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pwchronicle · 6 years ago

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Chikara “Let’s Get Invisible“ - Live Show Report December 8th in Philadelphia, PA

This was Chikara’s final show of 2018 and the finale of their 19th season. A loaded card in front of a capacity crowd.

1. Juan Francisco de Coronado beat Green Ant via submission with the Coronado Clutch. I thought this was a good way to open the show with Wrestle Factory favorite Green Ant, and a nice opener featuring a lot of mat exchanges. Juan worked over Green Ant’s leg, and he caught him in the Clutch when Green Ant came at him flying off the top rope.

2. Cornelius Crummels & Sonny Defarge won a Four Corner Tag Team Eliminator over Los Ice Creams (Ice Cream Jr. y El Hijo del Ice Cream), F.I.S.T. (Icarus & Tony Deppen), and Jeremy Leary & Blanche Babish. Deppen tried to come on to Babish at the start to no avail, offering her a night out at Olive Garden, her treat. Icarus wrestled the entire match wearing his jacket, so he didn’t show off his back tattoo, but he was wrestling in trunks and showing off his leg tattoo, which Leary mocked. Los Ice Creams were the first team out fairly quickly, when Crummels rolled up Hijo as they attempted to suplex Defarge. A new trick in the repertoire of Crummels and Defarge was Defarge ramming his foot into Babish’s face after Crummels sneezed on it (it’s Flu Season you jerks!). The two rudo teams worked together against Leary and Babish, but they eventually came at odds over who could pick up the pinfalls, allowing a hot tag to Babish, who cleaned house on all four of them briefly. Babish soon after made Deppen tap out to the Soda Jerk, eliminating him and Icarus. Crummels and Defarge scored the third and final fall after hitting Leary with the old high low, clipping his knee and hitting him with a lariat. These two falls led to Crummels and Defarge accruing three points for a shot at Los Campeonatos de Parejas next year. Fun character exchanges, fun action.

3. BLANK (w/ Still Life with Apricots and Pears) beat Penelope Ford with a forearm to the back of the head. Still Life came out with a camera. Decent match between these two, with Ford fighting from behind and hitting some cartwheel-based offense and a dive to the floor to get the crowd going. She may have done one backflip too many though, as BLANK caught her with the forearm as she rebounded off the ropes to pick up the win. Ford acted like she was knocked out, and after the match BLANK positioned her into a pose while laid out on the mat. BLANK called this pose “A Lilly in Place of a Rose” and had Still Life take pictures of her. Shades of “The Killing Joke” if you ask me.

4. Lucas Calhoun & Missile Assault Man & Axel Ford beat Professor Nicodemus and the Proteus Wheel (Volgar & Frantik & Callux the Castigator) in a 4-on-3 Philadelphia Street Fight when Missile Assault Man pinned Nicodemus after an inverted DDT. This was the first time I can recall Chikara having a street fight on one of their events, and it was suitably chaotic. The Proteus Wheel brought a trash can full of plunder. Calhoun (wearing a shirt reading “Punch More Nazis”) and his partners were able to send the Proteus Wheel to the floor early and isolate Nicodemus, but he sprayed something in their faces to get away, opting to stay on the floor throughout most of the match. Callux hit Ford (no relation to Penelope) with the trash can lid and a cookie sheet. Calhoun retrieved a bunch of steel chairs from under the ring and walloped his opponents with them. Ford, continuing to have a tough time, received a double chokeslam onto a dusty ironing board. Calhoun was able to prevent Missile Assault Man (sporting a bandaged ankle from “Don’t Go To Sleep!”) getting pillmanized again, leading to Missile Assault Man pillmanizing Frantik’s ankle. He then put Frantik in a figure four, but Volgar broke it up with a splash. Volgar also slammed Calhoun off the top rope onto a bunch of chairs Calhoun had set up earlier. Missile Assault Man hit Volgar with a fishing rod and buried him under chairs, Nicodemus hit him with a bat to no avail, and Nicodemus was once again cornered before his experiments saved him. Callux hit a Boss Man Slam onto a trash can for a nearfall. Eventually, the Proteus Wheel was wiped out on the floor after Calhoun clocked Volgar with his own chain and sent him off the top, allowing for the rather anticlimactic comeuppance for Nicodemus. The fans were into the action and outcome. Other trash can plunder, such as a golf club and a hockey stick, were not used.

- First of two intermissions held.

5. Hallowicked beat Boomer Hatfield after a third snapmare off the top. A short match where Hallowicked was largely dominant, suplexing the younger Hatfield around the ring. Boomer was able to leave the ring on his own afterward.

6. The Creatures of the Deep (Oceanea, Merlok, Hermit Crab, and Cajun Crawdad) beat Fire Ant, Thief Ant, Razerhawk, and Danjerhawk after Oceanea and Merlok hit the Tidal Wave on Razerhawk. They attempted the Tidal Wave the first time on Danjerhawk, but his partners pulled him to the floor, so Oceanea dived onto them off of Merlok’s back. A second attempt, onto Razerhawk, was countered into powerbomb on Merlok by the two ants. Razerhawk scored a nearfall on Oceanea with a Swanton afterward. A lot of fun action throughtout, including Crab hitting Thief Ant with a Spanish Fly off the middle rope, Crab attempting his crab walk on the ropes but taking a hurricanrana off the ropes by Razerhawk, and Razerhawk immediately afterward taking a Muscle Buster by Merlok. Fire Ant caught Merlok with his running kick, but almost fell prey to Oceanea’s fish hook. On the last event November 24th (the Cibernetico show that I was unable to recap here), Oceanea set a message to Crab and Crawdad that there would be consequences if they fail her again, so the two loyal servants/jesters of this court of creatures pulled their weight, preventing any interference from the third attempt at the Tidal Wave being successful. The Creatures of the Deep all celebrated over Razerhawk’s crushed body as Danjerhawk tended to him.

7. Solo Darling beat Travis Huckabee via submission to what looked like the Million Dollar Dream. A strong grudge match and maybe my favorite on the card. Darling wanted to get at Huckabee immediately upon her music hitting. She got him into a Regal Stretch right away. After lots of back and forth, including lots of kicks from Darling, it went to the floor, where Huckabee caught Darling in the Stretch Muffler and threw her into a ring post. Making their way back inside, Huckabee caught her with a piledriver, which he used to take put Darling on the shelf at “La Lotería Letal,” but here it was only good enough for a nearfall. He then hit a second piledriver. He then attempted a cloverleaf (perhaps Darling’s own Sharp Stinger), but Darling maneuvered to the ropes and was sent to the outside. Huckabee pulled the mats up off the floor to attempt a third piledriver on the unprotected floor, but Darling gave him a back body drop instead. Back in the ring, Huckabee suckered Darling into rollup nearfall after a fake apology and doing their old handshake with her, but Darling recouped and scored the satisfying submission win.

8. Princess KimberLee & The Whisper beat The Regime (Sloan Caprice & Rick Roland) to win Los Campeonatos de Parejas 2 falls to 1. Carrying on with the story from when they won the tournament at “La Lotería Letal,” Lee wanted nothing to do with Whisper during this match. They never made actual tags, just lucha style tags by exiting the ring, such as when Lee entered the match for the first time after Whisper took a ton of punishment. Caprice pinned Lee with a rollup to score the first fall. Lee was at a disadvantage afterward, but she didn’t tag out when she had the opportunity to. She was able to even up the falls when Roland missed hitting her with a sexton off the top. Lee also weakened Caprice’s knee with a targeted kick, and Caprice sold it for the rest of the match. Whisper got back in when Lee went to the floor and scored a number of nearfalls. Caprice caught Whisper with a rollup, but Lee instinctually came in and broke it up. Whisper hugged her afterward, causing Lee to hit him with a German suplex. However, Whisper was suplexed onto Caprice and pinned him, resulting in new champions. Lee was dumbfounded by this and left the ring, leaving Whisper alone with the titles. The team that fans in the crowd here referred to as both “WhisperLee” and “Silent Kingdom” are now Tag Team Champions Who Can’t Get Along.

- Second intermission before the main event.

9. Dasher Hatfield beat Ophidian to retain the Chikara Grand Championship with a rolling elbow. This was Ophidian’s second shot at the title this year, earning his third point towards this title match on November 24th with a win over Tony Deppen. When ref Bryce Remsburg asked Ophidian before the match if he was ready to do this, Ophidian responded with, “I’m ready to actually earn this,” a shot at interim champion Hatfield. Good, competitive main event, with Ophidian getting a lot of offense in and getting increasingly aggressive in his attempt to win the title. He got a lot of momentum, including a near submission from the Cobra Clutch Death Grip, and a flipping piledriver right before Hatfield got the win.

- With Ophidian still laid out in the ring after the finish, Boomer came out to celebrate with his dad, as did the returning Mr. Touchdown. He said he was proud of Hatfield for what has now been four defenses of the Grand Championship on his behalf, and then revealed that as of December 10 (Monday), he will be cleared to return to the ring. Remsburg congratulated Touchdown and handed him back the Grand Championship, but Hatfield held onto it… and laid out Touchdown with an elbow! He acted like this was still his title. Boomer was at a loss and went to tend to Touchdown, but Dasher yelled at him to come to the back with him.

This troubling incident put a bow on a very fun season finale to Chikara’s year, which has been almost exclusive to the Wrestle Factory in Philadelphia. They will be back to touring more next year, with the earliest returns to the Wrestle Factory being March 16 for both stages of Young Lions Cup XV, and May 11 for The Infinite Gauntlet.

#Chikara #Chikara Pro #Wrestling #S19Finale

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iamchikara · 6 years ago

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It’s the first event of a CHIKARA double-shot weekend! CHIKARA makes its long awaited return to Reading, PA’s First Energy Stadium for the first Live at First Energy Stadium show since 2015. It’s been rained out for the past two years, but don’t you fear, CHIKArmy. The weather report is predicting a partly cloudy day with a high temp of 86 degrees and 10% precipitation, so barring a freak storm the event should go on as planned. Let’s do the preview that we do so well, shall we? Mark Angelosetti is still having a pretty bad Season, and given that it’s reached the halfway point already, he’s quickly running out of chances to turn things around. Meanwhile, BLANK has been able to retain his two points thanks to trickery and the assistance of creations Still Life and Ursa Minor. What’ll happen when these two collide? Will BLANK join Travis Huckabee at the three+ point hotseat, or will Touchdown shatter his delusions of grandeur? With Nytehawk back in the fold, the Xyberhawx 2000 look to finally take out their toughest rivals as they do battle with Hermit Crab, Cajun Crawdad, and Merlok of the Creatures of the Deep. The Creatures have somehow gone downhill since their first days of domination, something that I’m sure the Queen of the Deep, Oceanea, is not pleased about. Maybe she’ll be on hand to keep her subjects in line! A second point is on the line as the Whisper (another who’s gone downhill in recent times, stemming from when Ophidian thrashed him last Season plus his ill-fated deal with Professor Nicodemus of the Proteus Wheel) takes on Solo Darling (hopefully on the rebound after that mess with Travis Huckabee). One will ascend, the other will fall to ground. In a little preview of the sure-to-be-epic Trios encounter between the Proteus Wheel and the Clone Coalition (I am begging you folks at CHIKARA, use this darn name for their KoT entry!) scheduled for later this month at Egg Monsters From Mars, #77 himself, Lucas Calhoun will take on Callux the Castigator. Callux managed to secure himself a point not too long ago, so it’ll be a small victory for the Volgars to knock one of the Proteus Wheel out of the running. And finally, we’ve another little preview of a match set for Egg Monsters From Mars, this time one of the scheduled Atomicos contests. The head-on collision between the Beast Warriors and the Closers continues as the Proletariat Boar of Moldova takes on Rick Roland. Neither man has a point on the board, so this is guaranteed another entrant into the standings, if things don’t go pear-shaped and everyone else doesn’t get involved!

#CHIKARA #Live at First Energy Stadium 2018 #Final Announced Card

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chikaraspecial · 6 years ago

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After a loss to Solo Darling this past weekend, The Whisper looks to rebound against Blanche Babish next Saturday at the Wrestle Factory!

“Egg Monsters From Mars” - Philadelphia, PA - July 28, 2018

1. The Beast Warriors (Oleg the Usurper & The Proletariat Boar of Moldova), Sonny Defarge & Cornelius Crummels vs. Legion of Rot (Hallowicked & Frightmare) & The Closers (Rick Roland & Sloan Caprice)

2. Jeremy Leary, “Juke Joint” Lucas Calhoun & B.M.D. vs. The Proteus Wheel (Callux the Castigator, Frantik & Volgar)

3. Kikutaro, Los Ice Creams ( El Hijo del Ice Cream & Ice Cream Jr.) & Princess KimberLee vs. Travis Huckabee, Tony Deppen & The Creatures of the Deep (Hermit Crab & Cajun Crawdad)

4. Blanche Babish (0 Points) vs. The Whisper (0 Points)

#CHIKARA #Chikara Pro #Egg Monsters From Mars #Blanche Babish #The Whisper

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denisehil0 · 5 years ago

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Gradual reopenings and the battle against superbugs; In The News for May 14

In The News is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to kickstart your day. Here is what’s on the radar of our editors for the morning of May 14 …

—

COVID-19 in Canada ….

OTTAWA — Canada is slowly beginning to emerge from its COVID-19 cocoon, with the federal government poised to announce a gradual reopening of national parks and heritage sites and more provinces taking the first halting steps toward a return to normal.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson are expected to announce today plans to soon begin a phased-in opening of federal parks and historic sites across the country.

Since the deadly virus that causes COVID-19 sent the country into lockdown in mid-March, all national parks and historic sites have been closed, with visitor services and all motor vehicle access suspended.

The gradual reopenings are to be accompanied by measures designed to ensure the safety of visitors and workers.

The plan involves some 38 parks and 171 historic sites, including lighthouses, forts, canals and monuments, that are administered by Parks Canada.

However, none of them are expected to be open in time for the coming long weekend.

—

In other Canadian news …

SMITHERS, B.C. — Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs and representatives of the federal and provincial governments are expected to sign an agreement today that politicians say will rebuild relationships after anti-pipeline protests and blockades earlier this year.

But the deal has also fractured an Indigenous community in B.C.’s Interior.

The memorandum of understanding was signed in March, ending protests and blockades by First Nations across the country that damaged Canada’s economy.

The hereditary chiefs oppose the construction of a Coastal GasLink pipeline through their territory and while this agreement recognizes their rights and title, the chiefs say it has no impact on the pipeline.

Elected chiefs of the First Nation say they should have been involved in the negotiations and are urging rejection of the agreement.

Premier John Horgan says the Wet’suwet’en have to figure out how to govern themselves and the agreement provides a framework allowing that.

—

Also this …

OTTAWA — Experts say necessary measures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic could be setting Canada back in the battle against superbugs.

They say drug resistant organisms, or superbugs, are just as great a threat as COVID-19, but the consequences will play out on a much longer timeline.

Many of the important things people are doing to fight the virus that causes COVID-19, like copious use of disinfectants and sanitizers and certain treatments, may be making the superbug problem worse.

Microbiologist Dr. Lori Burrows says people using unproven drug therapies to fight the virus, particularly south of the border, is especially troubling as it’s not likely to work and could severely impact the effectiveness of certain antibiotics in the future.

The government was set to release this year its pan-Canadian action plan to fight antimicrobial resistance.

Even so, experts say without significant resources to back it up, it will be difficult to stop the superbug problem from spreading.

—

COVID-19 in the U.S. …

WASHINGTON — A U.S. immunologist who says he lost his government job because he warned the Trump administration to prepare for the coronavirus pandemic isn’t backing off his bleak forecast.

Dr. Rick Bright is preparing to tell Congress that America faces the “darkest winter in modern history” unless its leaders act decisively to prevent a rebound of the coronavirus.

Bright is set to appear today before the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

In prepared testimony, Bright says failing to develop a national co-ordinated response, based in science, could mean the pandemic will get far worse and cause unprecedented illness and fatalities.

—

COVID-19 around the world …

MANILLA, Philippines — A strong typhoon has slammed into the eastern Philippines where authorities evacuated tens of thousands of people while trying to avoid the virus risks of overcrowding storm shelters.

The first typhoon to hit the archipelago this year barged ashore at noon in a town in Eastern Samar province. Video showed fierce rain and wind swaying coconut trees, rattling tin roofs and obscuring visibility.

A lockdown to fight the coronavirus requires people to stay in their homes and prohibits all kinds of gatherings that can set off infections. Governors say social distancing will be nearly impossible in emergency shelters.

Some shelters have been made into quarantine facilities, and they may have to be turned back into storm shelters.

—

COVID-19 and charity work …

A number of Canadian not-for-profit and charity organizations are seeing a drop in the number of volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among senior citizens.

Thousands of seniors who would normally be helping on the front lines have become shut-ins, protecting themselves against the novel coronavirus.

The loss of senior volunteers has had a dramatic impact on community organizations, health care and other sectors of Canada’s economy since the lockdown began in March.

Chris Hatch of Food Banks Canada says they have leveraged paid staff from other closed programs to conduct the work that senior volunteers normally perform.

Paula Speevak, president of Volunteer Canada, said about 12.7 million Canadians volunteer every year and of those, around 2.3 million are 65 and over.

She says most seniors help in home support services like family visits, Meals on Wheels, hospital auxiliaries and long-term care.

She says those activities give seniors a sense of belonging, purpose and value, and help them feel connected to the community.

—

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 14, 2020

The Canadian Press

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jobsearchtips02 · 5 years ago

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Canadian Snowbirds Jet Crashes During Performance for Health-Care Workers

Coronavirus

2: 32

Malls Reopen, Testing In-Store Retail Appetite

5/18/2020 5: 30AM

5/18/2020

As states across the country start to loosen restrictions on non-essential businesses, shopping malls in some states were open this weekend and provided a look at the desire for in-store shopping during the pandemic. Photo: Elizabeth Findell

1: 48

Stars Celebrate Class of 2020 Graduates at Virtual Event

5/15/2020 7: 12PM

5/15/2020

2: 55

Watch 2020’s Star-Studded High School Graduation Event

5/17/2020 12: 08AM

5/17/2020

0: 03

Coronavirus Update: FDA Alert on Abbott Tests, NYSE to Reopen Trading Floor

5/15/2020 6: 57AM

5/15/2020

4: 17

Why the Health-Care Sector May Not Rebound to Its Former Size

5/15/2020 5: 30AM

5/15/2020

Sponsored

1: 30

Sponsored

How Worldly Experiences Can Shape One’s Success

1/24/2018

1: 00

Sponsored

Golf’s Data Revolution

9/9/2016 2: 16PM

9/9/2016

27: 34

Sponsored

Creating the Future Workforce

1/17/2017 3: 39PM

1/17/2017

2: 21

Sponsored

Am I Doing What I Love?

9/22/2016 11: 59PM

9/22/2016

Marketwatch, Moneyish and Barron’s

8: 19

Reopening in America

5/18/2020 9: 14AM

5/18/2020

As U.S. states grapple with the best strategy for getting back to business, the CEO of FAT Brands discusses how he plans to reopen hundreds of restaurants safely. Plus, Barron’s deputy editor Ben Levisohn unpacks the rising tensions between the Trump administration and China.

