Take 'em when you can get 'em

Just because the NHL season is over doesn't mean that you can't snag an autograph or two. Look at the three we added to our collection earlier this evening.

The old school Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning pucks, shown above, were signed by former NHL player John Tucker, who runs a pro shop and coaches teams at the Clearwater Ice Arena.

I'd been carrying the pucks with me for a couple weeks now, as Colin skates and takes lessons at the arena. Tonight was the first time I'd seen Tucker when he wasn't on the ice.

This card, signed to Colin by another former NHL player Chris Dingman, was obtained following Colin's skating practice when we returned to the Wing House restaurant in Pinellas Park, where the Lightning were holding a live radio broadcast and an event for season ticket-holders.

Now, some might say that these former players are hardly worth the effort. With all due respect, however, I disagree. Sure, both are unlikely candidates for the Hockey Hall of Fame. But, both also played in the NHL, something that, in the grand scheme of things, not too many people get to do.

Even though I'll plead guilty to cherry picking during the season, I'm always happy to add autographs during the offseason.

No complaints here

Though Buffalo's Ryan Miller is one of the more willing signers in the NHL, I wasn't the least bit disappointed to snag this 2007-08 Upper Deck Sweet Shot card. No, sirree, not one bit.

Phlashback

After pulling this card, signed by NHL Hall of Famer Bernie Parent, from a pack of 2007-08 Upper Deck Sweet Shot earlier today, the first thought that popped into my hounding-deprived mind was the 1974-75 Stanley Cup Finals.

Not only did the Broad Street Bullies beat my beloved Buffalo Sabres, 4 games to 2, for their second Cup, but Parent was the star of the series, giving up only 12 goals in the six games on his way to winning his second consecutive Conn Smythe Trophy.

Did you know that he has his own blog?

Ayuh, I've been to Maine

With Team USA and Sweden opening training camps in and around Portland, Maine, later this week (April 24-30) for the upcoming World Championships, I'm going through a rather severe case of hockey homesickness. And it's not just because of the missed hounding opportunities.

No, I'm a big fan of Portland. It's a cool city. Old, brick and granite buildings. Lots of 'em. Commercial Street separates a working waterfront and a bustling downtown. Expect trendy gift shops and the requisite prices. The restaurants could be better, but there are some brew pubs, namely Three Dollar Deweys, worth visiting, too.

My favorite thing to do in Portland, and this should come as no great surprise, was hockey hounding. Many a winter's night, after making the 45-minute, mostly back-road ride to Portland to take in the game, I stood outside the Cumberland County Civic Center, snagging autographs from then-AHL stars Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Jason Spezza and Eric Staal.

Portland is, by far, the easiest place I've ever collected autographs. The players' entrance fronts Spring Street. At game time, most walk down from the hotel or parking garage. Post-game, the bus parks right outside the doors.

Who's worth hounding? How about these players?

Team USA: Buffalo's Jason Pominville and Drew Stafford, Carolina's Tim Gleason, Chicago's Patrick Kane, Edmonton's Tom Gilbert, Los Angeles' Dustin Brown and Patrick O'Sullivan, New Jersey's Zach Parise and Phoenix's Peter Mueller and Keith Ballard.

Team Sweden: Ex-Islander Kenny Jonsson, Los Angeles' Erik Ersberg and Vancouver's Alexander Edler. It's too bad such players as Vancouver's Markus Naslund and the Sedin twins, Daniel and Henrik declined their invitations.

Even though I can't be there, here's hoping that someone takes advantage of this opportunity. I'll bet that some of Boston's hounding crew will be there. If not, they'll miss out.

Hardly Amped

I much as I hate to admit it, one of the lasting images of the snowy Winter Classic comes from the Amp commercial featuring Buffalo's Ryan Miller and Los Angeles' J-Sebastien Aubin gently insulting each other's mother.

While it's easy to understand using Miller, seeing that he played in the game, but to cast Aubin in the role? Aside from Kings fans, I'm sure there are plenty of hockey fans who still don't know who he was.

Given all the money devoted to brand recognition these days, it's hard to believe that there weren't other goalies waiting in the wings. Why not use Pittsburgh's Ty Conklin?

My favorite line? Miller's lamp-lighter: "You're momma's so ugly she makes onions cry."

