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for April 2011
 Add another accolade to the resume of senior men’s hockey player Paul Zanette after his 55-point 2010-11 campaign, as he was named to the 2010-11 United States College Hockey Online (USCHO.com) Third Team on Friday.
Zanette, who is currently playing with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League, was named a Second Team All-American for the East earlier this month, while also represented Niagara as the program’s second-ever Hobey Baker award finalist.
The Purple Eagle is joined on the USCHO.com Third Team with forward Stephane Da Costa (Merrimack) and Drew Shore (Denver), blueliners Matt Donovan (Denver) and Chay Genoway (North Dakota) and netminder Pat Nagle (Ferris State).
Continue reading ‘Niagara’s Paul Zanette Earns USCHO.com Third Team Honors’
 Full coverage via the Buffalo News of the Buffalo Sabres’ exciting (at least for Sabres fans) 1-0 victory over Philadelphia in game one of their playoff series.
Nick Mendola from WECK1230 had some immediate reactions from the Sabres win. As he point out, it was a gritty, dirty, bloody affair with Buffalo landing the first blow.
Philadelphia’s game one loss perspective from Philly.com.
Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald writes that the Sabres letting Daniel Briere go continues to haunt them. Perhaps, but not so much for game one.
Continue reading ‘The Daily Links – April 15, 2011′
 The Bisons got some bad news on Thursday afternoon and things didn’t get any better at night.
Buffalo dropped a 6-2 decision to the Yankees in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre just a few hours after learning that starting pitcher Boof Bonser would be lost for the year with an arm injury.
Bonser left his Bisons debut on Sunday after just 3.2 innings of work with what appeared to be a right forearm injury. Further tests reveled what became evident on Thursday; Bonser would need Tommy John surgery and would not pitch again in 2011.
Continue reading ‘Bisons Lose Game, Bonser For Season’
 Last year, the Philadelphia Flyers parlayed an Eastern Conference seventh seed into a berth in the Stanley Cup finals. This time around, the Buffalo Sabres are hoping to do the same thing.
So far, so good.
Philadelphia and Buffalo have met eight previous times in the postseason and the team victorious in game one has won every series. Perhaps that will bode well for Buffalo, who took game one Thursday evening, 1-0 in front of a stunned Wells Fargo Center sellout crowd of 19,929 in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup.
Patrick Kaleta accounted the game’s lone goal and Ryan Miller stole the rest, essentially committing grand larceny on the Flyers’ offense. Miller stopped all 35 shots he faced in his first full game action since suffering an upper body injury at Toronto on March 29.
Continue reading ‘NHL Playoffs: Sabres Take Game One In Philadelphia’
 Sarah Kwak from Sports Illustrated breaks down the first round playoff series between the Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers.
Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News writes that Rob Niedermayer is the only member of the Buffalo Sabres that has hoisted a Stanley Cup before.
Bill Hoppe tweets that the Sabres were 11-1-2 when Matt Ellis was in the lineup this season. He will not be in the lineup for game one tonight.
Offensive tackle Ben Ijalana visited with the Buffalo Bills on Wednesday. He’s regarded as a potential second round sleeper, so don’t automatically discount the visit.
Continue reading ‘The Daily Links – April 14, 2011′
 As you’re reading this, the NFL draft is formally just two weeks away from being upon us. It’s seemed like an eternity, especially since an unworldly abundance of prospect talk and mock draft speculation have been shoved down our throats, even more so with no trades or free agent signings to digest.
Without question, the pendulum on the Bills first draft pick has shifted among the media. What was dominated by Cam Newton or Blaine Gabbert talk in January and February unmistakably has reallocated towards Von Miller and to a lesser degree, Patrick Peterson over the past few weeks.
Buddy Nix will come into this draft completely open minded and will do so because candidly speaking, the Bills are an abysmal team right now. Take away running back and perhaps the interior offensive line and there’s no shocking third overall pick in sight, because the team can use support nearly across the board.
