I don't get it.

News was released today by several sources (The Buffalo News, Sabres.com and Yahoo! to name a few) that stated the decision is now left on Thomas' shoulders about whether or not he's going to play in tomorrow's game. I'm not the only one who found this to be a dumb move by Lindy to at least publicize this. Now that it's gotten out to various news sources, the shit may hit the fan tomorrow if Thomas deems that he is unable to play at the moment because of lingering soreness. The guy can't work at 90%. In his interview today, he says he doesn't want to take someone out of the lineup to put him in if he can't work at 100%. I like his attitude.

I think what really boggles my mind about this is that Lindy should know how the fans will react if Thomas says he can't play tomorrow. Especially because of this being an elimination game, they're going to be a lot worse than they would otherwise. This brings up the whole debate with some people of Ruff vs. Vanek. Allll because Lindy sat the guy in the playoffs during 2006 and look how he bounced back the next year. I don't think this is another one of those moments but surely, Lindy has realized what he's done...not very good.

Whatever, I know I'll be sticking up for the guy if it comes down to him saying no tomorrow. He will have valid reasons for not playing. It's obvious how much he wants and needs to get back out on the ice so everyone needs to chill out.

What in the tarnation is going on?

Tamara and Caroline went to the morning skate today and I would have gone too if I didn't have college to deal with. Silly school. Anyways, when I parked at the Pepsi Center to start walking to class, I saw that Tamara texted me saying something very unnerving to me. She said that it looked like Thomas Vanek was taken off of the power play unit.

NOW WAIT A MINUTE HERE. I realize he only has five goals in thirteen games. I also realize that he has only one power play goal. I think so anyways. But you need his presence in front of the net. Goose is a big guy too and plays well in front of the net, but that's on the power play unit. They tried Drew Stafford out last year when Thomas was out and it didn't work out too well. We know he has a great pair of hands and I don't understand why Lindy would take him off. If it's because of the three penalties he got, I will (to put it bluntly) shit a brick.

This news may not be true since Tamara wasn't too sure, but I hope it really isn't. He thrives on the power play. If this means that he has to pick up his game though to earn a spot back on the power play then I know he'll do it. He's been pressured like this before. Most of the time, he delivers. He will be back.

Why is your ice time so...low?

If any of you have watched Thomas Vanek's interview today, you saw the awkwardness that was the question 'Did you talk to Lindy about why your ice time was so low last night?' He paused and then answered 'He didn't say anything.' More of an awkward pause and stifled laughter. 'We're just rolling with four lines.'

Lindy and Thomas didn't have a very nice way to end the season way back in 05-06 with his butt being benched in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, and we all know how he turned it around the season after that. I still have the feeling these two have some problems with one another...which is evident in the fact that when Thomas does one thing wrong, he seems to get benched. If the Primadonna Cuntnugget does something wrong, he doesn't get benched. I'm not even saying this because I'm biased, it's pure fact.

Yesterday, Thomas Vanek had a little over 11 minutes in ice time. 11. Minutes. Considering he's been the leading goal scorer on this team for the past three seasons, I don't want him to be playing only that much time per night. You have to factor in PK time because he doesn't play that (he used to...remember that, Lindy? Remember those short handed goals?)
Anyways, Heather from Top Shelf mentioned it in her most recent post, and I commented on how when Thomas seems to be playing well in a game, his ice time is less. If he isn't getting points on the board but is still playing well then he has at least 15 minutes of ice time. Lindy keeps saying Thomas has to keep working to get his ice time higher, but what does he have to do? Be Alexander Ovechkin every night?

I love Lindy, I really do. I just hate this relationship between the two of them.

Hey, you look kind of cute.

In your roster photo for hockey, boooooy. Yeah I went there. Tamara told me he hadn't been working it very well for the photoshoot, but I think he looks just fine. (: This might be my favorite one of him in the five years he's played. Okay, maybe besides the ridiculous rookie one, but yes.

I wonder how taking this picture went...


Aww, he is such a dork! I love how he's wearing his Medicine Hat pants, too.
Lindy is showing a little pizazz of his own. Looking good, coach!

I love picture day in the NHL. (: Notice how everyone I picked was blond? I didn't even mean for it to be like that...oops.

Lindy Ruff named Associate Coach of Team Canada.

Our wonderful coach was named one of the Associate Coaches for Team Canada earlier today. The 'stache will be walking behind the bench when the Olympics come around next year, and I can't wait to see it. Congratulations to Lindy and the other coaches for being named to the team.

I still think either Russia or Sweden is going to dominate but that's just me...

Where did they dig up this video from?

Oh Lindy, I love you.

He doesn't really look any different...besides the hair.

I love the way Ted Darling (correct me if I'm wrong) said Lindy's name whenever he scored. The way he said it just put me into a fit of giggles for some reason.

