Road Trip!
Aug 12, 2008 NHL
Drew from Illegal Curve found out the sad truth of Carolina hockey, and it was at a Durham Bulls game:
I sauntered over to find, unmanned and unmonitored I remind you, a table filled with “Buy one ticket, get one ticket free coupons” for Carolina Hurricanes hockey games.
Normally, a little cross-promotion for some of those early season stinkers wouldn’t be so bad, except that’s not what this was:
via Getty Images
Limit 8 tickets per person.
The kicker: No one monitoring the table where these are being distributed. An individual could have picked up hundreds of these coupons.
…
The majority of the arena applies to this promo. Only exceptions are the “Champion’s Club”, “V.I.P. Ledge”, and “Upper Goal Zone”.
I’d worry about a “V.I.P. Ledge” to be honest, wouldn’t your drunker fans fall off? But seriously, as I mentioned, these tickets were for games against the Blue Jackets or Kings, with opponents including the Washington Ovechkins, Anaheim and New Jersey. I think I’m honored that none of the Sabres games were included. Guess they know what fans will REALLY fill the seats. H/T to Puck Daddy.
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Tags: alexander ovechkin, anaheim, buffalo, capitals, Carolina, devils, ducks, Hockey, Hurricanes, new jersey, NHL, ovechkin, sabres, washington
Man-Games Lost to Injury
Mar 18, 2008 NHL
If you were wondering just how many games have been lost due to injury for your favorite team this year, James Mirtle has compiled the list (from data at one of the NHL’s sites) here. You can see that teams like Boston and Carolina do have a leg to stand on with their playing of the injury card, though it doesn’t take into account how important certain players would be. Games lost by Michael Ryan count the same as games lost by Jaro Spacek.
Tags: B-Lo Sports, boston, bruins, Carolina, Hockey, Hurricanes, mirtle, NHL, ryan, sabres, Spacek
Sabres Win The Weekend
Mar 15, 2008 NHL
This was just what the Sabres’ needed to get right with the playoff race, two regulation wins, and both in resounding fashion. First off was a 7-1 smackdown of the Carolina Hurricanes that was owned by the muckers and grinders. Paille, Mair, Gaustad and The Kaleta! all scored for Buffalo, with Derek Roy and Ales Kotalik rounding it out. Once the Canes realized they couldn’t compete on the scoresheet (which was about 11 minutes in down 3-0) they went dirty, amassing 86 penalty minutes.
The offensive renaissance continued tonight with Buffalo beating the Leafs 6-2 at the ACC. Kotalik, Hecht, Stafford, Pominville, Paille and Tallinder had the goals for Buffalo, who got ahead early in a game where fatigue had to be a factor. The Sabres played 3 call-ups on their blue line, and played them a LOT (Weber 19:01, Sekera 21:22 and Funk 14:42). That had to help Hank and Lydman as they didn’t have to play 30min. There were some great passes from the skill players (check Roy to Kotalik out) and more offense generated by The Kaleta!, as he crashed into Colaiacovo which dislodged the puck for a goal. Tallinder’s goal was a 150 footer, as the Leafs pulled Toskala with more than 4 minutes yet to play.
Buffalo next plays on Wednesday against the Lightning. I almost wish they played sooner, although the wounded could use some more time to get right. I just want this energy and scoring to continue for the rest of the season.
Tags: Carolina, colaiacovo, Drew Stafford, gaustad, hecht, Hockey, Hurricanes, kaleta, kotalik, mair, maple leafs, NHL, paille, pominville, roy, sabres, tallinder, the kaleta, toronto, toskala
Gameday - Hurricanes at Sabres
Mar 14, 2008 NHL
I narrowly resisted some sort of overplayed Hurricane pun, you guys should know that. The Canes blow into Buffalo (okay, I lied) on a five game win streak while the Sabres remain 4 points out of the playoffs, having lost 4 straight and 6 of the last 7. To make matters worse, the Leafs, Caps and Panthers are all just one point behind Buffalo in the standings. D Mike Funk was called up to take the roster spot of Nathan Paetsch, out with a concussion. Kalinin, Spacek and Connolly are all out as well.
I’m trying very hard to stay positive about the team, but it gets tougher the closer they get to the end of the season out of the playoffs. My son wants to see another game, but I don’t think I’m throwing down silver or gold level money for a 4 year old to go to a game, when he may not even last all the way through. It’s too bad, as he’s a pretty solid good luck charm for the team. 7:30pm start at HSBC Arena.
Tags: B-Lo Sports, Carolina, funk, Hockey, Hurricanes, injury, kalinin, NHL, paetsch, sabres, Spacek
Sabres Playoff Hopes Limp On
Mar 9, 2008 NHL
Buffalo got a point from taking the Hurricanes to OT, but sit 4 points out of the playoffs as of now. Hecht returned to the lineup, but Tallinder did not make the trip. Roy, Angry Eyebrows and Lydman had the Buffalo goals, and Miller was instrumental in keeping the Sabres in it at the end, making key saves in two late short-handed situations.
The Sabres have a busy week coming up, and not to sound like a broken record, they need WINS to stay relevant in the playoff discussions. Monday night’s visit from the Rangers is a 7pm start, on Versus if I’m not mistaken. Should at least be able to park both vehicles in the driveway by then.
Tags: angry eyebrows, B-Lo Sports, Carolina, Drew Stafford, hecht, Hockey, Hurricanes, injury, lydman, NHL, roy, Ryan Miller, sabres, tallinder
Gameday - Sabres at Senators
Feb 12, 2008 NHL
I missed a gameday post or two thanks to my Jeepy-Jeep (as my son calls it) getting Kaleta’d by a Ford Expedition, and I’m back in time for a matchup against the Sens. Ottawa will look a bit different tonight, their big line was reassembled recently, and they made a trade, sending Eaves and Corvo to the Hurricanes for Stillman and Commodore (Bozo).