3: 18

How to get quick access to cash during the pandemic

5/18/2020 7: 00AM

5/18/2020

2: 20

How Annuities Could Protect Your Retirement Income

5/18/2020 6: 30AM

5/18/2020

3: 08

Big Tech & Small Business Vs. Covid-19

5/15/2020 7: 00AM

5/15/2020

2: 05

The Covid-19 Impact on Travel

5/14/2020 6: 30AM

5/14/2020

from Job Search Tips https://jobsearchtips.net/canadian-snowbirds-jet-crashes-during-performance-for-health-care-workers/

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buddyrabrahams · 6 years ago

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Eight biggest takeaways from Thursday’s Sweet Sixteen games

After enduring three brutally long days without college basketball, the NCAA Tournament made its triumphant return Thursday night.

With only one mid-major (Gonzaga) and one double-digit seed (Oregon) advancing to play this weekend, the Sweet Sixteen was poised to be better than usual. With one night in the books, it has lived up to the hype. We saw three great games and a fourth great performance from Texas Tech.

Those four games were crucial to determining what our Final Four and eventual championship will look like next weekend. Here are eight takeaways from Thursday night.

1. Purdue and Tennessee gave us the game of the night

No game provided more excitement and captivated the fans like Purdue’s OT win over Tennessee. After seeing an 18-point lead vanish in the second half, Purdue was able to stabilize, defeating Tennessee in the extra period in Louisville on Thursday night. The Boilermakers bundled turnovers with terrible free throw shooting, allowing Tennessee to sneak back into the game.

Ultimately, down the stretch and into overtime, Purdue was sparked by unreal outside shooting by Ryan Cline. The senior guard made 7 of 10 from long range for a career-high 27 points on the night. Purdue has struggled this year when its offense has been overly focused on Carsen Edwards. Cline’s ability to step up and provided a real scoring pop was enough to move the Boilermakers on to Saturday’s Elite Eight.

2. Gonzaga exacts some revenge and looks as strong as ever

One year after Florida State upset Gonzaga and ended the Bulldogs’ season, the Zags were able to turn the tables. Gonzaga led nearly wire-to-wire Thursday, locking down the Seminoles defensively.

Florida State shot just 39 percent from the field, managing to make just 3 of 20 from beyond the 3-point arc. The Seminoles key big men, Christ Koudmadje and Mfiondu Kabengele, battled foul trouble and failed to get into a rhythm. Both finished the game with four fouls and neither posted double-figure scoring or rebounds.

The Zags were buoyed by five players scoring in double-figures, led by clutch shooting from Zach Norvell. While Brandon Clarke and Rui Hachimura are All-American level players, Norvell is Gonzaga’s closer on the offensive end.

3. Texas Tech shows just how tough its defense is

In a game between the top two defensive teams in the nation per KenPom, Texas Tech smothered Michigan. The game was slow, ugly, and physical, playing right into the Red Raiders’ hands.

Michigan couldn’t accomplish anything offensively. Even though John Beilein is a top-flight offensive coach and has a group of players who can score or create for each other, the Wolverines spun their wheels against the Texas Tech defense. Every Michigan player looking for a shot was met with fast rotating defenders and constant pressure.

The Wolverines shot just 32 percent from the field and a dismal 1-for-19 from outside the arc. This was not simply a cold shooting night; Texas Tech put the clamps on Michigan and made everything difficult.

4. Virginia survives and advances, barely

Following the overtime game to start the night in Louisville, Virginia and Oregon didn’t tip off their match-up until after 10:30 PM local time. The Ducks took advantage, hanging close throughout an ugly, grinding game. Eventually, Virginia’s defensive talent overwhelmed Oregon. Down the stretch, Virginia was able to convert offensively, while the Ducks were unable to find opportunities to score.

The top-seeded Hoos were certainly tested, with Tony Bennett forced to make some tough decisions down the stretch. He played his starting five nearly the entire second half. Virginia’s bench did not score during the entire game. That’s alarming given the quick turnaround to Saturday’s game and the difficult road ahead for this team. Without an increase in reliable bench contributions, it’s hard to see Virginia advancing further.

5. Jarrett Culver is a star in the making

Michigan’s defense was strong despite their loss, holding Texas Tech to 24 first half points. The Red Raiders broke things open in the second half when Big XII Player of the Year Jarrett Culver perked up offensively. Culver finished the game with 17 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals.

In his sophomore season, Culver has blossomed into a fantastic player on both ends of the court. Defensively, Culver is not the quickest player and does not possess the otherworldly type of wingspan that usually leaves NBA scouts drooling, but he is athletic enough to guard almost any opponent. With help from Chris Beard’s defensive schemes, Culver is always in the right position to make a defensive play.

On the offensive end, Michigan could not keep Culver out of the lane. He used his quick first step to slice into the paint at will, attacking the rim and drawing fouls on the Wolverines. That specific skill is the reason Culver is considered a future lottery pick. If he can transition from a streaky shooter to a strong one, he could be a star at the next level.

6. Carsen Edwards continues to impress

While Ryan Cline was marvelous on Thursday, Carsen Edwards continued his blazing hot trip though the South Region. Edwards was leading the tournament in scoring after two rounds of play and showed no signs of slowing down, adding 29 points Thursday.

With the Vols up two and mere seconds on the clock, Purdue looked to Edwards on its final possession. Edwards drew a foul on a 3-point attempt, sinking two of three from the free throw line to send the game to overtime. ‘

Edwards’ scoring can carry this Purdue team. No player aside from Zion Williamson is as connected to his team’s success as Edwards is to Purdue’s chances to move on.

7. Killian Tillie’s return is coming together

A last-minute, unexpected injury to Killian Tillie was one of the key reasons the Zags lost to Florida State last March. Although Tillie is not an elite scorer or defender like some of his teammates, his ability to do the little things and plug holes in Gonzaga’s gameplan makes him one of Mark Few’s most valuable assets.

This season, injuries have plagued Tillie again. He did not play between February 7 and March 11, with Thursday marking his fifth game back since returning to the lineup.

Mark Few has been careful about where and how to work Tillie back into the rotation. Hachimura and Clarke are both undeniably needed in the front court late in games. Knowing that, Few played Tillie with his All-American big men down the stretch against the Seminoles. For a long stretch with the game on the line, Few played the 6-foot-10 Tillie, 6-foot-11 Hachimura, and 6-foot-8 Clarke together.

All three are versatile, smart, and efficient players who were able to make this lineup work. Tillie’s numbers weren’t eye-popping, but his impact was felt. His contributions will be key down the road for Gonzaga.

8. Tennessee bows out in head-scratching fashion

While the Vols battled back valiantly in their game against Purdue, in many ways, they cost themselves a chance at a win Thursday. Tennessee fell behind by 18, never getting in sync offensively. Admiral Schofield, one of Tennessee’s primary offensive options, failed to score until the final minute of the first half.

Late in the game, following a run to take the lead, the Vols made several crucial mistakes. With a 2-point lead in the last ten seconds of regulation, Tennessee fouled a 3-point shooter, giving Purdue a chance to tie or win the game. It was a questionable call against the hottest shooter in the tournament, but inexcusable regardless.

Then, with less than 2 seconds on the clock, Tennessee attempted to inbound the ball quickly to half-court to call a timeout, setting up their final possession from there. With under 2 seconds, this maneuver is a fool’s errand. The human error of the referees and clock operator make that plan near impossible to pull off. The Vols were left with just 0.1 seconds, essentially ending their chance to win in regulation. This kind of mishap has become expected from Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes.

For two players as great as Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield, this loss mark’s a disappointing end to their careers.

Shane McNichol covers college basketball and the NBA for Larry Brown Sports. He also blogs about basketball at Palestra Back and has contributed to Rush The Court, ESPN.com, and USA Today Sports Weekly. Follow him on Twitter @OnTheShaneTrain.

from Larry Brown Sports https://ift.tt/2OzyOXY

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jambercob · 6 years ago

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Your Thanksgiving Programming Guide

The only thing better than stuffing your face with turkey and pie is stuffing your face with turkey and pie while watching your favorite television characters do the same. From Joey Tribbiani shoving a turkey on his head to Mr. Fischoeder attempting to borrow Bob’s family for slightly nefarious reasons, there’s no denying that Thanksgiving television manage to capture the family drama of the holidays with the elegant twist that you don’t actually have to live through the drama yourself. So put on some pants with an elastic waistband—because it’s Thanksgiving and that’s what we do—and settle in for some truly epic television viewing.

90210 “Smoked Turkey” Season 4, Episode 10

Adventure Time “Thank You” Season 3, Episode 17

All in the Family “The Little Atheist” Season 6, Episode 11

Ally McBeal “You Can Never Tell” Season 2, Episode 9 “Troubled Water” Season 3, Episode 5

The A-Team “Family Reunion” Season 5, Episode 8

Beverly Hills, 90210 “The Kindness of Strangers” Season 3, Episode 15 “Radar Love” Season 4, Episode 12 “Breast Side Up” Season 6, Episode 12 “If I Had a Hammer” Season 7, Episode 11 “You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello” Season 9, Episode 8

Bob’s Burgers “An Indecent Thanksgiving Proposal” Season 3, Episode 5 “Turkey in a Can” Season 4, Episode 5 “Dawn of the Peck” Season 5, Episode 4 “Gayle Makin’ Bob Sled” Season 6, Episode 4 “The Quirk-ducers” Season 7, Episode 6 “Thanks-hoarding” Season 8, Episode 5

Bones “High Treason in the Holiday Season” Season 11, Episode 8

Boy Meets World “Turkey Day” Season 4, Episode 10

The Brady Bunch “The Un-Underground Movie” Season 2, Episode 4

Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Pangs” Season 4, Episode 8

Castle “The Good, the Bad and the Baby” Season 6, Episode 10

Charmed “The Truth Is Out There … and It Hurts” Season 1, Episode 8

Cheers “Thanksgiving Orphans” Season 5, Episode 9

Community “Cooperative Escapism in Familial Relations” Season 4, Episode 5

Designing Women “Perky’s Visit” Season 1, Episode 7

Desperate Housewives “Don’t Walk on the Grass” Season 6, Episode 6 “Sorry Grateful” Season 7, Episode 8

Dexter “Hungry Man” Season 4, Episode 9

Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 “It’s a Miracle” Season 2, Episode 4

ER “ER Confidential” Season 1, Episode 10 “Great Expectations” Season 6, Episode 8 “Rescue Me” Season 7, Episode 7 “Freefall” Season 10, Episode 8 “Scoop and Run” Season 13, Episode 9

Everybody Loves Raymond “Turkey or Fish” Season 1, Episode 10 “No Fat” Season 3, Episode 10 “No Thanks” Season 4, Episode 9 “Fighting In-Laws” Season 5, Episode 9 “Older Woman” Season 6, Episode 9 “The Bird” Season 8, Episode 9 “Debra’s Parents” Season 9, Episode 9

Felicity “Thanksgiving” Season 1, Episode 9 “Family Affairs” Season 2, Episode 8 “The Last Thanksgiving” Season 4, Episode 8

Fresh Off the Boat “Huangsgiving” Season 2, Episode 8 “No Thanksgiving” Season 3, Episode 5 “The Day After Thanksgiving” Season 4, Episode 7

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air “Talking Turkey” Season 1, Episode 12 “There’s the Rub: Part 1” Season 6, Episode 9 “There’s the Rub: Part 2” Season 6, Episode 10

Friday Night Lights “Thanksgiving” Season 4, Episode 13

Friends “The One Where the Underdog Gets Away” Season 1, Episode 9 “The One with the List” Season 2, Episode 8 “The One with the Football” Season 3, Episode 9 “The One with Chandler in a Box” Season 4, Episode 8 “The One with All the Thanksgivings” Season 5, Episode 8 “The One Where Ross Got High” Season 6, Episode 9 “The One Where Chandler Doesn’t Like Dogs” Season 7, Episode 8 “The One with the Rumor” Season 8, Episode 9 “The One with Rachel’s Other Sister” Season 9, Episode 8 “The One with the Late Thanksgiving” Season 10, Episode 8

Full House “The Miracle of Thanksgiving” Season 1, Episode 9

Gilmore Girls “A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving” Season 3, Episode 9 “He’s Slippin’ ‘Em Bread … Dig?” Season 6, Episode 10

Glee “Thanksgiving” Season 4, Episode 8

The Goldbergs “Stop Arguing and Start Thanking” Season 1, Episode 9 “A Goldberg Thanksgiving” Season 2, Episode 7 “In Conclusion, Thanksgiving” Season 3, Episode 8 “A Wall Street Thanksgiving” Season 5, Episode 7

The Good Wife “A Defense of Marriage” Season 4, Episode 9

Gossip Girl “Blair Waldorf Must Pie” Season 1, Episode 9 “The Magnificent Archibalds” Season 2, Episode 11 “The Treasure of Serena Madre” Season 3, Episode 11 “Gaslit” Season 4, Episode 10

“It’s Really Complicated” Season 6, Episode 8

Grey’s Anatomy “Thanks for the Memories” Season 2, Episode 9 “Holidaze” Season 6, Episode 10 “Somebody That I Used to Know” Season 10, Episode 10

Happy Days “The First Thanksgiving” Season 6, Episode 12

House “Ignorance is Bliss” Season 6, Episode 8

How I Met Your Mother “Belly Full of Turkey” Season 1, Episode 9 “Slapsgiving” Season 3, Episode 9 “Slapsgiving 2: Revenge of the Slap” Season 5, Episode 2 “Blitzgiving” Season 6, Episode 10 “The Rebound Girl” Season 7, Episode 11

MacGyver “The Outsiders” Season 4, Episode 3

Mad Men “The Wheel” Season 1, Episode 13 “Dark Shadows” Season 5, Episode 9

M*A*S*H “The Yalu Brick Road” Season 8, Episode 10

Modern Family “Punkin Chunkin” Season 3, Episode 9 “When a Tree Falls” Season 4, Episode 9 “Three Turkeys” Season 6, Episode 8 “Thanksgiving Jamboree” Season 8, Episode 7

New Girl “Thanksgiving” Season 1, Episode 6 “The Parents” Season 2, Episode 8 “Thanksgiving III” Season 3, Episode 10

Northern Exposure “Thanksgiving” Season 4, Episode 8

Parenthood “Happy Thanksgiving” Season 2, Episode 10

Pretty Little Liars “Taking This One to the Grave” Season 5, Episode 12

Scream Queens “Thanksgiving” Season 1, Episode 10

Scrubs “My Day Off” Season 1, Episode 9

Seinfeld “The Mom and Pop Store” Season 6, Episode 8

The Simpsons “Bart vs. Thanksgiving” Season 2, Episode 7 “Homer vs. Dignity” Season 12, Episode 5 “Homer the Moe” Season 13, Episode 3

Smallville “Rage” Season 6, Episode 7 “Ambush” Season 10, Episode 7

Teen Titans Go! “Thanksgiving” Season 2, Episode 23

That ‘70s Show “Thanksgiving” Season 1, Episode 9

This Is Us “Pilgrim Rick” Season 1, Episode 8

West Wing “Shibboleth” Season 2, Episode 8 “The Indians in the Lobby” Season 3, Episode 7 “Arctic Radar” Season 4, Episode 10

Will & Grace “Homo for the Holidays” Season 2, Episode 7 “Moveable Feast: Part 1” Season 4, Episode 9 “Queens for a Day: Part 1” Season 7, Episode 10

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investmart007 · 7 years ago

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Warriors' McCaw injured in scary fall as team beats Kings

New Post has been published on https://goo.gl/6Rtvk3

Warriors' McCaw injured in scary fall as team beats Kings

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /March 31, 2018 (AP)(STL.News)— In a silenced arena, two teams gathered together under the basket to pray for Patrick McCaw as Golden State’s second-year guard was rushed away on a stretcher.

Basketball suddenly came second.

McCaw left late in the third quarter of the Warriors’ 112-96 win over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night after a scary landing following an undercut by Vince Carter that appeared unintentional.

For a night, the Warriors — already banged up and missing key faces such as Stephen Curry — weren’t focused on their other injuries, seeding in the West or defending the NBA title.

“Basketball’s cool but when it’s something that affects everyday life it’s tough to watch,” Warriors forward Draymond Green said.

“Obviously everyone’s worried. There’s not really much we can do in that situation.”

McCaw was transported to UC Davis Medical Center for further evaluation, the team said.

He drove the baseline and went down with a thud with 41.8 seconds left in the quarter, hit in the lower body by Carter. McCaw lay still and in agony for about 10 minutes as the crowd quieted.

Carter, who was given a Flagrant-1 foul, knelt nearby as medical personnel from both teams along with Warriors coach Steve Kerr rushed out to the baseline beneath Golden State’s basket.

“Vince felt awful and Pat was in extreme pain,” Kerr said. “Everybody felt bad. All we can do is just hope we get a positive response from the hospital.”

Players for both teams eventually came to the floor as McCaw was placed on a stretcher and wheeled away with his neck stabilized. McCaw, who appeared to be trying to dunk, did a scissor kick in the air over Carter’s right shoulder before landing hard on his troublesome back.

Kerr swore and was visibly frustrated and hollered “He knows better,” referring to Carter, before going out to the court to check on McCaw. Carter, who approached the Golden State bench after the game to apologize, got close to McCaw and offered some words just before the stretcher was pulled away.

“He felt bad about the situation and whatever happened,” Warriors center Zaza Pachulia said. “You could tell from his reaction and the expression from his face. Class guy. Obviously it was a freak accident.”

Golden State star Kevin Durant had 27 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in his first full game back from a rib injury. Durant returned Thursday night against Milwaukee but got ejected just before halftime for using vulgarities.

Klay Thompson played Saturday following an eight-game absence with a broken right thumb and contributed 25 points on 10-for-19 shooting as the defending champions snapped a rare three-game losing streak.

Everything appeared peaceful outside Golden 1 Center, where police on horses and officers in riot gear surrounded the arena hours before tipoff. Protesters have joined hands at recent games following the shooting death by police of unarmed black man Stephon Clark on March 18.

Earlier Saturday, former Kings star and Sacramento native Matt Barnes organized a rally and pledged to create a scholarship fund for the children of black men killed by police.

Kerr found himself on the defensive before the game for not attending the rally after he pledged his organization’s support to Clark’s family and the community.

“I’m coaching the Warriors tonight and we’re kind of busy today,” Kerr said before adding, “I think you guys know our team, we’re very socially aware and active and we��ve got a lot of players who do a lot of good in the community and who care about what’s going on. And we all care about what’s happening here and we’re very compassionate first and foremost to the Clark family but also to the community. We support the protests. Everybody in our organization wants to see a change and wants to see justice.”

De’Aaron Fox had 15 points and eight assists and reserve Buddy Hield scored 19 in the Kings’ fourth straight loss.

After taking an elbow, Golden State’s Shaun Livingston grabbed a driving Skal Labissiere with 4:40 left in the second quarter and tempers flared. Officials went to replay review and Livingston received a Flagrant 1.

TIP-INS

Warriors: F Omri Casspi missed playing against his former team, sitting out a seventh straight game with a sprained right ankle. … Golden State won both meetings in Sacramento but lost twice to the Kings at home. … The Warriors haven’t lost four straight since Feb. 26-March 2, 2013.

