Sometimes He Makes It So Hard

…to hate him.

After much debate, planning, and not running away…Shelby and I finally got this picture happen.

He doesn’t have to like us, but as long as he likes his back up 🙂

August is Such a Happy Month.

The earlier we are before training camp, the more I seem to like Ryan Miller. It’s a weird thing I cannot explain…

I think it’s because deep down inside, I don’t actually mind him, and he’s a mellow guy when in his presence. Also, I haven’t seen him since…April? So four months off does a lot for me.

Also, he hasn’t had the chance to blow it, yet.

But he made his return to the Pepsi Center this morning (apparently he was there before orientation camp, but how the hell was I suppose to know that?) He got new pads, I suppose that’s to him what getting a new notebook is to me.

Speaking of goalies, one of my friends reminded me today that Patty had hip surgery/hernia surgery. I knew about this, it just slipped my mind throughout the summer. He said he saw him in Wegmans (they’re always in Wegmans) about a month ago and he was limping.

SUDDENLY that means he’s a goner (or will be at the end of his contract) and Johnas, who has NEVER even played in the NHL, will be taking his place. Because of a little limp! He said on the Sabres show that he was fine! Also, Darcy said that he’s going to be in net/bench this season…and this will be the one time ever that I use Darcy as an advantage, so please save this post.

He said on the Sabres show that he was doing fine, and why would anyone lie to Kevin? I think I’m just freaking out for nothing, people like to screw with me. I probably won’t feel better until I see him, which is hopefully soon…because this entire hockey year is all pushed back a week.

I believe in you, Patty Cakes. You’ve survived through tougher things, and you’re not going anywhere.

This is the video in which Shelby said Betruzzi is the actual Patty Cakes.

Clearly, this was a minor filler post.

For Shelby.

The other day at the Pepsi Center, Shelby stated that she had never seen Tim Connolly with hair. And who can blame her, its been so long since his fabulous hair was in existence.

Since she’s not online right now, I’ll post them here.

I believe his hair got fuller than that, but I had never seen that picture or that card so it was a good find. Also, I never knew he broke his leg, but I would not be a Tim Connolly fan if that were to shock me.

That’s pretty stylin’…if you ask me. We should really push for that do to make a come back.

However, I do believe a certain teammate has him beaten in the fro department.

and you can’t call me bias, because I love them both!

Drabble.

I’d figured I’d get a few things covered as my last hour of work approaches.

1.) I should have mentioned this in Martys birthday post, because I don’t think I ever have before, but the entire title of this blog comes from him. Well, him and RJ, but either way. I’m sure this save isn’t news to anyone (though you young-ins may not recall when it actually happened. It’s okay, I don’t) here it is…

Part of being a great goalie, even if only for a moment, is not drawing attention to the fact that you have kick ass. Such as Marty pulling such a save out of his behind(I’m sure a constant wanderer, he has to be prepared for such things), and being like ‘ yeah, whatever’ moments after. I love it, and I love him.

2.) I truely think that a Drew Stafford contract is days away (only because they usually don’t sign on weekends). I cannot openly say WHY I feel this, but something is coming. That, and it’s mid-August.

3.) Mr. Grier sent us realllllly close to the cap space, so if Drew does sign- even without the pay raise he does deserve- it’s going to get messy. Someone may be going. And by someone I mean NOT Goose. Everyone else, sleep with one eye open (though I like to think Toni is safe, not sure why).

4.) I think Google sponsored links are on to Shelby and I.

If only they really could help! But we’re pretty sure we have him located now.

5.) I am still so sick of people saying Patty failed us when Ryan was hurt. I didn’t look up the exact number, but I know he only played a handful of games prior to the injury, and then becomes a starter. Yes, that is the backups job, but its the teams job to prepare the back up…such as playing MORE than five games before becoming a starter. He IS a good goalie…and somehow its always someone elses fault when Ryan blows a game. Ugh.

6.) I have a new happy picture! I stumbled across this one during…actually, I don’t know. Anyways, it makes me smile….

And hopefully does the same for you, as well.

It’s like Godzilla invading Japan or something.

40.

I had a real post planned, then my dashboard reminded me thatttt this is post number….

40!

the title gave it away, I bet.

Nevertheless…

🙂

Stay tuned for the real post.

Coming Soon: The Buffalo Sabres Goaltending Farm.

So, I wake up late this morning, and do my usual search of Sabres related sources, only to find out that Buffalo signed…get this… a goalie!

I haven’t done much research on him. His name is Jean-Philippe Lamoureux (I had to copy paste that one, sorry), and despite sounding like he was born in bred somewhere in northern Quebec, he’s actually from North Dakota (from November to March, I think those two places can be the same thing).

This is him…

He’s going to be 25 in August, and he played at the University of North Dakota (this may be as close as we’re going to get for awhile to signing Drew…they’re Facebook friends though!)

okay this actually continued about five minutes later because I was looking at my friends pictures from the Billy Joel and Elton John concert (in Philly, they are yet to come back to Buffalo)….

Okay! So, like I said I didn’t read too much into him, but so far nothing that makes me gag. Except for the fact, that he is a goalie, but that isn’t something I can hold against him (just Ryan…).

When I texted a friend about it, she responded with ‘ but…why?’ EXACTLY, Kristina, EXACTLY! The Sabres have this thing for making long term solutions for a short term problem. Did it kind of suck that Ryan got hurt last year? Of course. Was it the end of the free world as we know it? Heck no. We had equally bad games with Ryan as we did without him.

