Never Fails

I knew it was coming.

It seems like every time I go to the arena and see an ex-Sabre play, the find some way to rip my heart out. The last time it was Marty Biron shutting them out with the Flyers nearly a year ago.

Tonight, it was Max Afinogenov who responded to those harsh boos with a goal that left everyone around me saying the same thing: "Did that really just happen?"

Did Max really just successfully complete a rush without losing the puck?

Where was that the last couple of years when he was playing for us?

I honestly didn't expect it to happen. After Stafford scored, I was so busy hoping for the chance to pull the goalie that I forgot about that guy wearing #61 who is still fast and actually pretty decent at hockey. What's bad isn't that I didn't see it coming - it's that the Sabres didn't see it either.

I am officially 0-4 in first games I attend for the Sabres. I should have known this was coming. And I should have known it was Max who would keep my streak of bad luck alive. For all the frustration and pained shock that he put us all through the last few seasons, it was almost like poetic justice to feel those things again - only with him wearing another team's jersey instead.

Love him now, Atlanta fans - it's only a matter of time before those rushes become nothing to get worked up about...Until he goes to play for another team...

Four Things for Four Goals

Four things I loved about last night's 4-3 win over the Penguins:

1. The Sabres beat the Penguins for the first time in over a year. I almost forgot what it was to see Sidney Crosby skate by Ryan Miller and the boys in defeat. It's a beautiful thing.
2. The Sabres overcame a lot of questionable officiating in order to win. The PK looked great and really aggressive, but that may have something to do with how bad the Penguins powerplay was. Seriously, for having all that talent, you would think they would look a little sharper. Oh well, I'm not complaining about that.
3. The excitement our boys showed after the win. That may have been the best Sabre-love huddle of the season. I wish I could find a decent picture of it because it made me feel happy to see them so happy. I especially loved the giant attack that Goose and Pommer unleashed on Ryan that pretty much shoved him into his net. It just showed how much this win meant to them, and I love when they show what a family they are in their celebrations.
4. Paul Gaustad. As I'm sure all of you know, nothing beats seeing your favorite player have a game like that. I'm still trying to wipe the smile off of my face.

I haven't done this in a while (mainly because we weren't winning), but my Unsung Hero of the Game goes to Max Afinogenov. He played a fantastic game last night, and seemed to be out to prove Lindy wrong. For one night, Max, mission accomplished.

The Sabres Draft Party - a Photo Diary

I feel way behind on this entry. Everyone else has pretty much summed up both the draft and draft party well enough that this will just be meaningless fluff (but who doesn't love fluff).

I was supposed to recap this much earlier, but I had another dance competition this weekend. We brought home another round of high score awards, but I'm definitely getting too old to keep doing this much longer. Case in point - after I finished my six dances on Sunday I went home and slept for 13 HOURS - apparently my mental and physical recovery time is not as it once was.

Now, onto more pressing matters...

We drafted a boy who is almost two years younger but 18 INCHES taller than I am! Darcy must have been catching up on his blog reading and saw that I wished for a new defenseman and a big, physical presence to help protect little Nate. Like a skinny, Canadian Santa, he proceeded to grant my wishes in one, Tyler Myers-shaped package.

Welcome to the Sabres, Tall Tyler (I need to come up with a better nickname)

We then proceeded to draft Tiny Tyler - Tyler Ennis, that is. He says his favorite player is Danny Briere. That's great Tyler, he was one of my favorites too, just promise you won't up and leave us for Philly like your idol - I still have a bit of a complex about that.

I'm also quite excited about second-round pick Luke Adam, who's 6'1 and 210 pounds, describing himself as a power forward. I feel a future Muckers and Grinders favorite in the making with that pick.

As for the draft party itself, it was okay. I was thoroughly disappointed by the lack of Sabres in attendance (no offense, Mike Funk and Tim Kennedy). However, the locker room tour was pretty awesome and almost made up for the whole Goose in Europe thing:

The lounge looks like the Brady Bunch's living room - they need a new interior decorator

The trainer's room was pretty cool - I like the picture of the Cup looming over everything like some sort of all-seeing presence

In honor of Heather B. - Hank's lovely locker

I was surprised that Pommer's locker wasn't covered in pictures of rainbows and etchings of "Pommers + System 4EVER"

The highlight of the tour for me (I wanted to just sit in there and wait until he comes back)

And finally...the only thing Darcy did not do according to my wish list...

Trade Max. Darcy, I know you said you tried, but all I can say is TRY HARDER. We have too many forwards, and if you have to let Goose go because no one wants Max, I might have to take drastic action.