Kings: Sacramento was trying to become the first Western Conference team since 2014-15 to beat Golden State three times in the same season. … Sacramento signed F Nigel Hayes.

ANOTHER MARK

Golden State won 55 games for the fourth straight season, the 15th time it has happened in NBA history and first since the Spurs did so five consecutive times from 2012-2017.

WELTS TO HALL OF FAME

Warriors chief operating officer Rick Welts was named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, part of a 13-person class that also includes player development consultant and former MVP Steve Nash.

UP NEXT

Warriors: Host Phoenix on Sunday night, their second-to-last time playing on consecutive nights. The Warriors have beaten the Suns 13 straight times, 12 in a row at home.

Kings: At the Lakers on Sunday to open a stretch of four road games before ending the season at home against Houston.

___

By JANIE McCAULEY, AP Sports Writer,By Associated Press – published on STL.News by St. Louis Media, LLC (Z.S)

___

#Golden State's second-year guard #team beats Kings #Warriors' McCaw injured in scary fall

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junker-town · 7 years ago

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Here’s what the hell happened to Florida State

Five keys to the Noles becoming 2017’s most disappointing team.

Every year, we swing and miss.

In 2016, LSU was the preseason No. 5. Ole Miss was 11th, and Michigan State was 12th. They combined to go 14-20.

In 2015, Auburn was preseason No. 6, Arizona State was 15th, and Georgia Tech was 16th. They went 16-22.

In 2014, Oklahoma was fourth and South Carolina was ninth. They went 15-11.

There are always the alternative stories, too. TCU going from unranked to the brink of the CFP in 2014, Penn State doing the same in 2016.

Sometimes, we whiff spectacularly. My favorite example has long been 1997 Colorado. The Sporting News, no stranger to bold predictions, named Rick Neuheisel’s Buffaloes No. 1 in the preseason. The AP had them eighth. They fell apart against a rugged schedule, going 1-5 against ranked teams on the way to a limp 5-6 finish.

The 2017 season might have produced the standard-bearer for swings and misses.

Florida State began the season third in the AP poll. I damn near decided to rank Jimbo Fisher’s Seminoles even higher than that.

They returned all the pieces they could need on defense, from Buck end Josh Sweat to linebacker Matthew Thomas to the star, safety Derwin James, thought to be the best player in college football.

If there was an issue, it would come on offense.

No Dalvin Cook. Cook was an amazing security blanket for a first-year starting quarterback. He not only rushed for 1,765 yards (and behind a line that started nine guys at least twice, no less) and powered an offense that ranked fifth in Rushing S&P+; he also caught 34 passes for 513 yards and a 53 percent success rate. Among other things, FSU doesn’t win the Orange Bowl without Cook.

No receivers? FSU must replace last year’s top four receiving targets: Travis Rudolph, Jesus Wilson, Kermit Whitfield, and Cook. Rudolph, Wilson, and Whitfield combined for 120 catches, 1,616 yards, and nine touchdowns. On a per-target basis, they weren’t great, but continuity in the receiving corps is a big thing, and FSU doesn’t have much. [...]

FSU’s line ranked 72nd in stuff rate and 63rd in Adj. Sack Rate, and that was with All-American left tackle Roderick Johnson and all-conference guard Kareem Are.

You had to have faith in FSU’s recruiting and offensive coaching to believe in the Noles as a national title contender, but it wasn’t difficult to find that faith, especially with the return of quarterback Deondre Francois.

On the first Saturday of the season, however, Francois was lost for the season with a patella tendon injury. That redefined the Noles’ season, virtually eliminating a national title run.

But Fisher still had a roster full of former blue-chippers. It was easy to assume they would still have a large role in the ACC title race and would have a successful, if marginally disappointing, season.

Wrong on all counts.

On Friday night, Florida State lost 35-3. It was the third time in four years that a Fisher team has lost by 30-plus points, but whereas the other two came against Heisman winners and good teams — Oregon in 2014, Louisville in 2016 — this one came against ... Boston College. It dropped FSU to an incredible 2-5 for the season.

FSU’s first four losses were at least competitive. Before Francois�� injury, the Noles trailed Alabama only 10-7 late in the third quarter. And losing to NC State, Miami, and Louisville by a combined 13 is not the end of the world. You could craft a narrative that FSU wasn’t that far away from being FSU.

No matter how impressive BC has been over the last few weeks, however, you can’t create any sort of positive spin from Friday night.

At this point, the Noles have about a 10 percent chance at best of reaching bowl eligibility. They are on their way to their first losing season since 1976, Bobby Bowden’s first year. When the wheels came off for Bowden at the end of his career, it meant unacceptable 7-6 seasons. There is a chance this FSU team finishes about 3-8.

So what the hell happened?

You can’t just pin this all on Francois’ injury. Maybe that’s worth an extra couple of wins at this point, but again, FSU is 2-5. And a recruiting machine like Florida State’s should have at least a tolerable backup quarterback situation.

It should be able to produce a run game capable of taking pressure off of a young QB. And good lord, no matter how many injuries we’re talking about, it should be capable of ranking better than 110th in Off. S&P+ at the moment.

In the BC aftermath, we’ve seen a new narrative: that FSU is this year’s version of Notre Dame, a talented team suffering from a rash of close losses with a stale coaching staff. And to be sure, Fisher — whose buyout is large enough to preclude any sort of hot seat conversations — will likely make quite a few staff changes this offseason.

But the advanced stats paint a shaky picture. Brian Kelly’s Fighting Irish finished the 2016 season 26th in S&P+ despite the 4-8 record, suggesting they weren’t far from improvement. FSU’s down at No. 75 right now.

Their offense finished 36th, their defense 28th. Kelly made a series of changes, but at least one was not because of some urge; offensive coordinator Mike Sanford finished 2016 well-regarded enough to earn the Western Kentucky head coaching job.

Kelly still made some great choices. Despite a new quarterback (and, yes, some QB injuries) offensive coordinator Chip Long has the Irish up to 12th in Off. S&P+ and first in Rushing S&P+. Fellow new coordinator Mike Elko has a defense that is both aggressive and good at the bend-don’t-break routine. The Irish are 18th on that side of the ball.

Some new blood on the field and sideline made a world of difference for Notre Dame. But the Irish didn’t have that far to go.

FSU still has time to rebound a bit, but the Noles have a lot more questions to answer than Kelly did a year ago.

Here are the five things most wrong with the FSU product on the field at the moment.

1. Extreme offensive youth

This doesn’t explain an offensive ranking in the triple digits, but it has to be mentioned. The offense has been wrecked by injury, far beyond Francois. The Noles’ backfield is now manned primarily by true freshmen: quarterback James Blackman, who did not enroll early, and running back Cam Akers.

There isn’t a senior to be found in the receiving corps. The only senior with more than one target this year is former safety Ermon Lane, who moved back to offense because of injuries. Junior Auden Tate and sophomore Keith Gavin have missed significant time, and sophomore George Campbell’s season is over. The offensive line has been wrecked by the injury bug as well.

In fact, there were only two seniors, period, on FSU’s depth chart last week: right tackle Rick Leonard and reserve tailback Ryan Green. There are 11 freshmen, redshirt freshmen, or sophomores.

There are still blue-chippers everywhere, but those players still have to develop. And it’s always going to cost you when the team you think you’re bringing into August in no way resembles the team you have at the end of September.

2. The offensive line is a sieve

The FSU line has long been less than the sum of its parts, at least from a statistical perspective. The Noles ranked 22nd in Off. S&P+ in 2015 despite dreadful short yardage success (114th in power success rate) and leakiness (107th in stuff rate, 74th in passing downs success rate). They ranked third in Off. S&P+ last year despite a lot of the same issues: 77th in power success rate, 105th in passing downs success rate.

FSU had to replace Johnson and two other part-time starters, but it wasn’t hard to believe depth and experience would be an asset.

Considering the youth behind it, the line needed to raise its game. It has not. The Noles rank 67th in power success rate, 120th in passing downs sack rate, 125th in stuff rate. Worse than ever.

The sack rate has a lot to do with Blackman. The run blocking figures? Less so.

3. The defense hasn’t stepped up either

Charles Kelly’s unit was the primary reason for title-level optimism. FSU had rebounded from early-2016 issues, enough to finish 10th in Def. S&P+. With James’ return, it was easy to see the Noles dominating on that side of the ball.

The 2017 defense hasn’t been bad, but it hasn’t been as good as advertised. And it has had to face a hefty slate of good offenses: Louisville ranks eighth in Off. S&P+, Alabama is 19th, Miami is 20th, NC State is 27th, Wake Forest is 40th, and Boston College has become one of the hottest attacks in the country.

Adjusting for opponent, you see that the defense has been ... fine. The Noles are 25th in Rushing S&P+ and 16th in Passing S&P+. But we expected elite. And you can’t really blame injuries for the discrepancy.

The overall Def. S&P+ ranking has been dragged down by niggling issues and situational breakdowns: awful short yardage execution (101st in power success rate) and too many big plays on passing downs (107th in passing downs explosiveness). Opponents have no fear of the pass defense and are passing non-stop on passing downs.

It is unfair, but the hapless offense has forced the defense to be even better than expected. Instead, it is worse.

4. Punting hasn’t helped

A good punter can make up ground in the field position battle.

Instead, Logan Tyler has struggled. He’s averaging a decent 42.2 yards per kick, but opponents are also averaging 12.3 yards per return, resulting in a punting success rate of just 50 percent, 99th in FBS. Is net punting your preferred measure? FSU’s 108th in that. FSU’s averaging a 35.4 yard net, about eight yards worse than your typical top-10 punt unit.

5. FSU isn’t taking advantage of its biggest asset: athleticism

FSU has yet to score 30 points in a game this season and only scored more than 20 once in October. Part of that is a tempo issue, as in, FSU has none. But overall, the Noles’ statistical profile shows minimal signs of aggressiveness.

FSU ranks 125th in Adj. Tempo, up from 129th a week ago.

The Noles have only 30 gains of 20-plus yards all season, 104th.

They are 129th in passing downs sack rate.

Fourth downs are automatic kicking downs, almost no matter what.

Just about the only sign of aggression on the stat page is the number of big plays they’re allowing on passing downs. You could craft a “they’re blitzing and getting burned” narrative ... until you see that they never actually get to the QB.

Conservatism makes sense when you’re young on offense and trying to grind out wins or trying to avoid demoralizing blowouts. Either way, it’s not working, and there doesn’t appear to be a Plan B.

Taking deep shots? None of that.

Simplifying concepts and executing them with pace? The exact opposite. The offense remains complicated, and the snail’s pace allows defenses to make complicated calls as well.

Risking big plays in the name of havoc on defense? Not much of that either (they’re 51st in havoc rate).

To be sure, a lot of this has to do with the stale coaching staff. There have been rumors of major discord, and one should expect quite a few more changes than Kelly made in South Bend.

On Friday night, we saw a team that had pretty much packed it in for the year.

The defense began to play more as individuals than a collective and got burned. The offense ... scored three points.

A team with a pulse could still win three of its final four games, home games against Syracuse and Delaware State and road games against Clemson and equally lifeless Florida.

And in this scenario, FSU could attempt to reschedule its game against ULM (which was canceled in September) or ask for an NCAA bowl waiver because of the cancellation.

Or, the Noles could simply play out the string, make staff changes, and move on.

The former appeals to pride, but I’m betting the latter sounds tempting.

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bardownclown-blog · 8 years ago

