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for April 2011
 The series between the Philadelphia Flyers and Buffalo Sabres has become a best of three heading back to Philadelphia. The 1-0 victory on Wednesday night once again was evidence of how closely matched these teams are. The sellout HSBC Arena crowd was treated to a spectacular performance given by Ryan Miller, who posted his second shutout of the series. The roller coaster that is the NHL playoffs seems poised for at least a couple more turns.
Here’s my take on the game.
♦ Miller may not have had to be great in his Game 1 shutout, but he earned every accolade and piece of praise given after his game four performance. Despite a relatively shaky opening period, he kept Philadelphia off the score board and elevated his game from there. Miller played with an edge to his game all night that included a jab to the face of the Flyers Daniel Carcillo. This is the Ryan Miller that fans have asked to see on a regular basis. Someone that is capable of bailing the team out for their mistakes as he did on the third period stop of Danny Briere. Briere received the puck in front of the net all alone and despite his patient moves Miller stonewalled him with his glove hand in a moment that should live on in Sabres playoff history. The crowd erupted in its appreciation of the play and Miller continued to carry the team to the victory.
Continue reading ‘Morning Reactions: Sabres 1, Flyers 0′
 The Buffalo Bandits today announced plans to thank their fans for all their support in 2011 by hosting “Fan Appreciation Night” this Saturday when the Bandits take on the Rochester Knighthawks at 7:30 p.m. in their final game of the regular season.
Bandits fans have once again shown up in droves this season to support the team on their way to clinching the NLL Eastern Division regular season title. The Bandits’ average attendance of 16,868 fans per game leads the NLL entering the final weekend of the season and gives Buffalo a chance to top 17,000 fans per game for the third time in franchise history.
As a thank you to the season ticket holders who help make this possible, the Bandits are giving away autographed Bandits jerseys throughout the game. Lucky winners randomly selected from all season ticket holders will join the team on the field after the game to receive their jerseys.
Continue reading ‘Bandits Announce Fan Appreciation Night’
 Former Buffalo Sabres legend Rick Martin may have recently passed away, but at least one prominent sports bar in Western New York continues to remember him.
In Martin’s honor, Holiday’s is offering a chicken wing special that can’t be matched anywhere. During Sabres playoff games and in homage to No. 7, the bar is offering a mind-blowing deal of chicken wings for just seven cents apiece.
All you have do to be able to take advantage of the chicken wing special is comply with a group three-drink minimum, an easy task for thirsty Buffalonians. The bar also has a bucket special— 5 cans of beer for just $12.
Holiday’s is located at 935 Harlem Road in West Seneca, not far from Clinton Street. The phone number is 824-8812.
 When I forecasted this Buffalo Sabres vs. Philadelphia Flyers series, I believed it was going to be imperative for the Sabres best players to in fact, play like their best players. Through the first three games you could argue that one “star” player was the best skater on the ice in each game. Ryan Miller was great in game one, Thomas Vanek scored two goals early in game two before a penalty filled second period minimized his ice time, and Drew Stafford played his best game of the series on Monday.
The biggest difference so far between the teams has been the Flyers are having multiple players play well in the same game. Claude Giroux has displayed deft puck handling and an ability to create for himself and teammates. Danny Briere has two goals in the series and Jeff Carter’s one goal and one assist performance in game three showed the depth the Flyers have throughout their talented lineup. The Flyers have also enjoyed positive play from Kimmo Timmonen and James van Riemsdyk among others to complement their star players. Brian Boucher has been a revelation in goal since taking over for Sergei Bobrovsky.
Continue reading ‘Sabres Turnaround Must Start Tonight’
 I don’t often enjoy making it my business to promote someone else’s football thoughts, especially when it’s my job to provide original insight of my own, and even more so when it’s someone from WGR I’m promoting. It’s not exactly a confidential that I’m not the world’s biggest WGR fan as a whole.
However, occasionally you have to give credit where it’s due. WGR reporter Joe Buscaglia penned an exceptional piece following the Buffalo Bills draft luncheon that featured Buddy Nix and Tom Modrak. With an admitted dose of envy, I’ll go as far to acknowledge that for my money, it’s the single-best Bills related draft insight article I’ve read anywhere during the entire process. Not just recently, but since the offseason began. That’s how spot-on I think Buscaglia is with this.
