GarageGabs

As a Carolina Hurricanes fan, I’m starting to develop an inferiority complex in regard to the Buffalo Sabres. Buffalo, the hottest team in the NHL, beat the Canes 7-4 last night. That makes Buffalo 3 for 3(twice on our own ice) against the Canes this season. This, after a grueling 7 game series in the Eastern Conference Finals last year where the Canes were able to knock off an injury riddled Buffalo squad.

I was able to attend the game last night, and things were not all that much different from last years playoffs…..what I mean by that is, there was a large contingent of Sabre fans in the stands. As usual, this contingent was very vocal. I’m not sure if they just travel well, (which I believe was the case in the playoffs last year) or we just have a lot of relocated Buffalo natives living in the Raleigh area. I applaude Sabre fans for traveling so well, they are a pretty irritating bunch so kudos to them.

I also have to admit that Buffalo is a better team than Carolina right now. In building a 3-0 first period lead last night they just seemed to be the more aggressive team. They skated faster, hit harder, and just always seemed to have an uncovered man in front of the net (or in the net). Maybe a small part of this could be attributed to some rather ticky tack calls in the 1st period, but fact of the matter is Buffalo only got one power play goal in the 1st period. (Despite 3 chances)

Carolina was able to skate hard in the 2nd (scoring 2 goals) and then tie things up in the 3rd. Didn’t matter, they gave up an easy Buffalo goal less than a minute later, off of a face off. Buffalo then went on a scoring spree, before finally winning 7-4.

So, like I mentioned…..they are the better team now. I honestly believe they are going to be the team to beat in the East. Carolina is getting better. Stillman will be back soon. The new guys are fitting in well. We have played with a lot of injuries, especially to our defensemen (sound like a Buffalo excuse?). Come playoff time, I see another 7 game series from these two teams.

Recap