Day One of Pegula Ownership Era

New owner Terrence M. Pegula.
(AP Photo/David Duprey)

Terry Pegula has officially closed on his purchase of the Sabres today at 11 a.m. during a news conference at HSBC Arena with his family and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman present.  Terry blew me away by how comfortable he was in the spotlight.  He had his witty answers and plenty of dry humor to face the questions with.  He kept Gary Bettman chuckling throughout the entire press conference.  But he also thought out each question to its fullest and was serious when he needed to be.  After hearing what Terry's mission is, it's hard not to be anything but excited as Sabres fans.  When asked if he would spend to the salary cap, Terry said "We'll put the pedal to the metal as capably as we can.  I don't know if it's wise to spend to the cap every year. But we're not in this to save money, that's for sure."  He also said very convincingly "If I want to make some money, I'll go drill a gas well.  I don't need to make money in the hockey business."  Does this get any more reassuring?  The man has one mission and that is to win the Stanley Cup.  He basically just said that he will do whatever it takes to accomplish that mission, even if that means spending to the salary cap or even losing money.  With Lindy Ruff currently in the last year of his contract, Terry said he is a Lindy fan and "He ain't going anywhere."  He has pride in this team being a season ticket holder for 18 years from 1980-1998.  He has seen the team through its ups and downs and is ready to bring a championship to the city of Buffalo.  He mentioned how he will achieve that by doing a lot of the "little things"; the things that bring the right players to a city and keep them there to win.

Jason Pominville fires a first period slap-shot.
(Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Image

The Sabres have followed up one of their worst games of the season with another loss, this one at the hands of the Washington Capitals.  In a game that featured Ryan Miller back in Vezina style, the Sabres fell again as the offense could only manage one goal courtesy of Jason Pominville on the power play.  A couple of bounces didn't go their way as well.  6:09 into the second period, Washington dumped the puck into the Sabres' end high off the boards, and the puck took a strange carom off a divider in the corner.  The puck bounced directly to Mathieu Perreault, who was alone in front of the net and slapped it past Miller.

The Sabres have now lost three in a row overall and four in a row at HSBC Arena.  After Monday, playoff odds are up 2.0 to 37.2%.  The home stand continues with the Sabres still looking for their first win.  Tomorrow's game against the Atlanta Thrashers wasn't supposed to be as important as it is now, but it's a do-or-die because we remain tied with them in the standings.  Dropping this game and falling two points behind Atlanta would be devastating to the Sabres' playoff chances.  Tuesday brings three games affecting the Sabres' playoff odds.  The New York Islanders are in Toronto, the Montreal Canadiens visit the Vancouver Canucks, and most importantly the Carolina Hurricanes play host to the New York Rangers.  We hope that last game ends in regulation, in favor of the Rangers.