I not only invite, but unreservedly encourage every single Bills fans to read it in its entirety right here. It verges on educational.
In his editorial, Buscaglia writes at length about two players I think are enormously central parts of the Bills front office thinking process come next Thursday; Marcell Dareus and Blaine Gabbert— for entirely distinctive reasons.
Continue reading ‘Bills Draft Luncheon Reveals Telling Clues’
 A complete transcript from Tuesday’s Buffalo Bills pre-draft luncheon, courtesy of the Bills official team website.
Brian Galliford (Buffalo Rumblings) offers his analysis of the 2011 Buffalo Bills schedule. Much like myself, he’s not a fan of three December home games.
Tim Graham (ESPN) offers his as well. He notes that the Bengals are the only team among their first six games that had a losing record last season.
Allen Wilson of the Buffalo News reports that linebacker prospect Von Miller has clearly caught the Bills attention and could be the third overall pick.
Continue reading ‘The Daily Links – April 20, 2011′
 The 2011 NFL schedule is officially out and when it comes to the Buffalo Bills, there’s few if any surprises. For the second consecutive season in a row there will be no prime time games. The other item to note is despite having a 50% chance to land in Dallas on Thanksgiving Day, it was the Miami Dolphins that earned the nod, frankly because few people outside of Buffalo care to be subjected to watching the Bills play while eating their turkey dinner.
Also, despite an earlier leak by Fan590 in Toronto, it will be the Washington Redskins, not the Philadelphia Eagles that will face the Bills in the annual Toronto game (October 30). I consider that good news as Philadelphia is a much better draw at Orchard Park.
Of all the portions of the schedule, I dislike December the most. The Bills have struggled for several years and most anticipate the same in 2011. Assuming that’s the case and coupled with the blackouts last season, why would why the NFL scheduling Gods slate three home games in cold, windy December?
Continue reading ‘(Brief) Analysis Of Bills 2011 Schedule’
 Monday’s snow melted in time for the Bisons and Red Wings to complete a doubleheader at Coca-Cola Field on Tuesday. However, Buffalo’s offense just couldn’t heat up against Rochester pitching.
The Herd combined to score just one run on nine hits in the twinbill, dropping both games to their closest rivals. Rochester scored a 3-1 victory in Tuesday’s first game before shutting out the Bisons, 2-0, in the second contest.
The Bisons’ lone run on the day came courtesy of their first batter on the afternoon. Jason Pridie homered on a 1-1 pitch from Rochester starter Anthony Swarzak. From that point on, the Herd was shutout on just eight singles over the next 14 innings.
Continue reading ‘Bisons Swept In Doubleheader’
 Born and raised in Western New York, Nick Mendola has always considered it not just a passion, but his destiny to spend his adult life on-air as a radio host. The Kenmore East High School and University at Buffalo graduate took the long road of sorts towards local celebrity, waiting tables at a restaurant while also touring with his independent rock band.
His chance to work on the airwaves came when he was hired by WGR in 2005. During his five-year career there, Mendola earned notable awards, including the 2007 Entercom Unsung Hero Award, the 2008 Entercom Award for Strongest Digital Audience Enhancement and the 2009 Marconi for Best Sports Radio Station.
While at WGR, Mendola became one of the first radio personalities to heavily tap into the internet with his own sports blog, which was the most-read blog at Entercom.
Continue reading ‘The BSD Interview With WECK’s Nick Mendola’
 The National Lacrosse League today announced that the Buffalo Bandits will host the Boston Blazers in the first round of the 2011 NLL Playoffs. The teams will square off at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 30 at HSBC Arena.
Tickets for the game will go on sale Friday, April 22 at 9 a.m. and start at $27 for 300 Level and 100 Level III seats. Tickets can be purchased in person at the HSBC Arena Box Office, by calling 1-888-467-2273 or online at www.bandits.com or www.tickets.com.
This is Buffalo’s eighth division championship in the franchise’s 20-year history. The team has missed the playoffs only three times in franchise history, and will see postseason action for the ninth consecutive season. The team’s 16 previous playoff appearances included four championship runs in 1992, 1993, 1996 and 2008.
