I found it somewhat amusing to learn tonight that Buffalo's mantra all season has been "no excuses" -- they share the moniker with a 'banger style of demim that was popular during the '80's. No doubt Lindy Ruff got the idea for the catchy slogan after staring at the posterior of some trashy Buffalo bar skank.
That's my best attempt at a swipe. To be fair, the Sabres don't deserve to be slagged. They've been nothing short of spectacular by holding the Senators at bay. And the only question that remains is, "What now?"
Ottawa doesn't have a dying assistant coach to come in and give them the pep talk of their careers. They don't have a young phenom waiting in the wings that they can turn to for Game 4. They have under 21 hours in ememy territory to prepare for the biggest game of their lives.
Emery played well once again, and managed to keep the Sens within striking distance with a healthy combination of key saves and dumb luck. But the offensive game, particularly along the boards, left something to be desired. I'm beginning to believe that I could sneeze and take any number of Ottawa players off the puck with ease. Chara once again rarely chose to play the body, and the defence remained up high during key chances -- Buffalo has forced them into a lose-lose situation for the majority of the series. Either stay back and not be able to help out with second chances on the rebound, or come down, risk getting caught and have Buffalo charge down the ice during a turnover. The point would be moot if the Sens could keep up with the Sabres' speed.
The most interesting part of the broadcast ironically had nothing to do with the game. It involved the ongoing discussion of Hasek's health, and Dom's recent positive comments. A clip was shown of Hasek practising, which led me to shout at the screen, "Go down! Go down!" I sounded like a pornography director.
My deadline for the column is Thursday. Game 4 is Thursday night. From a work standpoint, it's my feeling that if the Senators are going to tank this thing, I'd really appreciate it if they did it tomorrow.
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The most interesting part of the game for me was Harry Neale relating how Jay McKee's sister ran over a cow on the 416 after Game 2 and totalled her car. What the hell was a COW doing on the 416?
I also enjoyed reading Muckler's lips in booth after the OT loss: "STUPID FUCKER!" (I think, because Pothier fell down trying to stop Dumont on the final shot. Either that, or because Muckler filled his Depends.)
A wild game, like the ones before it, that could have gone either way, but didn't. People don't want to point the finger at Emery, but the fact is, the Senators play differently in front of him. They don't trust his play. And if you don't believe it, ask yourself why Buffalo was actually taking shots on him from the other side of the ice on the PK, and unloading hopeless low-percentage shots the moment they stepped over the blueline all night? Because the word on Emery is shoot, because he's shaky.
And the Senators know it.
If the Senators go down, it's because Hasek foolishly gambled his health at the Olympics, when he had absolutely nothing to prove in international play. He let down the team. I expect the knives to come out in the media if Ottawa loses, because his media mind-games the last few months have been have been textbook Hasek primma donna behaviour.
Wardo
11:47 p.m.
I wish I could buy stock in things like "Hasek will suffer and injury late in the season and then stir up a pseudo -goalie controversy while top team in the East gags again...."
Anonymous
1:26 p.m.
I'm watching the game now on OLN. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the Sens.
HockeyKnight
7:50 p.m.