Quick Hits: Buffalo Sabres vs. Islanders / vs. Maple Leafs
Hear that loud, methodical ticking? That just so happens to be the time in this Buffalo Sabres’ season working its way toward zero.
I’m going to keep it straight with you for a minute – I did not watch more than 10 minutes of the Sabres/Islanders game. Are you be upset? I didn’t think so. I spent my Sunday afternoon with some good Twitter friends at the latest Basement Brigade Tweetup, which we held at Buffalo Riverworks. Let me start by saying that I really enjoy this place. I’m currently a Buffalo outsider (Batavia, get loud) but it doesn’t seem to me like Riverworks gets enough credit for what they’ve got going on. All the attention is on Canalside and bars in the close vicinity. If you haven’t been out to Riverworks, take a short trip across the Buffalo River this summer and enjoy yourself. We saw the Queen City Roller Girls in action, which is pretty neat to see in person. There were about 15 of us hanging out, which isn’t too bad for a week’s notice (if I may say so myself). As for the game – Buffalo allowed mental mistakes to defeat them again, plus Lehner was less-than-stellar on a few of the goals. It does happen, you know.
Toronto came to town on Monday night and boy, did it ever suck! Toronto scored 3 goals in 43 seconds – that’s cute. They’re really good at the hockeying and Buffalo is really good at the hockeying suck – a recipe for success, clearly. I don’t want to talk about this game anymore because I really refused to watch intently. Buffalo ended up grabbing a ton of penalties and game misconducts because why not? I ended up watching Monday Night RAW more than the game – the Hardyz are back and so is Finn Balor, we are #blessed.
Three more games before the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres are put out of their misery.
Quick (s)hits.
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- New Sabres!
This is the time of year we’ve come to love – young players making their NHL debuts with minimal games remaining. This phenomenon has replaced that whole “PLAYOFF RACE” extravaganza, but who really needs to play for the Stanley Cup these days? Buffalo is too good for that.
On Sunday afternoon, just days after signing his first professional contract, former UMass-Lowell forward CJ Smith made his National Hockey League debut. Smith finished the afternoon with 1 point (0 goals, 1 assist) on Evander Kane’s 27th goal of the season. Smith was credited with 2 shots on goal, 1 giveaway and 1 takeaway in 9:57 of ice-time.
During Sunday’s matinee against the Islanders, the big news finally broke – Alex Nylander, the Sabres’ 8th overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Level Draft, would be getting the call for the first time in his young professional career.
At 18 years old, Nylander is currently in the midst of his first professional season. Nylander has struggled on-and-off in the American Hockey League with the Rochester Americans but has managed to tally 27 points (9 goals, 18 assists) in 62 games.
Making his debut against the Toronto Maple Leafs was not only important in the Sabres decision-making process, but it also meant a lot to Nylander as well.
“It’s kind of crazy that I’m going to play against my brother in my first game,” Nylander told Sabres.com. “I’m just super excited and I’m pumped for tonight.” The entire Nylander family indeed was in attendance for Monday night’s game.
Alex Nylander had a pretty quiet NHL debut, going pointless and only recording 1 giveaway and 1 takeaway in 14:28 time-on-ice. A quiet start to a hopefully loud career – I am the worst with these metaphors.
- What else do you want to know?
We are finishing up Year 2 of the Rebuild™ and we continue with more of the same.
Just continue to Trust the PROCESS.
- Player of the Week
No one is the player of the week because I’m so petty. So petty, you might be able to call me Tom Petty.
- Standings Update
There is no hope. I will not post the standings, it is sads.
- The Good Tweets
the coach sucks, the GM sucks, everyone sucks
— sba (@essbeeay) April 3, 2017
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