Sabrenoise Game Puck Round Table

Jan 20, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres left wing

(26) and Philadelphia Flyers right wing

(19) fight for position during the first period at the First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

For the Buffalo Sabres – player of the game nominations usually take on a “funny” and entertaining spin in the media.

Remember last season’s golden helmet?

Well here at Sabrenoise.com we are going to have a round table discussion on who deserves the game puck from each game.

For Game 1 against the Philadelphia Flyers there is no round table, no discussion, Thomas Vanek and his five point night gets the honors.  Congrats Vanek on a delayed announcement.

For Game Two against the Toronto Maple Leafs, here is the round table discsusion and – since I am writing, my opinions and moderation!

Our newest team member CC wants to give last nights game puck to goaltender Ryan Miller.  She says Ryan Miller who appears to be in mid-season form and is the sole reason the sabres beat the leafs. Looking like Miller will need to be sharp early on if the Sabres are to win games hopefully they can pay him back down the stretch.

I have to disagree.  While Miller was tested often against the Maple Leafs – the defense did a good job of limiting the quality chances by the Leafs – Miller saw the puck well.  When the Sabres were down and out on those extended powerplays, Miller had litle work to do other than grab pucks that were shot right at him, because the triangle of players in front of him had the ice clear.  Good vote CC – but no dice for Ryan Miller.

Rich wants to give the game puck to a collective unit – that being the Buffalo Sabres Penalty Kill team.  Obviously, a large amount of the credit for killing off power plays goes to Ryan Miller, who was a total beast all night long.  Over all, killing off six out of the seven penalties, including two five-on-three, was huge, especially when Buffalo was holding on for dear life at the end of the game.  If Buffalo had been playing from behind in the third, or if the game had headed into overtime, I don’t think they had enough in the tank to pull out a W.  Sabres penalty kill gets my game puck today.     Calling Ryan Miller a beast gives CC’s vote more weight – but I am more inclined to agree with Rich – 2 minutes of 5 on 3 time and through two periods of play 14 of the Leafs 21 shots came on the powerplay, but none of them were really hard shots, the Buffalo Sabres unit kept the Leafs to easy chances for Miller to save.

The final goal was one of those fluky ones that Miller didn’t stand a chance on – and I fault the PK for not having a guy right there – so I don’t like the PK for the game puck earlier.  Preserve the shutout and you would have gotten my vote.

Last nights game puck is going to Cody Hodgson.  Last season he had a total of three goals as Buffalo Sabres since coming over at the trade deadline.  In two

January 21, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; Buffalo Sabres forward Cody Hodgson (19) scores on Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender

(30) during the first period at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

games this year, he is already at two goals.AJ Haller votes with his comment – He’s really come on strong this year and playing like he belongs on that line with Vanek and Pominville. He got lucky on the goal he scored tonight, but he just always seems to be in the right place in the offensive zone creating scoring chances for Buffalo.

Andrew casts his vote from Rochester as well for Cody – Hodgson, in the initial 2 games, has been the pulse of the  team. While the Foligno-Ennis-Stafford line and the Ott-Grigorenko-Hecht line  are still trying to regain their legs and find chemistry, Hodgson has anchored  the top line that has had a hand in each of the 7 Sabres goals this season. Not  only has he been the motor on offense, appearing in brilliant flashes all over  the ice, but Hodgson has been sound defensively with his back-checking and  penalty killing. For this, my nomination for SabreNoise game puck, is  #19.

Hodgson has two goals with zero shots on net so far this season, making him the odds on favorite for the Buffalo Sabres “Game Puck” as awarded by the writers here at Sabrenoise.com.

Thanks for stopping by, and keep us your source for Sabres opinions, notes, and comedy here as we continue to follow your favorite hockey team.

Who will get the vote in Carolina on Thursday?