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| Ryan Callahan falls to his knees while celebrating his second period shorthanded goal on Jhonas Enroth. (Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) |
Believe me when I say I'm just as frustrated as each and every one of you. The Sabres are now 6-9-2 at the First Niagara Center this season and 3-5-2 in their last ten games. Jhonas Enroth is 1-5-1 in his last seven decisions. He took some of the blame for last nights loss but not all of it. “Of course we need to score a couple more goals. But I think I should’ve given up one goal tonight. It’s three goals I needed to save tonight, so it’s pretty bad.”
Two of the four goals scored by the Rangers came on their penalty kill. It was the second time this season the Sabres gave up two shorthanded goals in the same game, the other on October 14th against Carolina. The Sabres powerplay has allowed five goals on the season now, all coming on home ice, second only to New Jersey who has allowed eight. If only Lindy Ruff had the option to accept or decline a penalty like Chan Gailey does with the Bills, I would hope Lindy would decline every time and keep it five on five hockey. When you look also at the Sabres penalty kill, which has been rapidly declining allowing a powerplay goal in seven of the last nine games, it is evident that the special teams strategy is in dire need of some revamping.
Although another two points were floundered to a conference opponent on home ice, something positive came out of last night for me at the arena. Abe Shafie, a fellow coworker of mine at the FNC, kindly shot a video for me to share with all of you for your viewing pleasure. In the video below, you will see what it's like when the team leaves their newly renovated locker room and takes the ice for pre-game introductions. This is taken from the rope line, just as one would experience if they purchased a ticket for the All-Access Suite; a newly added perk this year allowing fans to get closer to the action and excitement of Sabres hockey than ever before. My apologies for the glare off that shiny bald head... but thanks again Abe!
(Video Credit: Abraham Shafie)
Can anyone explain why Kassian, McNabb, Leopold and Szczechura are already outside the locker room and not in line with the rest of the guys? Tell me in a comment below if you know.
it could be a few things... some guys get their skates sharpened... new sticks... gloves heated...etc. mostly equipment malfunctions/repairs or trainer room tapings/stretching/icing ... some guys also just have a routine of being outside first, very supersticious sport...thats my 2 cents donno if any of it is true but just some ex hockey player insight...
ReplyDeleteHockey is a very very ritualistic/superstitious sport. Guys each have their own special pregame ritual and they do it exactly the same every game. I'm talking the same thing the exact same time before every game.
ReplyDeleteThings I've seen in my time with a collegiate team:
-smack your stick 3 times on the wall outside the locker room
-always eat 3 tums before the game (random colors you get out the bottle determine luck)
-listening to the same playlist
-order in which you leave the locker room
-two guys i knew always rubbed their hand across the others name on his jersey
-three guys i knew always took a turn drinking from each others water bottles (they threw them around in a circle)
-having to drink from each team bottle before the game
-finding the last bottle and squirting it all over your head
-everyone does high fives entering the ice, one guy had to have it down low
-every player rubbing the team motto above the locker room door on the way out
-always putting your gear on in the exact same order
-sitting on a bench outside the locker room alone for a minute to get in the right mindset
-some guys refuse to bring their stick into the locker room, they will only pick it up right before they get on the ice
-hitting a puck on a new stick before the game (just tapping the puck on the blade)
The list can go on and on that was just some of the things I observed at every game repeatedly. So chances are that is their pre-game ritual.