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History of the Sabres

History of the Sabres - http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/ Historical Moments: 1970/71: After years of minor league hockey Buffalo finally lands a NHL team as the Sabres are one of two expansion teams added in the second wave of expansion bring the league to 14 teams. With legendary from Toronto Maple Leafs Coach Punch Imlach running the team the Sabres won a special wheel spin for the right to the number one overall pick which they used on the top Junior player Gilbert Perreault. On October 10th Perreault would score a goal in the Sabres very first game a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on the road. Eight days later the Sabres would face the Penguins again skating to a 1-1 tie in the first game ever at the Aud. Gilbert Perreault would go on to lead the Sabres in scoring with 38 goals and 34 assists while winning the Calder Trophy. However, the Sabres would finish in fifth place in the Eastern Division with a typical expansion like 24-39-15 record. 1971/72: The Sabres would draft wisely again selecting Rick Martin who meshed well with Gilbert Perreault as the two led the Sabres in scoring with 74 points. Martin and Perreault would be joined at the end of the season by Rene Robert acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a trade for Eddie Shack. The trio would form one of the prolific scoring lines of the era known as the French Connection. However, the Sabres would still struggle to win games finishing in sixth place with a 16-43-19 record, as a heart attack forced Coach Punch Imlach to the sidelines. 1972/73: Even though he was no longer able to Coach the Sabres Punch Imlach remained the club’s General Manager again striking gold in the draft with the selection of hard-nosed defenseman Jim Schonfeld. In addition to Schonfeld the Sabres would acquire veteran blue liner Tim Horton to help lead the young team. The added strength on defense combined with the scoring touch of the French Connection would be the right combination for the Sabres who made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history with a solid 37-27-14 record. However the Sabres would be overmatched by the veteran Montreal Canadiens in the playoffs as they found themselves down 3-0. However, the young Sabres would not go down without a fight taking the next two games before falling 4-2 in Game 6. 1973/74: Coming off their first playoff appearance the Sabres came out of the gate flying winning six of their first nine games. However, Gilbert Perreault would suffer a broken leg missing eight weeks; shortly thereafter they would lose Goalie Roger Crozier for the rest of the season after he developed pancreatitis. Without two key players the Sabres would struggle, but none of that would prepare them for what happened on February 20th after a game in Toronto against the Maple Leafs when Tim Horton decided to drive home on his own. Horton, the 44-year old veteran defenseman apparently had his senses dulled, after consuming alcohol and painkillers as he crashed his car into the center guardrail on the Queen Elizabeth Way and died. Injuries and tragedy would be too much for the Sabres to overcome as they missed the playoffs by finishing in fifth place with a record of 32-34-12. 1974/75: After a year of tragedy the Sabres would rebound as The French Connection led the way in an offensive explosion that would see the Sabres score 354 goals. Rene Robert, Gilbert Perreault, and Rick Martin each finished in the top ten in scoring, as the Sabres finished in first place in the newly established Adams Division with a record of 49-16-15. In the playoffs the Sabres would get off to a strong start beating the Chicago Blackhawks in five games to reach the Semifinals. In the semifinals against the Montreal Canadiens the Sabres would get off to a dramatic start as Danny Gare scored in overtime to give the Sabres a 6-5. The Sabres would go on to take a 2-0 series lead before losing the next two games in Montreal to set up a crucial fifth game at the Aud where Rene Robert scored in overtime to give the Sabres a 5-4 win. Not wanting to chance things the Sabres closed the series out in Montreal in Game 6 with a 4-3 win. In the Stanley Cup Finals against the defending Champion Philadelphia Flyers the Sabres would get off to a slow start losing the first two games on the road. Desperately needing to win Game 3 at the home the Sabres were hampered by 90-degree temperatures that created a fog in the Aud as the game went into overtime. However, Rene Robert would be the hero again netting the game winner to keep the Sabres hopes alive. The Sabres would go on to even the series in Game 4 with a 4-2 win. However, Flyers Goalie Bernie Parent would prove too strong as the Flyers went on to win the Cup in six games. 1975/76: Coming off their run to the Stanley Cup Finals the Sabres were again one of the top teams in the NHL finishing in second place with a solid record of 46-21-13. The French Connection again led the way all finishing with at least 86 points including Gilbert Perreault who finished third in the league with 113 points. However, the highlight of the season according to General Manager Punch Imlach occurred in January 4th exhibition game against the Soviet Red Army team who had beaten all NHL teams up to that point on a barnstorming tour. Imlach worked hard to make sure the Sabres would not be added to the list of the conquered so he studied game tapes looking for an edge. He found one as the Sabres quickly jumped out to a lead on the way to a convincing 12-6 victory. In the playoffs it would not be as easy as they needed two overtime wins to get past the St. Louis Blues in a three game series. In the second round the Sabres would jump out to a 2-0 lead over the New York Islanders. However, the Islanders would rally to win the next four games advancing to the semifinals in six games. 1976/77: The Sabres would struggle out of the gate prompting General Manager Punch Imlach to threaten to trade all players if the team did not turn it around quickly. The move worked as the Sabres lost just four games in November and December, on the way to another solid second place finish with a 48-24-8 record. The Sabres would get off to a quick start in the playoffs as they beat the Minnesota North Stars in two straight games winning by a combine 11-3 score. However, in the second round they would be swept by the New York Islanders in four straight close games. 1977/78: After Gerry Desjardins was hit in the eye with a puck and developed a cataract the previous season, goaltender Don Edwards was recalled from Hershey. Desjardins would return in December but struggle badly leaving Edwards would have to carry the load for the rest of the season. Edward would do a solid job posting a 2.64 GAA as the Sabres topped 100 points for the fourth straight season finishing in second place with a solid record of 44-19-17. In the playoffs the Sabres would slip past the New York Rangers in a three game series, before losing to the Philadelphia Flyers in five games. 1978/79: The Sabres would again get off to a slow start. However, this time General Manager Punch Imlach would not be able to threaten to trade everyone away as he himself was fired on December 4th. In addition Coach Marcel Pronovost was shown the door. Under interim Coach Billy Inglis the Sabres respond by going unbeaten in their next seven games. The Sabres would go on to finish in second place again with a record of 36-28-16. However, the Sabres would make a quick exit out of the playoffs as they lost a three game series to the Pittsburgh Penguins in overtime. 1979/80: After their first round exit Owner George H. Knox III looked for a way to get the Sabres back on track. Knox would take advantage of a two week window to interview Scotty Bowman who had led the Montreal Canadiens to the last four Stanley Cup Championships, giving him deal to become the Sabres Coach and General Manager. However, the Bowman era would single an end to the French Connection as Rene Robert is traded to the Colorado Rockies for defenseman John Van Boxmeer. The move would work out as the Sabres won the Adams Division with a 47-17-16 record. In the playoffs the Sabres would get off to a fast start beating the Vancouver Canucks in four games. Moving on to the second round the Sabres continued to roll as the swept their way to the semifinals by beating the Chicago Blackhawks in four straight games. However, in the semifinals the Sabres would get off to rough start as they fell behind 3-0 to the New York Islanders. The Sabres would battle back to win the next two games. However, the hole was too deep as the Islanders advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals with a 5-2 win in Game 6. 1980/81: Scotty Bowman would step aside as coach to concentrate on his duties as General Manager. With Roger Nielsen who earned the nickname Captain Video for his constant study of game tapes the Sabres won their second straight division title with a solid record of 39-20-21, despite losing Gilbert Perreault for 22 games with rib injuries. Along the way Perreault would lose another French Connection line mate as Rick Martin is traded to the Los Angeles Kings for draft picks on March 11th. In the playoffs the Sabres would get off to a fast start sweeping the Vancouver Canucks in three straight. However, in the second round the Sabres would be stunned by the Minnesota North Stars in five games. 1981/82: Scotty Bowman returned to the bench after Roger Neilson left to Coach the Vancouver Canucks. With Bowman behind the bench the Sabres got off to a solid start as they entered December with a 12-5-7 record. However, the Sabres would make a stunning deal trading Jim Schoenfeld, Danny Gare, Derek Smith and Bob Sauve to the Detroit Red Wings for Mike Foligno, Dale McCourt, Brent Peterson and a first round draft choice. Shortly after the trade Bowman would relinquish the coaching duties to assistant Jim Roberts. However, Bowman would reassume the coaching duties in mid-March. Despite the turmoil the Sabres would still play solid hockey finishing in third place with a 39-26-15 record. However, in the playoffs the Sabres would make a quick exit as they are beaten by the Boston Bruins in four games. 1982/83: The Sabres began to make moves with an eye on the future by drafting Phil Housley, Paul Cyr, Dave Andreychuk with picks acquired in a variety of trades. The current Sabres were not to bad either as Gilbert Perreault shook was healthy for the first time in a few season with a team high 76 points, as the Sabres finished in third place with a 38-29-13 record. In the playoff Bob Suave who was reacquired from the Detroit Red Wings prior to the season would star shutting the Montreal Canadiens out twice as the Sabres swept the Habs in three straight games. In the Adams Division finals the Sabres would battle the Boston Bruins in a hard fought seven game series, which the Sabres lost in overtime on a goal by Brad Park. 1983/84: Rookie goalie Tom Barrasso selected with the fifth overall pick in the draft would have an auspicious debut winning both the Calder Trophy and Vezina with an outstanding 2.66 GAA, as the Sabres finished in second place with a solid 48-25-7 record. However, in the playoffs Barrasso would struggle as the Sabres were swept by the Quebec Nordiques in three straight games. 1984/85: Popular defenseman Jim Schonfeld would return as Scotty Bowman felt his presence would help the younger players like Phil Housley and Dave Adreychuk, both who had solid season finishing just behind Gilbert Perreault in team scoring, as the Sabres finished in third place with a record of 38-28-14. In the playoffs the Sabres were put on the brink right away as they dropped the first two games on the road against the Quebec Nordiques. However, the Sabres would rally taking the next two games at home and leading in Game 5 with nine minutes left to play 5-3. However, the Nords would rally scoring three goals to win the game 6-5. 1985/86: Gilbert Perreault would make history on March 7th as he scored his 500th career goal in front of a sold out crowd at the Aud against the New Jersey Devils. However, it would be the only highlight of the season as the Sabres played mediocre hockey all season missing the playoff for the first time in 12 years by finishing in last place with a 37-37-6. 1986/87: Gilbert Perreault got off to a solid start scoring nine goals in his first 14 games, however with the Sabres struggling Perreault would retire on November 24th. Meanwhile Scotty Bowman not wanting to coach anymore turned the reigns over again this time to Craig Ramsay. However, under Ramsay the Sabres held a 5-15-3 record on December 2nd, when Bowman was relieved of his duties as General Manager. New GM Gerry Meehan would bring in a new coach, Ted Sator 20 days later. However, it was too late to save the Sabres season, as they finished in last place again missing the playoffs for the second straight season with a horrible 28-44-8 record that was the worst in the NHL. 1987/88: After finishing with the worst record in the NHL the Sabres owned the top overall draft pick which they used on Pierre Turgeon. Turegon would have a solid rookie season finishing sixth place in the team in scoring with 42 points as the Sabres got back to the playoffs by finishing in third place with a record of 37-32-11. However, the return of the playoffs was thanks to the mergence of Dave Adreychuk, who scored a team high 78 points. However, in the playoffs the Sabres would be beaten by the Boston Bruins in six games. 1988/89: The Sabres, who traded Tom Barrasso early in the season, are forced to play musical goalie after Darren Puppa is breaks his arm on January 27th. This put the load on backup Jacques Cloutier struggled. In March the Sabres would acquire Clint Malarchuk from the Washington Capitals for Calle Johansson. However Malarchuk would suffer a horrific injury on the night of March 22nd as the Sabres faced the St. Louis Blues at the Aud. In the first period, Blues winger Steve Tuttle and Sabers defender Uwe Krupp crashed into Malarchuk. When the pile untangled, blood gushed from Malarchuk’s neck. The six-inch cut in Malarchuk’s neck had struck his jugular vein. Had Sabres trainers and doctors not acted quickly Clint Malarchuk would have died on the ice. However, the cut was sewn up that night and incredibly, he left the hospital the next afternoon. Despite the rotating goalies the Sabres would still make the playoffs by finishing in third place with a record of 38-38-7. However, in the playoffs it would be a quick exit as they are beaten by the Boston Bruins in 5 games. 1989/90: A gamble the Sabres took a few years earlier pays off as Alexander Mogilny defects from the Soviet Union, during the World Junior Championships, signing a deal to play for the Sabres who drafted him in 1988. Mogilny would have a solid rookie season with 43 points, as Pierre Turgeon had a break out season by topping the 100-point mark for the first time in his career. The young 1-2 scoring punch and the solid goaltending of Darren Puppa would be the catalyst as the Sabres challenged for the Adams Division and first place overall all season before falling three points short with a solid 45-27-8 record. However, in the playoffs the Sabres would falter as they are beaten by the Montreal Canadiens in six games. 1990/91: On draft day the Sabres would pull off a blockbuster trade acquiring Dale Hawerchuk from the Winnipeg Jets for Jeff Parker, Scott Amiel, and Phil Housley. The Sabres would get off to a shaky start, as they didn’t win any of their first seven games. However, Hawerchuk would have a solid first season in Buffalo leading the team with 89 points as the Sabres overcame their slow start by finishing in third place with a record of 31-30-19. However, it would be another first round exit as the Sabres are beaten by the Montreal Canadiens in five games. 1991/92: The Sabres would get off to a shaky start again as they sat at 2-5-1 on October 25th when they pulled the trigger on another blockbuster trade, sending Pierre Turgeon, Uwe Krupp, Benoit Hogue and Dave McLlwain to the New York Islanders for Pat LaFontaine, Randy Wood, and Randy Hillier. Things looked bleak when LaFontaine suffered a broken jaw on November 16th, most expected him to miss the rest of the season. However, LaFontaine was determined to return right away and on December 21st he returned to the lineup. LaFontaine would end up with 93 points in just 57 games as the Sabers finished in third place with a 31-37-12 record. In the playoffs the Sabres would be bounced out in the first round again. However, this time they would not go down without a fight as they pushed the Boston Bruins to seven games. 1992/93: The scoring tandem of Pat LaFontaine and Alexander Mogilny had Buffalo fans cheering all season as both topped the 100-point mark in scoring. Mogilny tied for the league in scoring with 76 points while LaFontaine notch 53 goals and an incredible 95 assists. However, the Sabres would allow 297 goals as they finished in fourth place with a mediocre 38-36-10 record. In the playoffs the Sabres would end a decade long playoff slump by sweeping the first place Boston Bruins in four straight games, which included three wins in overtime topped by Brad May’s dramatic goal in Game 4 at the Aud. However, in the Adams Division finals the Sabres would have the tables turned on them as they are swept by the Montreal Canadiens in four straight games, three of which were in overtime. 1993/94: On November 19th the Sabres season appeared in jeopardy as Pat LaFontaine underwent season ending knee surgery. Coach John Muckler decided to switchgears, and play a tight defensive game instead of a wide-open attack based on speedy forwards. Things appeared to get bleaker as Goalie Grant Fuhr underwent knee surgery that would cause his to miss at least 6 weeks. Instead of folding the Sabres only got stronger as back up Dominik Hasek established himself as a star with outstanding performances night after night on the way to capturing Vezina with an outstanding GAA of 1.95. In the playoffs the Sabres would battle the New Jersey Devils in a tight low scoring series. Needing to win Game 6 at him to force a seventh game Dominik Hasek was simply dominating stopping everything the Devils threw at him stopping all 70 shots. However the Sabres could not get anything past Devils goalie Martin Brodeur either and the two teams battled deep into overtime, before Dave Hannan scored the game’s only goal at 65:43 of overtime to force a seventh game. However in Game 7 in New Jersey The Sabres would fall 2-1. 1994/95: After a four month lockout wiped out half the season the continued solid play of Dominik Hasek allowed the Sabres to trade Grant Fuhr to the Los Angeles Kings along with Philippe Boucher and Denis Tsygurow for Charlie Huddy, Robb Stauber and Alexei Zhitnik. Hasek would again capture the Vezina Trophy as the Sabres finished in with a 22-19-7 record as injuries limited Pat LaFontaine to just 22 games. However, in the playoffs the Sabres would make another first round exit as they are beaten by the Philadelphia Flyers in five games. 1995/96: In a continued change of direction the Sabres would trade Alexander Mogilny to the Vancouver Canucks for Michael Peca, and Mike Wilson. In the final season of hockey at the Memorial Auditorium the Sabres would struggle, as the clearly missed the scoring touch of Mogilny, while missing the playoffs and finishing in fifth place in the Northeast Division with a disappointing record of 33-42-7. 1996/97: A new era dawned in Buffalo as the Sabres prepared to open the brand new state of the art Marine Midland Area, with a new Red and Black color scheme that replaced the traditional Blue and Yellow scheme that had been worn since the Sabres inception. However, sadly Seymour H. Knox III who had been their every step of the way was not around to see the team he founded open its new arena he fought hard to get built, passed away in the spring. Not much was expected for the Sabres especially after Pat LaFontaine was lost to a severe concussion early in the season. However, goalie Dominik Hasek would bounce back of a mediocre season to dominate the NHL becoming the first goalie in 35 years to win both the Vezina and Hart Trophies as the Sabres won the Northeast Division with a 40-30-12 record. However, Hasek would struggle in the playoffs bring controversy in when he got into a scuffle with reporter Jim Kelly. With Hasek suffering a hurt groin serving a suspension, backup Steve Shields played solid hockey as the Sabres beat the Ottawa Senators in seven games. Shields would remain in net in the second round as the Sabres were beaten by the Philadelphia Flyers in five games. Following the season Coach Ted Nolan would be fired despite earning the Jack Adams Award for Coach of the Year. 1997/98: Under new Coach Lindy Ruff continued to rely solely on goalie Dominik Hasek who again won both the Vezina and Hart Trophies as eth Sabres finished in third place with a record of 36-29-17. However, it would be during the Winter Olympic break that Hasek shined the most, as he was unbeatable leading the Czech Republic to a gold medal as NHL players were used during the Hockey Competition in Nagano. In the playoffs Hasek would shake off past struggles as the Sabres finally beat the Philadelphia Flyers in five games. The Sabres continued to roll sweeping the Montreal Canadiens in four straight to reach the Eastern Conference Finals. However in the Conference Finals the Sabres would be burnt in overtime three times as they were beaten by the Washington Capitals in six games. Following the season the Sabres would be sold to John, Tim, Michael, and James Rigas of Adelphia Cable Communications. 1998/99: The Sabres continue to win with defense and the solid goaltending of the Dominik Hasek who was dominate again winning his third straight Vezina and fifth in six years with an outstanding 1.87 GAA, as the Sabres finished in fourth place with a record of 37-28-17. Entering the playoffs as the seventh seed the Sabres would get off to a fast start in the playoffs sweeping the Northeast Champion Ottawa Senators in four straight games. In the second round the Sabres continued to roll as they beat the Boston Bruins in six games to reach their second straight conference finals. Facing the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Eastern Finals the Sabres would split the first two games on the road before winning two straight games at the Marine Midland Arena to establish a 3-1 series lead. The Sabres would go on to close the series out in five games with a 4-2 win in Toronto. Facing the Dallas Stars in the Stanley Cup Finals the Sabres took Game 1 on the road in overtime 3-2 on a goal by Jason Wooley. After the Stars bounced back to win Game 2 the Sabres blew an opportunity to take control of the series by losing Game 3 at home 2-1. The Sabres would even the series with a 2-1-win over their in Game 4. However, after losing Game 5 in Dallas 2-0 the Sabres need to win Game 6 at home to force a seventh game. The game would go down to battle of goalies, as the game remained tied 1-1 through two overtime periods. Finally the Dallas Stars won the cup when Brett Hull slid the puck past Dominik Hasek in the third overtime. Replays would later show that Hull’s skate was in the crease, which was against the rules at that time. However, officials let the goal stand, adding a tinge of controversy to the Sabres heartbreak. 1999/00: Injuries would limit Dominik Hasek to just 35 games. However rookie Martin Biron would pick up the slack posting a solid 2.42 GAA average as the Sabres finished in third place with a 35-36-11-4 record holding off the Carolina Hurricanes for the final playoff spot by one point. However, in the playoffs the Sabres would make a quick exit as they are beaten by the Philadelphia Flyers in five games. 2000/01: After a seasons filled with injuries Dominik Hasek would return winning the Vezina Trophy for the sixth time in eight years with an outstanding 2.11 GAA as the Sabres playing without Captain Michael Peca who was holding out the entire season finished in second place with a solid 46-30-5-1 record. In the playoffs the Sabres would get off to a terrific start jumping out to a 3-1 series lead before beating the Philadelphia Flyers in six games. In the second round the Sabres got off to a shaky start as they dropped the first two games at home to the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, the Sabres would recover winning the next two games in Pittsburgh to even the series. After taking Game 5 at home the Sabres looked poised to reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the third time in four years. However, the Penguins would win the next two games in overtime eliminating the Sabres in seven games. 2001/02: Prior to the start of the season the Sabres decide to turn the page trading away both Dominik Hasek and Michael Peca. Replacing Hasek would be Martin Biron would play solid hockey. However, the Sabres played only mediocre hockey all season missing the playoffs for the first time in six years while finishing in last place with a record of 35-35-11-1. 2002/03: The Sabres began the season with a dark cloud surrounding the future of the franchise as the NHL was forced to assume control of the team after owners John, Tim, Michael, and James Rigas of Adelphia Cable Communications were forced to declare bankruptcy. John Rigas along with his sons Tim and Michael would be among the first arrested and charged with cooperate fraud and embezzlement under a crackdown after the Enron scandal. As new owners were sought the Sabres naturally struggled sitting in last place almost from the start of the season until the end posting a horrible record of 27-37-10-8. As the season wound down Tom Gollisano a New York billionaire who was just coming off an unsuccessful run for Governor purchased the team for $92 Million, ending rumors the Sabres would move or fold. 2003/04: After playing an entire season under the clouds of bankruptcy the Sabres began to emerge by acquiring Chris Drury from the Calgary Flames. Drury would be one of five Sabres to post over 50 points as the team started down the road to recovery. However the road from financial ruin to becoming a competitive team again was not a short one as the Sabres struggled much of the first half of the season falling as low as 18-25-5-1 on January 25th. However as the season wore on the Sabres would play better as the Sabres would win nine of their next 11 games. The Sabres would go on to have a strong second half posting a 37-34-7-4 record. However, they would fall six points shy of the playoffs, and would even end up in last place in the highly competitive Northeast Division. 2004/05: Season Cancelled Due to Lock Out 2005/06: During the Lock out the Sabres were one of the teams that were able to get back on track as they emerged from bankruptcy thanks in part to their new Billionaire Owner Tom Gollisano. When the Sabres hit the ice they were able to be competitive again getting off to a solid start with six wins in their first eight games. However, a bump in the road arrived at the start of November as they dropped four in a row while losing seven of nine and fell below .500. However, they would quickly recover and would play well most of the season, as Ryan Miller eventually established himself as the number one goalie with Maxim Afinogenov leading team with 73 points and Chris Drury leading the way with 30 goals. A 6-game losing streak in March would drop the Sabres out of first place, but thanks to a 52-24-6 record their 110 points were among the best in the Eastern Conference as they finished just three points back of the Ottawa Senators for the division title and the overall best record in the East, helping to earn a Jack Adams Award for longtime Coach Lindy Ruff. In the playoffs the Sabres got off to a fast start winning the first two games against the Philadelphia Flyers. However, after dropping the next two in Philly they were faced with a must win game in Game 5 at HSBC Arena. Thanks to Ryan Miller who stopped all 24 shots, the Sabres regained control of the series with a 3-0 win as they went to eliminate the Flyers in six games behind a 7-1 explosion in the finale in Philly. The second round would bring a showdown with the Senators as Game 1 turned into a shoot out for the ages with each team trading goals back and forth for 60 minutes. The final two minutes of regulation was pure excitement as the Sabres tied the game 5-5 on a shorthanded goal by Derek Roy, with 97 seconds left in the game. The Senators would quickly retake the lead 24 seconds later as Bryan Smolinski scored on the power play, but the Sabres would tie the game again on a goal by Tim Connolly with 11 seconds left in regulation. Overtime would be over just as quickly as Chris Drury delivered the 7-6 game winner after just 18 seconds of extra time. Game 2 would see fewer goals but the same result as the Sabres skated home to Buffalo for Game 3 with a 2-0 lead after a 2-1 win, as Ryan Miller stopped 43 of 44 shots. As the series shifted to HSBC Arena overtime rose up again as the Sabres took a commanding 3-0 lead as J.P. Dumont netted the game winner in a 3-2 game. After a disappointing 2-1 loss in Game 4, the Sabres went back to Ottawa and eliminated the Senators with another 3-2 win in overtime as Jason Pominville scored the game winner shorthanded 2:26 into OT. In the Eastern Conference Finals the Sabres were matched up against the Carolina Hurricanes, taking Game 1 again on the road 3-2. After losing Game 2 the series shifted to Buffalo, where the Sabres used a 3-goal outburst in the second period to win 4-3, and take back control of the series. After a disappointing 4-0 loss at home in Game 4, the Sabres found themselves on the brink thanks to a 4-3 overtime loss in Game 5. Back at HSBC Arena for Game 6 the Sabres turned the tables and won in overtime 2-1 on a power play goal by Daniel Briere. In Game 7 in Carolina the Sabres would take a 2-1 lead into the final period, but the home standing Hurricanes scored three times to win the game 4-2, and went on to finals, where they would win the Stanley Cup. 2006/07: Coming off their loss in the Eastern Conference Finals the Sabres entered the season in new uniforms that though utilizing the old bellow and yellow color scheme were not warmly received by fans who nicknamed their new logo the “Buffaslug.” However, when the Sabres started the season with ten straight wins, fans seemed to warm up to the new logo. After losing a shootout the Sabres remained hot winning five of their next six games as they got off to a 15-1-1 start. The Sabres would spend the entire season in first place as they posted their best season in franchise history winning the President’s Trophy for the best overall record in the regular season at 53-22-7. In the playoffs the Sabres got off to a fast start beating the New York Islanders, as Brian Campbell scored twice, as they went on to eliminate the Islanders in five games. In the second round it was another Empire State showdown as the Sabres faced the New York Rangers. This time it would not be as easy as the series was even after four games, with the Rangers taking both games at MSG, after losing the first two in Buffalo. Things looked bleak in Game 5 back in Buffalo as the Rangers broke open a scoreless game with 3:29 left. However, with 7.7 seconds left Chris Drury sent the game to overtime finally beating Henrik Lundqvist on the Sabres 37th shot. In Overtime it would be Maxim Afinogenov who would play the role of hero scoring a power play goal to give the Sabres a dramatic 2-1 win. The Sabres would use the momentum from Game 5 to win the series in six as they scored four times in the second period as they held on for a 5-4 win. In the Eastern Conference Finals the Sabres got off to a bad start as they dropped Game 1 at home 5-2 to the Ottawa Senators. Things would not get much better in Game 2 as they lost an overtime heartbreaker 4-3, as they traveled to Ottawa in a 2-0 hole. The hole would get deeper as they managed just 15 shots on goal losing 1-0 in Game 3. The Sabres would avoid the sweep with a 3-2 win in Game 4, but their would be no comeback as the Senators won the series with another 3-2 overtime win in Buffalo in Game 5. Following the season the Sabres losses got worse as Co-Captains Daniel Briere signed with the Philadelphia Flyers, and Chris Drury signed with the Rangers. 2007/08: Losing two key players the Sabres entered the season knowing it would be hard to equal their performance of the previous two seasons. Through the first two months the Sabres played mediocre hockey as they posted an 11-11-1 record. In December the Sabres made a little run as they posted a six game winning streak. However heading into the New Year the Sabres dropped three games in a row, as they prepared to face the Pittsburgh Penguins in a special New Year’s Day Game aired nationally on NBC. Billed “The Winter Classic” the game was played in Ralph Wilson Stadium home of the Buffalo Bills, and it was the first outdoor regular season game played in the United States. With snow lightly falling through out the game went to a shootout, where the Sabres lost again 2-1, with Sidney Crosby blasting the winner past Ryan Miller. The Sabres struggles would continue as they won just one of their next eight games. The Sabres would play better in February as they remained in playoff contention. However, a subpar March would leave the Sabres on the outside looking in as they finished the season with a record of 39-31-12. 2008/09: After missing the playoffs, the Sabres looked to rebound as they got off to a fast start winning their first four games, on the way to a 6-0-1 start. However, the strong beginning was a memory in November as the Sabres struggled, losing seven of eight games during a rough stretch. When the New Year began the Sabres were playing only mediocre hockey as they held a 17-15-6 record. However, a strong January gave them hope for reaching the playoffs. After a disappointing February the Sabres were active at the trade deadline signing Tim Connolly to an extension worth $4.2 million for two years. They also acquired Mikael Tellqvist from the Phoenix Coyotes for a fourth-round pick in the 2010 draft. Then Dominic Moore came from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a second-round pick in the 2009 draft. Finally, they received a second-round pick in the 2009 draft from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for their shootout weapon Ales Kotalik. However, the deals were not able to work any magic as the Sabres lost six of seven games and slid out of the playoffs. The Sabres would win their final three games, but would fall two points short of the playoffs with a record of 41-32-9. 2009/10: After missing the playoffs two straight seasons, the Sabres came out of the gate flying, posting a record of 8-1-1 in their first ten games. Despite a four game losing streak in November the Sabres maintained their strong start into the New Year. The Sabres were able to demonstrate their ability to comeback as 2010 began, as they won consecutive games after trailing 3-0. Beating the Pittsburgh Penguins and Atlanta Thrashers 4-3. However, January was a tough month for the Sabres as they lost four straight games. The struggles continued into February as they lost six in a row, posting a 3-6-5 record during a 14 game stretch. The Sabres were able to get a win before the Olympic break, beating the San Jose Sharks 3-1. During the Olympics in Vancouver, Sabres Goalie Ryan Miller shined as he helped lead Team USA to Silver Medal, losing just the Gold Medal game to Canada 3-2 on a goal by Sidney Crosby in overtime. After the break the Sabres began to show the type of play that enabled them to take control of the Northeast Division as they won seven of eight games. They would go on to win the division with a 45-27-10 record. Earning individual honors was Ryan Miller who captured the Vezina, while Defenseman Tyler Myers took home the Calder Trophy as the league’s best rookie. In the playoffs the Sabres faced a divisional foe in the Boston Bruins. In the opener at HSBC Arena, Ryan Miller stopped 38 of 39 shots as the Sabres won 2-1. However, the Bruins bounced back to take the next two games as leading scorer Thomas Vanek was lost to an injury in Game 2. Needing a win in Boston for Game 4, the Sabres held an early 2-0 lead. However, the Bruins battled back to win in double overtime 3-2, as former Sabre Miroslav Satan netted the game winner to give the Bruins a 3-1 series lead. The Sabres would stay alive with a 4-1 win in Game 5. Vanek would return for Game 6, and would score a goal but it would not be enough as the Bruins eliminated the Sabres with a 4-3 win. 2010/11: It was something old, something new, and something blue as the season began for the Sabres, who returned to the classic logo and blue sweaters as they got new ownership. Early on the Sabres would struggle, as they started 3-9-2. However, in November they began to turn things around, winning four of their next five games. In December, Terrence Pegula one of the richest men in the world expressed interest in buying the Sabres, as they continued their climb out of the early season hole. While the club sale was finalized, the Sabres ran off an 8-3-1 record in January. In February they would say good bye to Captain Craig Rivet, who was waived and later claimed by the Columbus Blue Jackets. In February, Pegula would take over ownership, buying the Sabres for a reported $189 million. He would be introduced to fans in Buffalo on February 23rd, pledging to keep the Sabres in Buffalo, and bring them a Stanley Cup, among those on hand where Sabres legends, including Rick Martin. It would be the final appearance for Martin who was a member of the famous French Connection line with Gilbert Perreault and Rene Robert, as he passed away from heart disease just three weeks later. The Sabres would acquire Brad Boyes for a draft pick from the St. Louis Blues at the trade deadline, as they finished the season strong, posting a record of 13-3-3 down the stretch to reach the playoffs with a record of 43-29-10. In the playoffs against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Sabres would get off to a great start, as Ryan Miller stopped all 35 shots, as the Sabres beat the Flyers 1-0 on a goal by Patrick Kaleta in the third period. Game 2 would be a completely different affair, as the Flyers evened the series with a 5-4 win. After losing 4-2 in Game 3, at home, the Sabres got another 1-0 win in Game 4, as Miller stopped 32 shots, with Jason Pominville scoring the game’s lone goal in the first period. In Game 5 in Philadelphia, despite blowing a 3-0 lead, the Sabres would win 4-3 in overtime on a goal by Tyler Ennis. The Sabres would take an early 3-1 lead in Game 6, with a chance to win the series at home, however the Flyers would rally as the game went to overtime. In OT, the Flyers would win the game 5-4 on a goal by Ville Leino. The Flyers would go on to win the series with a 5-2 win in Game 7. 2011/12: Before the season started, the Sabres would name Jason Pominville as their new Captain. The Sabres would begin the season in Europe with two wins, as they beat the Anaheim Ducks in Helsinki, Finland 4-1 and the Los Angeles Kings 4-2 in Berlin, Germany. Returning home, the Sabres would drop their home opener to the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3, before winning their next three games on the road. The Sabres got off to a solid start and held a record of 10-5-0 as they faced the Boston Bruins on November 12th. The Sabres would lose the game 6-2, but even worse they lost Goalie Ryan Miller to a concussion when he was kneed in the head by Milan Lucic trying to cover the puck. Miller would miss the next nine games, as the Sabres went through a series of injuries, losing 225 man games to various injuries. Over the next 33 games the Sabres won just nine games and found themselves falling far behind in the playoff chase. Just before the All-Star Break, the Sabres began to turn things around as they scored a 2-1 shootout win over the New Jersey Devils on the road. The game singled a return to health for Ryan Miller who still had lingering concussion symptoms. The Sabres would start climbing the standings in February, as they posted a record of 7-3-3. As February became March the Sabres had one of the best stretches in franchise history as they would post a record of 14-1-3 as they got back into playoff position. However, back to back losses to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs at the end of March would doom their playoff hopes. The Sabres would miss the playoffs by just three points, with a record of 39-32-11. 2012/13: After a strong finish that nearly propelled them into the playoffs, the Sabres hoped to carry the momentum as they added Steve Ott in the off-season in a trade with the Dallas Stars for Derek Roy. However, any chance to get a boost was blunted as the NHL endured another long lockout that delayed the season three months. The truncated 48 game season would begin on January 20th with the Sabres upending the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2 at the First Niagara Center. The Sabres would split their first six games, but found themselves going in the wrong direction at the beginning of February as they lost five out of seven games to start the month. After a 4-2 win over the Boston Bruins, the Sabres troubles continued as they dropped their next two games to slip to 6-10-1. This would lead to the dismissal of longtime Coach Lind Ruff, who was fired after 16 seasons behind the Buffalo Sabres bench. Ruff would be replaced by Ron Rolston, who lost his first two games before the Sabres earned a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on the road. The Sabres would not play much better in March as they found themselves mired in last place, while posting a 5-5-5 mark that erased any hope for the playoffs. As the trade deadline approached the Sabres would begin breaking down the team to rebuild for the future, as Jordan Leopold was sent to the St. Louis Blues for a pair of draft picks, while they picked up two other picks from the Los Angeles Kings for Robyn Regehr. They would than send Captain Jason Pominville to the Minnesota Wild for Matt Hackett, Johan Larsson and two draft picks. Despite appearing to waive the white flag and focus on the future, the Sabres showed some pride in April and won eight games. However, the Sabres could not escape last place in the Northeast Division as they finished with a record of 21-21-6. 2013/14: Even before the season began it was clear the Buffalo Sabres were in for a long year, as they looked to make a commitment to rebuilding. With stars Thomas Vanek and Ryan Miller both playing in the last year of their contracts it was clear the Sabres would shuffling players in and out of Buffalo all season. Vanek would be the first to go, as he was traded to the New York Islanders on October 27th for Matt Moulson and a pair of draft picks. The Sabres would be as bad as expected, as they posted a 4-15-1 record in the first 20 games. The bad start would lead to the dismissal of both General Manager Darcy Regier and Coach Ron Rolston on November 13th. The Sabres would hire Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine to be the team’s new President of Hockey Operations, while Ted Nolan took over as coach. The Sabres would later name Tim Murray as their General Manager. The Sabres would win their first game in Nolan’s return to the bench, beating the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1. However, wins remained hard to come by as they held a record of 11-25-4 at the start of the New Year. The Sabres would win just four games in January, and lost four straight games before the Olympic Break. When the season resumed trades would be the story for the Sabres, as Ryan Miller was traded along with Captain Steve Ott to the St. Louis Blues for Jaroslav Halak, Chris Stewart, William Carrier and a pair of draft picks. Halak would be traded himself a week later to the Washington Capitals for Michal Neuvirth and Rostislav Klesla. The Sabres also made deals with the Los Angeles Kings and Minnesota Wild at the trade deadline sending Brayden McNabb and Jonathan Parker to LA for Nicolas Deslauriers, while they picked up Torrey Mitchell and two draft picks from the Wild for Cody McCormick and Matt Moulson. So shorthanded were the Sabres do to the trades they needed to dress Videographer Ryan Vinz as a backup goalie. The Sabres would win twice in their final 20 games, posting the second worst record in franchise history at 21-51-10, which would lead to the dismissal of Coach Ted Nolan. 2015/16: The Buffalo Sabres looked to make strides as they named Dan Bylsma who had won a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins to replace Ted Nolan behind the bench. One key piece to the Sabres future was Jack Eichel who was chosen with the second overall pick after winning the Hobey Baker Award, given to the top player in the NCAA at Boston University. Eichel had a fantastic season in his rookie year, posting 56 points as he led the Sabres with 24 goals. Another key piece for the Sabres is Ryan O'Reilly who was acquired with Jamie McGinn from the Colorado Avalanche for Nikita Zadorov, Mikhail Grigorenko, J. T. Compher and draft pick. In his first season in Buffalo, O'Reilly led the Sabres in scoring with 60 points. Despite two key players providing an instant boost, the Sabres still were a long way from making the playoffs as they finished seventh in the Atlantic Division with a record of 35-36-11. 2016/2017: You already know what happened. Now…we wait.

