Brian Cummings

Check the sidewalks around the high rises in Moscow.

A lot of you guys hate it when I point out when reality intrudes on the compartment in which you try to keep sports. I try to keep sports in their proper perspective. They’ve always been “The Toy Department” of life.

This is real reality. This is life. I hope the best for them.

This is cinema

Just check the current, money line odds on the Sabres ending The Drought.

Bet $325 to win $100 that they miss, Bet $100 to win $260 that they make it.

They’re substantial underdogs.

This is; of course; because some random, unknowable number of games are worth three points, not two.

Ask the Sabres. They’ve already played five of them.

Thank a Bettman.

They have a .500 points-percentage. 14 games, 14 points.

The problem is, “.500” isn’t .500.

The average team’s current points-percentage is .569.

So, .569 is the current exchange rate for what you’d think would be .500.

I figure they need a .603 points-percentage over their last 68 games to have a better-than-fair chance to end The Drought.

That’s some combination of wins & loser points adding up to 82.

So, on the order of 41-27 the rest of the way. Doable, just maybe not for them.

So, the Sabres only managed to go 5-5-4 in that opening stretch, where 10 of the 14 were at home, with a bunch of games vs. Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference opponents.

I got out a pencil & an old envelope with my 1st cup of coffee.

Of course I did.

The old, Joe Crozier “Double-Deflection.” Grew up with it.

“Shut ‘em out, and I’ll guarantee you at least a point.”

I don’t think I watched this game.

Faster than a rolling 'O!’
Stronger than silent 'E!’
Able to leap capital 'T' in a single bound!
It's a word, it’s a plan...it's Letter Man!

So Letter Man, how’d the Sabres do tonight?

Sabres kill of the penalty, and 15 seconds later the Blues hit the empty net. 3-0, drive home safely.

Really brutal night at the office.

Sabres 5-5-4 (14 points), going in the road for their next four.

Penalty on LUUKKONEN for tripping. 3:17 left. St. Louis gets their 2nd PP chance.

That ought to about do it, barring some shorthanded magic from the Sabres.

5:37 left.
Blues -2, Sabres -0
Shots: Sabres -26, Blues -13.

It’s getting late.

All the right guys have had chances, and they’ve all hit the post.

PING!

TV timeout with 9:57 left in the 3rd.
Blues -2, Sabres -0
Shots: Sabres -24, Blues -13
PP: Sabres 0/3, Blues 0/1.

Yuck.

Outside of two games, the Sabres PP is 3/35 in the other 11. That’s a smidge under 9%.

GOAL. Snuggerud makes it 3-0 for the moment. Being reviewed.

15:12 left in the 3rd.

NO goal. Sabres get a break.

Three shots on that powerplay, but they’re 0/3.

Bad penalty by Texier.

Sabres getting their 3rd PP chance. They’re 0/2 with two shots. 2:04 into the 3rd.

If not now, then when?

League average points-percentage is .579, not the .500 it would in a league that makes sense.

Those SO/OTLs lie to you.

OK, the save on Tuch was a real chance, too.

I couldn’t tell you where all of these high-danger scoring chances the Sabres supposedly have came from.

Hofer made a gem on Doan, and other than that, I thought their best chances hit posts.

End 2nd period

Blues -2, Sabres -0
Shots: Sabres -17, Blues -13
PP: Sabres 0/2, Blues 0/1

Sabres have given up a shortie, and one Luukkonrn should’ve had.

Crowd boos them off.

I’m thinking some of the locker room might need the paint touched up tomorrow.

The Sabres have lost five of seven faceoffs with the man advantage.

Nothing doing on the PP. One shot. Didn’t get scored on at least.