern Division Champs 16-6, including 6-0 and 7-0 shutouts.  The teams last met on February 25, 2011.

Continue reading this post »

It's official. We're in. It's been a LONG climb-from a lousy start and the loss of Derek Roy-but the Sabres have clinched a playoff spot in perhaps the most exciting game of the season. We don't know who we're going to be playing yet, but it's either going to be the Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, or Philadelphia Flyers.

What a day. Last home game. Fan appreciation night. Sabres wearing white as eighty alums appeared after being invited by new owner Terry Pegula who, deservedly received his own introduction. Cody McCormick was named unsung hero. Tyler Ennis was named rookie of the year.

Then they actually played a game. The Flyers struck first at 10:24 of the first as Scott Hartnell put the puck past Jhonas Enroth who started in goal.

The Sabres tied it up when Nathan Gerbe potted the puck behind Sergei Bobrovsky from the point twenty-five seconds into the second. Less than four minutes later, the population in Pominville went up to 21. Of course then the Sabres gave up a short-handed goal to Kris Versteeg and the momentum seemed lost. The momentum swung in full favor of the Flyers less than forty seconds later, as former Sabre Danny Briere scored again on Enroth.

The third period opened with team MVP-Ryan Miller-between the pipes, a gutsy move by Lindy Ruff. Miller did his part and shut the Flyers down for the rest of the night. Just past the halfway point of the period Gerbe spun and scored his second of the night, his 16th of the season. Near the end of regulation the teams seemed content on playing for overtime. When the clock struck 0:00, the Sabres clinched their second-straight playoff appearance.

In overtime, Thomas Vanek put the "Austrian icing on the cake" as Rick Jeanneret called it by splitting a pair of Philadelphia defensemen and scoring his 32nd. Up next: at Columbus tomorrow night. But for now let's bask in the glow of clinching a playoff spot. What a day. What a game. Playoffs here we come!

Jordan Leopold's broken hand has sidelined the Buffalo Sabres' defenseman for the rest of the regular season.  According to Darcy Regier, Leopold will see a specialist on Monday to determine the severity of the injury and the course of treatment.  The timetable is "weeks," which means Leopold may miss potential playoff games.

With Buffalo's latest victory, a 2-0 shutout of the New Jersey Devils, coupled with the Carolina Hurricanes' loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Sabres are now five points ahead of Carolina for the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot.  Nevertheless, the loss of Leopold could loom large in the Sabres' quest to qualify for the playoffs.

Leopold is currently tied for fifth on the team in points with 35.  His 13 goals from the blue line lead all defensemen.  Not only will his offense be missed, but his veteran defensive presence-2nd on the team in blocked shots with 123-will be missed that much more.  True he carries a team worst -11 plus/minus rating, but he logs a team most 23:19 of ice time per game.

Thankfully Steve Montador returned to the lineup this evening, though, he is certainly not the offensive weapon that Leopold is.  Time will tell if the Sabres will be able to weather Leopold's loss, but an injury to such an integral part of the team could not have come a more inopportune time.