Who said it would be fair? I don’t want to hear anything from any freaking Pens fans or juvenile Ranger haters who are salivating after such a bullshit atrocious call decided a tie game late. Why? Cause Gary Bettman ordered the stripes to give Sidney “The Bitch” Crosby his power play.

Especially after how Pen after Pen fouled our guys because once it was tied, the Rangers were in full attack mode. To think that they got away with more blatant stuff on the same shift and then to put Marty Straka in the box for essentially breathing on Mr. Whiner was just the icing on the cake.

It was bad enough my brother’s friend’s Mom passed away :-(. Then the Blueshirts threw away a three-goal lead playing matador D. On top of it, to have such a garbage call decide that game is ample proof that Tom Renney’s right. Crosby gets every call. The look on our coach’s face said it all expressing what a joke this league’s become. Catered to one star.

I don’t know how the Rangers can win this series. They will need to dominate the Pens to win. Meaning don’t let up when three up like tonight. Score as many as possible and check Crosby through the glass. I’ve had enough of him. Alex Ovechkin’s a real superstar who doesn’t have everything handed to him on a silver platter.

Screw the Pens! Screw Crosby and every freaking commercial kissing his ass! And to Hell with Versus showing those bandwagoners on their crappy lawn!

One game is all it took. And with that, I’m headed out. I need some air.

Our great genius of a commish was just on with WFAN’s Mike and The Mad Dog giving them the current state of the NHL before Night 2 of the playoffs gets underway.

Of course, he made excuses for the ticket prices citing the other sports which are way more popular. Ask any Ranger fan about the playoffs and they’ll sing a completely different tune. But that was just the spin doctor doing his best to point out that the cost for the most part isn’t as bad as say the NBA, NFL or MLB.

However, the best part of this interview had to be when Chris “Mad Dog” Russo mentioned current Sabre Maxim Afinogenov as a top 10 selling player jersey. Sadly, he mispronounced Max’s name but at least he had a valid excuse. It’s no secret that he nor Mike Francesa know what they’re talking about when it comes to our sport.

So what was Bettman’s excuse then for not knowing that Afinogenov was a skater on Buffalo? Was he kidding? This is our commish and he actually didn’t know that! I gotta admit the irony in this since it was a Buffalo Sabre which should really set off our Sabre blogger, who always has interesting insights on Bettman and the league.

Well, at least he got the right team or there really would be a problem. As for Russo’s question of whether the league might consider going back to one referee, Bettman stated that the game was too fast for that which is why they instituted the two ref system in place. Though I might not agree with how it’s called these days, I thought that was a solid response by Gary.

In any event, tonight’s second night features four games. So, here’s the sched:

(1) Detroit vs (8) Nashville- 7 ET, Versus, TSN

(1) Montreal vs (8) Boston- 7 ET, CBC, Yahoo online

(2) San Jose vs (7) Calgary- 10 ET, CBC  Flames lead series 1-0

(4) Anaheim vs (5) Dallas- 10 ET, Versus, TSN

Did anyone watch the way overhyped NHL Draft Lottery earlier tonight? In case you weren’t aware, this ridiculous process was on either Versus or the NHL Network.

I’ve always been a fan of the NBA version because it actually gives every team which doesn’t qualify for the postseason a chance at getting the No.1 overall pick. So, even if the weighted system odds are slim for a team that’s further down, there’s at least that remote chance. And that’s still much better than my chances with Brooklyn Decker.

Out of curiosity, I decided to flip on the NHL Network to see TSN’s Lottery coverage which basically went like this: Whichever of the five worst teams won would get the upperhand in drafting hot shot Canadian prospect Steve Stamkos, who actually was interviewed during the half hour segment before and after this silly process.

Now, the only reason I remembered to put it on in the first place was because good Buffalo Sabre buddy Brian Sanborn (grosek18) called me after work on his way back home to Long Beach, California. So, this is what our always cynical former St. John’s alum had flipped on XM radio for. Cause he wanted to see who it was “catered to.”

Would the Bettman fix be in? But wait. As we learned, if only the five worst teams have a shot, that meant little to a Sabre fan whose team teased them to death tanking at home in crushing defeats to Ottawa and Montreal. Once again, Brian’s team was getting the screw job and they weren’t even in the playoffs.

If only it were that simple. What about teams such as Columbus, Phoenix or even Sanborn fave Toronto? You’re telling us it’s fair for them to not even be included. This was just another typical BHL move. Anyone who follows today’s shootout induced league chock full of three-point games knows just how tough it is to make the playoffs.

Sure, many races were left undecided which makes it all the more exasperating for teams such as Buffalo, Carolina and Edmonton, which just missed. So I don’t believe in throwing Vancouver a bone for that tank job.

