I know things around here haven't been very active in the last month.  However, I couldn't pass up an opportunity to get some good old fashioned trolling in from our friends at Days of Y'orr, who happen to be master haters of the Buffalo Sabres. Enjoy and follow Greg at @PezDOY!

I feel honored being able to write for Blackhawks Down Low, if only for today. So I've been given quite a large task, although I think I can pull it off. Andrew has asked me to inform the Blackhawks fan base the reasons to hate the Buffalo Sabres. Well I hope you have a good pint of ale, a comfy place to rest your ass and some time because this may take a little while. The reason being is that it's so easy to hate the Buffalo Sabres. My brain is running at 6000 RPM's right now just trying to figure out where to start, but I guess if you're going to start anywhere, you start with the "face of the franchise". 

Reason #1 To Hate The Buffalo Sabres: Ryan Miller

I've never seen such a fall from grace happen in the short span of two years. In 2010, Ryan Miller led the Americans to the gold medal game in the 2010 Olympics. Everyone in the United States loved Ryan Miller. He was like apple pie, fire works, liberty, freedom, small puppies and Hulk Hogan all rolled into one. The last America was this proud of someone, George Washington had his foot atop a boat heading down a river. He was the bee's knees and although the Americans lost in overtime, it was okay. It wasn't Ryan Miller's fault that Sidney Crosby is a pretty good hockey player.

Lets jump to the 2010-2011 season. Ryan Miller is still considered to be a great goaltender, although the stats aren't beginning to support his claim. Out of 87 goalies who could register a GAA, Miller was 37th overall with a GAA of 2.59. His save percentage was a little better, registering at 32nd overall at .916. Where did the Sabres end up at the end of the year in 2010-2011? They lost in 7 games to Philadelphia and hit up the buffalo wings place by Sunday. The series was pretty good though, so many thought that Miller and the Sabres were about to turn it around and become a formidable opponent in the Eastern Conference, let a lone the Northeast Division.

Then "the hit" happened. 

I would like to apologize ahead of time that you have to listen to Rick Jeanneret, who makes Jack Edwards sound like a master at his craft. 
 
Oh God, the hit. Okay, so Milan Lucic blatantly runs over Ryan Miller. I'm not going to deny it and I didn't deny it when it first happened. He plowed into him. He ran him over. Miller tries to take a huge swipe at Lucic's legs and misses, then he lays on the ice like he's been shot. Then he plays another period and a half. Then he leaves with a "concussion". No quiet room, no eye checks, no little flashlight in the face, nothing. After the incident, the concussed superstar goalie had this to say:

 
Hey, that's fine by me. I'd be pissed too if some dude ran me down like I was the frog from Frogger. Here's the issue with the whole thing. Miller supposedly had a concussion without proper protocol being done. Like I mentioned, none of that quiet room bullshit. Then, after Milan Lucic hangs out with Brendan Shanahan for a little bit and doesn't get suspended, Miller changes his mind on his concussion. 

"I feel good symptom-wise," Miller said after practice, according to The Buffalo News. "It was more neck and something where I aggravated a disc in my neck pretty good and we had an MRI and CT scan showing that which kind of backed that up and was the source of a lot of the tension and a lot of the discomfort. It definitely was limiting my range of motion. "I don't know for certain what it was," Miller added. "It definitely felt ... I took a good impact and definitely felt that way [that it was a concussion] but I also had some symptoms in my neck and that was proven through some tests." 

Yup, that just happened. Want even more reason to hate Ryan Miller? 

After allowing 5 goals in two periods against the Detroit Red Wings, Miller has the audacity to start chirping about his own team.  

"That's not my decision. If it's going to happen, it's going to happen in the locker room. If you guys really think there's going to be any kind of trade made anywhere that's going to affect this team any more than we can affect it in this locker room, you guys are just … I don't know what to think, because there's no such trade. "There's not ever going to be a trade in the history of the NHL that's going to affect anything like that. There's no chance anybody comes into this team and just shakes it up or we can even move multiple players and get any kind of return … If you want to just destroy a team and just go out and be reckless and do something, yeah. "But then there's going to be new guys in here, but other than that, this locker room's going to be pretty much the same, if not completely the same, and we've got to find it from in here. [Points to chest] We can't sit and wait for somebody else to f--king do it."

In his own words: "What a piece of shit".


Reason #2 To Hate The Buffalo Sabres: Patrick Kaleta

Kaleta is Buffalo's version of the "goon" player, but he does a shitty job at it. To Kaleta's credit, he's a shit disturber. He'll pick his spots to start things, but he never backs them up. He chirps when the refs are in between people. He takes cheap and dirty shots. He headbutts people. When Kaleta does try to be a tough guy, he is shown why he's a piece of shit. 


