REAL QEW RIVALRY TO COMMENCE !

The Buffalo Sabres have been another one of those “pain in the arse” teams to the Toronto Maple Leafs this season.  They have won 2 of 3 games to date, including that 5-2 beat down in the Hammer.  First overall draft pick Owen Power made his Sabres’ debut tonight after prestigious starts in the World Championships, World Juniors and Olympics (for Canada) as well as the Frozen 4 with his Michigan College team.

The Leafs sat out Jake Muzzin and Jack Campbell tonight (aches and pains) to go alongside their LTIR mates Mrazek, Kase and Sandin.  Mitchell Marner (90 points) and Austin Mathews (58 goals, 99 pts) were looking to add to their already fantastic run.

Speaking of “pains in the arse” Kyle Opposo opened the scoring with a beauty bardown on the PP.  That was his 19^th for the Sabres and he now has a 6 game scoring streak against Toronto.  During this final 10 game stretch for the Leafs, Coach Keefe has talked about shoring up defensive chances against and regaining puck control quickly.  Very good objectives in preparation for the playoffs.  Some concern has been shown that those wishes have/will be set aside in search of individual goals and records.  For instance, does everyone on the Leafs offence feel obligated to pass the puck to Mathews ?

After two periods, not much had changed, 2 good teams going at it.  Yes, TWO good teams.  The way the Buffalo Sabres are playing now, it’s hard to believe they are only 26-37-11 on the season.  Don’t tell anyone, but theses guys are good – with a bright future.  (6’7”) Thompson, Touch, Cozens, Skinner, Millstadt, Dahlgren, Samuelsson and now Owen Power ?  Nice look of a playoff team to come.  Timothy Liljgren, in for a resting Muzzin, slammed in a nice backboard carom off of Anderson to tie the game up with the help of Nylander and Mo Reilly.  The combo of Tuch and Thompson cancelled that with the big guy’s 33^rd to take the lead back. 

In case there was any doubt, the Sabres scored two goals in 1:34 to put the lights out.  First Jeff Skinner got help from his linemates (Thompson/Tuch) to score his 31st, the 13^th point in his last 14 games and then Dahlgren had a laughable open net goal thanks to another Leafs defensive zone breakdown.  Alex Kerfoot got his 13^th goal and 49^th point to make it somewhat interesting.  Inevitably, Coach Keefe pulled out his line juggling act (eg Tavares, Mathews, Marner, TJ and Gio) and then pulled his goalie with 3:30 left.  That equalled an empty netter and a 5-2 loss.

HOPPER NOTES:  and, Buffalo is about to get a lot better – 3 first round choices at this year’s draft… that was the last of a 4 game road trip for the Sabres…wish I were a fly on the wall for tomorrow’s meeting with Kyle Dubas and top prospect Mathew Knies – will he sign or go back to college for one more year ? …coulda used a little more from David Krampf tonight – great on faceoffs and the PK, but 5 on 5 scoring is needed…due to recent play, you’ve got to think that Justin Holl should book his press book seat once Muzzin comes back…good call by Bryan Mudryk tonight – not much of a (arrogant – know-it-all) Mike Smith fan…final SOG Buffalo 28, Tranna 24

CHEERS – good things come to those who wait !