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olivereliott · 6 years ago

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A Ducati speedway motorcycle, imagined by Wreckless

If race bikes are motorcycling in its purest form, speedway machines must be akin to holy water. They have no brakes, just one gear, and drink neat methanol.

They’re also rather squashed-looking machines, with stubby hardtails and forks raked steeper than the most extreme sportbike. But this creation from England’s Wreckless Motorcycles is a thing of strange beauty.

The unusual story starts with Wreckless founder Rick Geall, who has a passion for oddball two-wheelers and is probably the only man to ever customize an Aprilia Moto 6.5.

In the 1970s, teenage Rick went to Denmark on holiday with his family. “I got hooked on speedway,” he reveals. “Riders like Ivan Mauger, Peter Collins and Denmark’s own Ole Olesen were dominating the sport, winning multiple world titles.”

Fast forward forty years, and Rick finds himself in possession of a rather pretty 450cc Ducati single—the sought after Desmo version.

“It was in of a jumble of vintage Ducati parts from the early 1970s. I said to Iain, my collaborator in Wreckless: ‘I want to build a speedway bike’.”

Iain, despite questioning Rick’s sanity and knowing little about speedway, tracked down a vintage race frame and swingarm from the same era as the Ducati engine.

“It’s a Jawa, we believe,” says Rick. “It competed at some point, but we don’t have the specific history of it.” Iain started altering the frame to accept the motor and create a rolling chassis.

Things moved slowly as Wreckless focused on their core business. But when Ivan Mauger died last year, the build shifted up the priority list. “Ivan’s death was a kick up the backside to get the bike finished,” says Rick. “Some of his bikes came up for auction, and I was sorely tempted to go and buy one—but never did.”

“So this bike is a celebration of Ivan. But I also wanted to acknowledge a current hero of mine, F1 driver Lewis Hamilton.”

Rick and Iain ploughed their energies back into the build. They found that the SOHC bevel engine had already been modified for classic road racing, with much bigger valves and some headwork done to it. They added a new Amal TT carb to give the motor an extra fillip, and installed new sprockets: 14T up front (“Kind of normal”) and 52T rear (“Ridiculous!”).

The header pipe is handmade, and mated to a tiny 900 gram Akrapovič slip-on muffler, originally designed for the Yamaha R3.

Suspension comes from brand new Stuha adjustable race forks, made in the Czech Republic—another country with a long and illustrious speedway history.

“They’ve been cut and lengthened by about four inches, to give us the clearance we needed for the front wheel,” says Rick. “Mating the frame with an unusual motor can mean altering the frame orientation, which affects the headstock position and then the rake, and so on.” The forks are hooked up to Renthal bars lifted from a KTM SX85.

Those bars are also home to a Daytona Velona tach, and a Beringer ‘thumb’ clutch master cylinder kit. The carb is controlled by a Venhill dual rate throttle, and the grips are from Renthal.

The wheels are the real deal: a custom set built by SM Pro, a British race specialist that can trace its history back 120 years. They’re a standard speedway setup, 23” x 1.60” at the front and 19” x 2.15” at the back, shod with Mitas race tires. (A carbon fiber speedway fender controls the spray of dirt.)

In the interests of making their custom speedway machine a teeny bit more rideable, Wreckless have also sneaked a brake onto the back wheel. It’s a Beringer Aerotec caliper activated via a thumb lever cleverly integrated with the clutch setup. The disc is a custom engraved EBC Vee-Rotor.

Another departure from the speedway norm is a pair of rear shocks. These are Marzocchi MOTO C2R units, originally designed for mountain bikes. They’re adjustable for rebound, have separate low- and high-speed compression controls, and are now fitted with Cane Creek double barrel coil springs.

The seat and bodywork are hand-made. “The tank is a mix of genuine speedway racing parts, and odd aluminum tanks for hiding the electrics, coil, and kill switch,” Rick reveals.

When it came to the paint Rick decided on a Mercedes F1 scheme, in tribute to LH44, and has nicknamed the bike ‘the H4MM4.’

The silver on the frame, swingarm and seat loop is a Ducati ST2 color. There’s gloss black on the rims, a turquoise blue on the hubs and other scattered hard parts, and discreet touches of a carbon effect coating. Plus the odd plagiarized decal here and there.

The colors were shot by Jason Fowler of JLF Designs, who’s worked for not only Lewis Hamilton, but also the late Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon and IndyCar driver Max Chilton.

“The bike isn’t meant to be a ‘serious’ machine,” says Rick. “It’s a caricature: a celebration of the heroes who have left an imprint on my life.”

“I’m lucky, because I could build it for the sheer hell of it. Ducati never made a speedway bike, but if they did, we hope it would look something like this.”

