Buffalo Sabres Links: Season Tickets, Mike Babcock

Good morning, Buffalo Sabres fans! The second round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs is now underway, with two very different games happening last night.

The first game of the night saw a closely-battled bout between the Washington Capitals and the New York Rangers. A last-second goal – literally scored at the 19:58 mark of the third period – led the Capitals to a narrow 2-1 victory over the Blueshirts to take a 1-0 series lead.

Across the country and into Canada we went for the second game of the night, as the Calgary Flames and Anaheim Ducks began their second-round series.

Calgary was no match for the Ducks, who came out quacking and won 6-1 in a decisive victory. Corey Perry had a pair of goals, while Matt Beleskey, Patrick Maroon, Emerson Etem and Ryan Getzlaf also scored.

Tonight, we see another pair of games. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens kick off their series with a 7 p.m. puck drop, before the Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild get things going at the United Center at 9:30 p.m. EST.

At least for now, we’ll see a minimum of one game per night – though in Saturday’s case, the lone game is an afternoon match.

Heading back to the world of the Buffalo Sabres: be prepared to pay more for your season tickets next year, if you choose to go that rout.

The Buffalo Sabres sent out season ticket invoices this week, and the bill comes with a roughly five percent increase. [The Buffalo News]

Prices now range from $1,146 to $4,688 for Buffalo Sabres season tickets; fans will pay between $1 and $5 more per game, which may not seem like a whole lot in the long stretch, but factor in 41 games and that’s roughly $200 more out of pocket — per ticket — to see a team that’s finished 30th in the NHL each of the last two seasons.

[related-posts]

The increase, the team says, is in response to the CBA and to allow the team to be eligible for revenue sharing.

But another piece of that TBN article that struck me: each year, Sabres season ticket holders are given a rebate card to be used in-arena or at HARBORcenter. Last year, the rebate was 6.5 percent, according to the TBN article, which offset the price increase. But this coming season, it will return to its previous rate of 2.5 percent.

One of the factors that will definitely be new for the Buffalo Sabres next season is, of course, the head coach.

The recent elimination of the Detroit Red Wings from the Stanley Cup playoffs has now heated up the head coaching talks, especially surrounding Mike Babcock.

But put that all on hold for now — because legally, the Buffalo Sabres cannot talk to Babcock about a coaching position yet. [ESPN]

He’s under contract with the Red Wings until July 1st, so legally, there will be NO conversations with him until then. Even though he’s hinted around to not returning to Detroit, that doesn’t matter. Even though reports have claimed that Babcock has spoken about a list, he can’t, and we won’t find out more yet.

Of course, it won’t stop people from speculating, but just keep in mind that if Babcock is the answer, we won’t be hearing anything for quite a while.

Next: Sabres Alumni in NHL Playoffs

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