Buffalo clinched first place in the Eastern Division with a Toronto loss on Saturday, cementing their first-round playoff match-up with the Blazers. The division title and second place finish in the league guarantee the Bandits at least one more home game should they advance past the first round.
 In a pivotal game three, the Sabres appeared to be a team content coming home with a split in Philadelphia over the first two games while the Flyers possessed determination and desperation to take back control of the series.
Now with the Flyers gaining back the series and home ice advantage, game four Wednesday will present an opportunity to nearly put Buffalo away while the Sabres need to regain their composure and not let their chances slip away heading back to Philadelphia.
Long and short, here are some thoughts about the game:
- The Sabres fore check didn’t create nearly enough pressure on the Flyers, who seemed to be able to take the puck out of their zone with a lot of ease.
Continue reading ‘Flyers 4, Sabres 2: Game Reactions’
 Wes Bunting of the National Football Post played general manger for each of the team’s drafting in the top ten for the day, and in his story he had himself selecting Robert Quinn with the Bills’ third overall pick.
Buffalo Rumblings has an in depth physical scouting report on Bills prospect Von Miller.
Allen Wilson of the Buffalo News is confident that defense will rule the NFL draft, and joins in on the Von Miller bandwagon by selecting him in his mock.
Continue reading ‘The Daily Links – April 19, 2011′
 To use a an analogy fitting for tennis star Jesse Pegula, daughter of Buffalo Sabres owner Terry, the Sabres flat-out committed too many unforced errors. Buffalo perpetrated a handful of unwarranted mistakes throughout the course of their Eastern Conference game three quarterfinal matchup with the Philadelphia Flyers and as a result, paid a substantial price.
Philadelphia arrived in enemy territory at the HSBC Arena and skated off with a 4-2 victory to take control back of the series, two games to one and re-earn the home ice advantage they squandered last Thursday in Philadelphia.
Buffalo committed a senseless penalty, had a defensemen over skate a puck behind his own net and had another defensemen caught completely out of position. The missteps directly resulted in all three Philadelphia goals, not counting an empty netter, and the Sabres weren’t able to overcome their mistakes on this night.
Continue reading ‘Mistakes By Sabres Responsible For Game Three Loss’
 According to a tweet by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the NFL will finally release its full 2011 schedule on Tuesday.
While the dates and times for teams will be revealed Tuesday evening (we’re assuming at 7pm), the opponents for each team, have long been decided.
The Buffalo Bills will face Denver, Oakland, Philadelphia, Washington, Tennessee, Miami, New England and the New York Jets at home. They travel for contests at Kansas City, San Diego, Dallas, NY Giants, Cincinnati, Miami, New England and the New York Jets.
The Bills didn’t receive any prime time games last season and coming off a 4-12 campaign, there’s little to think that will change this time around. There are two things of note however, to track. One is who the annual Toronto game will be against (we’re going with Tennessee as a guess). The other is Thanksgiving Day. Dallas will host an AFC East team on Thanksgiving, which leaves only Buffalo and Miami as the candidates.
Therefore, Buffalo has a 50/50 chance of playing on Turkey Day.
 Monday’s game between the Buffalo Bisons and the Rochester Red Wings at Coca-Cola Field has been postponed due to snow and freezing temperatures. The teams will make up the game as part of a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 19 at Coca-Cola Field (Game 1: 12:05 p.m.)
On Tuesday, April 19, the Bisons and Red Wings will play two, seven-inning games.
Fans holding tickets to Monday’s game can exchange them for a comparable ticket to any future 2011 Bisons games (excluding special events). All ticket exchanges must be made at the Coca-Cola Field box office. Please note that these exchanges do not have to be made on Monday, April 18. Fans with tickets can exchange them throughout the remainder of the 2011 season.
For more information regarding the exchange policy, fans can contact the Bisons at THE-HERD (843-4373).
 After feeling like the most hated villains on earth through two games at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, the Buffalo Sabres return home tonight to the HSBC Arena for a clash against the Flyers in game three of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. While the arena is sure to be a frenzied state colored in blue and gold, it won’t mean much if the Sabres don’t find a way to stay out the penalty box.
Through the first two games in Philadelphia which the teams split, the Sabres have given the Flyers a mind blowing 15 power plays, including 10 on Saturday alone. While Buffalo has killed off all but one of the Philadelphia man advantages, the power play tally by Villie Leino turned out to be a critical go ahead goal.
