Unleash your inner Beast

The Sabres have been on a surreal run in the second half of the season; 9-9-2 in the last 13 games the Sabres have gone from 15th in the east to 9th just 2 points back of 8th place. If the Sabres are to make the playoffs it will be historic, no team has ever come back from 15th at the all star break to make the playoffs. There's still work left for the Sabres to make a full comeback and sneak into the playoffs; but with the play of Miller, Ennis, the third line and the new "beastness" Tyler Myers has found I wouldn't bet against the Sabres quite yet. There have been three "beasts" for the Sabres as of late: Ryan Miller, Tyler Ennis and Tyler Myers, today we'll be talking about the later.

Myers has been on fire of late and last night against the Canadians he scored the OT winner, and likely saved the season/playoff push. The tying goal being scored with .4 seconds left was a potential back breaker for the Sabres, if they hadn't rallied together and scored the OT winner, then our playoff push, everything that's been happening for the last couple months would be for nothing, it would have broken this team mentally and they likely would not have been able to rebound from it. But 2:02 into OT the Sabres had a 3 on 2 rush into the Habs zone, Derek Roy sent a beautiful pass over to Myers who made no mistake and buried the game winner! I'm going out on a limb and saying Tyler Myers is the dark horse MVP of the Sabres this season; he had a rough start to the season, he got benched, got hurt, then came back and recently has been on fire! With his overtime goal last night, Myers solidified his name in the Sabres records; his OT goal was his 8th game winning goal of his career which ties him for the lead for Sabres defense with Brian Campbell and Alexei Zhitnik. It was also Myers 3rd career overtime goal which puts him in first among all Sabres defenseman! Not bad for a guy who was being thrown under the bus at the beginning of the season.

Myers "coming out party" for the season was the game against Anaheim, when he got in his first fight and recorded 7 penalty minutes. At the end of the game in which the Sabres beat the Ducks, a scrum ensued and Myers dropped the mitts with Sheldon Brookbank. The passion in his eyes during that fight spoke volumes, he literally looked like he wanted to rip Brookbank to shreds! But that moment was so extremely important for Myers, he's starting to come out of his shell and take a leadership role on the team, and that's what the Sabres are looking for from their gentle giant. The Sabres drafted Myers and signed him long-term so he could be their next "franchise players," perhaps a future captain, Norris trophy and hopefully bringing the Cup home to Buffalo! The Sabres have big plans for the kid, and he's starting to understand his role more and more, and the fact that he can and should take a leadership role. Since his fight against Brookbank, I've noticed a more relaxed and pumped up defenseman. He's hitting harder, playing smarter defense, taking more chances/shots, jumping up in the play and really laying down the foundation for an excellent defense game in the future. I'm really excited to see Myers develop further in the future; he's going to be a great defenseman.

I love watching Myers on the ice right now, he's so full of confidence, he commits fully to a hit or poke check and doesn't chicken out, he's not afraid to rush the puck and shoot. Although his numbers are down this season (8 goals 13 assists), he's starting to really find his game. But what I really like from this "new" Sabres season in the second half, is how they're banding together and starting to play for their line mates, defensive partners and teammates-- they know how important these games are to the team, the fans and each other and they're finally playing that way. The embrace between Miller and Tyler Ennis after the shootout against Ottawa on Saturday shows it all, these guys are finally playing like a team. It's not just an individual effort each night anymore, they have faith in each other. When Miller was asked what was different about his game in the second half he said "I've learned to TRUST my teammates more!" A good hockey team, and a team that wins a Stanley Cup is team that plays for each other!

The only blunder in Myers game as of late, was the hit from behind on Scott Gomez last night. It was a bit of retaliation for a hit Gomez put on Myers, but Myers is the one meeting with Brendan Shanahan today. I'm guessing he'll receive a 3 game suspension or a $2,500 fine; nothing to serious but serious enough to get the point across, good news is Myers isn't a repeat offender. The hit looked viscous but Gomez did leave himself open for the hit, but Myers did hit him with a little extra aggression. So look for a wrist slap attention grabber.

This Sabres team is dangerous; they're coming together, players are playing amazing, Miller is back, Myers is out of his shell and the shorties (Ennis and Gerbe) are playing like they're 6 feet tall!
I wouldn't underestimate this team, in fact if I were the Rangers I'd be rooting for someone else to take 8th!

Head Shots

Its an age old problem that has been haunting the NHL for a while now. It just wont go away, its that nightmare you had everyday for a month when you where 6 or the notion that there were always monsters hiding under your bed, these things don't go away without effort. Effort was something the NHL was not willing to put in to stopping head shots; they came out with excuse after excuse; The games to fast, players are bound to get hurt. It took the NHL's number one player Sidney Crosby to go down with a concussion in order for the NHL to act, and now their doing everything to stop head shots! At a time when concussions and head injuries are growing both in the big leagues but also with little kids!! The NHL needs to step up and let fans know that hits targeting the head are not permitted!