Headed to overtime

In the latest Hound Central 3.0 poll, we asked who was going to win today's NHL Winter Classic at Ralph Wilson Stadium in snowy Orchard Park, N.Y.

At the conclusion of voting, timed to end as the game started, we found ourselves in a tie. Of the 18 votes cast, the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins each received nine votes.

My vote, the last cast in the poll, went to my hometown Sabres.

So, who's going to win? We'll have to wait to see. I'm hoping that home-snow advantage plays a role. As an added bonus, Buffalo's Brian Campbell nets the game-winner.

Update (1/2/08): Even though it's disappointing that the Sabres lost 2-1 in a shootout, it was wonderful to see hockey played outdoors. I hope the NHL does this every year.

Testing our patience

In what turned out to be a battle within the Empire State, fans of the Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers tied in their beliefs that their teams have, indeed, had the most disappointing start to the 2007-08 season. Both received four votes out of the 15 cast.

For the Rangers fans, it's easy to understand. Given the team's star-studded lineup (The Rangers, I believe, are the NHL's version of their deep-pocketed MLB neighbors, the New York Yankees), the Blueshirts were expected to make some serious noise. The Rangers' slow start, suddenly becoming a distant memory as of late thanks to the play of Henrik Lundqvist, severely tested their fans' patience.

As for the Sabres, I guess I wasn't surprised. In fact, I shouldn't be. They were my vote, too. Though I knew the departures of Danny Briere and Chris Drury would be felt, I also believed, relying more on my heart than any intellect I may possess, that some of Buffalo's younger players would step up to fill the void. Sadly, I was wrong.

It's also easy to comprehend the discontent shown toward the Thrashers, who received three votes out of the 15. After winning the Southeast Division last season, the team and its fans came in with higher expectations. I'm sure the injury-related shelving of highly regarded, but tender-groined, goaltender Kari Lehtonen has played a major role in the team's sluggish start.

Here in Tampa, the Lightning are enjoying a five-game winning streak. Before that, they lost five in a row. To me, it sounds a lot like last season, when streaks, both winning and losing, were the norm. Bolts fans, too, will remember how that campaign ended. I know I do.

Either way, it's still early in the season. The teams have about 60 games, plus or minus, remaining in the season. Who will rebound? My guess is it'll be the Rangers. Who will suffer? I'm afraid it'll be the Sabres. As always, only time will tell.

Here are the results:

Question: Which club has been the most disappointing so far this season?

Atlanta Thrashers: 3 out of 15 votes cast (20 percent)
Buffalo Sabres: 4 out of 15 (26.7 percent)
Nashville Predators: 0 votes
New York Rangers: 4 out of 15 votes (26.7 percent)
Tampa Bay Lightning: 2 out of 15 (13.3 percent)
Other: 2 out of 15 (13.3 percent)

Maybe they're insulated

If you didn't get a ticket for the NHL Winter Classic on New Year's Day at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., you'll have to watch the outdoor contest from the comfort of home.

Members of the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins, however, as well as anyone lucky enough to snag a ducat from someone other than a money-grubbing ticket broker, will likely have to battle the elements.

A novelty within the game, I believe, will be the retro uniforms that both teams will sport for the game. The Sabres will wear the old-time fan favorite white, blue and gold. The Penguins, an apt nickname for a team playing in a winter day's game, will wear their baby-blue get-ups.

Having endured my share of teeth-chattering, snow-filled days as a kid growing up in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains in rural Cattaraugus County, here's hoping that Reebok eschews the form-fitting, perspiration-wicking fabric of the RBK Edge jerseys in favor of down, fleece or, at the very least, flannel.

Sunday morning homily VI

Loyalty, in any form, goes a long way.

It's easy to be loyal to your family. And your employer certainly expects some loyalty. When it comes to sports teams, though, sometimes those loyalties can be tested.

Within the NHL, there's no doubt where my loyalty lies -- through thick and thin, from Billy Inglis to Drew Stafford, it's always been the Buffalo Sabres. Growing up in western New York saw to that.

However, as my 22-plus-year newspaper career has taken me from Maine to Florida and points in between, I've come to develop appreciations for a handful of other teams:

~ the Boston Bruins, for the simple fact that Colin has a buddy on the team and we lived in New England for five-plus years;

~ the Carolina Hurricanes, as Lisa and me were among the handful of fans who watched them in their first season in North Carolina, when 5,000 people was a big crowd at the Greensboro Coliseum; and

~ the Tampa Bay Lightning, because that's where we're living and I believe you should root for your hometown team, so to speak, save for whenever the Sabres, Bruins or 'Canes come to town.