Reason #3 To Hate The Buffalo Sabres: Lindy Ruff

I fucking hate Lindy Ruff. Lets start with the aforementioned Ryan Miller hit. Here's what he had to say on it.  

“I turn on TSN this morning and the goalies getting bumped almost falls in that open season category,” Ruff said, referring to the phrase he used when Ryan Miller got drilled by Milan Lucic. “… We’re in dangerous territory with some of that stuff.”

What Ruff doesn't say is that he declared it "open season" on goalies in 2007. His comments after the game? 

"I'm not going to comment what I had on my mind." After pausing, Ruff added: "Go out and run 'em."

That's just the tip of the iceberg with Ruff. When the Sabres played the Bruins in the 2009-2010 playoffs, Ruff complained about the referees after every game. In fact, it seems that all he does is cry and whine about something. I mean, he does it so much that we at Days of Y'Orr constantly make photoshops of him crying. Constantly. It's maddening to think that a coach who is the NHL's longest tenured coach can do so without actually winning anything. Then again, it's also Buffalo so anything is possible. 

There's three good reasons why you should hate the Buffalo Sabres. In all honesty, I could go into how pathetic and entitled the fan base is. I could go into how shitty the actual city is. What's the point? These things are already known. Shawn Thornton was asked if he liked playing in the city of Buffalo and what he thought of it. He waited a moment and said "Well it's not the prettiest city out there" and he's right. It's an ugly mess. It's such a mess that their own football team that's been there for decades would rather move to Canada.

I hope I did this some justice and I've given you enough reason to hate the Sabres, or at least dislike them a lot. If not, I'm sure you can search LiveJournal for Ryan Miller's diary and see the true piece of shit he is.

One more for old times sake. What do ya say?



The Chicago Blackhawks are releasing a Christmas album complete with all your favorite holiday classics such as Bickell Bells, Frolik Navidad, and Patrick Sharp is Coming to Town.  But just like legends of rock like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Miley Cyrus the best tracks aren't the ones that you'll hear on the radio.  They're the ones with the 12 minute drum solos and great guitar riffs. I'm talkin about the deep cuts.

BHDL operatives were able to get their hands on a copy of the cd early, and lucky for you, we've found the real hits that will stand the test of time.  Here's our top 5 from the cd.

I Dressed Up as Santa and You Saw Me Kissing Your Mommy - Patrick Kane

Kaner's response to the Christmas hit I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus finally exposes who Jimmy Boyd's mommy was kissing underneath the mistletoe.  Fun fact: Both the original and the sequel have been condemed by the Roman Catholic Church, a first in music history.

Sacrebleu Christmas - Crisobal Huet

After posting a 2.86 GAA for HC Fribourg-Gotteron of the Swiss A League, the Man From France recorded his take on the song Blue Christmas, popularized by Elvis Presley.  BHDL was able to catch up with Cris who said "You know, I taught it was appropreeeate cuz da Elvees died on da crapper, you know. And my career kinda did da same ting dere."

Olimb Got Run Over By A Freight Train - Kyle Beach

Kyle Beach's most notable moment in a jersey with the indianhead on the front (technically it was a practice jersey) was at the 2010 Prospects Camp where he beat the crap out of Mathis Olimb twice on consecutive shifts.  Olimb injured his shoulder during the second fight and neither player has played with the Hawks since. Olimb has since returned to Europe, where he is playing with the Frolunda Indians.  Beach, meanwhile, is still celebrating his victory with this cheerful song.

All I Want For Christmas Is You - AndrewBHDL

I'm actually a little embarassed.  I'm not sure how the Hawks got their hands on this recording.  The only person who was supposed to hear it was Tuomo Ruutu.  Must have been when I was playing it Say Anything style outside of Rudy's window.  On a related note, anyone know of a good restraining order lawyer?

I'm Gettin' Nothin for Christmas - Michael Frolik

With lyrics such as "I play like I've been sniffin' glue / I made Andrew eat a shoe / My play has been stinky poo / Somebody snitched on me" I'll be making sure Frolik doesn't get any Christmas presents until he scores 15 more goals this year.

Two years ago today I started Blackhawks Down Low.  We had about 7 hits on the first post I ever put up.  I thought it would just be something I did sparingly as I shouted my opinions on the Blackhawks at nobody in particular.  In 2011 we had about 10,000 hits per month, a number I never fathomed we would hit.  I used to get so excited if we got to 100 visitors per day. Now I expect to hit at least 100 per day.

We got to that point by growing our identity as a less formal, more fun Blackhawks blog.  How many other sites could get away with a post with the premise of "What if the Blackhawks were Muppets?"

