Get Well Richard Zednik
Feb 11, 2008 NHL
The Sabres beat the Panthers 5-3 tonight, but the win was overshadowed by the horrific injury to veteran winger Richard Zednik. Teammate Olli Jokinen was checked in the corner by Clarke MacArthur, when his skate blade came up and caught Zednik in the neck. He made for the bench as trainers from both teams came to his aid. You could see him visibly weaken once he got to the boards, and had to be helped off the ice by a trainer on one side and teammate Jason Cullimore on the other. The game was stopped for more than 15 minutes as the Zambonis came onto the ice to clean up his trail. Zednik was rushed to Buffalo General Hospital, where he underwent surgery for 2 hours, and is now resting and in stable condition. His wife was flown in by charter to join him here.
I would like to send Richard my best wishes for a speedy recovery. I’ll post new info as it comes to light.
edit: The video is here, but I don’t recommend watching it if you are squeamish at the sight of blood.
Tags: cullimore, florida, Hockey, injury, jokinin, neck, NHL, panthers, sabres, zednik
Miller Stones Panthers for Second Shutout
Jan 31, 2008 NHL
Ryan Miller stopped all 32 shots last night as the Sabres beat the Florida Panthers 1-0. Thomas Vanek scored the lone goal on the power play, the Sabres’ first in 40 (!) chances on the road. Tomas Vokoun made 40 stops in the losing effort.
I LOVE that the Sabres were able to win a 1-0 game like this…they carved up the trap all night, never seeming to get stood up. They made the Panthers play their game, and the goalies traded amazing save for amazing save. It was fairly entertaining to watch, with a late flurry by Florida with the goalie pulled making things just a bit interesting.
Drew Stafford went out with an anke injury, which looked pretty darn serious in the replays. I haven’t heard any updates on him yet but I would doubt his availability for Friday’s game with the Thrashers.
I mean I’ve had 20 of those (scoring chances) already this year and that’s the first one I got in. So, it was nice but, like I said, I’m more worried about winning. That’s three in a row and we’ll go for four in Atlanta.
Right on, TV.
Tags: B-Lo Sports, Drew Stafford, florida, Hockey, injury, NHL, panthers, Ryan Miller, sabres, Thomas Vanek, vokoun
Gameday - Sabres at Panthers
Jan 30, 2008 NHL
The Buffalo Sabres finish up in Florida tonight with a 7:30pm tilt against the Panthers. Florida has struggled at home lately, going 1-4-3 in their barn in the last 8 games. I look for the Sabres to bring some of the energy and hard work that pushed the Lightning back in their seats. As far as I’m aware, no lineup changes for tonight.
Sabres Struggles, Injuries Continue to Mount
Nov 5, 2007 NHL
Nolan Pratt managed to last 2 periods as a Sabre before getting injured in the 4-2 loss to the Panthers. The Sabres played decently well in the first and third periods, but gave up 3 quick goals in the middle frame to fall behind. Bright spots? Ehh, still went 1-3 on the PP, Vanek had a nifty deflection goal but that line is getting owned right now defensively. Pratt was solid before he went down. Mike Weber is back up for tonight’s game.
Tags: B-Lo Sports, florida, Hockey, injury, NHL, panthers, sabres
Gameday - Sabres/Panthers
Nov 2, 2007 NHL
The Sabres return from Boston and have to face the Florida Panthers tonight at 7:30 PM. With the quick turnaround, you will be seeing the second appearance of Jocelyn Thibault in net. Andrew Peters will sit in favor of Michael Ryan, and Nolan Pratt will get in his first game as a Sabre. Hopefully the home crowd can jolt these guys and really get them going. Might actually get to SEE the game tonight.
Sabres gut out the win in Florida 4-2
Oct 26, 2007 NHL
It was a much better effort by the Buffalo Sabres as they get out of Sunrise, FL with the 4-2 win. They worked hard this time around, hitting and bumping in the boards as they hadn’t done in the past two games. Most importantly, they stuck with the gameplan for the most part, even when they were outshooting the Panthers but still down a goal. Ales Kotalik just downright blistered the puck past Vokoun on the power play for the Sabres’ first goal. Current Captain Jochen Hecht (which is pronounced hesht, Florida PA guy, FYI) scored another goal, on an OUTSTANDING feed from Pominville. Vanek continued to struggle, getting stoned on a breakaway, but he played hard and I think he’ll be fine. Drew Stafford got a very lucky bounce off Tomas Vokoun, who stopped a hard shot from Staff, but it bounced up over him and into the net. It was reviewed as Paille waved his stick at it but it was ruled the high stick never struck the puck.
My favorite goal, though it wasn’t the winner, was the last one. At the tail end of a long (and successful!) PK shift, Paul Gaustad just wrested the puck away from Olli Jokinen and sweeps it out of their zone. Cory Murphy of the Panthers recovered it only to have Dan Paille rip it from him and skate in for the shorthanded goal.
Special recognition should go to Mike Weber, who was solid with 10 minutes of ice time in his first NHL game. The Sabres take a quick jaunt up to Tampa for a game tomorrow night.
Gameday - Sabres/Panthers
Oct 26, 2007 NHL
The Buffalo Sabres play the Florida Panthers in Sunrise, FL at 7:30 pm tonight. The Sabres are looking for their first road win of the season after being one of the best road teams last season. The Sabres have also called up young D-man Mike Weber in case Jaro Spacek can’t go. Kalinin is out for a while, and to be honest, I’d like to see what Weber can do in place of Sekera even if Spacek plays. Weber is a plus player for the Amerks, and is considered by the Rochester coach as a physical, defensive defenseman. Sounds good to me, at this point. I think the Sabres just felt left out of the whole teenage sensation thing that’s going down this year (Toews, etc.).
Tags: B-Lo Sports, florida, Hockey, injury, NHL, panthers, sabres