When is this league going to realize that just over half its teams make the playoffs? Shouldn’t all 14 which miss have a shot at that lottery? Which brings me to how boring and pathetic the process was.

Here you had all this talk trying to make it sound thrilling. And what do they give us but Mr. Clean himself Bill Daly revealing the top five order. He’s about as boring as one of those voicemail machines with 9,000 different options.

There you had the percentages on the five worst teams which included the New York Islanders, St. Louis Blues, Atlanta Thrashers, Los Angeles Kings and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

As Daly opened up the first three NBA-esque draft envelopes to reveal the Islanders fifth, Blues fourth and Thrashers third, it became painfully obvious that there would be no drama as myself and Brian on speaker mocked it.

Instead of announcing who was picking second a la NBA commisioner David Stern, Mr. Clean had his own process going right to who would pick first overall. As expected, the NHL worst Lightning won. This was what we tuned in for?!?!?!?!?!

God. At least the NBA gets it right. And there in a nutshell is what’s wrong with our product. Even a simple draft lottery which should be a little unpredictable lacked excitement as more laughter came from myself and our Buffalo blogger who is probably preparing the mother of all columns entitled either “Why the Shootout killed Buffalo” or “How Bettman Got His Wish.”

You can’t make this stuff up.

So here’s the NHL Draft top 14 official order:

1.Tampa Bay Lightning

2.Los Angeles Kings

3.Atlanta Thrashers

4.St. Louis Blues

5.New York Islanders

6.Columbus Blue Jackets

7.Toronto Maple Leafs

8.Phoenix Coyotes

9.Nashville Predators (Fla)

10.Vancouver Canucks

11.Chicago Blackhawks

12.Anaheim Ducks (Edm)

13.Buffalo Sabres

14.Carolina Hurricanes

Hey. As I remarked earlier to Brian, there was at least one positive out of this wasted half an hour process. Buffalo finally got the better of Carolina (pronounced Cry–o–lin–ah by Sabre fans).

Ah, early April. As a NHL hockey fan, it means the NHL playoffs are near, and a good amount of fans are getting ready to cheer their team on in the first round. The preparations are being made across North America: Fans are preparing for get-togethers at the local sports bar to cheer for their team. Other fans are buying NHL playoff tickets that will soon come with 30 year fixed mortgage- like rates to pay for these in$ane ticket prices and $6.00 hot dogs.

As a Buffalo Sabres fan for over 25 years, this time of year I generally fell into the lump of NHL fans mentioned above. But ala$, the Sabres went from the Penthouse of the NHL last year to the outhouse in 2008, and the Sabres on the outside looking in for the 2008 NHL Playoffs (in part due to Gary’s Wonderful Skills Competitions).

When the final seconds were counting down in the Sabres 3-1 loss to the Habs on Thursday (NOTE: I listed to the game in the French station on XM 172, thinking it would be better to hear the final nail in the coffin in a language I know zero about), I suddenly realized I will have a lot more time on my hands and thought to myself “As a Sabres fan, I need to provide a list of old games to watch, old moments to treasure and reflect on so we Sabres fans can pass the time till the disappointment known as the Free Agency season hits us hard around July 1st, 2008.”

So without further adieu, I present a list of “those special moments” to reflect on 5 ‘obscure’ moments from past Sabres seasons, as Tomas Vanek and Derek Roy prepare their Titleists and reserve their green times at a country club near you:

1. Remember the warm a fuzzy feeling Sabres fans had in 2001-2002 season, when the Sabres were coming out of the ‘John Rigas Error’ and Bankruptcy, and were making a playoff push. Sabres fans were in anticipation of what will the team do for the playoff push at the trade deadline. What was cooked up by the powers that be? Bob Corkum, the faceoff ’specialist’. Bob Corkum?!?! All those face offs came in handy as the Sabres missed the playoffs.

2.1989: The Buffalo Sabres finished 3rd in the Adams Division (see how wonderful that sounds Gary, you can take your generic Division Names and shove them where the sun does not shine!), and another battle with the Boston Bruins was looming. But confidence was booming for me as a Sabres fan, as the Sabres OWNED the Bruins in the regular season (take note of this Rangers fans). The Sabres came out in Game 1 at Boston Garden and destroyed the Bruins 6-0. I was on top of the world.

Game 2, Sabres get the lead early, and things begin to look like they are all going the Sabres way. This WAS the season the Sabres will get out of the 1st round, I was feeling it! Then out of nowhere, the Bruins score 2 Shorthanded Goals in 30 SECONDS, and stun the Sabres and win Game 2 5-3. Boston goes to The Aud and takes Games 3 and 4, then The Bruins wraps it up in Game 5. Game, set, match, and the dominance in the regular meant zilch. Ah, memories.

