Sabres get rolled over

This was not a good game for Buffalo. They got destroyed by the Columbus Blue Jackets in every aspect of the game. Technically the Sabres did outshoot their opponents 37-25, but in no way did they control this game. Time after time the team failed to come back on defense, and put in little effort on their own rushes.

The RJ Umberger scored two goals in the game. The Blue Jackets also got goals from former Sabres captain Michael Peca, and another goal from Rick Nash.

Buffalo didn't look well, with the somewhat injured Tim Connolly and Paul Gaustad being the only Sabres giving any effort in this game. Despite the small sample size it is no mistake that Connolly is one of the NHL's top defensive forwards. A few of the goals were directly the result of Roy not having any backcheck at all.

Patrick Lalime may be in trouble as the teams dependable backup. While the first goal was clearly not his fault, the fourth goal certainly was. Also allowing six goals against in only 45 minutes on ice is never good. Buffalo will be in trouble, if once again they can not trust their backup to take any starts.

Saturday night's game is against the Penguins, who are pretty good. Buffalo is going to have to turn things around fast.

Official Three Stars

Pascal Leclaire

RJ Umberger

Manny Malhotra

My Three Stars

RJ Umberger (two goals)

Mike Commodore (two assists, plus three)

Pascal Leclaire (36 saves on 37 shots)

East beats the West

In the 2008 edition of the NHL all star game the east beat the west in what turned out to be a very close game. The All Star game as usual was light on defense, and players actually caring, but given the relatively even score towards the end, it was interesting enough.

Rick Nash was probably had the best game of the night, scoring just 12 seconds into the game on the way to a hat-trick. Nash and second period goalie Evgeni Nabokov were the best players for the West. In the end they lost the game, but nobody really cares who wins this thing anyhow.

Alexander Ovechkin was having the most fun of anybody at the all star events this weekend. Of all the players he understood most that the entire weekend was simply about having fun, and that the game was secondary to celebrating hockey and just having a good time. That said he did fairly well in the game and scored two goals.

Buffalo's lone representative did rather well for himself in the game as well. Brian Campbell managed to pick up a goal midway through the first and got assists in the game to earn himself three points, including the assist on Marc Savard's game winner with just twenty seconds left on the clock.

The All Star game MVP (and a truck) went to Eric Stall (perhaps becoming dad's favorite). He earned the award after scoring two goals and an assist in the game. In fact between Ovechkin and Stall the southeast division almost looked respectable.

The NHL all star game brought nothing spectacularly exciting, but was as expected, and is a fun little tradition. The real hockey gets back up and running on Tuesday when the Sabres face Tampa Bay and try to put together their first win streak of the year.

No Goals (and even less Defence)

The Sabres didn't show up for their Friday game against the Columbus BLue Jackets, droping the game 3-0. Apparently they missed my post the other day on how a high number of shots and goals are critical to their success. Although you can't ever win with zero points, Buffalo's defense was arguably worse.

Roy played really poorly in this game giving over turn over after turn over. Miller actually played really well, even stopping a penalty shot, but got no help. On the Blue Jackets first goal Peca was surrounded by four Sabres, yet none of them really moved towards the puck, allowing Peca's long chance swipe to bounce into the net. On the second goal on defender had for the most part forced Nash off of the puck, while a second defender kindof pointed his stick and the general direction rather then taking the for the most part free puck, while a third defender in the area just kindof stood there and watched.

Sabres play Montreal Saturday night. Perhaps redemption can come quick.

Official Three Stars

Rick Nash

Pascal Leclaire

Michael Peca

My Three Stars

Rick Nash

Pascal Leclaire

Michael Peca

Also in the Chicago game last night, the Blackhawks blew an early three goal lead but came back to beat the Colorado. Patrick Kane got his first NHL goal, which was a real pretty top corner one over the glove, but the highlight of the game came on the first goal of the game. Kane got what will probably be the easiest assist of his career when he passed it to Toews at the redline and then saw Toews skate around four defenders and slide the puck into the back of then net.