Slug Post-Mortem and Gameday Preview Tantalizer

In preparing a gameday preview for tonite's game against the Buffa-slugs, um, I mean Sabres, I would certainly be remiss if I did not include a eulogy of sorts for the recently deposed -- and thank the Lord of all that is good and holy -- "banana slug" logo. Now, the marketing geniuses who work for owner Tom Golisano can sell you their "new", but re-invigorated vintage logo that was relaunched to honor the 4oth year anniversary of the franchise, which was born shortly after my parents relocated from Buffalo, NY to my hometown and birth place, Albany, NY. I came along three winters later and my father made sure that I was steadily indoctrinated into the passionate and rather healthy Buffalo fan-base in Albany. I was a Bills and Sabres fan as far back as I can remember and did not throw off the mantle of "Buffalo fan" until the summer of 2002, when I moved here to Atlanta. However, it took me a little bit longer to adopt the Thrashers as my favorite team since they were so dreadful until 2005.

I do recall going to at least one Sabres game at Philips Arena and secretly pulling for the team in red and black (uggh!). But something happened in those first few forays into Thrasherville, and the allure of live hockey in my back-yard transformed me into a fan of the T-birds. The post-lockout season clinched my allegiance to Atlanta's Thrashers. And in 2006, I then pledged to remain forever steadfast in my support of this underdog franchise -- one that eveyone thinks will eventually defect to Winnipeg or Hamilton in Canada. But I will always look back fondly to my childhood love affair with the Buffalo Sabres, who showcased so many wonderful players, but yet left their fans lusting for more wonderful results in the playoffs. Until 1999 when Eddie "the Eagle" Belfour out-lasted "The Dominator" in a goaltending duel to the death. The sting of that Game 6 Stanley Cup Finals defeat might as well have been death as I sulked for weeks after it ended.

Okay Buffalo, you've had your fun, NOW PICK A DAMN LOGO AND STICK WITH IT!

While the Buffalo Sabres commemorate their expansion team entrance into the NHL franchise fraternity 40 years ago, I have enjoyed looking back warmly to all of the cold winter nites of my youth when I would count the minutes before puck-drop on those rare occasions in which the Sabres would appear on my TV set against the Rangers or Bruins, who were both broadcast locally. As I look back over my 30-something year fascination with the game of hockey, I can only hope that the Sabres organization allows this 40th anniversary season to serve as the beginning of a new era in which the original logo is preserved as the only image to represent the franchise going forward.

That means no more "pissed-off bison" logos like the one from the "red and black" era despite the franchise's solid late 90's run of playoff success and close-call with the Stanley Cup. At least with the "R&B" period, you could still identify the mascot as an actual 4-legged creature that used to roam the western plains in great abundance. A mascot doesn't know that Sean Avery is a prick and shouldn't have a glowing red eye like the Terminator. And those unis were almost as hideous as the ones unveiled in the fall of 2006 when the bizarre lurching horned slug was introduced into the logo lexicon of shame. But alas, that confused phase has come to a close with the re-introduction of the classic logo featuring a stylized, charging bison above two crossed Sabres. Although purists like me would prefer to see the use of the actual original logo, I will settle for this re-engineered version of a uniform adorning classic. It makes me think of Gilbert Perreault and their teams of the early '80s when I lived and died "by the blade" as a child. I hoped and prayed that Perreault, Tony McKegney, Phil Housely, Lindy Ruff and some guy named Craig Ramsay would oust the hated Boston Bruins so I didn't have to hear anymore about how much Raymond Bourque reminded them of Bobby Orr!! But that dream was to become a nightmare as the Sabres lost a gut-wrenching and heart-breaking 7 game series at the famed Boston "Gahden".

Now, here it is nearly 27 years later and I'll be donning not a vintage Sabres jersey tonite, but my cobalt blue, Marty Reasoner Thrashers sweater to rally 'round the flag of Blueland for a game that should prove to be quite entertaining, as most clashes with the Sabres usually are. When the players take the ice tonite, there won't be as much at stake as a Game 7 playoff game, but pride will most certainly be on display on the ice as well as off it when thousands of Buffalo transplants, who refuse to give up the sword, descend upon Philips Arena to party like it's their, well, 40th birthday!! And that's perfectly fine as they bring an unabashed passion that is universally loathed by Thrashers' fans, who always seem to get their dander up for games against the Sabres. Regardless of location, home or away, most Sabres vs. Thrashers games are high-octane, high-energy affairs in which the action moves non-stop up and down the ice.

The Sabres bring their normal cast of characters into the game tonite, but with a few additions both new and old. Coupled with some fresh, young faces like Tyler Ennis and Tyler Myers (I think two Tylers is over the threshhold for good sense though) are older veteran faces like Tomas Vanek, Derek Roy and of course, perennial All-Star netminder, Ryan Miller. They are even recycling one familiar face as Mike Grier returns to the Sabres for his second tour of duty under Head Coach Lindy Ruff. The Sabres still like to get up and down the ice, but seem to be putting a greater emphasis on tightening things up defensively compared to recent years when they've possessed more skill and firepower along the front line. Now they boast more explosiveness from the back line thanks to 2nd year phenom Myers as well as Steve Montador and Jordan Leopold (my g/f K-belle will certainly love to learn this as she loves to hate on this "cat") who can skate as well as any D-man in the league.

However, the Sabres have struggled mightily to find consistency with their offensive attack. They have only scored 12 goals thus far in 6 games and many of their key offensive contributors have found it harder than usual to hit the back of the net. Forward Derek Roy is the only player who has enjoyed a fast start to the season with five of the Sabres' 12 goals. But popular goal-scorer Jason Pomminville is still out with a concussion and the Sabres are having a rough time filling the void with only 4 goals scored in their last 3 contests. Unfortunately, three of them came in a losing effort to Chicago and they were blanked by a struggling New Jersey Devils team that could only ice 16 players for their game a week ago. But they still have one of the league's best goalies in Miller, who has been steady if not spectacular. He comes in scorching hot with only 3 goals allowed in his last two and a save percentage of .952 for those two losing efforts. His teammates let him down in those games scoring just twice in 125 minutes of action. Certainly, the Sabres will be playing with a lot of early fire and determination so they can add a second notch to their win column -- they come in with a record of 1 - 3 - 1 -- and keep from falling further behind the strong early pace of divisional rival Montreal Canadiens.

In all likelihood, tonite's game will be a tightly-contested one in which both teams create good chances from aggressive back-checking and forced turnovers in the neutral zone. I suspect the Sabres will forecheck ultra-aggressively in the early going to get the upper-hand and hope that the law of averages for goal-scoring helps an offensive attack that has succeeded in putting an average of 32.5 shots on goal over their 6 games. If the Thrashers can withstand the early assault and remain cohesive defensively -- thus helping clear the crease of juicy rebounds -- then they should be able to mount plenty of pressure on the Sabres, who are generally a bit smaller and less physical than previous Thrashers' teams. Of course, this year's installment is much bigger and faster thanks to the additons of Ben Eager, Andrew Ladd and Anthony Stewart. Hopefully the success of our bottom two lines will continue against the Sabres' struggling bottom lines and end up being the difference-maker in a close game. Either way I think the outcome will feature a 3 to 2 score.

In the end, I believe the Thrashers will prevail because these Thrashers aren't the Thrashers the NHL has become accustomed to playing in the last couple of years. Surprise, surprise!! Sorry Sabres fans to further spoil your Happy Birthday and blow the candles out on your anniversary cake!! It's time to slam your collective face right into the sheet of icing!!