Wreckless Motorcycles | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Daniel Du Cros at Junction11 Studios

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hockeyhotline-blog · 8 years ago

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History of the Sabres

- http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/

Historical Moments: 1970/71: After years of minor league hockey Buffalo finally lands a NHL team as the Sabres are one of two expansion teams added in the second wave of expansion bring the league to 14 teams. With legendary from Toronto Maple Leafs Coach Punch Imlach running the team the Sabres won a special wheel spin for the right to the number one overall pick which they used on the top Junior player Gilbert Perreault. On October 10th Perreault would score a goal in the Sabres very first game a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on the road. Eight days later the Sabres would face the Penguins again skating to a 1-1 tie in the first game ever at the Aud. Gilbert Perreault would go on to lead the Sabres in scoring with 38 goals and 34 assists while winning the Calder Trophy. However, the Sabres would finish in fifth place in the Eastern Division with a typical expansion like 24-39-15 record. 1971/72: The Sabres would draft wisely again selecting Rick Martin who meshed well with Gilbert Perreault as the two led the Sabres in scoring with 74 points. Martin and Perreault would be joined at the end of the season by Rene Robert acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a trade for Eddie Shack. The trio would form one of the prolific scoring lines of the era known as the French Connection. However, the Sabres would still struggle to win games finishing in sixth place with a 16-43-19 record, as a heart attack forced Coach Punch Imlach to the sidelines. 1972/73: Even though he was no longer able to Coach the Sabres Punch Imlach remained the club's General Manager again striking gold in the draft with the selection of hard-nosed defenseman Jim Schonfeld. In addition to Schonfeld the Sabres would acquire veteran blue liner Tim Horton to help lead the young team. The added strength on defense combined with the scoring touch of the French Connection would be the right combination for the Sabres who made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history with a solid 37-27-14 record. However the Sabres would be overmatched by the veteran Montreal Canadiens in the playoffs as they found themselves down 3-0. However, the young Sabres would not go down without a fight taking the next two games before falling 4-2 in Game 6. 1973/74: Coming off their first playoff appearance the Sabres came out of the gate flying winning six of their first nine games. However, Gilbert Perreault would suffer a broken leg missing eight weeks; shortly thereafter they would lose Goalie Roger Crozier for the rest of the season after he developed pancreatitis. Without two key players the Sabres would struggle, but none of that would prepare them for what happened on February 20th after a game in Toronto against the Maple Leafs when Tim Horton decided to drive home on his own. Horton, the 44-year old veteran defenseman apparently had his senses dulled, after consuming alcohol and painkillers as he crashed his car into the center guardrail on the Queen Elizabeth Way and died. Injuries and tragedy would be too much for the Sabres to overcome as they missed the playoffs by finishing in fifth place with a record of 32-34-12. 1974/75: After a year of tragedy the Sabres would rebound as The French Connection led the way in an offensive explosion that would see the Sabres score 354 goals. Rene Robert, Gilbert Perreault, and Rick Martin each finished in the top ten in scoring, as the Sabres finished in first place in the newly established Adams Division with a record of 49-16-15. In the playoffs the Sabres would get off to a strong start beating the Chicago Blackhawks in five games to reach the Semifinals. In the semifinals against the Montreal Canadiens the Sabres would get off to a dramatic start as Danny Gare scored in overtime to give the Sabres a 6-5. The Sabres would go on to take a 2-0 series lead before losing the next two games in Montreal to set up a crucial fifth game at the Aud where Rene Robert scored in overtime to give the Sabres a 5-4 win. Not wanting to chance things the Sabres closed the series out in Montreal in Game 6 with a 4-3 win. In the Stanley Cup Finals against the defending Champion Philadelphia Flyers the Sabres would get off to a slow start losing the first two games on the road. Desperately needing to win Game 3 at the home the Sabres were hampered by 90-degree temperatures that created a fog in the Aud as the game went into overtime. However, Rene Robert would be the hero again netting the game winner to keep the Sabres hopes alive. The Sabres would go on to even the series in Game 4 with a 4-2 win. However, Flyers Goalie Bernie Parent would prove too strong as the Flyers went on to win the Cup in six games. 1975/76: Coming off their run to the Stanley Cup Finals the Sabres were again one of the top teams in the NHL finishing in second place with a solid record of 46-21-13. The French Connection again led the way all finishing with at least 86 points including Gilbert Perreault who finished third in the league with 113 points. However, the highlight of the season according to General Manager Punch Imlach occurred in January 4th exhibition game against the Soviet Red Army team who had beaten all NHL teams up to that point on a barnstorming tour. Imlach worked hard to make sure the Sabres would not be added to the list of the conquered so he studied game tapes looking for an edge. He found one as the Sabres quickly jumped out to a lead on the way to a convincing 12-6 victory. In the playoffs it would not be as easy as they needed two overtime wins to get past the St. Louis Blues in a three game series. In the second round the Sabres would jump out to a 2-0 lead over the New York Islanders. However, the Islanders would rally to win the next four games advancing to the semifinals in six games. 1976/77: The Sabres would struggle out of the gate prompting General Manager Punch Imlach to threaten to trade all players if the team did not turn it around quickly. The move worked as the Sabres lost just four games in November and December, on the way to another solid second place finish with a 48-24-8 record. The Sabres would get off to a quick start in the playoffs as they beat the Minnesota North Stars in two straight games winning by a combine 11-3 score. However, in the second round they would be swept by the New York Islanders in four straight close games. 1977/78: After Gerry Desjardins was hit in the eye with a puck and developed a cataract the previous season, goaltender Don Edwards was recalled from Hershey. Desjardins would return in December but struggle badly leaving Edwards would have to carry the load for the rest of the season. Edward would do a solid job posting a 2.64 GAA as the Sabres topped 100 points for the fourth straight season finishing in second place with a solid record of 44-19-17. In the playoffs the Sabres would slip past the New York Rangers in a three game series, before losing to the Philadelphia Flyers in five games. 1978/79: The Sabres would again get off to a slow start. However, this time General Manager Punch Imlach would not be able to threaten to trade everyone away as he himself was fired on December 4th. In addition Coach Marcel Pronovost was shown the door. Under interim Coach Billy Inglis the Sabres respond by going unbeaten in their next seven games. The Sabres would go on to finish in second place again with a record of 36-28-16. However, the Sabres would make a quick exit out of the playoffs as they lost a three game series to the Pittsburgh Penguins in overtime. 1979/80: After their first round exit Owner George H. Knox III looked for a way to get the Sabres back on track. Knox would take advantage of a two week window to interview Scotty Bowman who had led the Montreal Canadiens to the last four Stanley Cup Championships, giving him deal to become the Sabres Coach and General Manager. However, the Bowman era would single an end to the French Connection as Rene Robert is traded to the Colorado Rockies for defenseman John Van Boxmeer. The move would work out as the Sabres won the Adams Division with a 47-17-16 record. In the playoffs the Sabres would get off to a fast start beating the Vancouver Canucks in four games. Moving on to the second round the Sabres continued to roll as the swept their way to the semifinals by beating the Chicago Blackhawks in four straight games. However, in the semifinals the Sabres would get off to rough start as they fell behind 3-0 to the New York Islanders. The Sabres would battle back to win the next two games. However, the hole was too deep as the Islanders advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals with a 5-2 win in Game 6. 1980/81: Scotty Bowman would step aside as coach to concentrate on his duties as General Manager. With Roger Nielsen who earned the nickname Captain Video for his constant study of game tapes the Sabres won their second straight division title with a solid record of 39-20-21, despite losing Gilbert Perreault for 22 games with rib injuries. Along the way Perreault would lose another French Connection line mate as Rick Martin is traded to the Los Angeles Kings for draft picks on March 11th. In the playoffs the Sabres would get off to a fast start sweeping the Vancouver Canucks in three straight. However, in the second round the Sabres would be stunned by the Minnesota North Stars in five games. 1981/82: Scotty Bowman returned to the bench after Roger Neilson left to Coach the Vancouver Canucks. With Bowman behind the bench the Sabres got off to a solid start as they entered December with a 12-5-7 record. However, the Sabres would make a stunning deal trading Jim Schoenfeld, Danny Gare, Derek Smith and Bob Sauve to the Detroit Red Wings for Mike Foligno, Dale McCourt, Brent Peterson and a first round draft choice. Shortly after the trade Bowman would relinquish the coaching duties to assistant Jim Roberts. However, Bowman would reassume the coaching duties in mid-March. Despite the turmoil the Sabres would still play solid hockey finishing in third place with a 39-26-15 record. However, in the playoffs the Sabres would make a quick exit as they are beaten by the Boston Bruins in four games. 1982/83: The Sabres began to make moves with an eye on the future by drafting Phil Housley, Paul Cyr, Dave Andreychuk with picks acquired in a variety of trades. The current Sabres were not to bad either as Gilbert Perreault shook was healthy for the first time in a few season with a team high 76 points, as the Sabres finished in third place with a 38-29-13 record. In the playoff Bob Suave who was reacquired from the Detroit Red Wings prior to the season would star shutting the Montreal Canadiens out twice as the Sabres swept the Habs in three straight games. In the Adams Division finals the Sabres would battle the Boston Bruins in a hard fought seven game series, which the Sabres lost in overtime on a goal by Brad Park. 1983/84: Rookie goalie Tom Barrasso selected with the fifth overall pick in the draft would have an auspicious debut winning both the Calder Trophy and Vezina with an outstanding 2.66 GAA, as the Sabres finished in second place with a solid 48-25-7 record. However, in the playoffs Barrasso would struggle as the Sabres were swept by the Quebec Nordiques in three straight games. 1984/85: Popular defenseman Jim Schonfeld would return as Scotty Bowman felt his presence would help the younger players like Phil Housley and Dave Adreychuk, both who had solid season finishing just behind Gilbert Perreault in team scoring, as the Sabres finished in third place with a record of 38-28-14. In the playoffs the Sabres were put on the brink right away as they dropped the first two games on the road against the Quebec Nordiques. However, the Sabres would rally taking the next two games at home and leading in Game 5 with nine minutes left to play 5-3. However, the Nords would rally scoring three goals to win the game 6-5. 1985/86: Gilbert Perreault would make history on March 7th as he scored his 500th career goal in front of a sold out crowd at the Aud against the New Jersey Devils. However, it would be the only highlight of the season as the Sabres played mediocre hockey all season missing the playoff for the first time in 12 years by finishing in last place with a 37-37-6. 1986/87: Gilbert Perreault got off to a solid start scoring nine goals in his first 14 games, however with the Sabres struggling Perreault would retire on November 24th. Meanwhile Scotty Bowman not wanting to coach anymore turned the reigns over again this time to Craig Ramsay. However, under Ramsay the Sabres held a 5-15-3 record on December 2nd, when Bowman was relieved of his duties as General Manager. New GM Gerry Meehan would bring in a new coach, Ted Sator 20 days later. However, it was too late to save the Sabres season, as they finished in last place again missing the playoffs for the second straight season with a horrible 28-44-8 record that was the worst in the NHL. 1987/88: After finishing with the worst record in the NHL the Sabres owned the top overall draft pick which they used on Pierre Turgeon. Turegon would have a solid rookie season finishing sixth place in the team in scoring with 42 points as the Sabres got back to the playoffs by finishing in third place with a record of 37-32-11. However, the return of the playoffs was thanks to the mergence of Dave Adreychuk, who scored a team high 78 points. However, in the playoffs the Sabres would be beaten by the Boston Bruins in six games. 1988/89: The Sabres, who traded Tom Barrasso early in the season, are forced to play musical goalie after Darren Puppa is breaks his arm on January 27th. This put the load on backup Jacques Cloutier struggled. In March the Sabres would acquire Clint Malarchuk from the Washington Capitals for Calle Johansson. However Malarchuk would suffer a horrific injury on the night of March 22nd as the Sabres faced the St. Louis Blues at the Aud. In the first period, Blues winger Steve Tuttle and Sabers defender Uwe Krupp crashed into Malarchuk. When the pile untangled, blood gushed from Malarchuk's neck. The six-inch cut in Malarchuk's neck had struck his jugular vein. Had Sabres trainers and doctors not acted quickly Clint Malarchuk would have died on the ice. However, the cut was sewn up that night and incredibly, he left the hospital the next afternoon. Despite the rotating goalies the Sabres would still make the playoffs by finishing in third place with a record of 38-38-7. However, in the playoffs it would be a quick exit as they are beaten by the Boston Bruins in 5 games. 1989/90: A gamble the Sabres took a few years earlier pays off as Alexander Mogilny defects from the Soviet Union, during the World Junior Championships, signing a deal to play for the Sabres who drafted him in 1988. Mogilny would have a solid rookie season with 43 points, as Pierre Turgeon had a break out season by topping the 100-point mark for the first time in his career. The young 1-2 scoring punch and the solid goaltending of Darren Puppa would be the catalyst as the Sabres challenged for the Adams Division and first place overall all season before falling three points short with a solid 45-27-8 record. However, in the playoffs the Sabres would falter as they are beaten by the Montreal Canadiens in six games. 1990/91: On draft day the Sabres would pull off a blockbuster trade acquiring Dale Hawerchuk from the Winnipeg Jets for Jeff Parker, Scott Amiel, and Phil Housley. The Sabres would get off to a shaky start, as they didn't win any of their first seven games. However, Hawerchuk would have a solid first season in Buffalo leading the team with 89 points as the Sabres overcame their slow start by finishing in third place with a record of 31-30-19. However, it would be another first round exit as the Sabres are beaten by the Montreal Canadiens in five games. 1991/92: The Sabres would get off to a shaky start again as they sat at 2-5-1 on October 25th when they pulled the trigger on another blockbuster trade, sending Pierre Turgeon, Uwe Krupp, Benoit Hogue and Dave McLlwain to the New York Islanders for Pat LaFontaine, Randy Wood, and Randy Hillier. Things looked bleak when LaFontaine suffered a broken jaw on November 16th, most expected him to miss the rest of the season. However, LaFontaine was determined to return right away and on December 21st he returned to the lineup. LaFontaine would end up with 93 points in just 57 games as the Sabers finished in third place with a 31-37-12 record. In the playoffs the Sabres would be bounced out in the first round again. However, this time they would not go down without a fight as they pushed the Boston Bruins to seven games. 1992/93: The scoring tandem of Pat LaFontaine and Alexander Mogilny had Buffalo fans cheering all season as both topped the 100-point mark in scoring. Mogilny tied for the league in scoring with 76 points while LaFontaine notch 53 goals and an incredible 95 assists. However, the Sabres would allow 297 goals as they finished in fourth place with a mediocre 38-36-10 record. In the playoffs the Sabres would end a decade long playoff slump by sweeping the first place Boston Bruins in four straight games, which included three wins in overtime topped by Brad May's dramatic goal in Game 4 at the Aud. However, in the Adams Division finals the Sabres would have the tables turned on them as they are swept by the Montreal Canadiens in four straight games, three of which were in overtime. 1993/94: On November 19th the Sabres season appeared in jeopardy as Pat LaFontaine underwent season ending knee surgery. Coach John Muckler decided to switchgears, and play a tight defensive game instead of a wide-open attack based on speedy forwards. Things appeared to get bleaker as Goalie Grant Fuhr underwent knee surgery that would cause his to miss at least 6 weeks. Instead of folding the Sabres only got stronger as back up Dominik Hasek established himself as a star with outstanding performances night after night on the way to capturing Vezina with an outstanding GAA of 1.95. In the playoffs the Sabres would battle the New Jersey Devils in a tight low scoring series. Needing to win Game 6 at him to force a seventh game Dominik Hasek was simply dominating stopping everything the Devils threw at him stopping all 70 shots. However the Sabres could not get anything past Devils goalie Martin Brodeur either and the two teams battled deep into overtime, before Dave Hannan scored the game's only goal at 65:43 of overtime to force a seventh game. However in Game 7 in New Jersey The Sabres would fall 2-1. 1994/95: After a four month lockout wiped out half the season the continued solid play of Dominik Hasek allowed the Sabres to trade Grant Fuhr to the Los Angeles Kings along with Philippe Boucher and Denis Tsygurow for Charlie Huddy, Robb Stauber and Alexei Zhitnik. Hasek would again capture the Vezina Trophy as the Sabres finished in with a 22-19-7 record as injuries limited Pat LaFontaine to just 22 games. However, in the playoffs the Sabres would make another first round exit as they are beaten by the Philadelphia Flyers in five games. 1995/96: In a continued change of direction the Sabres would trade Alexander Mogilny to the Vancouver Canucks for Michael Peca, and Mike Wilson. In the final season of hockey at the Memorial Auditorium the Sabres would struggle, as the clearly missed the scoring touch of Mogilny, while missing the playoffs and finishing in fifth place in the Northeast Division with a disappointing record of 33-42-7. 1996/97: A new era dawned in Buffalo as the Sabres prepared to open the brand new state of the art Marine Midland Area, with a new Red and Black color scheme that replaced the traditional Blue and Yellow scheme that had been worn since the Sabres inception. However, sadly Seymour H. Knox III who had been their every step of the way was not around to see the team he founded open its new arena he fought hard to get built, passed away in the spring. Not much was expected for the Sabres especially after Pat LaFontaine was lost to a severe concussion early in the season. However, goalie Dominik Hasek would bounce back of a mediocre season to dominate the NHL becoming the first goalie in 35 years to win both the Vezina and Hart Trophies as the Sabres won the Northeast Division with a 40-30-12 record. However, Hasek would struggle in the playoffs bring controversy in when he got into a scuffle with reporter Jim Kelly. With Hasek suffering a hurt groin serving a suspension, backup Steve Shields played solid hockey as the Sabres beat the Ottawa Senators in seven games. Shields would remain in net in the second round as the Sabres were beaten by the Philadelphia Flyers in five games. Following the season Coach Ted Nolan would be fired despite earning the Jack Adams Award for Coach of the Year. 1997/98: Under new Coach Lindy Ruff continued to rely solely on goalie Dominik Hasek who again won both the Vezina and Hart Trophies as eth Sabres finished in third place with a record of 36-29-17. However, it would be during the Winter Olympic break that Hasek shined the most, as he was unbeatable leading the Czech Republic to a gold medal as NHL players were used during the Hockey Competition in Nagano. In the playoffs Hasek would shake off past struggles as the Sabres finally beat the Philadelphia Flyers in five games. The Sabres continued to roll sweeping the Montreal Canadiens in four straight to reach the Eastern Conference Finals. However in the Conference Finals the Sabres would be burnt in overtime three times as they were beaten by the Washington Capitals in six games. Following the season the Sabres would be sold to John, Tim, Michael, and James Rigas of Adelphia Cable Communications. 1998/99: The Sabres continue to win with defense and the solid goaltending of the Dominik Hasek who was dominate again winning his third straight Vezina and fifth in six years with an outstanding 1.87 GAA, as the Sabres finished in fourth place with a record of 37-28-17. Entering the playoffs as the seventh seed the Sabres would get off to a fast start in the playoffs sweeping the Northeast Champion Ottawa Senators in four straight games. In the second round the Sabres continued to roll as they beat the Boston Bruins in six games to reach their second straight conference finals. Facing the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Eastern Finals the Sabres would split the first two games on the road before winning two straight games at the Marine Midland Arena to establish a 3-1 series lead. The Sabres would go on to close the series out in five games with a 4-2 win in Toronto. Facing the Dallas Stars in the Stanley Cup Finals the Sabres took Game 1 on the road in overtime 3-2 on a goal by Jason Wooley. After the Stars bounced back to win Game 2 the Sabres blew an opportunity to take control of the series by losing Game 3 at home 2-1. The Sabres would even the series with a 2-1-win over their in Game 4. However, after losing Game 5 in Dallas 2-0 the Sabres need to win Game 6 at home to force a seventh game. The game would go down to battle of goalies, as the game remained tied 1-1 through two overtime periods. Finally the Dallas Stars won the cup when Brett Hull slid the puck past Dominik Hasek in the third overtime. Replays would later show that Hull's skate was in the crease, which was against the rules at that time. However, officials let the goal stand, adding a tinge of controversy to the Sabres heartbreak. 1999/00: Injuries would limit Dominik Hasek to just 35 games. However rookie Martin Biron would pick up the slack posting a solid 2.42 GAA average as the Sabres finished in third place with a 35-36-11-4 record holding off the Carolina Hurricanes for the final playoff spot by one point. However, in the playoffs the Sabres would make a quick exit as they are beaten by the Philadelphia Flyers in five games. 2000/01: After a seasons filled with injuries Dominik Hasek would return winning the Vezina Trophy for the sixth time in eight years with an outstanding 2.11 GAA as the Sabres playing without Captain Michael Peca who was holding out the entire season finished in second place with a solid 46-30-5-1 record. In the playoffs the Sabres would get off to a terrific start jumping out to a 3-1 series lead before beating the Philadelphia Flyers in six games. In the second round the Sabres got off to a shaky start as they dropped the first two games at home to the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, the Sabres would recover winning the next two games in Pittsburgh to even the series. After taking Game 5 at home the Sabres looked poised to reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the third time in four years. However, the Penguins would win the next two games in overtime eliminating the Sabres in seven games. 2001/02: Prior to the start of the season the Sabres decide to turn the page trading away both Dominik Hasek and Michael Peca. Replacing Hasek would be Martin Biron would play solid hockey. However, the Sabres played only mediocre hockey all season missing the playoffs for the first time in six years while finishing in last place with a record of 35-35-11-1. 2002/03: The Sabres began the season with a dark cloud surrounding the future of the franchise as the NHL was forced to assume control of the team after owners John, Tim, Michael, and James Rigas of Adelphia Cable Communications were forced to declare bankruptcy. John Rigas along with his sons Tim and Michael would be among the first arrested and charged with cooperate fraud and embezzlement under a crackdown after the Enron scandal. As new owners were sought the Sabres naturally struggled sitting in last place almost from the start of the season until the end posting a horrible record of 27-37-10-8. As the season wound down Tom Gollisano a New York billionaire who was just coming off an unsuccessful run for Governor purchased the team for $92 Million, ending rumors the Sabres would move or fold. 2003/04: After playing an entire season under the clouds of bankruptcy the Sabres began to emerge by acquiring Chris Drury from the Calgary Flames. Drury would be one of five Sabres to post over 50 points as the team started down the road to recovery. However the road from financial ruin to becoming a competitive team again was not a short one as the Sabres struggled much of the first half of the season falling as low as 18-25-5-1 on January 25th. However as the season wore on the Sabres would play better as the Sabres would win nine of their next 11 games. The Sabres would go on to have a strong second half posting a 37-34-7-4 record. However, they would fall six points shy of the playoffs, and would even end up in last place in the highly competitive Northeast Division. 2004/05: Season Cancelled Due to Lock Out 2005/06: During the Lock out the Sabres were one of the teams that were able to get back on track as they emerged from bankruptcy thanks in part to their new Billionaire Owner Tom Gollisano. When the Sabres hit the ice they were able to be competitive again getting off to a solid start with six wins in their first eight games. However, a bump in the road arrived at the start of November as they dropped four in a row while losing seven of nine and fell below .500. However, they would quickly recover and would play well most of the season, as Ryan Miller eventually established himself as the number one goalie with Maxim Afinogenov leading team with 73 points and Chris Drury leading the way with 30 goals. A 6-game losing streak in March would drop the Sabres out of first place, but thanks to a 52-24-6 record their 110 points were among the best in the Eastern Conference as they finished just three points back of the Ottawa Senators for the division title and the overall best record in the East, helping to earn a Jack Adams Award for longtime Coach Lindy Ruff. In the playoffs the Sabres got off to a fast start winning the first two games against the Philadelphia Flyers. However, after dropping the next two in Philly they were faced with a must win game in Game 5 at HSBC Arena. Thanks to Ryan Miller who stopped all 24 shots, the Sabres regained control of the series with a 3-0 win as they went to eliminate the Flyers in six games behind a 7-1 explosion in the finale in Philly. The second round would bring a showdown with the Senators as Game 1 turned into a shoot out for the ages with each team trading goals back and forth for 60 minutes. The final two minutes of regulation was pure excitement as the Sabres tied the game 5-5 on a shorthanded goal by Derek Roy, with 97 seconds left in the game. The Senators would quickly retake the lead 24 seconds later as Bryan Smolinski scored on the power play, but the Sabres would tie the game again on a goal by Tim Connolly with 11 seconds left in regulation. Overtime would be over just as quickly as Chris Drury delivered the 7-6 game winner after just 18 seconds of extra time. Game 2 would see fewer goals but the same result as the Sabres skated home to Buffalo for Game 3 with a 2-0 lead after a 2-1 win, as Ryan Miller stopped 43 of 44 shots. As the series shifted to HSBC Arena overtime rose up again as the Sabres took a commanding 3-0 lead as J.P. Dumont netted the game winner in a 3-2 game. After a disappointing 2-1 loss in Game 4, the Sabres went back to Ottawa and eliminated the Senators with another 3-2 win in overtime as Jason Pominville scored the game winner shorthanded 2:26 into OT. In the Eastern Conference Finals the Sabres were matched up against the Carolina Hurricanes, taking Game 1 again on the road 3-2. After losing Game 2 the series shifted to Buffalo, where the Sabres used a 3-goal outburst in the second period to win 4-3, and take back control of the series. After a disappointing 4-0 loss at home in Game 4, the Sabres found themselves on the brink thanks to a 4-3 overtime loss in Game 5. Back at HSBC Arena for Game 6 the Sabres turned the tables and won in overtime 2-1 on a power play goal by Daniel Briere. In Game 7 in Carolina the Sabres would take a 2-1 lead into the final period, but the home standing Hurricanes scored three times to win the game 4-2, and went on to finals, where they would win the Stanley Cup. 2006/07: Coming off their loss in the Eastern Conference Finals the Sabres entered the season in new uniforms that though utilizing the old bellow and yellow color scheme were not warmly received by fans who nicknamed their new logo the "Buffaslug." However, when the Sabres started the season with ten straight wins, fans seemed to warm up to the new logo. After losing a shootout the Sabres remained hot winning five of their next six games as they got off to a 15-1-1 start. The Sabres would spend the entire season in first place as they posted their best season in franchise history winning the President's Trophy for the best overall record in the regular season at 53-22-7. In the playoffs the Sabres got off to a fast start beating the New York Islanders, as Brian Campbell scored twice, as they went on to eliminate the Islanders in five games. In the second round it was another Empire State showdown as the Sabres faced the New York Rangers. This time it would not be as easy as the series was even after four games, with the Rangers taking both games at MSG, after losing the first two in Buffalo. Things looked bleak in Game 5 back in Buffalo as the Rangers broke open a scoreless game with 3:29 left. However, with 7.7 seconds left Chris Drury sent the game to overtime finally beating Henrik Lundqvist on the Sabres 37th shot. In Overtime it would be Maxim Afinogenov who would play the role of hero scoring a power play goal to give the Sabres a dramatic 2-1 win. The Sabres would use the momentum from Game 5 to win the series in six as they scored four times in the second period as they held on for a 5-4 win. In the Eastern Conference Finals the Sabres got off to a bad start as they dropped Game 1 at home 5-2 to the Ottawa Senators. Things would not get much better in Game 2 as they lost an overtime heartbreaker 4-3, as they traveled to Ottawa in a 2-0 hole. The hole would get deeper as they managed just 15 shots on goal losing 1-0 in Game 3. The Sabres would avoid the sweep with a 3-2 win in Game 4, but their would be no comeback as the Senators won the series with another 3-2 overtime win in Buffalo in Game 5. Following the season the Sabres losses got worse as Co-Captains Daniel Briere signed with the Philadelphia Flyers, and Chris Drury signed with the Rangers. 2007/08: Losing two key players the Sabres entered the season knowing it would be hard to equal their performance of the previous two seasons. Through the first two months the Sabres played mediocre hockey as they posted an 11-11-1 record. In December the Sabres made a little run as they posted a six game winning streak. However heading into the New Year the Sabres dropped three games in a row, as they prepared to face the Pittsburgh Penguins in a special New Year's Day Game aired nationally on NBC. Billed "The Winter Classic" the game was played in Ralph Wilson Stadium home of the Buffalo Bills, and it was the first outdoor regular season game played in the United States. With snow lightly falling through out the game went to a shootout, where the Sabres lost again 2-1, with Sidney Crosby blasting the winner past Ryan Miller. The Sabres struggles would continue as they won just one of their next eight games. The Sabres would play better in February as they remained in playoff contention. However, a subpar March would leave the Sabres on the outside looking in as they finished the season with a record of 39-31-12. 2008/09: After missing the playoffs, the Sabres looked to rebound as they got off to a fast start winning their first four games, on the way to a 6-0-1 start. However, the strong beginning was a memory in November as the Sabres struggled, losing seven of eight games during a rough stretch. When the New Year began the Sabres were playing only mediocre hockey as they held a 17-15-6 record. However, a strong January gave them hope for reaching the playoffs. After a disappointing February the Sabres were active at the trade deadline signing Tim Connolly to an extension worth $4.2 million for two years. They also acquired Mikael Tellqvist from the Phoenix Coyotes for a fourth-round pick in the 2010 draft. Then Dominic Moore came from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a second-round pick in the 2009 draft. Finally, they received a second-round pick in the 2009 draft from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for their shootout weapon Ales Kotalik. However, the deals were not able to work any magic as the Sabres lost six of seven games and slid out of the playoffs. The Sabres would win their final three games, but would fall two points short of the playoffs with a record of 41-32-9. 2009/10: After missing the playoffs two straight seasons, the Sabres came out of the gate flying, posting a record of 8-1-1 in their first ten games. Despite a four game losing streak in November the Sabres maintained their strong start into the New Year. The Sabres were able to demonstrate their ability to comeback as 2010 began, as they won consecutive games after trailing 3-0. Beating the Pittsburgh Penguins and Atlanta Thrashers 4-3. However, January was a tough month for the Sabres as they lost four straight games. The struggles continued into February as they lost six in a row, posting a 3-6-5 record during a 14 game stretch. The Sabres were able to get a win before the Olympic break, beating the San Jose Sharks 3-1. During the Olympics in Vancouver, Sabres Goalie Ryan Miller shined as he helped lead Team USA to Silver Medal, losing just the Gold Medal game to Canada 3-2 on a goal by Sidney Crosby in overtime. After the break the Sabres began to show the type of play that enabled them to take control of the Northeast Division as they won seven of eight games. They would go on to win the division with a 45-27-10 record. Earning individual honors was Ryan Miller who captured the Vezina, while Defenseman Tyler Myers took home the Calder Trophy as the league's best rookie. In the playoffs the Sabres faced a divisional foe in the Boston Bruins. In the opener at HSBC Arena, Ryan Miller stopped 38 of 39 shots as the Sabres won 2-1. However, the Bruins bounced back to take the next two games as leading scorer Thomas Vanek was lost to an injury in Game 2. Needing a win in Boston for Game 4, the Sabres held an early 2-0 lead. However, the Bruins battled back to win in double overtime 3-2, as former Sabre Miroslav Satan netted the game winner to give the Bruins a 3-1 series lead. The Sabres would stay alive with a 4-1 win in Game 5. Vanek would return for Game 6, and would score a goal but it would not be enough as the Bruins eliminated the Sabres with a 4-3 win. 2010/11: It was something old, something new, and something blue as the season began for the Sabres, who returned to the classic logo and blue sweaters as they got new ownership. Early on the Sabres would struggle, as they started 3-9-2. However, in November they began to turn things around, winning four of their next five games. In December, Terrence Pegula one of the richest men in the world expressed interest in buying the Sabres, as they continued their climb out of the early season hole. While the club sale was finalized, the Sabres ran off an 8-3-1 record in January. In February they would say good bye to Captain Craig Rivet, who was waived and later claimed by the Columbus Blue Jackets. In February, Pegula would take over ownership, buying the Sabres for a reported $189 million. He would be introduced to fans in Buffalo on February 23rd, pledging to keep the Sabres in Buffalo, and bring them a Stanley Cup, among those on hand where Sabres legends, including Rick Martin. It would be the final appearance for Martin who was a member of the famous French Connection line with Gilbert Perreault and Rene Robert, as he passed away from heart disease just three weeks later. The Sabres would acquire Brad Boyes for a draft pick from the St. Louis Blues at the trade deadline, as they finished the season strong, posting a record of 13-3-3 down the stretch to reach the playoffs with a record of 43-29-10. In the playoffs against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Sabres would get off to a great start, as Ryan Miller stopped all 35 shots, as the Sabres beat the Flyers 1-0 on a goal by Patrick Kaleta in the third period. Game 2 would be a completely different affair, as the Flyers evened the series with a 5-4 win. After losing 4-2 in Game 3, at home, the Sabres got another 1-0 win in Game 4, as Miller stopped 32 shots, with Jason Pominville scoring the game's lone goal in the first period. In Game 5 in Philadelphia, despite blowing a 3-0 lead, the Sabres would win 4-3 in overtime on a goal by Tyler Ennis. The Sabres would take an early 3-1 lead in Game 6, with a chance to win the series at home, however the Flyers would rally as the game went to overtime. In OT, the Flyers would win the game 5-4 on a goal by Ville Leino. The Flyers would go on to win the series with a 5-2 win in Game 7. 2011/12: Before the season started, the Sabres would name Jason Pominville as their new Captain. The Sabres would begin the season in Europe with two wins, as they beat the Anaheim Ducks in Helsinki, Finland 4-1 and the Los Angeles Kings 4-2 in Berlin, Germany. Returning home, the Sabres would drop their home opener to the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3, before winning their next three games on the road. The Sabres got off to a solid start and held a record of 10-5-0 as they faced the Boston Bruins on November 12th. The Sabres would lose the game 6-2, but even worse they lost Goalie Ryan Miller to a concussion when he was kneed in the head by Milan Lucic trying to cover the puck. Miller would miss the next nine games, as the Sabres went through a series of injuries, losing 225 man games to various injuries. Over the next 33 games the Sabres won just nine games and found themselves falling far behind in the playoff chase. Just before the All-Star Break, the Sabres began to turn things around as they scored a 2-1 shootout win over the New Jersey Devils on the road. The game singled a return to health for Ryan Miller who still had lingering concussion symptoms. The Sabres would start climbing the standings in February, as they posted a record of 7-3-3. As February became March the Sabres had one of the best stretches in franchise history as they would post a record of 14-1-3 as they got back into playoff position. However, back to back losses to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs at the end of March would doom their playoff hopes. The Sabres would miss the playoffs by just three points, with a record of 39-32-11. 2012/13: After a strong finish that nearly propelled them into the playoffs, the Sabres hoped to carry the momentum as they added Steve Ott in the off-season in a trade with the Dallas Stars for Derek Roy. However, any chance to get a boost was blunted as the NHL endured another long lockout that delayed the season three months. The truncated 48 game season would begin on January 20th with the Sabres upending the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2 at the First Niagara Center. The Sabres would split their first six games, but found themselves going in the wrong direction at the beginning of February as they lost five out of seven games to start the month. After a 4-2 win over the Boston Bruins, the Sabres troubles continued as they dropped their next two games to slip to 6-10-1. This would lead to the dismissal of longtime Coach Lind Ruff, who was fired after 16 seasons behind the Buffalo Sabres bench. Ruff would be replaced by Ron Rolston, who lost his first two games before the Sabres earned a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on the road. The Sabres would not play much better in March as they found themselves mired in last place, while posting a 5-5-5 mark that erased any hope for the playoffs. As the trade deadline approached the Sabres would begin breaking down the team to rebuild for the future, as Jordan Leopold was sent to the St. Louis Blues for a pair of draft picks, while they picked up two other picks from the Los Angeles Kings for Robyn Regehr. They would than send Captain Jason Pominville to the Minnesota Wild for Matt Hackett, Johan Larsson and two draft picks. Despite appearing to waive the white flag and focus on the future, the Sabres showed some pride in April and won eight games. However, the Sabres could not escape last place in the Northeast Division as they finished with a record of 21-21-6. 2013/14: Even before the season began it was clear the Buffalo Sabres were in for a long year, as they looked to make a commitment to rebuilding. With stars Thomas Vanek and Ryan Miller both playing in the last year of their contracts it was clear the Sabres would shuffling players in and out of Buffalo all season. Vanek would be the first to go, as he was traded to the New York Islanders on October 27th for Matt Moulson and a pair of draft picks. The Sabres would be as bad as expected, as they posted a 4-15-1 record in the first 20 games. The bad start would lead to the dismissal of both General Manager Darcy Regier and Coach Ron Rolston on November 13th. The Sabres would hire Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine to be the team's new President of Hockey Operations, while Ted Nolan took over as coach. The Sabres would later name Tim Murray as their General Manager. The Sabres would win their first game in Nolan's return to the bench, beating the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1. However, wins remained hard to come by as they held a record of 11-25-4 at the start of the New Year. The Sabres would win just four games in January, and lost four straight games before the Olympic Break. When the season resumed trades would be the story for the Sabres, as Ryan Miller was traded along with Captain Steve Ott to the St. Louis Blues for Jaroslav Halak, Chris Stewart, William Carrier and a pair of draft picks. Halak would be traded himself a week later to the Washington Capitals for Michal Neuvirth and Rostislav Klesla. The Sabres also made deals with the Los Angeles Kings and Minnesota Wild at the trade deadline sending Brayden McNabb and Jonathan Parker to LA for Nicolas Deslauriers, while they picked up Torrey Mitchell and two draft picks from the Wild for Cody McCormick and Matt Moulson. So shorthanded were the Sabres do to the trades they needed to dress Videographer Ryan Vinz as a backup goalie. The Sabres would win twice in their final 20 games, posting the second worst record in franchise history at 21-51-10, which would lead to the dismissal of Coach Ted Nolan. 2015/16: The Buffalo Sabres looked to make strides as they named Dan Bylsma who had won a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins to replace Ted Nolan behind the bench. One key piece to the Sabres future was Jack Eichel who was chosen with the second overall pick after winning the Hobey Baker Award, given to the top player in the NCAA at Boston University. Eichel had a fantastic season in his rookie year, posting 56 points as he led the Sabres with 24 goals. Another key piece for the Sabres is Ryan O'Reilly who was acquired with Jamie McGinn from the Colorado Avalanche for Nikita Zadorov, Mikhail Grigorenko, J. T. Compher and draft pick. In his first season in Buffalo, O'Reilly led the Sabres in scoring with 60 points. Despite two key players providing an instant boost, the Sabres still were a long way from making the playoffs as they finished seventh in the Atlantic Division with a record of 35-36-11.

