Ryan Miller let's us know he dislikes stalkers and what he's doing.

Ryan gave us a little update today on his website to let us know he's still around. He mentions that he doesn't like the thought of these social networking sites because of the fact there are many stalkers abound on the internet. I don't really agree there because the networking sites are also there for long lost friends and family members so you can keep in contact, but I do agree that talking on the phone is almost dead it seems. No one really talks on the phone anymore because of texting, email, and such sites like Facebook and Twitter.

It's funny because he says all of this, and then he proceeds to say what he's doing this month and how he's coming back to Buffalo early. This Friday, actually. If you want to see him, he'll be at Watkins Glen to be the grand marshal. Sabres.com better have some video of this.

It's time for another installment of...

POMMER'S BLOG!

What I have noticed in most of Jason Pominville's blog posts is his use of the word 'definitely'. I noticed this because I tend to say 'definitely' a lot myself. For example:

We definitely have to put that one behind us and look forward to going into Philly.

Yes you do, because Philadelphia is in fourth, if I'm not mistaken. Now I have no hopes of the Sabres getting that high in the standings, but it would be a wonderful wish, wouldn't it?

He mentions Briere might be back, but I don't think so. He hasn't played in either of the games we played against the Flyers so far...and to be honest, I wouldn't mind if he wasn't in the other two either. Sorry Danny.

He ends with a note about how well the special teams have been. I hope that the streak can continue with those two aspects of the game, for I enjoy seeing a good PK and a lot of goals on the power play. Now if they could just figure out 5-on-5...

Pommer's Blog, how I have missed your updating!

I guess it's nice to see an update from Jason Pominville and his blog after that horrendous loss last night to the Hurricanes. Let's pick it apart, shall we?

One of the first things we see in the locker room every day is the board with updated NHL standings.

We’ve been paying attention to it for quite some time, as I’m sure other teams in the playoff race are doing.

You have to wonder at the same time if teams like Atlanta, New York (Isles), and Tampa have an updated NHL Standings board, too? Even if it's just for shits and giggles and to show the players 'Hey, this could be you.'

We know we have to string some wins together if we want to climb. It’s pretty tight and every night is going to be important from here on out.

There is, for us, a sense of urgency. That goes for other teams too, but we have got to be a more desperate team. I don’t think we were desperate enough yesterday against Carolina. That was a team that we could have buried a little bit and put further behind us. Instead we gave them life and we can’t let that happen again.

Jason, I don't think you guys were anything yesterday. I could've gotten more entertainment from a gold tournament, or watching paint dry.

Hopefully we’ve matured from last season after missing the playoffs, and learned from our mistakes because I definitely feel that we are capable of a lot when we all pull together.

We are playing with more confidence, we are in a better place than we were last season... Now we just have to prove it.

This has to start against Toronto - not only because it's my birthday, but because they have to get on a good roll now.

Toronto should be a good test. They are a fast team and Air Canada Center is always a fun building to play in.

After their win against the Penguins on Saturday...yeesh. I hope they can play a full sixty minutes, because holy crap. Scary stuff.

We are going to be desperate. We need those points. We have to make sure we’re ready to play for 60 minutes.

It has to be everybody pulling in the same direction so that, hopefully, we’ll see some changes in the standings.

This is like tug-o-war. If everyone pulls in the same direction, with enough determination, the opposing team will go down flat on their face.
Except in hockey there's no rope...but you know what I mean.

I wonder if Pommers is the guitarist, or drummer?

Jason Pominville updated his lovely blog today and talked about the upcoming game versus Toronto tomorrow (whoa, I haven't seen them in forever!) and answered a few fan questions.

He tells us fans that Loodster and Hank the Tank are experts when it comes to playing soccer. I would LOVE to find video of the Sabres playing soccer before a game recently (there is a video of YouTube of them practicing, but it's from two years ago). Then again, I guess Max wouldn't be that good...I mean, he did flip and hit his head somehow, remember?

Pommers also hasn't touched NHL '09 yet. I played it with my girlfriend the last time I saw her, and I was disappointed that the PS2 version looks exactly like the PS2 version of 08. Adam Mair still doesn't look like Adam Mair. Thomas Vanek looks scary, but still a sexy beast. At least they finally got the colors of Ryan's pads right. Oh, and he says he plays both Guitar Hero and Rock Band. I can see Jason being a drummer when he's alone, but I bet if the guys got together, Derek would immediately go 'JUST A MINUTE HERE.' and sit on his butt to jam to some tunes on those pads. You go Derek, you go.