My loyalties to the Lightning, though, are pretty tenuous these days. It's one thing for the team to lose every road game so far this season. But last night's extremely disappointing 6-4 loss to the Atlanta Thrashers has pushed me to the limit.

How a team can give up five unanswered goals -- especially in its own barn, mind you -- is unfathomable. I hope they're embarrassed. I know I was.

Loyalty, I'm afraid, can only go so far.

An excellent meal

Given the sharp prices charged by food vendors inside the St. Pete Times Forum, it has become par for the course that we grab a bite to eat before Lightning games.

Sometimes, we stop at Champions, a sports bar at the Marriott Waterside, where we join other Lightning fans for pub fare.

Last Saturday, we made the mistake of eating at the pricier Cafe Waterside, another of the hotel's eateries, where we waited more than an hour for our dinner specials (roast turkey and the usual trimmings) to arrive. Even worse, our waiter forgot Colin's dinner. It'll be some time, too, before we go back.

Yesterday, though, we had one of our best pregame meals ever. After hounding the Thrashers, when we added 36 autographs to the collection, we followed through on plans for a picnic, so to speak, with friends Fay, Kathy and Kris. Thanks to a recon mission that uncovered an office building food court, we dined on fried chicken and all the fixings, not worrying (too much) about our volume as we laughed our way through dinner.

I guess it shows that it's the company, and not the address, that makes for a good meal. We're looking forward to doing it again.

Tis better to give

A year ago, while talking to a newspaper friend back in western New York, she mentioned that she was a big fan of Buffalo's Jason Pominville. Last week, when the Sabres were in town, I acted upon that nugget of information, getting the Sabres forward to sign a puck to her.

The puck arrived Friday at her office, on a day she wore her Pominville jersey to work. In an e-mail, she said it was a pleasant surprise.

As much as I'd like to take full credit for this, I really must reach out to my buddy John, back in New Hampshire. Through his graciousness and generosity, I've learned that it's just as enjoyable, sometimes even moreso, to get something signed for a friend than for myself.

My only regret is that it's taken this long for me to learn such an easy lesson. My hope now is that others will appreciate this wisdom.

5 Big Sigs

The Florida Panthers will make a return trip to Tampa this week, so I'm hoping that I'll add these to the collection:

~ Florida's Tomas Vokoun on Montreal Canadiens and Milwaukee Admirals pucks;
~ Florida's Richard Zednik on a Florida Panthers puck;
~ Florida's Nathan Horton on the Young Guns stick;
~ Denis Potvin, a TV color commentator, on Florida Panthers and Team Canada pucks; and
~ a quick return on any of the first batch of TTM requests.

Rhyme time

Just a friendly reminder, Sabres fans: "Let’s Go Buffalo," especially when shouted repeatedly following a road victory, rhymes with a biting retort: "Go home, shovel snow."

A sobering thought

What is it about Buffalo Sabres fans and alcohol? For the second game in a row down here in Tampa, I’ve seen Sabres fans staggering through an arena before the puck was even dropped.

Granted, it was a Saturday night game, affording plenty of time for pregame warm-ups, if you will. And, I’d never begrudge anyone’s choice of beverages during a game, though I have yet to taste any beer worth $7 a glass. But, to show up at a game stinking drunk, weaving carelessly through crowds and sliding down walls is, in a word, stupid.

Not only does it embarrass themselves (though, in that condition, they probably are incapable of noticing), but it also embarrasses other Sabres fans, as well as the team, city and region. It’s one thing to exult over an overtime road victory, but to be drunk and crass, especially in front of younger fans, does little to disassociate the loser tag that’s unfairly bestowed upon Buffalo.

If memory serves me correct, I remember an incident in Columbus, Ohio, last season when a handful of Sabres fans also perpetuated the negative image. Unfortunately, alcohol was a contributing factor. At that time, too, it was the actions of a few that, unfortunately, led to a wide brush of condemnation being applied to all Sabres fans.

As a native of western New York, specifically the dot-on-a-map town of Machias in Cattaraugus County, I won’t do that here. I know too many good-hearted, hard-working Sabres fans, back home and down here in Florida, who share in my embarrassment.