2016/2017: You already know what happened.

Now...we wait.

#nhl sabres buffalo onebuffalo

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jobsearchtips02 · 5 years ago

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buddyrabrahams · 7 years ago

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20 NFL free agent signings who have paid off most this season

The 2017 NFL regular season is nearing the end with only three games remaining. With so many games having been played, evaluating previously signed free agents becomes a bit easier. And more often than not, the mid-season and post-season grades for such signings vastly differ from their pre-season grades.

Case in point: Wide receiver Terrelle Pryor signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Washington Redskins. It didn’t appear to be much of an investment on the surface, and some could have considered the deal a steal. But after substantial struggles early in the season, Pryor was lost to injury and the Redskins were out $6 million. Needless to say, not every high-profile deal is a good one.

Though the Pryor signing turned out to be a bust, many others yielded excellent results for their teams this season. Here’s a look at 20 free agent signings that have paid off this season (in no particular order):

20. Barry Church, S, Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars have been wheeling and dealing in recent years, so they’ll be well featured on this list. First up is safety Barry Church, who was signed to a four-year, $26 million contract this offseason. Although he’s playing slightly worse than a season ago, he’s still been a solid addition to Jacksonville’s defense. In 13 games, Church has recorded 60 tackles (47 solo), one sack, five passes defensed and two interceptions. He’s also warranted a 83.7 Pro Football Focus grade.

19. Rick Wagner, OT, Detroit Lions

Wagner signed a five-year, $47.5 million deal this offseason and has rewarded the Lions with 12 starts through 13 weeks. And while he hasn’t been perfect, he has earned a 81.7 PFF grade, which is good for 10th-best among tackles in the NFL. Needless to say, for a team that struggled along the offensive line in 2017, Wagner has helped provide some much-needed stability.

18. Logan Ryan, CB, Tennessee Titans

The Titans signed Ryan to a three-year, $30 million deal this offseason, which is essentially a one-year deal with an out in 2018. Whether or not Tennessee chooses to exercise that right remains to be seen, but given how he’s played this season, that seems increasingly unlikely. To go along with an 81.3 PFF grade, Logan has recorded 59 tackles (47 solo), 11 passes defensed and two stuffs. The one knock against Ryan is that he’s yet to record an interception.

17. Ted Ginn, WR, New Orleans Saints

Ginn signed a modest three-year, $11 million deal with the Saints this offseason and expectations varied. On one hand, Ginn is aging, but on the other, Drew Brees became his quarterback. The latter proved to be most valuable as the receiver has seen his catch percentage rise to 77.2% and his yards per game hit a career-high of 52.2 through 13 games. He’s also on pace for a ninth season with 1,000-plus all-purpose yards.

