Shutdown Pair

Tag: Mattias Samuelsson

  • Preseason Panic

    Preseason Panic

    Okay, I’m not panicking, but it’s hard not to wince at two injuries on defense barely 120 minutes into the preseason. Mattias Samuelsson is “week to week” with a lower-body injury, and Olen Zellweger is in the concussion protocol. Zellweger is probably not going to be out super long, but you never know with these things.

    *In the background Tim Connolly bumps his head exiting his truck, is now in concussion protocol*

    Ahem. Anyway, the Sabres have depth, and with a very short run-up to the regular season, they need it. Radim Mrtka and Ryan Johnson joined practice but we’ll have to see who plays in the next game with the regulars.

    As for the game itself, Buffalo ran roughshod over the Blue Jackets from the second period on. Noah Östlund earned the umlaut on his sweater this year with 2 goals in less thant 30 seconds. Norris, Timmins, and Tage had the other goals. It was a rough, physical game, which might make the season opener interesting, as Buffalo goes to Columbus on October 3rd to open up regular season play. Columbus iced most of their farm players (much as Buffalo did in their first preseason game) so while I really liked the play of the team for the most part (solid passing but not overdoing it, taking shots when available), I don’t think we’ll know much until it’s best on best. I *did* like what I saw from Louis Crevier, it’s like Logan Stanley knew how to skate.

    Might try and go to the game on Saturday. Until then, Go Sabres!

  • Sabres Head To Round 2

    Sabres Head To Round 2

    The big, bad Bruins needed help but didn’t get it, falling to the Sabres in Game 6 4-1. The Buffalo goals were scored by Samuelsson, and Benson, and an empty-netter by Josh Norris to seal it. Alex Lyon played his ass off in net, saving 25 of 26, many of them excellent chances.

    For all of their vaunted toughness and strength, there were long stretches of games in this series where Boston was simply outplayed. It wasn’t quite as bad as the 4 goal first the other night, but the Bruins were overmatched all through the opening period. They rallied a bit in the second, getting a goal from Pastrnak on a 2-on-1 with Pavel Zacha that Lyon had no chance on. But Doan raced into the Boston zone early in the third and carried two Bruins players with him, sacrificing his body by smashing into the end boards to pass the puck to a streaking Benson for the gut shot. From that point on, the Sabres played smothering defense, with Boston barely able to get past the blue line.

    Buffalo Sabres player Alex Tuch shouting excitedly

    The Sabres await the winner of Tampa/Montreal (heading to Game 7) to find their next opponent. For me, from here on out they’re playing with house money. They proved they weren’t just a fluke, breaking two major droughts (making the playoffs, winning a series). That doesn’t mean the work is done. Let Lindy send you on your way: