NHL Playoffs thread...

[ExiledInIllinois]

The slap actually looked to me to be just above the knee on the lower thigh. It may have been the camera, and I did not DVR the game, but I was thinking real bad bruise/charley horse rather than serious knee injury.

 

That is what I was thinking... Couldn't be high ankle... He collapsed when he tried and step up over off the ice.

[Lori]

The slash was on the right knee, but the LEFT was the one he couldn't put any weight on, which leads me to suspect going into the boards was what did the real damage. Of course, Ruff isn't about to tell.

 

Tim's take: Vanek lost in defeat to Bruins

JW: Chara, Ryder score 2 each as Bruins even series

Mike Harrington: Offense suffers a Vanek attack

Sal: Sabres lose Game 2 to Bruins, and Vanek to injury

[Simon]

The slash was on the right knee, but the LEFT was the one he couldn't put any weight on,

I remember thinking that at the time but wasn't confident enough about it w/o a replay to say it out loud.

Without Miller, the Sabres are drafting in the top 7; we're just not very good. If Vanek is out for as much as a week, we can probably start setting up tee times.

[Lori]

I remember thinking that at the time but wasn't confident enough about it w/o a replay to say it out loud.

Without Miller, the Sabres are drafting in the top 7; we're just not very good. If Vanek is out for as much as a week, we can probably start setting up tee times.

Damn shame if Vanek is out (which seems likely, the way he crawled onto the bench). Thought he really came back with a vengeance at the end of the season.

 

If he is, whole bunch of guys on that team need to start working a little harder for their paychecks, because Miller can't do it alone. I thought they were in trouble in Game 1; if Rivet's shot hadn't gotten by Rask ...

 

As for my Habs, if you'd asked me last week, I'd have gladly taken a split in D.C. But to be up 4-1 with the possibility of heading back to Quebec with a 2-0 lead, and then throw it away ... argh.

[Lori]

Per Bill Hoppe: Vanek's doubtful for Game 3, but could return at some point in this series.

 

Not sure I believe the second part, but we'll see.

 

Add: http://blogs.buffalonews.com/sabres/2010/0...-in-series.html

"When a player comes off like that, you obviously think the worst," Ruff said. "That was my initial thoughts. But then after the game, finding out he had been looked at, I was pleasantly suprised the damage isn't severe."

 

Vanek hasn't ruled out playing Monday night but that appears to be a major stretch.

 

"This morning I expected to be sore, which I am and I'll just see how it feels tomorrow," he said. "I'm hoping to play. ... I'm still hoping for tomorrow even though I know deep-down it's a stretch. I would say Wednesday then. If it's not Wednesday then, I don't know. Maybe the next game. But the good part is that I feel like and we feel like I'll be back for the series."

[Buftex]

The loss yesterday (for the Sabres) sucked, to be sure...but I liked the frenetic controlled offensive energy they showed the last 8 minutes or so, of the game. If they can put together more spells like that in future games, I still like the Sabres chances against Boston. I was really impressed with the way Roy played, kind of like a more controlled Maxim in that last part of the game... Sabres created some great scoring chances for themselves. I don't want to jinx anything, but I kind of think Boston, as much as I realize they played harder than the Sabres for large parts of the game, were pretty lucky to get the goals they got...maybe I am in denial, but I still think Buffalo wins this in 6. Rask got stronger as the game wore on, which is scary, but the only real great chance the Bruins had was that monster play by Paille...

[meazza]

Damn shame if Vanek is out (which seems likely, the way he crawled onto the bench). Thought he really came back with a vengeance at the end of the season.

 

If he is, whole bunch of guys on that team need to start working a little harder for their paychecks, because Miller can't do it alone. I thought they were in trouble in Game 1; if Rivet's shot hadn't gotten by Rask ...

 

As for my Habs, if you'd asked me last week, I'd have gladly taken a split in D.C. But to be up 4-1 with the possibility of heading back to Quebec with a 2-0 lead, and then throw it away ... argh.

 

Don't worry Lori. I'll be at that game tomorrow screaming my lungs out.

 

That is unless i could make money off my tickets

[WellDressed]

Tim's take: Vanek lost in defeat to Bruins

JW: Chara, Ryder score 2 each as Bruins even series

Mike Harrington: Offense suffers a Vanek attack

Sal: Sabres lose Game 2 to Bruins, and Vanek to injury

 

I like this Harrington guy. Started following his tweets.