“We talked about it coming into the series and we haven’t done a good enough job and put ourselves in penalty trouble,” Sabres winger Jason Pominville told reporters following game two. ”Definitely not the way we want to play. I thought our penalty killers did a good job, but if we give that team that many looks, they’re going to make you pay eventually.”
Continue reading ‘Sabres Must Avoid Costly Penalties Tonight vs. Flyers’
 Not a heavy week with emails as our Monday Mailbag is still in its infancy stage. Hopefully we’ll have more talking points next week with the NFL draft so close that you can now taste it. Let’s spare the small talk and just jump into some questions and comments.
How are you seeing the first two picks of the NFL draft playing out before Buffalo goes on the clock at three? (Joel- Panama, NY)
I think Marcell Dareus is pretty much a lock to go to Denver at two, assuming Carolina doesn’t take him first overall. As far as Carolina goes, the buzz seems to be they are going to take Cam Newton, but I’m not quite ready to be sure of that just yet. The guy has talent galore but there is such a high bust factor on him as well, and I find it hard to believe they’ll essentially throw Jimmy Clausen in the garbage can after one year. If I’m the Panthers, I’m taking Dareus with that pick. If, and that’s a big if, that happened… Von Miller or Patrick Peterson would be in play for Denver at two.
Continue reading ‘BSD Monday Mailbag’
 An interesting read via the New York Times on what the film revealed for the 2010 Buffalo Bills. The article says that Donte Whitner is one of the fastest playing safeties in the NFL. I’m sorry Donte.. I was wrong about you all along.
Brain Galliford of Buffalo Rumblings expects a run on quarterbacks rather early in the 2011 NFL draft later this month.
ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer thinks Cam Newton to the Bills, if he’s available with the third pick, is a total no-brainer.
The Buffalo Sabres paid the price for parading to the penalty box at Philadelphia Saturday evening, John Vogl of the Buffalo News writes.
Continue reading ‘The Daily Links – April 18, 2011′
 The Bisons first road trip of the 2011 season got off to a great start. By the end of Sunday, the club will be more than happy to return to Coca-Cola Field.
The Pawtucket Red Sox swept a pair of games from Buffalo on Sunday, dropping the Herd to 1-4 on their first venture away from Western New York.
The Bisons defeated the Yankees 4-0 on Wednesday to begin their five-game roadie, but Scranton/Wilkes-Barre rallied to win the next two games to take the series. Buffalo then dropped two games in Pawtucket to fall to 4-7 on the season.
Sunday afternoon started with the PawSox completing a 2-1 victory in 10 innings of the suspended game the night before. The IL-north division rival then battered the Bisons for 10 runs in a 10-6 victory in the nightcap.
Continue reading ‘Bisons Drop Pair At Pawtucket’
 Niagara edged the Iona Gaels, 7-5, in the rubber game of the three-game series on Sunday from Bobo Field for its first series win of the season. The Purple Eagles have won nine of the last 10 meetings against the Gaels.
“This was a big one for us today to win a MAAC series,” head coach Rob McCoy said. “We got a great outing on the mound from Jim Fort and Cody Lillich did a good job closing the door.
The final game of the weekend series was postponed from Saturday to Sunday and moved from Sal Malgie Stadium to Bobo Field on campus. Both teams battled through gusting winds as high as 35 mph as Niagara (6-27, 3-9 MAAC) held on to top Iona (12-21, 4-8 MAAC) for its first series win since sweeping Saint Peter’s last May.
Continue reading ‘Niagara Baseball Takes Series With 7-5 Win’
 The University at Buffalo football team held its annual Blue-White scrimmage at the Buffalo Bills Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon, due to inclement weather, and the offense (White) scored a 49-34 win over the defense (Blue) in a modified scoring system.
Senior wide receiver Marcus Rivers was the star of the game, leading the White with nine receptions for 198 yards and three touchdowns, including long scores of 65 and 68 yards. UB’s two quarterbacks – junior Jerry Davis and sophomore Alex Zordich – combined to throw for 322 yards and three touchdowns – in the contest, including four completions of more than 40 yards.