16. Antoine Bethea, S, Arizona Cardinals

After signing a three-year, $12.75 million deal with the Cardinals, expectations were somewhat high for Bethea. Not through the roof mind you, but high enough that he needed to play better than his career average. To date, Bethea has done exactly that, earning a PFF grade of 82.5, while recording 51 tackles (41 solo), one sack, seven passes defensed and three interceptions.

15. Nickell Robey-Coleman, CB, Los Angeles Rams

The Rams signed Robey-Coleman to a one-year, $855,000 deal to add depth to their secondary. Rather than a warm body taking up space on a depth chart, Robey-Coleman has turned into a more than serviceable player for Los Angeles, earning a 81.4 grade from PFF. In 12 games, Robey-Coleman has recorded 39 tackles (31 solo), one forced fumble, nine passes defensed and tied a career-high with two interceptions. It’s not always about big names or flash; sometimes it’s just about remarkable value.

14. Stephon Gilmore, CB, New England Patriots

The Patriots went far outside their norm when they signed Gilmore to a five-year, $65 million deal this offseason. It was one of the richest contracts they’ve given out and it didn’t look good when Gilmore struggled early on. He has since rebounded, recording 34 tackles (32 solo), seven passes defensed and two interceptions. Gilmore has also boosted his PFF grade up to 86.0 through 14 weeks.

13. Robert Woods, WR, Los Angeles Rams

There was a bit of shock when the Rams signed Woods to a five-year, $34 million deal considering he had never reached 700 or more yards and his career high for touchdowns was five in 2014. Los Angeles saw a fit however, and they made the leap. Woods has subsequently rewarded them with 47 receptions for 703 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games. If not for a few lingering injury issues, Woods’ numbers would be even better.

12. Julius Peppers, DE, Carolina Panthers

When the Panthers signed Peppers to a one-year, $3.5 million deal it felt nostalgic. Few expected him to produce in any real way as a reserve, but he’s done exactly that from a sheer pass rushing perspective. His run defense may be lacking, but with 9.5 sacks on the season in limited reps, he’s more than earned that relatively minor contract.

11. DeSean Jackson, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers spent a significant chunk of change to add DeSean Jackson to a group that included Mike Evans, inking him to a three-year, $33.5 million deal during free agency. Through 14 weeks, Jackson has earned an 83.2 PFF grade, which is 12th-best among all receivers league-wide. And in what’s been an under-performing offense, Jackson has hauled in 49 receptions for 657 yards and three touchdowns. He’s still got it even if the Bucs offense doesn’t.

10. Tre Boston, S, Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers signed Boston to a one-year, $900,000 million contract in the later stages of free agency, and there was no guarantee he’d even make the team. Not only did he make the team and earn a starting role, but Boston has also played better than many anticipated in 2017. Through 13 games, he’s recorded 63 tackles (46 solo), seven passes defensed and four interceptions to go along with an 82.9 PFF grade.

9. Jabaal Sheard, EDGE, Indianapolis Colts

Sheard played relatively well during his time with the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots, but he wasn’t exactly considered a premier free agent when he signed a three-year, $25.5 million deal with the Colts this offseason. Despite that, Sheard has put together a career-year on film, earning an 89.7 grade courtesy of PFF, which puts him in the top 10 league-wide. He has 42 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 13 games this season. His numbers may not leap off the stat sheet, but his tape certainly does.

8. Alshon Jeffery, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

After two down seasons in Chicago, Jeffery signed a one-year, $14 million prove-it deal with the Eagles and essentially proved it midway through the season, earning an extension. And while his numbers don’t erupt off the stat sheet, Jeffery has reestablished himself as a red-zone threat, scoring eight touchdowns in 13 games this season. He’s also hauled in 52 receptions for 732 yards.

7. A.J. Bouye, CB, Jacksonville Jaguars

It was widely expected that A.J. Bouye was ascending as a player and would establish himself as one of the premier cornerbacks in football, which is why the Jaguars signed him to a five-year, $67.5 million deal. Ultimately, that appears to be money well spent as Bouye has earned a 89.3 grade from PFF to go along with his 45 tackles (43 solo), 16 passes defensed and six interceptions while turning the Jags’ defense into a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.

6. Josh McCown, QB, New York Jets

When the Jets signed McCown to a one-year, $6 million deal, no one knew what they’d be getting. It was never guaranteed McCown would start or even play, and if he did, there were questions about what sort of product would be put on the field. With only one or two wins expected on the season, McCown helped Gang Green exceed those expectations by completing 67 percent of his passes for 2,926 yards and 23 total touchdowns (18 passing, five rushing). Unfortunately a broken hand will end his season, but that won’t keep us from recognizing how well he played in 2017.

5. Andrew Whitworth, OT, Los Angeles Rams

The common perception entering free agency was that no quality offensive linemen were available, and more specifically, none would come at a decent price. The Rams signed Whitworth to a three-year, $33.75 million deal, which seemed fair for the market. After 14 weeks of the regular season, that now seems like a bargain. Whitworth has been a lock at tackle for Los Angeles and is graded out (82.9) as one of the best tackles in all of football courtesy of PFF.

4. Zach Brown, LB, Washington Redskins

PFF may not be high on Brown this season, grading him out at 50.9, but his one-year, $2.3 million deal wasn’t overly risky and he’s certainly earned every penny of that thus far. Brown leads the NFL with 177 tackles through 14 weeks, and 84 of those have been solo tackles. He’s added 2.5 sacks, two passes defensed and a career-high 12 stuffs. Brown’s game may not be an A+ all the way around, and he’s dealing with a foot injury, but considering the minimal investment, Washington hit a home run.

3. Micah Hyde, CB, Buffalo Bills

The Bills signed Hyde to a five-year, $30.5 million this offseason that essentially has an out after year three. The contract was heavily front-loaded in terms of yearly cash, so there was some concern about the deal. However, Hyde has erased those concerns by playing quite well this season, earning a PFF grade of 83.2 and recording 65 tackles (54 solo), 11 passes defensed and five interceptions in 13 games.

2. Calais Campbell, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars have used a ton of resources to build up their defense in recent years, and that didn’t change when they signed Calais Campbell to a four-year, $60 million contract this offseason. Given his age and career production, it seemed like a potentially risky move for Jacksonville. However, Campbell has made that gamble pay off in a huge way, recording 47 tackles (33) solo, three forced fumbles and a career-high 12.5 sacks in 13 games.

1. Jason McCourty, CB, Cleveland Browns

When the Browns signed McCourty to a two-year, $6 million deal during free agency, they weren’t entirely sure what they were going to get. But it was a low-risk, high-reward type of move and it ended up paying huge dividends. McCourty revitalized his career in Cleveland and has established himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the game. In 11 games this season, McCourty has recorded 51 tackles (43 solo), 12 passes defensed, three interceptions and one touchdown. He also has a PFF grade of nearly 90.0.

from Larry Brown Sports http://ift.tt/2jT2VLz

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writingsubmissions · 8 years ago

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Fights to Make: UFC Halifax

Derrick Lewis (beat Travis Browne) vs. Alistair Overeem/Mark Hunt (Mar. 4) winner: Outside of a quick knockout win, that went about as well as possible for Lewis - his main event fight against Browne was a crazy back-and-forth affair, and after absolutely destroying Browne with his ridiculously powerful ground-and-pound, Lewis also cut an early frontrunner for most memorable post-fight interview of 2017, touching on issues like his needing to use the bathroom, his enjoyment of both sex and beating the piss out of domestic abusers, and his hatred of snow. Delightful. Sadly, I’m not sure how much further Lewis’s one-dimensional fighting style will take him, since everyone ahead of him is pretty much both a top-flight athlete and fairly well-skilled. But it’s time to try, so let’s give Lewis the winner of the Overeem/Hunt fight at UFC 209; between Hunt’s hittability and age, and Overeem’s glass jaw, that’s probably the best opportunity for Lewis to continue breaking through towards the top of the division.

Sara McMann (beat Gina Mazany) vs. Raquel Pennington: After annihilating late replacement Mazany as was sort of expected, McMann then did the most polite post-fight callout ever, just matter-of-factly stating that she should be the next title contender for the winner of the upcoming Nunes/Shevchenko fight. And while it’s a little ridiculous to get a title shot off beating Gina Mazany, looking around at the current bantamweight landscape, McMann’s probably right that she’s overall been the top contender. The only other person with a case at the moment would be Pennington, who’s improved a ton herself and is coming off a win over Miesha Tate, so if McMann doesn’t wait for a title shot, that seems like the obvious #1 contender’s fight to do.

Johny Hendricks (beat Hector Lombard) vs. Rashad Evans/Daniel Kelly (Mar. 4) winner: Hey, a win’s a win at this point for Johny Hendricks. Hendricks honestly didn’t look too different from his recent welterweight losses - maybe a bit slightly more powerful in the wrestling game, but overall, Hendricks was just...fine, the fight was sort of there, and he just did a bit more to win a close fight over Lombard. I’m not really sure of Hendricks’s future at middleweight, since he’s so ridiculously undersized, but he’s also a big name, so you need to keep putting him in fights that matter. The winner of the Evans/Kelly fight at UFC 209 seems to work for a next fight - if Evans wins, that’s a fight between two fading guys coming off rebound wins where I have no idea really what to do with either, and if Kelly wins, it’s another former champ for the Australian judoka to try and unseat during an unlikely run.

Travis Browne (lost to Derrick Lewis) vs. Todd Duffee: I have no idea where Browne goes from here, and I mean that in a few different ways, since he apparently trained with three different camps leading up to this fight. Browne started off fine, nailing Lewis with some body kicks that seemingly were going to end things quickly, but things just sort of degenerated into a mess and Browne eventually got nailed and finished in brutal fashion. Browne’s career is just sort of broken at the moment - Todd Duffee just backed out of his fight at UFC 209, but if he’s healthy anytime soon, Browne/Duffee could be a fun brawl between two guys who are just sort of directionless.

Elias Theodorou (beat Cezar Ferreira) vs. Derek Brunson: I’m not sure if he was the better fighter, but Theodorou fought the better fight, adjusting from some early trouble to take Ferreira out of his rhythm and take things into the clinch where needed. Theodorou really could be something, between his good looks, personality, and UFC’s need for a Canadian star, but he fights so infrequently thanks to all his outside ventures that every fight really needs to count. Derek Brunson needs a win coming off his controversial loss to Anderson Silva, and it’d be both a solid opportunity for Brunson to take a step down in competition to try for a win, and Theodorou to try and break his way into the top ten, so let’s go with that.

Hector Lombard (lost to Johny Hendricks) vs. Thales Leites/Sam Alvey (Apr. 22) loser: This might be it in the UFC for Lombard, who I assume is still making solid money, but has now lost three straight and looked rather flat. Lombard is still dangerous in bursts, but not as much as he once was, and he just doesn’t have the well-rounded game to make up for a slide in athleticism. The loser of the Leites/Alvey fight in Nashville might be a solid last-gasp fight; if Leites loses, he’ll badly need a win himself, while Alvey’s the sort of weird, flawed fighter that Lombard should beat if he has anything left.

Randa Markos (beat Carla Esparza) vs. Tecia Torres: I’m not sure she deserved the decision, but this was a huge win for Markos that put some juice back into her career, and earned her some sweet revenge for Esparza tormenting her during season 20 of TUF. Markos completely changed up her camp situation, and if nothing else, she looked much-improved, even if she had to use a really weird, hunched-over striking stance to pull everything off. Markos is suddenly once again a going concern at strawweight, and let’s keep the TUF 20 vibes going - Markos made her name with an upset over top contender Torres on the show, so let’s run that back in what would be a pretty solid fight.

Paul Felder (beat Alessandro Ricci) vs. Lando Vannata/David Teymur (Mar. 4) winner: Felder destroyed Ricci’s nose with an upward elbow in one of the more brutal single strikes of the year so far, and hopefully this time UFC knows what to do with him coming off a win. Felder’s match-making has always been sort of a weird yo-yo where he’ll beat someone obviously overmatched, then given a top contender and lose, in a vicious cycle, but UFC really should just treat Felder as a solid action lightweight. So in that vein, the winner of Vannata/Teymur at UFC 209, a matchup of two violent striking prospects, would make for a fun next fight, particularly since Felder’s also the sort of moderate step up in competition that would benefit either guy.

Carla Esparza (lost to Randa Markos) vs. Justine Kish: I seem to be the only person who feels kind of bad for Esparza, who people still apparently hate a bunch thanks to her portrayal on TUF 20 - she probably deserved the decision win here, she apparently has trouble getting fights and actually making money, and now her career has pretty much hit a standstill. Markos figured to be a bit of a tune-up win, so, uh, let’s try again I guess, and go with Kish, who’s 2-0 in the UFC thus far, but seems like a fairly beatable striker for someone like Esparza.

Cezar Ferreira (lost to Elias Theodorou) vs. David Branch: This was a tough loss for Ferreira, who easily could’ve won the close decision, but it’s still impressive how much he’s reinvented himself from a glass cannon into a combination outside striker/tough grappler. You could do any number of fights with “Mutante”, but I like the idea of him welcoming Branch, who just re-signed with UFC after a stint as two-division champ in World Series of Fighting, back into the promotion.

Santiago Ponzinibbio (beat Nordine Taleb) vs. Ben Saunders: It wasn’t quite fireworks like some of Ponzinibbio’s other fights, but this was still a solid performance, where the Argentinian rebounded from a tough first round and continued to show his prowess as a striker. I’m still not sure of his upside, but Ponzinibbio’s a fun action fighter at the very worst, so let’s do him against Saunders for a fun mid-card welterweight bout.

Thiago Santos (beat Jack Marshman) vs. Tim Boetsch: This looked like a bad situation for Santos - he was coming off two straight losses and facing a tough test in Marshman, and a third straight loss may have taken “Marreta” from the top fifteen to outside the UFC in about nine months. But, well, no worries now, since Santos not only won, but got people excited about him again by knocking out Marshman with a ridiculously beautiful and violent spinning wheel kick. Boetsch would make for a fun fight now that Santos finds himself back on the fringes of the rankings - Boetsch is a tough rugged guy who could maul the Brazilian, but Santos is also long, athletic, and more than capable of kicking Boetsch’s head off.

Nordine Taleb (lost to Santiago Ponzinibbio) vs. John Hathaway: It wound up being a one-sided loss at the end, but Taleb showed some good stuff here, particularly early, as he used his size and technical prowess to mostly keep Ponzinibbio at bay for a bit. Taleb’s a solid guy that you can match up with more or less anyone on the welterweight roster - this is me being a bit weird, but I’ll go off the radar and put him against British striker Hathaway, who hasn’t been seen since a 2014 knockout loss to Dong Hyun Kim. Gavin Tucker (beat Sam Sicilia) vs. Rick Glenn: Well, that was a surprisingly great debut from Halifax native Tucker, who pretty much outclassed Sicilia and just looked fun as hell as a mobile striker. I’m not ready to call Tucker UFC’s top Canadian prospect just yet, but he’s definitely someone the company should feature prominently, though I’d still lean towards the slow burn approach when moving him up the ladder. With that in mind, let’s put him against Glenn, who’s coming off a win last week over Phillipe Nover, next - Glenn’s a solid, well-traveled vet who can have a fun action fight when needed, and he’s the sort of solid step up in competition that can help give us more of an idea exactly where Tucker stands.

Gerald Meerschaert (beat Ryan Janes) vs. Eric Spicely: A bit of an odd win from Meerschaert, who was surprisingly put on his back and losing to Janes fairly handily for about a minute and a half before suddenly clamping on armbar on Janes that got the tap almost before anyone realized he even had the submission on. A fight against Spicely would be pretty fun, since he’s on a bit of a roll himself, also tapping out two straight opponents - it’d be fun to see how two mid-level middleweight submission artists would interact.

Aiemann Zahabi (beat Reginaldo Vieira) vs. Jose Quinonez: Zahabi’s win over Vieira was surprisingly narrow - I actually could’ve seen Vieira even taking the decision - for someone considered to be a top prospect. Essentially, Zahabi was obviously the much more skilled fighter, but he just never really pressed the action, despite having success during the rare times he decided to do so. So the result was Vieira initiating a lot of the offense, with Zahabi often countering successfully, but not really making enough of an important on things to convince everyone he was definitely winning the round. But, anyway, a win’s a win, and I like the idea of Zahabi fighting Mexican prospect “Teco” Quinonez next - again, Zahabi’s probably the more skilled fighter, but Quinonez is an aggressive, athletic guy, that should continue to force Zahabi to adapt outside of his comfort zone.

Jack Marshman (lost to Thiago Santos) vs. Alex Nicholson: Despite the head kick knockout loss, this wasn’t a bad performance from Marshman, as the Welshman was doing fairly well for himself before the finish, and he looks to be a pretty fun action middleweight. A fight against Nicholson would be similarly fun with a less amount of danger, as Nicholson’s also a long guy dependent on single strikes, but he doesn’t have quite the ridiculous kicking arsenal of Santos.

Ryan Janes (lost to Gerald Meerschaert) vs. Alessio Di Chirico: Well, at least the first minute and a half or so of the fight went well for Janes, as he surprisingly got the jump on Meerschaert before suddenly getting tapped out. Janes is a fine, lower-level fighter - let’s put him against Di Chirico, an interesting Italian prospect who’s scuffling a bit himself.

Reginaldo Vieira (lost to Aiemann Zahabi) vs. Russell Doane: Vieira makes a fine low-level gatekeeper, but with two straight losses and UFC in cutting mode, this is probably it for the Brazilian. If not, it’s just a matter of matching him up with whoever else is on the cut line, and let’s go with Doane, who’s a solid fighter, but coming off three straight losses himself.

Sam Sicilia (lost to Gavin Tucker) vs. Guangyou Ning: It was a bit surprising that Sicilia even got this fight after two straight losses, but after just getting outclassed here, one assumed this must be it. Like Vieira above, it’s just a matter of booking a cut-line matchup - let’s go with former TUF: China winner Guangyou Ning.

Alessandro Ricci (lost to Paul Felder) vs. Mitch Clarke: Ricci at least got to show a bit more here than he did in his UFC debut loss to Jeremy Kennedy, and you can see the potential for a decent action fighter, but it still ended with Ricci clutching his nose, which appeared to be destroyed, by the end of the first round. I don’t know if Ricci gets another UFC fight, but if so, let’s put him against Clarke, another fun Canadian fighter that’s also on the cut line.

Gina Mazany (lost to Sara McMann) vs. Veronica Macedo/Lina Lansberg (Mar. 18) loser: Mazany was a bit of a puzzling choice as a late-notice replacement, given that she’s fairly inactive and inexperienced and comes off an Alaskan fight scene that isn’t all that good, and top contender McMann in fact absolutely destroyed her. Honestly, I’m not even sure who on the roster Mazany can beat - I guess let’s go with the loser of the Macedo/Lansberg fight in London, since they’re probably the closest to the cut line in a division that doesn’t have a ton of options.

#ufchalifax #ufc halifax #ufn105 #ufn 105 #ufcfightnight105 #ufc fight night 105 #ufc #mma #matchmaking

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