Evander Kane Stays Hot As Sabres Get Huge Divisional Win Against Leafs
By Adam DeRose
The up-and-down Buffalo Sabres headed north of the border to take on a divisional rival, and this time, it worked out for them!
Tonight our Buffalo Sabres headed north of the border to Toronto to take on long time nemesis, the Maple Leafs. Like almost all Sabre fans, I was nervous about tonight’s game. We all know that the Sabres have been inconsistent all season:
- Will the Sabres play 10 minutes or 40 minutes?
- Will the Sabres show up to play the 1st Period?
- Will the Sabres show up to play the last 10 minutes of the 3rd Period?
Heading in to tonight’s game, the Sabres desperately needed points if they wanted to stay alive in the playoff hunt. I am always optimistic that the Sabres will show up to play against the Leafs; it’s ALWAYS a Battle of Lake Ontario, USA vs. Canada, 16 ounce cans of Molson Canadian vs. Genny Cream Ale! Anyway, crack open your brew of choice, because here’s my intake and digestion of the game!
It was 7pm and I had a canned Genesee Bock Beer cracked open. I don’t know what it is about winter, but it must be the forced hot air heating system in my house that makes my beer evaporate; I went through a few Bocks during the game…with that being said, here are my Peanut Gallery take-aways from the game:
1st Period:
- Buffalo’s first two quick goals by Evander Kane and Sam Reinhart were a great boost!
- I loved when Buffalo Sabre Marcus Foligno dumped Toronto Maple Leaf Nikita Zaitsev into the Leafs’ bench…it was poetic, he dumped him ass over tea kettle. And the bench door flew open!
- It was great seeing Buffalo Sabre Rasmus Ristolainen drop the gloves with Toronto Maple Leaf James van Riemsdyk. Though the “fight” didn’t produce much action, it still spawned some energy into the game! I always knew Rasmus had a pair of cojones, but I never pegged him as a fighter; good job for him for trying!
- Evander Kane scoring late in the 1st Period was great. I know I’m Captain Obvious here, but as long as the Sabres are putting points up on the boards, it’s a good sign.
- Even though Buffalo had a 3-0 lead after the 1st Period, I was still nervous! As Sabre fans, we know a 3 goal lead means nothing! Buffalo blew a 3 goal lead against the Flyers in Philadelphia on Tuesday October 25, 2016…we lost in the shootout 4-3.
2nd Period:
- Buffalo looked good for the first part of the period…then they got into penalty trouble
- Buffalo gave up a Power Play goal towards the end of the 2nd Period, which gave the Leafs–and their fans–a huge shot in the arm!
- The Sabres were lucky to escape the 2nd Period 3-1.
3rd Period:
- I was surprised to hear Derek Grant’s name again! Last I knew, the Sabres put him on waivers and Nashville snatched him. Low and behold, he made his way back to Buffalo!
- With 3:45 left in the 3rd Period, and being down 3-1, Toronto’s Coach Mike “Norman Osborn” Babcock (not Dr. Octavious–I saw all your comments, and forgive me, I’m not a comic book nerd who still lives in my parents’ basement…) pulled the goalie. I was hoping for Buffalo to silence the crowd with an empty netter…
- I was bummed out–along with most Sabre and hockey fans–that Derek Grant did not get his first NHL career goal…he rang the puck off the post of an empty net! It’s like having whiskey dick with a chick who’s ready to go! Fudge!
- I liked the scrum in the dying seconds of the game! Rasmus is still a beast, wanting to tango, face smear, or punch anything that gets in his way!
My Jerry Springer Final Thoughts are:
- I hoped Evander Kane got a hat trick, but, sadly, he did not.
- Even though he was all over the ice and crease, Robin Lehner had a great game.
- Evan Rodrigues and Justin Bailey showed up to play and have proven they earned a spot on the team.
- The Sabres kept the NHL’s newest Messiah, Auston Matthews off the score sheet!
Lastly, Grandpa Ziggy added his take on the game, “WELL ADAM, GLAD THE SABRES WON & HOLD ON ON WINING 3 TO 1 ,THE TORANTO PERSISTED BUT BUFFALO HOLD THAM BACK & THATS THE WAY PLAY DESPRETE HOCKY GOOD KNIGHJT