It’s just a shame, though, that there are people who don’t take enough pride in themselves, their teams and their hometown.

Hometown heroes

On a day when quality took precedence over quantity and diversity was an objective, it was a tad surprising to learn that Saturday’s pregame hounding of my hometown Buffalo Sabres produced another 42 autographs for the collection. Wanna know something funny, too? Of that total, only two came on pucks.

For the record, here was our haul:

~ Sabres Street sign: 18 players, including Maxim Afinogenov, Brian Campbell, Tim Connolly, Ryan Miller, Jason Pominville and Drew Stafford;
~ Cards: 15, including four from Ales Kotalik;
~ Pucks: 2, one each for Jochen Hecht and Adam Mair;
~ Team Canada goalie mask: Jocelyn Thibault;
~ 1999 NHL All Star Game helmet: Lindy Ruff;
~ American-born goalies stick: Ryan Miller; and
~ Young Guns stick: Ales Kotalik, Drew Stafford and Thomas Vanek.

Would have I liked to knock out more pucks and cards? You bet. And, yes, it would have been nice to see Rip Simonick. But, it’s hard to argue with the caliber and variety of items signed before Sabres’ 4-3 overtime victory.

Cards, shown above, are:
Top row, from left: Maxim Afinogenov, Jochen Hecht and Ales Kotalik;
Bottom row, from left: Adam Mair, Ryan Miller and Andrew Peters.

Here’s Thomas Vanek, left, and Ales Kotalik on the Young Guns stick.

Enjoying Miller Time

It’s always a good day when you add a couple of autographs from Buffalo’s Ryan Miller. The Sabres’ top-shelf goaltender has always been pleasant to fans and hounds, taking the time to sign multiples for anyone who asked.

Not only did I get him on our American-born goalies stick (both at left) and a Sabres mini goalie mask, but he also signed a Sabres Street sign (above, on the Sabres’ logo) for Colin and a couple of cards for Lisa.

It’s understandable that some NHL stars, especially goalies within hours of a start, might avoid a crowd. Miller is proving to be the exception – he seems to like it.

Pulling a Paetsch?

Every so often, a player shows an attitude that, to me, is simply puzzling. Buffalo’s Nathan Paetsch, who, outside of western New York, is not a hockey household name, pulled a "Gretzky" on Saturday, signing just one card out of four for us.

Now, I seldom complain about getting an autograph, but Paetsch’s one-per attitude was something I’d expect from, say, Tampa Bay’s Vinny Lecavalier or Martin St. Louis, St. Louis’ Paul Kariya, the Rangers’ Jaromir Jagr or, deservedly so, God’s Gift to Hockey -- Wayne Gretzky.

When bigger-name Sabres teammates, such as Ryan Miller, Ales Kotalik and Thomas Vanek, are willing to sign multiples, it makes you wonder where Paetsch believes he fits in the pecking order.

Sorry, Nathan, but a goal and assist in Saturday’s win over the Lightning might have been nice, but you still have a long way before you deserve to have that type of attitude.

Hey, Rip! Two pucks?

With the Buffalo Sabres coming to town, I'll have another chance, though highly unlikely, to snag a couple autographs from the ever elusive Rip Simonick, the team's legendary head equipment manager.

In fact, I'm hoping he signs these two pucks.

Longtime readers will know my motivation for wanting these autographs. Being a Buffalo kid, I know his importance and stature within the organization.

I doubt, though, that I'll catch Rip this trip. I have to work Saturday morning and won't likely make it over to Tampa until he's left for the St. Pete Times Forum. Chances are, I'll have to wait until Jan. 29.

I'd asked for the day off on Saturday, wanting to use, get this, my leftover Labor Day holiday. But, for understandable scheduling issues, that request was denied.

I'll get to use that day off soon, though, when the Calgary Flames come to town.

Addendum (10/28/07): Of the 42 autographs we added to the collection on Saturday, the two pucks shown above were not included. As expected, we never even saw him.

A thank-you note

Most times, when I make the trek over to Tampa, my sole goal is to add to the collection. Tomorrow, though, will be different.

Sure, I'll have two dozen pucks, a mini goalie mask, a stick and cards for the Philadelphia Flyers. Still, the one thing I want to come home with won't involve ink on anything.