The NHL has replaced Colin Campbell (who thought anyone in a bruins jersey was exempt fro the rules) with long Time Nhler Brendan Shanahan. His first real impact was changing rule 48 to add that any hit targeting the head, not just a east to west moving hit, can be given a major penalty and be subject for suspension!

Now Shanahan will have 2 opportunities to put his new rule variation into practice!
1 Illegal Check To The Head — A hit resulting in contact with an opponent's head where the head is targeted and the principal point of contact is not permitted. However, in determining whether such a hit should have been permitted, the circumstances of the hit, including whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit or the head contact on an otherwise legal body check was unavoidable, can be considered.1) a hit delivered from behind to leafs Darryl Boyce from flyers rough guy Jody Shelley. The hit broke Boyce's nose.
2) a hit delivered by Flames Letourneau- LeBlond on Canucks Matt Clackson this hit confused me a bit, but I will post video evidence of both hits.
I am not making this up for a story; Nick Kypreos, has tweeted that Shanahan will be having a meeting with both players.

The first one will be the Shelley hit on Boyce, since this hit is more clear to me :)
First off there is no doubt that this is a cheap shot. Boyce had just gotten rid of the puck and was totally defenseless. Second Shelley could have hit Boyce without driving his head into the boards. The hit was late and was absolute vicious, without a doubt Shelley was trying to hurt Boyce. I am fairly confident that Shelley will be suspended for this hit likely to sit the rest of preseason action, and some regular season games, Shelley just made himself the "poster Boy" for Shanahan's new rule.

Some other factors that go against Shelley; Its a preseason game and Shelley will likely not be playing in the NHL next season, Philly fans can't stand Shelley and want him off the roster immediately. Shelley did not do himself any favors with this hit. Shanahan has said he plans on giving stricter penalties for head shots, so now is the time for him to step up or shut up.
Right now Shanahan can set the tone for the rest of the season, if he lets Shelley go with no or minimal consequence, it will be another head hunting every man for himself type of season. If Shanahan lays down the law, guys just might think twice about hammering someone if their going to sit a good 10-15 games.

 The next hit with Letourneau-LeBlond, I don't 100% understand, I'll try to find a video, but most people were most interested in his marathon fight. Now if you look right at the BEGINNING of the video there is a little bit of a head contact hit, but I don't believe the hit was delivered by Letourneau- LeBlond, the person delivering the hit is #45 while the guy fighting is #24.
I did not see this hit in actual game circumstance, I saw it on hockey central when they said Letourneau- LeBlond, would be meeting with Shanahan for possible suspension. So this one I'll just wait for a verdict.



But I have uncovered a 3rd hit which I can hopefully offer more insight into :)
Unfortunately no public video evidence, But Red Wings Dan Cleary hit Penguins rookie Philip Samuelsson from behind with an elbow; Cleary was given a 5 minute misconduct penalty and is likely to meet with Shanahan at some point before the end of the week.

SO like I said earlier its time for Shanahan to Step up and make an example of players who target the head or are cheap shot artists (Matt Cooke) or shut up! Set the tone for the whole season right here right now. Help keep hockey a clean and exciting game for people to play and watch.
I'll have my Firday blog tomorrow with any updated punishment for the players if anything was handed out.

NHL Tragedy

Hello all, due to illness and lack of worthwhile hockey stories, I have not posted a blog in quite some time!
But don't worry I am Back!
Yesterday it was as if a bomb shell went off, and exploded with stories from around the NHL, the two major stories; The sudden and tragic death of former NHL tough guy Wade belak and the possibility that Boston Bruins Marc Savard has played his last game in the NHL.