Davis was 9-for-16 for 153 yards and a pair of scores – 2 and 68 yards – to Rivers. Zordich, meanwhile, completed 6-of-13 passes for 169 yards with a 65-yard touchdown to Rivers, while also rushing for 26 yards on four carries. Zordich also had a 40-yard toss to Ed Young and a 50-yard throw to sophomore Alex Neutz as he averaged over 28 yards per completion, but was intercepted twice.
Continue reading ‘Offense Defeats Defense in Blue-White Scrimmage as Rivers Stars’
 The Buffalo Sabres announced additional details regarding the “Party in the Plaza” that will be held before each Sabres home game during the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Sabres have expanded the parties for the 2011 postseason, adding a second video screen to accommodate more fans while allowing everyone to see all of the action. Pre-game festivities will begin at 5 p.m. for Games 3 & 4 on Monday, Apr. 18 and Wednesday, Apr. 20. The party for Game 6, if necessary, will begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Apr. 24 for the 3 p.m. game.
Local radio personality Rich “Bull” Gaenzler will be on hand to host the events. The parties will take place in the Plaza area located near Perry St. and Illinois St. and will feature live music before the game and special guest appearances from Sabres personalities. Local musician Lance Diamond will perform until 30 minutes before puck drop for Game 3 on Monday.
Fans without tickets to the game are encouraged to come join the party free of charge. At game time, MSG’s game feed will be shown on two 9’ x 12’ telescopic video screens in the Plaza.
Food, beverages and merchandise will be available for purchase before the game and will continue to be sold throughout. There will be a three beer limit per person. Coolers and chairs are prohibited due to the volume of fans expected to attend.
Perry St. will be closed between Main St. and Illinois St. during all plaza parties. The HSBC Arena Parking Ramp Illinois St. entrances will remain accessible via South Park Ave. and Perry St.
Due to NHL broadcast restrictions, the Sabres have no plans to host plaza parties for away playoff games.
 This absolutely, positively will be the last mock draft I do until the day before the actual draft itself on April 28. Yet again, I’ve changed the Bills pick. Perhaps it’s a gut feeling I have this weekend or maybe I simply think Buddy Nix is seeing so many Von Miller to Buffalo mocks out there that it’s going to piss him off.
From day one of the offseason, the single-biggest wild card in this draft has been how the organization truly feels about Ryan Fitzpatrick and whether the claims they can be a playoff team with are indeed true or rarely smokescreens. For some reason and I can’t explain why, I’m not feeling the love for him via One Bills Drive.
As you’ll see momentarily, I also have both Nick Fairley and Da’Quan Bowers slipping farther than most. I also have Ryan Mallet in my first round after not having him among my top 34 in my last few mocks. I think he’s gaining momentum down the stretch. I actually have three quarterbacks among the top ten this time around.
Continue reading ‘The BSD Next-To-Last NFL Mock Draft’
 Mike Williams of the Buffalo Bills is their biggest draft bust ever, or at least since 1985, according to Buffalo Rumbling’s author Brian Galliford.
Trent Dilfer thinks the Bills need Cam Newton and short of having the Baltimore Ravens’ defense he had when he played, they won’t win it with Ryan Fitzpatrick, in this ESPN video clip.
This CBS sports article suggests that tackle is clearly a priority for the Bills. Perhaps it’s true, but I can’t get over the article not even mentioning Kraig Urbik among the many linemen in the mix for Buffalo.
The Buffalo taxpayers will be paying the Bills to not play football, in this Shutdown Corner report for Yahoo Sports.
Continue reading ‘The Daily Links – April 16, 2011′
 Television ratings for the Buffalo Sabres on MSG this season continue to increase, as they averaged a season-high 18.9 Neilsen rating for Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals series last night in Philadelphia.
The game averaged an 18.9 rating and 28 share locally, surpassing this season’s previous high of 13.0/22 set last Friday against Philadelphia. Each Nielsen ratings point is equal to 6,363 homes in Buffalo, meaning that 120,261 homes in the area tuned into the game. Last night’s game actually peaked at 22.8/32 (145,000 homes) between 9:45-10 p.m.
“These huge television ratings are but another example of the strength and depth of the Buffalo fan base, and how all of Western New York seems to be connecting with this team,” said Sabres President Ted Black.
Continue reading ‘Sabres Ratings On MSG Continue To Rise’
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