~ Mr Clutch ~

 

My head is spinning, but my heart is finally calming down.  The boys came out and fought through this one.  The score really doesn't tell how close it was.   The Isles scored first and I turned into a sailor.  Curse words flowed freely.  It wasn't how I wanted this game to start.  We were just returning to full strength but unable to get into position.  Five minutes later we are on the board with a nice goal from Thomas Vanek.  Vanek was benched a bit last year during the playoffs for not giving 100%.  He came back this year with a vengeance and has shown the hockey world is he is a force to be reckoned with.  Two minutes later Christopher Drury put us ahead.  With only a few seconds left in the first the Isles tie it up.  I am not happy and wanted this game to be a blow out.  I was hoping for a night of relaxed hockey.  Is there such a thing?  NO not in post season!  Less then a minute into the second period Christopher scores again.  Mr Clutch!!!  This guy is a winner if you ever saw one.  When he was a kid growing up in CT his little league baseball team won the World Series.  He won the cup when playing with the Colorado Avalanche.  He leads by example, is down to earth, and even a modest.  A winner in the true sense of the word.  He is unrestricted at the end of the season and I am hoping beyond hope we can bring him back.  Sports Illustrated did a great article on him recently.  It's long, but worth the read.  Mr. Clutch!!!

 

The third period was buzzing, even if the total shots were only 12.  Down 3-2 the Isles came with a flurry trying to tie the score.  With a little over a minute left in the game there was a scramble in front of the net.  Bodies flying and sticks poking to get at the puck.  The official was positioned right behind the net watching with a close eye.  It appeared as he was blowing the whistle to call the play dead bodies pushed at the goalie and the puck ended up crossing the line.  He waved it off as no goal and after some time of review it was deemed his call was correct.  We only saw a few replays and to be honest I could not tell if the puck crossed before the whistle blew.  Either way the call was made and we've been the victims of what we thought were bad calls too, so what do you do?  Bitch and then get over it, right?  Before New York could get set up again, Pominville went down and scored.  Sabres 4 New York 2.  DiPietro smashed his goalie stick on the net and broke it in two.  The fans in New York again showed some class.  On the ice the garbage came.  The arena has girls that come out in half tops and tight jogging/dance pants.  I've come to believe the fans react in such a manner to get them on the ice and get a view.  Why else would you lose total regard for the players on the ice.  One shot of the crowd showed security helping Sabre fans leave.  Sad... very sad.  It was also reported that during a moment of silence for the VT students these fans hooted, hollered, and screamed obscenities.  Doesn't make me proud.  Glad it did not happen here.  Always a few that have no class.

 

Well, it's back home for game 5 on Friday.  Hoping the boys can get it done.  Or would that be 'get er done'?

Tags: Buffalo Sabres, Chris Drury, Stanley Cup Playoffs