Oh, and Jason, I want you to know that I have French songs on my computer! If you're ever looking for some...you know, I'm here. Give me a call!

Marty has a boo-boo; out for tomorrow's game.

Looks like Kevin Weekes is in net tomorrow for the Devils. I don't know whether this game will turn out to be really amazing for the Sabres, or whether it'll end up being really bad. I don't think Kevin Weekes has played any games against the Sabres...*checks* All right, nevermind. Out of 19 games that he's played against the Sabres, he's won a total of 5 of them. I guess I don't have to be too worried as long as the Sabres play their defensive game and keep getting pucks to the net. We know how the Devil's trap can get during games such as this one and how boring they can easily get, too.

In Sabre team news, Thomas Vanek updated his blog/diary again today:

Wait, before I get to that, they have a contest on the site.

The time for a new competition has finally come. Our goodies may well be the best presents for fans of Thomas Vanek. Thomas supplied us with some great gifts – from jerseys to hockey-sticks and baseball caps. Of course all goodies are signed by Thomas and are solely meant for you.

Solely meant for me? From the man himself? I would love to have another signed jersey from him, but it's always better to get it signed when I'm in front of the guy, not when I get it sent.

To enter, answer this question: Against which opponent did Thomas score his first shorthanded goal in the NHL?

That's it, you got me. *enters*

Okay, now that that's done.

The win over Washington was very important for our team. After losing two games at home we were forced to give it our best. And this time everything clicked. No doubt it’s easier to play when you can score an early goal. But it was a complete team-effort against Washington. The forwards were backchecking, the blueliners were putting pressure on the Capitals and Ryan Miller was simply outstanding in goal.

He's right. Everything went according to the system yesterday, as Jason Pominville always likes to talk about. I love when they play the system and it, you know, works.

Personally, I’m happy that I’m still on a hot streak. Leading all goal-scorers in the NHL feels good, but it’s really only a snapshot, nothing more, nothing less. We’ve still got 71 games to go in the regular season. I have to keep working on my game, just like the whole team has to keep working hard.

Good lord, he's a poet now. I love it.

That’s something we had to learn this week, especially against Tampa. The practice session the next day was… well, let’s put it this way: Usually the drills are not that brutal. But the game against Washington proved the coaches right. Hopefully we can keep up the good work and spirit in our next games.

Yeah Thomas, I usually don't hear about you putting other guy's head against the glass. But whatever works for you works for me too. And whatever works for the team works for all for all of us Sabre fans.

I guess you can never be too careful...Edit: In realizing that I'm a dummy.

Thomas Vanek wrote another entry in his blog or 'diary' earlier today:

So we got out of the starting gates really well. Now we’ll face the Rangers and that’ll be a really tough test. They have won all of their five games so far. If we pass this test, well, that’d be really great for our team.

Van, this would be really great for the team. It'd be nice to beat a team who is also undefeated as we go on with our current undefeated streak. (; The Rangers scare me though, bad Rangers.

I’m quite satisfied with my performance so far. Normally I put a lot of pressure on myself, but I never had a better start into a new season than this. Of course, I’m most happy about my shorthander against the Islanders. That was my first shorthander in the NHL and if I remember correctly my first shorthander ever. Well, except maybe in the peewees.

Shorthandershorthandersshorthander, am I going to hear this all the time now? Basically, I would love for you to be #1 in SHG this season, seriously.

...and I check NHL.com, and you're tied with seven other people, sweet! It's a step in the right direction!

Also, peewees? I hope you looked like the picture over there ---> at the time. Cutest Peewee hockey player award in Austria, totally.

I was really shocked when I heard that Bernhard Kohl got caught doing doping during the Tour de France. I don’t know him personally but I became his fan during the last Tour. But really, before condeming him we should wait for the final tests to be made public. In the NHL we get tested at least twice a year compulsory, always after a game and without any notice. Mostly there are even three to four testings a year.

Even Thomas Vanek is a fanboy of some people; and he's defending him too! I love this. He's pretty much right, you shouldn't really condemn anyone until the facts are straight and made public.
I had no idea that they were checked after EVERY game to see if they were taking drugs of some sort. I would figure every couple of games since you wouldn't know when they would do it, but you can never be too careful about these things.
Thanks to Caroline for pretty much pointing out that he meant when they DO get tested, it's after a game. I knew that.