And I know that we were in a bit of a pickle when Ryan got hurt, and Patty got sick, and Jhonas probably got really scared because, lets be honest, the chances the third string plays starter is a rare event…I’m sure it happens, but only on days that Hank Tallinder goes without smiling.

Not to mention, that if Patty could not have been kept alive with being 80% dayquil, we could have usually relied on Adam Dennis, who I believe was hurt at the time. So, when you look at it, what are the chances that Scott Gomez is gonna sit on Ryan, Patty is going to get sick, and Adam Dennis is going to be hurt all at the same time.

For the sake of the Swedish goalie, hopefully never again. And realistically speaking, it probably won’t ever happen again.

And even if Darcy is paranoid of such (this should not be the top of his priority list, it just shouldn’t be) then there’s other things we can do.

Such as…

1.) Put out a restraining order against Scott Gomez (and Mike Ryan, just to be sure).
2.) Insure all goalies groins, ankles, and…uh, hands I suppose. Use that money to find a goalie at the last minute. Its cheaper.
3.) Do NOT let Ryan and Patty on the same plane (don’t Prince Charles and William do this?). Do not let them stay on the same floor in the hotel (don’t even tell them they’re in the same hotel). Same rules apply to Patty and Jhonas when and if needed.
4.) I was going to say Patty should not be allowed near his kids- who got him sick originally- but that would be cruel for both parties (and me). How about we double his intake of juice and keep on hand those things that you sniff that makes the cold go away? I’m sure there’s a real name for them.
5.) I’ll get back to you on that.

Can’t we take the salary cap from a ‘ nobody loves me’ team like LA or Atlanta and make that strictly our sick goalie fund? Whatever is left from that can be our ‘ Restricted Agent Gone Wrong’ fund.

I should so be a GM…

A Love Lost.

The Sabres broke my heart on February 27th, 2007 (and numerous other times, I’m sure, but this one was crucial).

It was the day, as many may know, that Marty Biron was sent to Philly…who won as many games as we lost that season. To say the least, I was heartbroken, and did everything I could to still adore him…including driving to Philly and back the same day, which resulted in 21 hours without sleep, mangled friendships, and a $400 speeding ticket.

Surely, I knew his time was running out. But Darcy said he was staying put until June (this was back when I still thought Darcy was telling the truth). Bottom line, it was terrible. I have pancakes every day on the anniversary, and still go on mild rants about it…etc.

Anywho, from then on I did my best to be a Flyers fan (shush it!) as well as be supportive of incoming Sabres back up goalies.

** For those who don’t know, my love for the back up goalie began when watching a Calgary Flames game (I BELIEVE they were playing the Flyers, don’t quote me though) and Cujo opened the door to the bench for someone, and I thought ‘ hey, back up goalies are supportive dudes, how adorable!’…and the rest is pretty much history**

Moving on…

Ty Conklin…it was never going to happen. He was the one who replaced Marty…like the horrid step-dad or something, so it wasn’t going to ever be a happy balance. Plus, he LOST to the Flyers and was only here for roughly six weeks. Should Miller have gone down, I would not have felt safe.

T-Bo…I think I liked him just because I was suppose to, like it was my duty as the back up goalie lover. I don’t think I ever went to a game where he played (then again, when Miller plays 76 out of 82 games, odds are against me) but I always gave him a boost when others wouldn’t. However, my friend did do a T-Bo dance in the airport parking lot after he shut out…a team, our last game that season.

Then, there was Patty.

Cue dreamy sigh.

I remember when hearing that we signed him, my friend Stephanie (the same one who did the T-Bo dance) texted me when I was sitting at a stop light on Niagara Falls Boulevard. She told me he was friends with Marty (not actually sure if thats true, but maybe French Canadien goalies just stick together) and I thought he had an amusing last name. So, I figured he deserved fair shot.

That August I saw a stick of his in an Ottawa hockey gear store…

But it took awhile for us to get going…he walked by me a few times in the Pepsi Center, and I was confused as to what to do (maybe it was because I wasn’t sure how to pronounce his last name, or maybe it was because I was still livid over Hank Tallinders choice of haircuts). I don’t remember the precise moment I met him, I think it was training camp (I should know this! I hate that I don’t!) I believe he signed the puck that is currently holding up the blinds on one of my window that Ryan Miller also signed.

It was probably that he’s French, or that he has curly hair, or that he’s just freaking adorable. But, it progressed throughout the season.

I was STOKED when he played against the Senators in October.

I made a shirt that says ‘ I heart the Back Up Goalie’ with his name and number on the back.

I wanted to give him a banana, and still plan to (he had a peel in his car one day and I figured he likes them?)

I collected old hockey cards of his that he claims made him feel old, and his Senators MacFarlene figure (minus the net) are on the top shelf next to my fabric softner.

I have his jersey! I have Martys too, but not his back up goalie jersey!

And now, numerous somewhat strong sources have told me that there are chances that he is coming back….

Then again, isn’t every former Sabre?

But I don’t know how I would handle it, if he did. I really think I’m too attached to Patty to let this happen (off my back, its 2 am!). We have a thing going, I don’t want to break it.

Because if Marty comes back, as Ryans back up…where does Patty go? Portland, where he will set Jhonas back as well? Trade him? he only has one year left on his contract (I love that he had the longest contract of any recent back up, I had hopes of him retiring here!).

Gahh!

I’m torn.

Was about time that damn economy affected me.