We'll kick things off with the Marc Savard story, as it was first reported. Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli, delivered new yesterday and was not shy about delivering the news. "Marc Savard won't play this year," Chiarelli told the Boston Globe. "Nothing has changed in our monitoring. He'll be examined and he'll be declared unfit to play. thus ending any possibility that Savard will play in the fast approaching 2011-2012 season. But Chiarelli took it a step further in announcing the there is a slim chance we will see Savard on the ice again; "Based on what I see, what I hear, what I read, and what I'm told, it's very unlikely Marc will play again," Chiarelli said. UNLIKELY SAVARD WILL EVER PLAY AGAIN?! That is terrible news for bruins fans and Marc Savard. Savards original injury came from a very controversial hit from Pittsburgh's Matt Cooke, where Cooke, came East to West to deliver a deadly elbow/shoulder to Savards head, back on March 7, 2010. The hit knocked Sarvard unconscious, forcing him to be carted off on a stretcher. Savard missed training camp but worked himself back into the line up only to be hit again by Matt Hunwick in January. the vicious hit from Cooke came without any repercussion, as Cooke was not suspended; Colin Campbell decided to let this one slide; "I know Matt Cooke is a repeat offender, he's been suspended twice in the last year. I can't suspend Matt Cooke for being a repeat offender, I have to find a reason. Right now our rules say that shoulders to head are legal. Matt Cooke did not jump, and did not do anything that we found illegal in his actions even though again you don't like what happened," added Campbell. Many around the league were shocked by the choice of not giving Cooke a suspension. Even Cooke's own teammates though this hit was suspension worthy! Cooke is developing quite a bad reputation in the NHL and many are hoping "He gets what is coming to him" in simpler terms; Karmas a bitch! these vicious hits to the head need to stop, here is Savard who may never play another game in the NHL and Sidney Crosby who is likely to miss the start of the 2011/2012 campaign due to a hit back in January of 2011. Sarvard is entering the 2nd year of a 7 year contract that has him with the Bruins though the 2016/2017 season.  during Savard s career he racked up 207 goals and 499 assists in a 13-season career that has included stints with the New York Rangers, Calgary Flames, Atlanta Thrashers and the Bruins. Any ways enough about the hit and whether or not Cooke should have been suspended. the main point is the Savard my never play again! as someone who has had multiple concussion, and had to give up playing the sport I loved due to concussions, I can tell you the Savard will most likely not play again. during concussion and even post concussion, if you return to play and get hit again it can have serious even fatal consequences. The most important thing right now is Savards health, he needs to get better for his family and himself. Well what is Savard saying about all this "It's obviously been a long road for me; I'm still suffering with a lot of daily issues right now, it's been a tough go," said Savard. "I'm just trying to get through and not worry about hockey right now, just worry about my health because I have three young kids and they're important to me." Sarvard told TSN during his day with the Stanley Cup on August 1. What we do know is that Savard will not lace it up for the 2011/2012 season, and right now his NHL career hangs in the balance.
Next on to the the saddest story from Yesterday! Wade Belak was found dead in his Toronto condo! The cause of death has not been confirmed, but police suspect no foul play involved. This was shocking news around the hockey world, as no one saw this coming! Belak was in town to film the show The Battle of the Blades on CBC. the last team Belak played for before his retirement was the Nashville Predators, upon learning of his death the Predators released this statement; “The entire Nashville Predators organization and family is shocked and saddened by the sudden and untimely passing of Wade Belak. Wade was a beloved member of the organization, a terrific teammate and wonderful father and husband who will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Jennifer and children Andie and Alex. We offer our full support to them at this very difficult time. Many past and present NHLers released statement and tweets on the death!
Georges Laraque talked with TSN "Now I think people will realize the tough job of playing in the NHL and the tough job of being a heavyweight," he said. "It takes a lot mentally. It's really hard." "When you retire after being a heavyweight for as many years as you played, most of those guys didn't make [much] money, so there's no options for them after," Laraque said. "So, after you have all this pressure of playing and fighting for a living, now you have to fight to live when life after hockey is over." Owen Nolan tweeted "I'm lost for words. Wade Belak RIP my friend," his tweet read. It has been a rough summer for NHL tough guys; we lost Derek Boogard, Rick Rypien and now Wade Belak! A person from my twitter time line tweeted; 'Why does God insist taking every hockey playing beauty from us? So upsetting. RIP Wade Belak" this last death of Belak really shocked people, for the most part, Belak was a happy go lucky guy, he didn't have depression or injuries like the Boogard and Rypien. defiantly sad day for the NHL. this brings the question, should the NHL or NHLPA have a support group for retired and injured athletes? Right now as soon as a player retires they are kicked to the curb, and forgotten about. The NHL and NHLPA needs to step up and help these players transition from leaving the NHL, they need support! Belak was making the transition to being a broadcast/ TV personality for hockey.He had just signed a contract with Nashville to be the broadcaster for Predators games and was on the hit show "Battle of the Blades". He was remembered as always being nice and hilarious with the media. Belak was just 35 years young and is survived by his wife and two young children. He was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques, 12th overall in the 1994 NHL entry draft! In 14 seasons with the NHL Belak spent time with Nashville, Toronto, Florida, Calgary and Colorado. he played in 549 career games racking up eight goals and added 25 assists, while racking up 1263 penalty minutes. RIP BELAK you will be missed!
That does it for me, I'll see you guys tomorrow!