What I hope to do before the Flyers' morning skate is to thank Danny Briere for what he brought to the Sabres during his time in Buffalo. While Chris Drury may have provided some grit and leadership, Briere brought hope and inspiration to a team and a city that needs it.

For the longest time, very few hockey minds believed Briere would amount to nothing more than a third- or fourth liner. He was too small. He didn't have the complete skills. He lacked the proper motivation.

What a bunch of hooey.

Given the Sabres' success last season (and the start they're slogging through now) as well as the Flyers' start this season (which, by the way, does not surprise me), I believe that Briere has proven those critics wrong.

Try these on

Have a few moments to spare? This hat trick of goalie mask galleries should wile away your idle time. Just make sure, though, you're boss isn't watching:

~ Want to know who designed Jocelyn Thibault's new Buffalo Sabres mask? Check out Acme Art Co./Coveted Mask's galleries.

Make sure you visit the "From Concept to Paint Gallery," too.

~ You won't see any NHL masks at LeBlanc Designs, but artist Duane LeBlanc does show off some pretty nifty artwork. Team Canada and Harvard hockey fans might recognize some masks, though.

~ Airbrush artist Rob Schlitter has painted more than 200 goalie masks. You can check out some of his work at RS Dezines.

If you know of any goalie mask galleries I've missed, excluding those listed in the blog's sidebar, please drop me a line. Thanks.

Now that was sweet

I hope the pugnacious Toronto Maple Leafs fans who polluted the HSBC Arena in Buffalo tonight enjoy the ride back up the QEW. They'll certainly have plenty to think about.

To watch their chronic underachievers lose with only 3.7 seconds remaining in overtime, especially after taking a 2-0 lead into the third period, has got to sting. Probably not as bad as giving up seven unanswered goals to Carolina last week, but still, pretty woeful.

Now, I'm not going to say that one victory, this early in the season, will prove to be a turning point for my Sabres. But when Ales Kotalik (really, it was the Loafs' Bryan McCabe) gave Buffalo a 5-4 victory, on a night when Buffalo's Ryan Miller was a spectator, it had to raise the team's confidence level.

By the way, the third was a pretty darn exciting period of hockey, wasn't it? I didn't know that the edge of my overstuffed recliner was that comfortable.

Choices abound

Some parents might call it making a sacrifice. But, given my entertainment options for the evening -- the Falling Loafs against the Sabres on Versus, the Red Sox vs. the Indians in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series or a Northeast Little League Fall Ball Minors B matchup, pitting the undefeated Yankees (Colin's team) vs. the Indians -- it really is a no-brainer.

If I'm lucky, the video camera's battery will last all game tonight, rather than just an inning. I'm such a Daddy, aren't I?

Addendum: Not only did Colin and his Yankees remain undefeated, but the video camera battery outlasted the tape. And, yes, I know the Red Sox lost. Two out of three? Meatloaf knows that answer.

Our Sabres will be OK

Given the departure of Danny Briere and Chris Drury, and, to some extent, Dainius Zubrus, it's easy to understand the furrowed brows within Sabres Nation.

How does a team, one that commanded the Eastern Conference during the regular season, cope with the loss of skill, determination and leadership?

My response is simple. The Sabres must look within:

~ Now that Briere is in Philly and Drury in the Big Apple, it's time for Buffalo's stable of young players to fully seize the opportunity being presented. It's not just Thomas Vanek, either. Buffalo needs Jason Pominville, Derek Roy and Drew Stafford (and you thought I forgot about him) to continue taking great strides forward, in terms of scoring and providing leadership.

Improved contributions from Ales Kotalik and Tim Connolly, provided he can stay healthy, would help pick up some of the offensive slack, too. Brian Campbell can pitch in as well.

~ Night after night, Ryan Miller gives Buffalo a chance to win. Are there flashier goalies in the NHL? Sure. But there are few who are more solid. In my world, substance trumps style time after time.

~ From Teppo Numminen's open-heart surgery to last season's playoff collapse against Ottawa, this team has dealt with adversity and disappointment. To some, these would be excuses. But in Buffalo and Western New York, where being an underdog is a birthright, this should provide nothing but motivation.

We're a tough lot, aren't we?

Bottom line, folks, the Sabres should have a pretty decent year. Sure, they'll make some noise in the conference. And I certainly wouldn't mind to see them learn to score in the playoffs. But, will they win the Cup? I'd be surprised.

Pleasantly surprised.