Unfortunately, nothing goes on forever and it has come time that I hang up my skates with miniature keyboards attached to them, or whatever us bloggers are supposed to hang up.  Between school, extra cirriculars, job hunting, and trying to find time to see people in real life, I haven't had the kind of time it takes to devote to running a blog.

I want to thank everyone who meet and talk to and write with. I'll still be around on the twitterz so this isn't a full on goodbye.

Moving forward, I have no idea what will happen with this site.  It might continue without me. It might stop. I might post once every month or so if I have any interesting thoughts (but that hasn't happened yet, so why start now?).  This site has been something really special to me. I enjoyed it and I hope you did too.

And before I go, one last quote from an awesomely bad sports movie:

I wish I could say something classy and inspirational, but that just wouldn't be our style. Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory... lasts forever.

“Dude, dude... not the face dude. I’m trying to be the next selected for that poor man’s 24/7, NHL 36.”

Game Time: 7:30 PM
TV/Radio: CSN/WGN 720
Brucey B’s New Shitbum Friends: On The Duck Pond

Just a few weeks go by and we meet again, Ducks. Now with Bruce Boudreau at the helm. Remembering back to the most recent Blackhawks vs. Ducks game where the Captain continued his campaign of only guy to give a shit on a regular basis scored four of his five points in the game in the third period.

Making his second appearance since missing quite some time with a broken digit is Ducks d-man Lubomir Visnovsky. Hiller with his under .900 save percentage is slated in net. A whole lot more of big names not doing much on the Ducks front giving results of losing two of their past five. The ageless wonder is on a six game point streak only one of those points being a goal. The Blackhawks shouldn’t take that lightly though as they are pretty keen on giving up leads or waiting until they get into a hole to start getting their legs underneath them.

In case you missed it, Patrick Kane was the subject of the first episode of NHL 36 on Versus. The crews followed around Kane and his father in the 36 hours leading up to the game on December 5 against Phoenix.

It was pretty well done, but left the viewer wanting more. Well have no fear, here at BHDL, we have an EXCLUSIVE look as to what Patrick Kane did in the 36 hours following the game.

(Yeah, another lame title. Sorry about that).

On the surface, it looked like it would be a standard Hawks/Wild game on Versus: middle of the week in Minnesota, hot Wild team, strong defensively and Nick Backstrom in goal. This had 1-0 Wild win written all over it.
Sometimes, these things don’t go to script.
The Hawks and Wild played an end-to-end game game with the Hawks coming on top 4-3 in a shootout. It was an eventful night in St. Paul.

"No, no, no... YOUR left. Here, just let me get that for you."

Time: 6:30 PM CT
TV/Radio: Versus (blerg) / WGN Radio (720 AM)
Busy Catching Snowflakes With Their Tounges:The State of Hockey News

Tonight’s game is a tale of two top teams. When in the last however many years have the Blackhawks and Wild met as both number ones of their divisions? Really, I don’t know, maybe it’s never happened. Ask one of the beat writers, but make sure your question is stupid enough for them to retweet and answer. Seriously, did you see someone ask one of them about Kyle Beach the other day? Woof. (Note: Beach has been out since early in the season with a shoulder injury so it's more than just him being a security threat to his teammates/opposition.) Ugh, explaining the joke makes it less funny than it already was. 

Game Time: 6 PM
TV / Radio: WGN *siiiiigh* / WGN Radio
Sharktopus: Couch Tarts

The poor Sharks.  I can't help but feel sorry for them for a couple reasons.  First, we got to witness firsthand that stomping the Hawks put on them in the Western Conference Final in 2010 that permanently affixed the "headcase" tag on the team.  More recently, the Sharks have lost three of their last four to such All-World goalies as Brian Elliot, Matt Hackett, and Scott Clemmensen.  Tonight they'll be on the ass end of a back-to-back series.  The Sharks were shut out in St. Louis last night as Ken Hitchcock dementored his way to a 1-0 victory (The only goal came from Kevin Shattenkirk during a 5-on-3).  I'm going to move on before I get all rant-y about Hitchcock.

Quick note before we get into the recap.  As some of you may have already heard, Kelly will no longer be blogging with BHDL (or any other hockey blog for that matter).  He's got a new, big time job that takes up most of his days that he used to spend making stupid jokes about hockey with me on Twitter.  I can't explain to everyone how vital he was to the BHDL operation.  We all want to wish him nothing but the best.  I've had an absolute blast since we brought him aboard last summer.  We hope that he'll stop by every once in a while with a photoshop of Bolland or the Canucks.

