NHL – Page 19 – Two in the Box

My idea for the HSBC 100 level

March 28, 2011September 17, 2012Chris Ostrander2 Comments

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.

Hockey Heaven — 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

March 25, 2011Chris OstranderLeave a comment

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.

Sabres vs Panthers — 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

March 24, 2011Chris Ostrander1 Comment

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.

Happy Anniversary Ron

March 22, 2011March 31, 2011Chris OstranderLeave a comment

20 years ago Ron Tugnutt made 70 saves against the Boston Bruins. I can speak for Derek Plante when I say I’m glad he wasted most of them that night. But to be serious, what a game by Tugnutt that night.

Craig Rivet waived by Buffalo

February 23, 2011May 1, 2011Chris Ostrander7 Comments

The Buffalo Sabres placed Craig Rivet on waivers this morning. I learned the info via Bob McKenzie’s twitter account. In addition to Rivet, former Sabre Ales Kotalik was waived by Calgary along with Nik Zherdev (PHI) and Marek Svatos (NSH).

Kind of crazy to see Svatos waived. The Preds poached the winger from St. Louis when they signed him out of the KHL earlier in the winter.

It is about time that Rivet was given some sort of out. He has been stuck in the press box for quite some time, he deserved better than the fate he was receiving.

I wonder what will come of the Rivet situation? Do they send him to the AHL? Or are they confident a team like Montreal, Vancouver or Toronto will claim him? Either way, the next 24 hours could be interesting to watch.

Kennedy finds a new home

August 31, 2010May 1, 2015Chris OstranderLeave a comment

Former Sabre Tim Kennedy agreed to a one-year $550,000 contract with the New York Rangers, thus ending his tumultuous offseason.

Continue reading →

NHL testing new rules

August 24, 2010May 1, 2015Chris Ostrander1 Comment

The NHL held it’s first research and development camp last week in Toronto. The camp featured some of the top prospects on-ice trying out some new ideas that the league office has thought up.

Some of the ideas are rather strange, some are ingenious and some are downright ridiculous. TSN has the details (and a second article).

Continue reading →

NHL proposes rule changes

August 23, 2010May 1, 2015Chris OstranderLeave a comment

I’m not even talking about the recent R&D Camp that took place in Toronto. Numerous changes to the game were tested by the league in hopes that some may take hold and make the game better in the future.

The rule changes I am talking about will be instituted for the 2010-11 season.

The first tiebreaker will be a combination of regulation time and overtime victories, with shootout wins excluded, according to the online report.

In the past, the first tiebreaker had been total wins of any kind.

This is a wise choice for the NHL. The new rule will place more emphasis on the team portion of the game without sacrificing the history of the game by changing the point system. Now, say the Red Wings finish the season 42-28-12 with 96 points and the Blues finish 42-28-12 but the Blues had four more shootout wins, the Wings would win the tiebreaker.

I think this type of change is what the NHL needs to stick with. The same can be said for some of the proposed rules pitched at the R&D Camp. If the integrity and history of the sport are sacrificed there is a chance to lose fans. But, if the rich history of this great sport is maintained while improving the overall product, the NHL will benefit.

NHL trying to cover their tracks

August 10, 2010May 1, 2015Chris OstranderLeave a comment

The NHL has overturned the obnoxiously enormous contract that the New Jersey Devils awarded to Ilya Kovalchuk.

Now the league is looking into every ludicrous deal that was agreed upon over the past couple seasons. Among the players whose deals are being reviewed are; Philadelphia’s Chris Pronger, Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo, Boston’s Marc Savard and Chicago’s Marian Hossa. Here is the TSN story with all the details.