Author: Chris Ostrander

Hey Tim, thanks for showing up

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Tonight’s Bruins-Rangers game was somewhere in the limbo that exists between a catch-22 and a win-win scenario. On one hand, a Rangers win all but eliminates the Maple Leafs and makes Carolina’s mountain that much steeper. On the other hand, a Boston win would keep the Sabres in seventh place and knock off another game for the Rags and giving Buffalo a magic number of three.

Well, Tim Thomas let in three pretty bad goals as the Bruins gave up a three-goal lead and took one on the chin, 5-3 to the Rangers. Looking at the whole situation I’m happy the Rangers won. I think Zdeno Chara is a scummer and I enjoy seeing him lose. The same goes for Brad Marchand, Gregory Campbell and Milan Lucic. Besides, one loss for the Rangers doesn’t do all that much for the Sabres’ hopes. If the Canes lose Wednesday, that is a whole different story.

Still, the fact that the Bruins folded like a tent after building a three-goal lead isn’t a good sign for them. Not to mention, their Vezina Candidate didn’t make any big saves for them when they needed it. Actually, he didn’t make many saves at all, whether they were routine or big saves.

For my money I don’t know if I want to see the Bruins in the first round. The Capitals are the best matchup on paper but the Sabres don’t play them too well. That leaves the Flyers who are backing their way into the playoffs themselves. If it came down to the Bruins or Flyers, I would take the Bruins. The Flyers’ size and depth scares me more than the thought of having to exorcise demons from last years playoffs.

The magic number

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The magic number is four. If the Sabres gain four points over the Hurricanes over the next few days, Buffalo will have secured a playoff bid.

The Sabres enter tomorrows game against Tampa Bay with a three point lead over the Canes. A Buffalo win, coupled with a regulation loss by Carolina, will keep the Canes from catching up in the playoff race. There are your four points. Continue reading →

This is the part where everyone says to trade Ryan Miller

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Cue the naysayers. Jhonas Enroth’s performance against the Rangers will bring every single Ryan Miller-hater out of the woodwork.

Forget the fact that Miller put up two huge shutouts and another strong two-goal game last week. He was named the first star of the week and was a major part of the Sabres establishing a strong foothold in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Of course he let in a few weak goals against Toronto that erased any good play that preceded the game. Continue reading →

Could the Fiesta Bowl be no more?

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This just in, a major member of the BCS is corrupt. You already knew that? Ok, nevermind.

It seems as if some mega-corruption on the part of the Fiesta Bowl has the future of the game in jeopardy. That has led some to question if that will affect the potential sale of the Coyotes. Continue reading →

Preservation vs. Obstruction

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Sam Savarino and Roger Trettel are very smart men. They have created very successful real estate companies and have taken the reigns in helping to develop what is left of the Cobblestone District.

 

This needs to happen

One if their neighbors, Daryl Carr (owner of Cobblestone) has been trying to demolish a set of buildings on the corner of Illinois and South Park for some time. What will replace them is up for debate, but it seems like parking lot is where the spinning wheel of ‘progress’ may land. Continue reading →

Potential UFAs as the Frozen Four takes shape

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The NCAA’s two power conferences are represented in the 2011 Frozen Four as North Dakota and Minnesota-Duluth will be representing the WCHA against Michigan and Notre Dame from the CCHA.

Andy Meile is one potential free agent who could be on the Buffalo Sabres radar

North Dakota has crazy depth and will face an incredible test against Michigan as the Sioux haven’t had many hiccups in the second half of the season. Minnesota-Duluth has taken a Cinderella-type run past Union and top-seed Yale. Notre Dame’s goaltending makes them a scary team for anyone to face.

With all but four teams still playing, now is the time of the season when college free agents become attractive to NHL teams. Just today Niagara forward and Hobey Baker candidate, Paul Zanette, was signed by Montreal to an AHL contract. One of the biggest names on the table, Paul Thompson (UNH) was picked up by the Penguins. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets a few games with the big club at the tail end of the year, they’re in dire need of forward depth. Continue reading →

My idea for the HSBC 100 level

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The Terry Pegula era has been greeted with unbridled enthusiasm. I don’t blame anyone for it either. He, and Ted Black, have said all the right things and have made all the right moves thus far. They have added numerous facets to the in-arena and home viewing experience.

Part of my plan to redecorate the 100 level (click for full size)

Many of the improvements have come from the Sabres Suggestion Box. One suggestion that has been addressed by one (or more) fans is to do something with the red wall that lines the 100 level at HSBC Arena. This is something that has crossed my mind before and cropped back up when the suggestion box debuted.

My idea is to add some art to the wall. I first thought of this when I caught a game at Air Canada Centre. The ACC has put a mural of old pictures around their wall. The pictures are made up of old pictures of fans from Maple Leaf Gardens. This adds a very cool aspect to the in-arena experience there. That is where the genesis of my idea was born. Continue reading →

Telling weekend for Sabres

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This is one of those weekends that you could bill as the biggest of the season, until the next set of back-to-back games rolls along. So I will refrain from dubbing tonight’s game against Florida and tomorrow’s against New Jersey as the two most important games of the year.

Buffalo's poor play against Florida this year needs to be put in the past entering this weekend.

However, the Sabres are in a position of power and can tighten their grip on a playoff spot if they take at least three of four this weekend. In actuality they could split the weekend and maintain the same lead they have on Carolina going in to tonight. There are so many different ways this can play out you can nail down one option and say “this is how it has to be.” Continue reading →

Welcome to Hockey Heaven

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I’m in the process of completing a Photoshop project that will show my grand plan for the red wall that currently adorns the 100 level. Part of my plan is to include, what I think should be, the Sabres new catchphrase or slogan Hockey Heaven.

I guess I’m not the only one who has jumped all over Ted Black’s awesome tag line. This video was put together by the people running the Hockey Heaven Facebook page.

I am all aboard for Buffalo officially becoming known as Hockey Heaven. Let Detroit be Hockeytown and completely forget “the City of Hockey” that has no flow. Hockey Heaven is where it’s at, and Buffalo is Hockey Heaven.

HSBC decision extended

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The Buffalo News broke a story this afternoon saying that HSBC will be given 90 more days to make a decision regarding their occupancy of Buffalo’s tallest office building.

Right now there are three options; remain in the HSBC Tower, purchase the ‘Webster Block’ in anticipation of a new build and (the scariest option) move the employees out of the city. If you ask me this is a no brainer, build a shiny new office building across from the arena and HSBC Atrium building. For those thinking a lawsuit would be necessary because a new building wouldn’t fit in with the historic Canalside development, climb out from under your rocks and tell me if the World Trade Center on Baltimore’s waterfront is causing any problems.

A new build would saturate the downtown office market with class A office space in the existing tower. Correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t the owner of the tower claim a move would lower the cost class A space and allow for numerous companies to improve their current set up? To me that sounds like a perfect storm. Two massive office buildings in the city center filled with employees. Hmmm…how can obstructionists find fault with that, I wonder?

To me a new building smack near the water does a few things. I already listed the benefits to the downtown office community, but tell me the Buffalo skyline couldn’t use a little boost from another tower. Not to mention adding some density to a neighborhood that is little more than windswept parking lots. Lastly, this sort of build would boost the potential of the Canalside neighborhood. The 2000 (estimate) employees that will be going lunch or dinner year-round during the week, weekend happy hours and a 30 second stroll to the arena for events certainly screams for some sort of bar/restaurant presence. Where better to build than Canalside. Yet another solution to the $64 million question.

C’mon HSBC make the decision we all know you want to make.