Start Of Something Big Or Vintage Tease?

January 28, 2009   ·   Brian Sanborn   ·   Jump to comments

Last night’s matchup between the Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers pitted two teams against each other that are ‘head scratching’ organizations. Sometimes you watch them play, and they dazzle you. Other times, they frustrate you with inexplicable losses.

Going into last night, you would have figured we would see a 4-3 type game, and perhaps another trip to Bettman’s ‘wonderful world’, the shootout.

But based on how these two organizations have performed thus far in 2008-2009, we should not be surprised about the surprising result last night in Edmonton.

What a way to start the 2nd half for the Buffalo Sabres. In an instant (10 seconds literally) Drew Stafford got the Sabres rolling in Edmonton last night with a goal, and the Buffalo Sabres went onto a shocking 10-2 drubbing of the Edmonton Oilers.

The loss for the Oilers was the worst in the franchise’s illustrious 29 year history in the NHL. Drew Stafford, who is the nephew of Oilers equipment manager Barrie Stafford, must of had his emotions run high to play in Edmonton around a team he spent a lot of time with as a kid.

Not to be overlooked in this performance for the Buffalo Sabres is goaltender Ryan Miller. Despite the overwhelming score, the Oilers had their opportunities on Miller, and Miller turned away all 18 shots he faced in the 1st period. Who knows how the game would have changed if not for the strong play of Miller.

Tim Connolly showed us what kind of impact he can have for the Sabres down the stretch when healthy, as Connolly had 2 goals (one shorthanded) and an assist, coupled with a +3 rating. It is imperative for the Sabres to have Connolly on the ice for the Sabres to have success in the 2nd half.

The Sabres are picking a good time to get hot, as they are in the midst of a West Coast trip, with a game tonight at Calgary, and then onward to Phoenix and Anaheim. The Sabres (25-18-5) have won four of five and eight of 11 games and currently sit in 7th place in the Eastern Conference (55 points).

So is this the start of something big, or another classic Buffalo Sports Tease and we are left wondering what might have been? Truthfully, I feel this team can make a run this year in the Eastern Conference, IF  Connolly and Craig Rivet can stay healthy, and find a way to get more production from forwards such as Maxim Afinogenov.

But this alone would not make the Sabres a viable contender in the East.

That job will fall on the shoulders of Sabres management. Can GM Darcy Regier make some things happen at the deadline, preferably adding some defense, maybe another winger, and perhaps a better option for a backup goalie? Time will tell.

For now I am enjoying this run while it lasts. But as 27 years of being a Buffalo Sabres fan has taught me, chalk it up to a tease and move on!