Buffalo will be playing their first game since the Zednik injury, and thankfully he is doing well. It will be 6-8 weeks before he can resume ‘normal activity’. On the Sabres injury front, Stafford should still be out but Kotalik (flu) and Connolly (bonespur) should both be back. It’s a 7:30pm start.
Tags: B-Lo Sports, Carolina, commodore, connolly, corvo, Drew Stafford, eaves, Hockey, Hurricanes, injury, kotalik, NHL, ottawa, sabres, senators, stillman, trade, zednik
Buffalo Dices, Juliennes Carolina 8-1
Dec 3, 2007 NHL
It was a wild affair in Buffalo on Friday, with the Sabres just thumping the listless ‘Canes 8-1 (click the 700k there for highlights). It was actually close until well into the second period. Ales Kotalik scored his first goal of the night on a quick-release shot just past the top of the circle to John Grahame’s right. Tim Connolly followed less than 2 minutes later with a power play goal to make it 2-0, but it stayed that way with some strong play by Carolina late into the second period. A faceoff win by Gaustad tapped over to Adam Mair went right into the net, nobody picked up Mairsy and that opened the proverbial floodgates. Max ripped one off the pipe and in just a minute later, it was good to see him get on the scoresheet.
It didn’t get any better for the Hurricanes in the third, as their power play unit got their pocket picked by Timmy C, who sent the puck to Derek Roy on a breakaway for another goal. 5 minutes later it was Thomas Vanek sent in on a breakaway by a beautiful feed by Drew Stafford, and the shot banked off the right post, the rear center post and out, the goal judge lit the lamp but play continued until Miller held the puck. The review was done and the goal was awarded. Ales Kotalik got his second of the night as Gaustad tapped the rebound from Jaro Spacek’s shot to him for another easy goal. Spacho-man got his own goal on his next shift though, so it was all good. Ray Whitney spoiled Miller’s shutout bid but it was a crazy fun game to watch if you were a fan.
It’s games like these that show you exactly why the NHL saw fit to reduce the number of division games, as intense rivalries are developed in the playoffs, not the regular season. Many of the younger Sabres view the ‘Canes as the team they hate the most. The Leafs aren’t helping that much by sucking so bad. Anyway, the Sabres have won 6 of 7 heading into a west-coast swing. Next up are the Anaheim Ducks at 10pm Wednesday.
Just to clean up a bit of news, Brian Campbell is wearing the C this month.
Tags: anaheim, B-Lo Sports, campbell, Carolina, connolly, Drew Stafford, ducks, gaustad, grahame, Hockey, Hurricanes, kotalik, mair, maple leafs, Maxim Afinogenov, NHL, roy, Ryan Miller, sabres, Spacek, Thomas Vanek, toronto
Hurricanes smack Sabres around in Third Period, win 6-2
Oct 25, 2007 NHL
Ryan Miller kept the Buffalo Sabres close into the third period, but eventually the sloppy, spazzy play in their own zone allowed the stupid Canes to take the 6-2 win. Buffalo allowed 43 shots and hardly touched anyone in front of the net, Miller had no chance on most of the goals. Jason Pominville and Tim Connolly were the bright spots for the night with Pommers scoring twice and Timmy assisting both. Vanek had a breakaway chance, but instead of shooting he tried to go around the net for a wraparound. A confident Vanek, on a team playing well doesn’t do that. On top of all THAT, they took a boatload of terrible penalties, way too many holding penalties.
Most troubling, to me, is how the Sabres seemed to go out of their way to avoid touching the other team. Too much stick-waving defense, that stuff does not work when your team is struggling! When the pretty passes and super speed game isn’t going, you have to outwork the other guy. The Sabres have not done that in the past few games, and they are 0-3 in them.
Adding injury to insult, Dmitri Kalinin left the game with what is being termed an ‘MCL injury’ after a knee-on-knee hit. Coach Ruff hinted that he may miss a good chunk of time. Paul Gaustad left and did not return after a cut above his eye, but that shouldn’t be nearly as bad. On more positive injury news, Spacek should play against the Florida teams this weekend.
Tags: B-Lo Sports, Carolina, gaustad, Hockey, Hurricanes, injury, kalinin, NHL, sabres
Gameday - Sabres/Hurricanes
Oct 24, 2007 NHL
The script is flipped from last year for this matchup of two teams making the most of the ‘New’ NHL. The Canes come in red hot, 5-1-3 while the Sabres have been very inconsistent so far. The lighter, quicker Cam Ward is 5-0-2 although he’s always had problems against Buffalo. On the bright side, Jaroslav Spacek could be back in the lineup, giving the Power Play a much needed boost (1 for 11 in the past two losses).
A friend of mine bumped into Drew Stafford the other day, and he and the rest of the team are angry at themselves for their performance so far. Hopefully that fire will burn into this game and the boys will get right against their recent rival.
Out of market folks can watch the game on Yahoo.
Tags: B-Lo Sports, Carolina, Hockey, Hurricanes, NHL, sabres
Another Victim of the Pre-game Footy Match
Oct 22, 2007 NHL
Erik Cole of the Carolina Hurricanes is day-to-day with a foot injury, and the rumor is he was injured during a pre-game soccer match. The Sabres’ Maxim Afinogenov injured his head during the playoffs last year in much the same way. The pre-game kickaround has become quite popular, especially with the European players. It’ll be interesting to see if coaches (or GMs/Owners) try to curtail this activity going forward.
