Top Five Games of the Year
By Tim Redinger
So there are eighty-two games in the NHL season for the Buffalo Sabres, and all of them are important when it comes to trying to parade down Main Street with The Stanley Cup. There is going to be a lot of energy this year, both from the fans eager to see what Hockey Heaven is really all about, and from players who are apart of something special now, instead of just being apart of something. Here are top games on the schedule that I am marking down as must see’s (ok…so all 82 are must sees, but you get my point.)
1. Wednesday November 2, 2011. Home versus Philadelphia Flyers
I have been writing for this network now for several years, and Eugene Markmen from BSB is one of the people on this network that I can call a friend. I would compliment him more, but he roots for the Philadelphia Flyers, and if there is one team that I can’t stand its the Flyers. Maybe it was because I was born with the sting of the 1975 Stanley Cup Finals still burning in my mothers womb – but for some reason my blood just boils when I see orange and black. This is Philadelphia’s first visit of the year (its also the first time we play them) since we lost to them in the playoffs – and both teams are vastly different than they were in that seven games series. The guy that broke the back of the Buffalo Sabres – well hatred for him ended real quick because the Easter Sunday villain wears blue and gold now.
2. Tuesday November 8, 2012. Home versus Winnipeg Jets
Part of me wants to be at the first game that Winnipeg plays in Buffalo the second time around for that reason, but the main reason this game is important is the induction of Rick Jeanneret into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame (sorry Dale Hawerchuk). While the ceremony wont be as special as when the banner of the late great number 7 was placed in a memorial on the ice – it will be emotional just the same. This will be one game that I am glad the visiting team wears the dark jerseys, so I can see just how well the new owners did with the jerseys in person.
3. Saturday January 21. At St. Louis Blues.
No big reason here, other than the fact if the Buffalo Sabres ceased to exist, St. Louis would be my city of choice for my hockey fix. Not sure why I have always been drawn to the Gateway to the West; maybe it was the blue and gold uniform similarity or just liking their brand of hockey as I grew up. Either way I look forward to seeing St. Louis on the schedule.
4. Thursday February 16 At Philadelphia Flyers.
Despite my extreme hatred for the city of Brotherly Love (yes – it extends to the entire city, not just the hockey team) they are going to grace this article more than once. The only reason they get the honors again here is 2-16 is my birthday, and I take any hockey game on this day as a gift to me from the hockey gods.
5. Wednesday March 14 Home versus Colorado Avalanche
Had a good friend of mine that was a huge Patrick Roy fan, and our personal rivalries grew stronger as we got older. He loved the Colorado Avalanche, and I loved the Sabres. So we bickered and fought on the rare occasions that our teams would meet. To this day I always scan the schedule when it comes out looking for when the Colorado Avalance would be playing my boys in blue and gold.
The season is fast approaching, although not fast enough.