Are you telling me Buffalo’s receivers are so good that A.J Green or Julio Jones won’t help? Is the middle of the run defense solid enough that they don’t need Marcell Dareus? Does the secondary pick off so many passes that Peterson isn’t useful? Is Ryan Fitzpatrick, going into his final year of his contract, such a sure thing that the team shouldn’t bother with a quarterback? Heck, are Demetrius Bell and Erik Pears really locked into the tackle spot for the foreseeable future?
Continue reading ‘Five Best Bills Draft Day Scenarios’
The Buffalo Sabres today announced they will be holding an online auction of autographed Sabres jerseys worn by Sabres Alumni members attending the alumni reunion on Fan Appreciation Night. Each jersey will come with a certificate of authenticity. The proceeds from the auction will benefit the Buffalo Sabres Foundation.
The auction will begin tomorrow, Apr. 14 at 5 p.m. on the NHL.com Auction Site. It will conclude on Tuesday, Apr. 19 at 9 p.m.
 University at Buffalo freshman forward Javon McCrea has earned another honor after a stellar freshman campaign.
The Newark, NY native was tabbed as one of 21 players on the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Freshmen All-America team after helping the Bulls to a 20-win season and the third round of a post-season tournament.
McCrea, who earlier was named the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year, finished third on the Bulls by averaging 11.8 points per game and led UB with 6.5 rebounds per game. He was also second on the team in both blocks (58) and steals (43). McCrea scored over 20 points on five occasions during the season, including twice in post-season play as he helped UB reach the quarterfinals of the CollegeInsider.com tournament.
Continue reading ‘UB’s McCrea Tabbed On Freshman All-America Team’
 The National Lacrosse League today announced that Buffalo Bandits goaltender Mike Thompson and transition player Tom Montour each earned Player of the Week honors for Week 14 of the 2011 NLL Season.
Thompson faced 93 shots in back-to-back road games in Toronto and Rochester and stopped all but 16 to lead the Bandits to a 2-0 record for the weekend. He made 36 saves in an 11-8 win at Toronto, and 41 at Rochester to squeeze out a 9-8 victory. The Toronto win gave Buffalo the Eastern Division lead, and the win at Rochester left the Bandits one win from clinching the division title.
Thompson improved to 10-1 on the season, with a career-best goals against average of 9.16. His .796 save percentage leads the league. Thompson was named Overall Player of the Week for Week 9 with similar numbers (67 saves on 83 shots) in a nearly identical back-to-back series against Rochester (11-8 win) and Boston (9-8 win).
Continue reading ‘Bandits’ Thompson & Montour Earn NLL Recognition’
 The Buffalo Bulls wrestling team continues to build its program upward, both literally and figuratively. Adding to the excitement of a $400,000 renovation to its facilities, the UB staff announced the signing of Blake Roulo of Matoaca High School in Petersburg, VA. He is a 149-pound prospect who recently became just the second wrestler ever to win four NHSCA titles and is also ranked as the top senior in Virginia out of all weight classes.
“I’m excited about having the opportunity to work with such an outstanding athlete,” head coach Jim Beichner said. “We look forward to many years of athletic and academic success here at UB.”
Earlier this month, Roulo defeated Travis Himmelman out of Colorado 3-1 in the finals of the NHSCA (National High School Coaches Association) senior nationals. In order to become the second four-time champion ever, Roulo had to go through six of the top seniors in the entire country, and he did it with ease. In other national tournaments, Blake finished second at the Freestyle Nationals and has third- and fourth-place finishes at the Greco Roman Nationals. In regular season tournaments, he performed well at the prestigious Beast of the East Championships, recording second, third and fourth overall finishes in his high school career.
Continue reading ‘UB Wrestling Inks Highly Touted Recruit Blake Roulo’
 On Tuesday night, Buffalo Bills general manager Buddy Nix appeared on ESPN’s NFL draft countdown special. It was the usual cast of ESPN characters, headed by host Trey Wingo as well as a healthy serving of Mel Kiper and Todd McShay shoved down viewers throats. Rounding things off were in-studio analysts— known Bills basher Mark Schlereth and chronic Cam Newton hater, Merril Hoge.