To this day, there have only been five players in franchise history to have scored four goals in a single game – joining Ruff and Martin were Dave Andrechuk, Alexander Mogilny and Miroslav Satan, respectively.

So this means Thomas Vanek is going to score four goals in a game eventually, right? Right?

Lindy Ruff named head coach of Canadian team at World Championships.

From Yahoo! Sports:

CALGARY, Alberta (AP)—Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff will lead the Canadian team at the world championships.

Ruff just completed his 11th season with the Sabres. This is his first time to coach the Canadian national team.

Nashville coach Barry Trotz and Dallas’ Dave Tippett will serve as assistants.

Canada opens the world championships against Belarus on April 24 in Switzerland.

The team’s initial roster is expected to be announced Monday.

I obviously wish he were instead coaching the Sabres through the playoffs, but this will have to do. Congratulations to him for getting the honor!

Also, happy Easter to my blog friends and those who bother to stop by here every now and then. I should have Part One up later of what I learned yesterday from my brother about wanting to be a journalist.

Congratulations Mr. Brodeur.

You've become the winningest goalie in the National Hockey League. I'm proud of you. (: I know you would break the record.

Or did you?

Before the Sabres game began last night, I mentioned to my parents how Marty Brodeur was going to win last night and break the record for all time wins in the history of the NHL. My mom asked who he was passing, and I told her it was Patrick Roy. Then she brought up a good point: Did Brodeur play longer than Roy did?

Let's check the stats.

Patrick Roy played from 1984-2003.
Marty Brodeur played from 1991-2009.

Marty Broduer played one less year than Patrick Roy did his entire career. It looks like his record should hold. I was just curious to see if this tilted the tables a little bit, but it actually doesn't at all. So congrats again Marty!

The Sabres had a late practice today, and Lindy Ruff was asked about how all those penalties affected certain players' ice times. The three names mentioned were Stafford, Afinogenov and...you guessed it, Vanek.

Hey Lindy, let me put it like this...

Remember how you had Thomas out during the PK for the beginning of the season? Remember how confident that made him, that you trusted him enough to block shots and get the puck out during crucial moments of games? Remember when he scored two short handed goals two games in a row? WELL, IT DIDN'T EXACTLY HELP HIM WHEN YOU TOOK HIM OFF OF IT FOR NO APPARENT REASON.

Seriously, from what I remember, Vanek did great on the PK. He looked confident out there. Then all of the sudden, Lindy took him off of it. Every few games he gets a taste of it again but only for four or so seconds. That's the only beef I have against Lindy. I don't care if he's 'dangling a carrot' in front of Thomas. I don't think he was fairly taken off of the PK. He will never learn if he doesn't put trust into him.

Shows the relationship they have with one another, doesn't it?

Carolina Hurricanes fire Laviolette...is any coach safe in the NHL?

Checking up on the Blogosphere, I learned that Peter Laviolette was fired today and replaced with Paul Maurice, the ex-coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. I was quite surprised considering the Hurricanes won the Cup under him in '06, and even with the fact they missed the playoffs two years in a row, Carolina was still a strong team in a pretty weak division.

That being said, it appears that no matter what your track record is with a team, no coach is safe anymore. That brings us to Lindy's future - now I'm not saying the man should be or will be fired because I love Lindy Ruff. I can't see a Sabres team not being under him, honestly. Since I was seven I've been watching the Sabres under him. I can hardly remember the years before that. But you have to wonder, if the Sabres keep pulling this crap will Lindy stay at the helm? Many other blogs and members of WGR were saying that Lindy basically can't say anything else that he hasn't said already. He's trying to drill into these guys' brains that there needs to be more consistancy, more driving to the net during games, and they have to get ugly goals. It's a grind, as Lindy would like to say.

The last thing I want to see happen to this team is read a report that Lindy Ruff was fired and replaced with some guy I never heard of before, or another guy that was fired previously. Like I said, this more than likely WILL NOT happen for Lindy has a good relationship with the players and the ownership. It's just something that I don't wish to see in the near future.

It's time to screw those statistics - clean slate time!

Lindy Ruff told the media today that the Sabres started a 'clean slate'. They were told to forgot about the previous 24 games. Forget about this current slump they're in. Forget about the points, and the goals, and the assists (which I thought was amusing because Craigory said that 'Thomas Vanek looked like he was the only one scratching his head at somehow getting rid of his 18 goals.') They need to pretend that they're just starting the season out, and from the sounds of how Lindy and Craigory both reacted to the practice, the players responded well. We can only hope that shows up on this road trip, which should also help them. Getting away from home eases the pain.

Does this mean Buffalo may perhaps seriously try to play like they did in the first five games of the season? Defense first, but also have a scary offense? You know, with people scoring other than Vanek?
Let's all put our hands together and pray (or if you're athiest, just cross your fingers) for the Sabres and ope their game plan decides to work for this roadtrip, because if they come back 0-3, I will have to go down to the arena and do a little more than knock a few heads together.