3. The 2000-2001 Buffalo Sabres made a push for the playoffs by acquiring The Killer, Doug Gilmour, and the Sabres had the look of a legit Stanley Cup Contender. And in what would be The Dominator’s last season in Buffalo, Gilmour’s ‘Ole Defense” opened the door as Darius !@$!@ Kasparaitis was able to waltz in and score on Sabres net minder Dominik Hasek and stun the Sabres at home in Game 7 of Double OT, sending the Sabres home. So much for ‘The Killer’, as the only fond memory Buffalo will have is his police escort from Buffalo Airport to HSBC arena when he first arrived in The Queen City.

4. I think Chris Drury’s agent is STILL waiting for the agreed 4 year contract the Sabres and Drury had in place in November 2006. Damn the US Postal Service or fax machines, depending on who you believe.

5. The play of current Sabres backup goalie Jocelyn Thibault, besides the meaningless 3-0 shutout to end the season, made me yearn for the days of Bob Essensa in the 2001-2002 season, as Bob sizzled with a 0-5 record, 2.91 GAA and a pristine .850 save percentage. And yes, the Sabres missed the playoffs by five points that season, so you can do the match to figure out Bob’s impact.

I hope these 5 ‘memories’ will help us Sabres fans get through the tough times of not seeing the Sabres partake in the 2nd season; I sure get all warm and fuzzy inside thinking about these ‘fond memories’!! I can probably provide oh, 25-100 more of these kind of memories, but I do not want to depress Sabres fans too much!

I will be back later this week to provide my thoughts on the highly anticipated New York Rangers/ New Jersey Devils series!

It came down to the game’s most electricifying player Sidney Crosby against one of the better young netminders this game has to offer in Ryan Miller. Mono y mono.

With the game on his stick, the best the league has to offer already at just 20 years of age in season three wouldn’t allow his team to lose in this well played Hockey Heritage outdoor Winter Classic.

Even with the snow in his eyes, as he calmly carried the puck skating towards Miller, the youngest NHL captain in league history faked left and then pulled to a stop and slipped the puck through the Buffalo goalie’s five-hole to send the Penguins to a thrilling 2-1 shootout victory over the home Sabres before a record crowd of 71,217 screaming spectators at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

“Growing up, I played a lot outside,” the rating 2006-07 Hart winner explained to the Associated Press about the vintage pond hockey he took part in factoring in on his team’s only goal in regulation before deciding it.

“When you see 70,000 people jammed into a stadium to watch
hockey, it’s a good sign. The atmosphere and environment, I don’t think you can
beat that.”

Truer words couldn’t be said about this extraordinary event- the second for the league since 2003 when the Canadiens defeated the Oilers in Edmonton. It was the first such NHL outdoor event in the United States.

“I like facing Sidney. I really want to stop him, obviously,” the losing netminder said after keeping his team afloat with a strong third in stopping all 12 Pens’ shots to earn his team a point. “I thought I made a good play to stay with him. I didn’t think he made quite the play he wanted, but it worked out for him.”

Truthfully, there were no losers on this special day in upstate New York.

“I’d love to do it again. I thought it was awesome,” Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff pointed out. “It was good for the game. It may not be the best hockey game because of the situation, because of the weather, because of the snow, but the atmosphere was incredible.

“The hell with the cynics.”

Even league commish Gary Bettman came to the same conclusion despite not your ideal conditions. But it sure was fun to watch adding an extra element which fans could appreciate.

“Based on the response, on our ability to execute, and the inquiries we’re getting from other clubs for similar activities, this obviously is something we’re going to look at again,” a pleased Bettman said afterwards.

For former Sabre backup Ty Conklin, it was fitting that he was the winning netminder since the journeyman also took part in the first one when his Oilers fell to the Habs 4-3 before 57,167 on Nov.22, 2003.

The 31 year-old from Anchorage Alaska was very strong in making 36 saves including turning aside 13 of 14 in a busy second to keep the Pens afloat.

In two straight starts against his former team, Conklin allowed only one goal to lead Pittsburgh to a home-and-home sweep. Not too shabby. Plus his glove save on Maxim Afinogenov’s backhand deke in Round Three of the shootout was awesome giving the stage to Sid the Kid to work his magic.

You have to give kudos to all the hard work which was done in preparing the facility, especially keeping the ice playable through wintry conditions.

Here are our three stars:

3rd Star-Brian Campbell (goal, 3 SOG in 24:50 TOI)
2nd Star-Ty Conklin (36 saves)
1st Star-Sidney Crosby (assist and SO winner)