Nix spoke on matters the media have been typically asking about for weeks and unsurprisingly, his answers offered little insight as to where he may be tipping his hand come April 28.
If you had no idea where Nix’s mind set is before speaking Tuesday, surely you’re no closer to knowing his intentions now.
Nix spoke on the following topics.
Continue reading ‘Making Sense Of Buddy Nix’s Comments… Sort Of’
 More than half the staff writers over at NHL.com think the Buffalo Sabres will upend the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal that gets underway Thursday evening. Of those writers, one of them has the Sabres going all the way— as in winning the Stanley Cup.
Dave Lozo is projecting that not only will Buffalo beat the Flyers and eventually capture the Eastern Conference, but has the Sabres winning the whole thing. Lozo predicts the Sabres to defeat the Western Conference top seed Vancouver Canucks in the Stanley Cup finals.
Lozo writes: “Sometimes it’s about sticking to a preseason prediction, which is what I’m doing here with the Sabres. But they have a lot going for them entering the playoffs, like a 16-4-4 mark to close the regular season and a first-round meeting with the struggling Flyers. Ryan Miller is getting healthy at the right time and enters the playoffs having played nine fewer games this season than he did last season (he played six games at the Olympics). The Sabres can score — they finished ninth with 245 goals — and 2009-10 leading scorer Derek Roy could return from injury later in the postseason. The Canucks are a deeper, more talented team, but they’ll be worn down by three grueling series in the West, opening the door for the seventh-seeded Sabres to pull the shocker.”
Continue reading ‘One NHL Staff Writer Has Sabres Winning Stanley Cup’
 A Sabres/Flyers playoff preview courtesy of Sports Illustrated, though someone should tell the editor that it’s Tim Connolly, not Connelly. At least they say the Flyers are vulnerable to an upset, so Sabres fans have that working for them.
Tyler Ennis and the rest of his Sabres teammates are ready to go visit the home of the hits, writes John Vogl of the Buffalo News.
The NHLPA website reports that the Buffalo Sabres have been in playoff mode for quite some time and are ready for the Flyers.
The Pioneer Press in Minnesota think the Wild should pursue Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff.
Continue reading ‘The Daily Links – April 13, 2011′
 (Editor’s Note: This is a reprint from Former Buffalo Bills safety Jeff Nixon’s blog, “The Jeff Nixon Report”. Among countless other things, Jeff has been a contributing writer at Buffalo Sports Daily since our launch in 2009 and is a major advocate in rights for former players.)
Nolan Harrison III recently sent an email to NFLPA Former Players chapter presidents, designated representatives, Board of Directors, DeMaurice Smith and his staff. He said that “In the spirit of keeping things in our locker room, I would appreciate maintaining the privacy of this correspondence.”
Why wouldn’t he want to disclose his opinions on the meeting that George Martin attended at the NFLPA Former Player Convention? The NFLPA wants transparency…so let’s have it!
He didn’t send the email to me, but did he really expect his correspondence to stay in the locker room? What would he say about the member that released the information. Have they “crossed the line of player loyalty.”
Continue reading ‘The NFLPA’s Spin Doctor – Nolan Harrison III’
 The Buffalo Sabres today announced they will once again host a “Party in the Plaza” before each home playoff game during the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Sabres are expanding 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 parties will take place in the Plaza area located near Perry St. and Illinois St. and will feature live music from Lance Diamond until 30 minutes before puck drop.
“Terry, Kim and I continue to be blown away by the extraordinary support of the Sabres Nation,” said Sabres President Ted Black. “The concept of hosting an outdoor playoff party originated in Buffalo and over the years has been copied in other NHL cities. We want to take it to another level by providing two outdoor screens so that as many fans as possible can experience ‘Hockey Heaven’ firsthand.”