[WellDressed]

The loss yesterday (for the Sabres) sucked, to be sure...but I liked the frenetic controlled offensive energy they showed the last 8 minutes or so, of the game. If they can put together more spells like that in future games, I still like the Sabres chances against Boston. I was really impressed with the way Roy played, kind of like a more controlled Maxim in that last part of the game... Sabres created some great scoring chances for themselves. I don't want to jinx anything, but I kind of think Boston, as much as I realize they played harder than the Sabres for large parts of the game, were pretty lucky to get the goals they got...maybe I am in denial, but I still think Buffalo wins this in 6. Rask got stronger as the game wore on, which is scary, but the only real great chance the Bruins had was that monster play by Paille...

 

Yea, but when Roy feeds Greer, it ain't Vanek. He's the best pure scorer we have. Connolly doesn't fight for pucks. I'd like to see what Myers could do in front of the net on the PP. What could go wrong??

[Lori]

I like this Harrington guy. Started following his tweets.

He's a lot of fun both on Twitter and when he does the in-game Bills chats for the BuffNews. Also their lead baseball writer, and a good one; in fact, a Bisons story he wrote made it into the Top 10 in this year's APSE awards. Think he was the only local guy to place in the national contest ...

 

... other than Chuck Pollock, who tied for first place in column-writing.

[Alaska Darin]

So then, Markov getting a cross check in the face in front of the ref 20 seconds before the GTG isn't bad officiating?

 

Can you please cite some examples of how Habs got away with calls?

 

Good luck Marge.

There's nothing that can't be fixed by your goaltender not giving up HORRIBLE goals with the game on the line. There's no excuse for either the tying or winning goals. Pathetic getting beat high glove by guys with no dish option.

[dib]

As much as I hate to say it, the Sabres were outplayed.

[Doc]

As much as I hate to say it, the Sabres were outplayed.

Part of that is the inexperience. On that 4-on-2 goal, Ellis made a major gaffe. And losing Vanek hurt, badly.

[DC Tom]

Damn shame if Vanek is out (which seems likely, the way he crawled onto the bench). Thought he really came back with a vengeance at the end of the season.

 

If he is, whole bunch of guys on that team need to start working a little harder for their paychecks, because Miller can't do it alone. I thought they were in trouble in Game 1; if Rivet's shot hadn't gotten by Rask ...

 

As for my Habs, if you'd asked me last week, I'd have gladly taken a split in D.C. But to be up 4-1 with the possibility of heading back to Quebec with a 2-0 lead, and then throw it away ... argh.

 

YOUR Habs? I had no idea. I'm duty-bound to call you names now, you know.

 

That Caps-Habs match is shaping up to be quite a series.

[BuffOrange]

Absolutely ridiculous to lose that game. I've seen pee wee teams do better clearing the puck.

 

I was wondering who the donkey was just gave up the puck in their zone while under zero pressure that led to the tying goal. I still don't know. Hockey announcers are pretty worthless.

 

 

I really like Miller's reaction after the game... He really has his head screwed on right!

 

Meh he says the same stuff after every loss. "ZOMG sick bounces".

[Lori]

YOUR Habs? I had no idea. I'm duty-bound to call you names now, you know.

 

That Caps-Habs match is shaping up to be quite a series.

Seriously? I've never made any secret of my puck loyalty to the bleu, blanc, et rouge. I do, however, root for the Swordsmen whenever they're not facing Les Habitants.

[Jim in Anchorage]

Seriously? I've never made any secret of my puck loyalty to the bleu, blanc, et rouge. I do, however, root for the Swordsmen whenever they're not facing Les Habitants.

High Treason.

[Lori]

High Treason.

Canadian ancestry, although a couple of generations removed. Also, a childhood crush on Guy Lafleur. And, well, that big shiny silver thingy they skate around with. Posing with Lord Stanley was the highlight of my last trip to Toronto. (Sure wasn't the Bills game.)

 

That said, I own more USA sweaters than Habs ones, and nothing with a maple leaf. Hope that's enough of a mitigating circumstance to commute my sentence.

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

Miller: Schizophrenic.

[DC Tom]

Seriously? I've never made any secret of my puck loyalty to the bleu, blanc, et rouge. I do, however, root for the Swordsmen whenever they're not facing Les Habitants.

 

Seriously. I can't recall seeing you discuss hockey before...

 

A Habs fan. Frickin' philistine. You're dead to me.