Continue reading ‘Sabres’ Party In The Plaza Returns Monday’
 Senior Anthony Nelson was named to the 2011 CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Defensive All-America Team. Nelson was one of 21 players named to the team and the only member from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
The Mid-Major Defensive All-America Team honor is another accolade added to the list of accomplishments for the Plainfield, N.J. native. Nelson joins former backcourt teammate Tyrone Lewis as the only Purple Eagles to be named to the Mid-Major Defensive All-America squad.
Nelson was named MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, earned All-MAAC Second Team honors and was selected to the NABC All-District Second Team during his record-setting senior campaign.
Continue reading ‘Niagara’s Nelson Earns Spot On Defensive All-America Team’
 The NFL announced the 2011 preseason schedule, assuming there is a preseason, and the Buffalo Bills will place their final two games at home after competing on the road for the first two.
The Bills open up at Chicago and then travel to Denver the following week. They then return home for tilts against Jacksonville in week three before closing in what seems to be an annual meeting with Detroit.
Denver is the only team of the four preseason opponents that they’ll meet in the regular season and the game will be in Orchard Park. The NFL hasn’t announced the regular season schedule, though that’s expected to come by sometime next week.
 The NHL playoffs are like nothing else. The passion, the excitement, and, yes, the playoff beards. In keeping with a great hockey tradition and supporting local charities, the Buffalo Sabres again invite their fans to “grow one for the team” this playoff season.
The Sabres Beard-a-thon® is an opportunity for fans to grow their own playoff beard and raise money for charity. All proceeds from the 2011 Sabres Beard-a-thon will benefit The Buffalo Sabres Foundation. Last season, 573 fans “grew one for the team” and raised over $18,000 for charity.
Participants in the Sabres Beard-a-thon invite family, friends, and business associates to pledge their playoff beards. By joining the Sabres Beard-a-thon, fans pledge to maintain their beard as long as the Sabres remain in the playoffs. Fans who are unwilling, or unable, to grow playoffs beards, can also pledge their friends or favorite Sabres player. For more information, or to enroll in the Sabres Beard-a-thon, please log onto www.beardathon.com/sabres.
Continue reading ‘Sabres Bring Back Beard-A-Thon’
 With the regular season officially over and fans of the Buffalo Sabres completely focused on the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Philadelphia Flyers, we thought it would be fun to take a look back as the Sabres regular season individually— statistically speaking.
Thomas Vanek finished the season with 41 assists, tying a career-high. While his 32 goals were only his third best in six NHL seasons, his 73 points was the second-most of his career, behind only the 84 points he accumulated in 2006-07. His 28 points this season on the power play was the most of his career, topping the 26 he had with the man advantage in 2008-09.
Continue reading ‘Sabres Regular Season Review — Statistically Speaking’
 ESPN’s Mel Kiper continues to think that the Buffalo Bills remain the best fit for quarterback prospect Cam Newton. Kiper currently has Newton going to Carolina with the top pick with the Bills grabbing linebacker Von Miller.
Tight end Kyle Rudolph, who is a better prospect for the Bills in the early second round than you may think, assuming he’s even available, has done well during his medical re-check, according to Pro Football Talk.
Chan Gailey offered a take on Marcell Dareus during his appearance on Sirius Radio.
Peter King seems to become more convinced by the day that the Bills will draft Von Miller, though he calls the organization a black hole of information.
Continue reading ‘The Daily Links – April 12, 2011′
 The Buffalo Sabres today announced the team’s broadcast schedule for their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series against the Philadelphia Flyers. Six of the seven possible games in the series will be shown locally on MSG in High Definition, with the only exception being NBC’s national telecast of Game 6 on Sunday, April 24. MSG’s coverage will also include a 30-minute pre-game show. Versus will air four games, but they will be blacked out locally. TSN will broadcast all seven games across Canada.
Last Friday’s playoff-clinching win over Philadelphia was the most-watched game of the season on MSG – and in Buffalo that night – averaging a 13.0 rating and 22 share locally. The game actually peaked at 16.9/27 between 9:45-10 p.m., during the end of regulation and overtime. No other show aired locally came close to matching the viewership of the Sabres/Flyers game at any point during the night. This was the third-highest rated Sabres game on MSG since 2005-06, trailing only December 22, 2007 at Philadelphia (13.5) and February 27, 2008 vs. Nashville (13.1).
Continue reading ‘MSG Scheduled To Air Six Sabres Playoff Games vs Flyers’
 ( Since we’re growing tired of talking about who the Buffalo Bills may take with the third overall pick, this is the ninth in a 10-part series about who the Bills are most likely to target with their second round draft pick. The Bills hold the second pick of round two, 34th overall)
Ryan Mallett, Arkansas (QB)
While we can debate the majority of the upcoming NFL draft from here to eternity, there’s one thing that’s nearly universally agreed upon. Bar none, Ryan Mallett is the single-biggest enigma in this entire crop of incoming collegiate talent. Depending on who you speak to, Mallett either has top of the draft board caliber proficiency or has been reported by others, off a team’s draft board entirely.
Let’s first touch on the positives. This guy can sling the football like no other prospect in this draft and like few active gunslingers in the NFL. Mallett has the physical tools to literally make all the throws and often looks effortless in doing so. Statistically he had a monster junior season at Arkansas, throwing for 3,869 yards and 32 touchdowns in 13 games last year. This came off the heels of a 3,627 yard, 30 touchdown campaign as a sophomore in 2009.
Continue reading ‘Bills Second Round Prospects: Ryan Mallett’
 Mainly because of the NFL draft coming later this month and the appetite for information growing each day from football fans in general and our readers specifically, I’ve received an inordinate amount of emails and Twitter comments of late. After burning away far too many brain cells over the weekend courtesy of Coors Light and Canadian whiskey, the clock in my head finally went off that it may be a good idea to have a mailbag column rather than respond to each individually.
Therefore, and with full intentions to actually make this a regular weekly feature I actually stick to, I’m going to debut our new “Monday Mailbag.” While the crop of emails, questions and comments I’ve gotten over the past several days have exclusively been related to all things Buffalo Bills, I’m inviting this weekly column to be about any Buffalo sports. Sabres, Bisons, Bandits, college and high school, I’m willing to answer and banter with you about anything, as long as you don’t jump clear across that proverbial line.
For example, I’m not going to respond to Jason from Tonawanda’s email asking why I’m such a “no-talent, hack assclown.”
Continue reading ‘The BSD Monday Mailbag’
 The Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers meet in the first round of the NHL playoffs starting Thursday, and the sides have more than just a little bit of history. The teams have met in the postseason eight different times, with Philadelphia winning on five occasions, most notably defeating the Sabres to win the Stanley Cup in 1974-75.
Recent history, however, has been kind to the Sabres. They’ve come out victorious the last two times the teams have met. Buffalo beat Philadelphia in six games in 2001 as well as 2006, which also went six games.
This year, there’s been plenty of offensive fireworks in their four regular season meetings, which saw each team take a pair of contests. Philadelphia won the first two meetings while Buffalo has taken the last two. Each game saw at least seven pucks find their way into the opponent’s net.
Here’s a quick recap of the four meetings as we begin Sabres playoff preview week.
Continue reading ‘Recap Of This Season’s Sabres/Flyers Series’
 The surging Buffalo Sabres are on a roll entering the playoffs, the Associated Press reports.
Excellent article by Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News on former Buffalo Bills linebacker London Fletcher, who as Gaughan describes found his faith as a Bill.
Buffalo Rumblings re-visits the Bills needs list from February.
Lucas Duda, the Buffalo Bisons’ MVP last season, will be returning to the team after he was optioned by the New York Mets on Sunday.
Continue reading ‘The Daily Links – April 11, 2011′
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