For the second time in less than a week the Hawks went to overtime against the cellar dwelling Islanders.  That sounds a lot worse than the result actually was, however.

The Hawks controlled play for most of the first period.  It finally payed off almost 12 minutes into the first.  While on the power play, Hossa did that "I'm Marian Hossa" thing and banked a shot off of Montoya from below the goal line for the 400th of his career.  Sharp made it 2-0 early in the second period off a one timer.  I've been working on this theory that Patrick Sharp is a pretty good hockey player and defenses shouldn't leave him open at the faceoff circle.  Thanks to the Isles for testing that one out for me.

Travis Hamonic brought it within one towards the end of the second period on a big slapper.  The Hawks had some trouble clearing their own zone and Hamonic came streaking into the zone uncovered.  The next Islander goal wouldn't come until about 9 minutes left in the 3rd, but it would be enough to tie the game and force OT.  Steve Staios ripped a shot from the left side boards.  To me it looked like it was deflected in front by Okposo, but the goal is still credited to Staios on NHL.com.

After some tense moments with the Hawks killing a stupid Carcillo penalty with 3 minutes remaining in regulation of a tie game (seriously, can you pick a worse time, Dan?), we were "treated" to some extra hockey on Long Island.  Just 1:34 into the extra frame the Blackhawks would pick up the extra point.  There should really be some rule banning Hossa and Sharp being on the same line in OT, but there isn't.  Hossa skated in 2-on-1 with Sharp on his wing, put a low shot on Montoya, and Sharpy finished on the rebound.  Game, set, match.


Notes:

• You never want to see a player get injured. You especially never want to see a player go scrotum first into a goal post.
• Pouty Face Corey Crawford sitting off in the corner was hilarious.
• Patrick Kane's phantom elbow almost cost us the game.  Thankfully, we played the Islanders and they couldn't even put a shot on net with almost two full minutes of 5-on-3.
• Sunday on the Puckcast the Hockeenight guys mentioned that Carcillo is going to start taking some dumb penalties as he gets comfortable with his roster spot.  Spot on, boys.
• As we get closer to the birth of Patrick Sharp's daughter, his play keeps improving.  His wife is due next week.  I expect an Ovechtrick against the Wild on Wednesday.
• There's always something fun about milestone goals.  I'm sure we all remember where we were when Peter Bondra scored his 500th career goal when he was playing with the Hawks in 2006.  Right?  Guys?  Right? (Naw, but really, I remember being at that game. BONZAI).
• Still looking for a gif of Montoya taking a tumble into the boards.
• Emery looked solid.  If Okposo did tip that second goal in, you can't fault him for it.  Good night in net for him, but I'm ready to see CrawDaddy come back.
• Bolland took a nasty spill on the first shift of the game and it scared me stupid until he came back out. Can we get that guy a bubble to live in?
• Couple days off before we get the Sharks on Sunday. Would love to see two points against a western team in the Madhouse.

Dave Bolland Death Stare: Engaged

Game Time: 6:00pm
TV/Radio: CSN/WGN 720
Maybe Jay-Z will buy us too and move us to Brooklyn: Islanders Hockey Blog

Here we are again, a game against the Islanders. Hopefully on the twoish hour plane ride the Blackhawks mulled over the fact that they have to PLAY DEFENSE if they want to win games, let alone finish them in 60 minutes. Or we all could be so lucky if someone wanted to remind the Islanders they are terrible at hockey. Doubt that will happen though considering the Islanders have won four of their last five.

That’s right, save for the checkers match loss in Chicago last Friday, the Islanders have won (in pretty convincing fashion) against some decent teams. Including a four goal game by Matt Moulson against Dallas. (Thanks for the fantasy points bro.) All of this has been done without a few key players on the Islanders bench. Seriously, what the hell happened in that game against Dallas? Rick “Glass Statue” DiPietro has been out since with a groin strain/swollen lymp nodes/stab wound. Michael Grabner and Nino Niederreiter have also been out with various not so day-to-day injuries since that same game as well. Thunderdome?

In this season’s edition of don’t call it a goalie controversy: Ray Emery will get the start in net over a struggling Corey Crawford. The rest of the lineup looks to be the same it’s been the past few games with Bickell up in the press box and Benny Smith on the ice. Bolland participated in a non-game skate situation at practice yesterday for the first time in I don’t remember when. I know I’m not the only one who has been wondering if he’s got more of a serious injury than we’re all lead to believe.

Toews and Kane are still in the tops of the goals and assists categories though a few players have tied them since the last game. That final regulation goal in the Phoenix game by Kane assisted by Toews shows just how dangerous those two can be together. Kane’s goal was also his first since mid-November in Vancouver. Also worth noting: Marian Hossa is still on the hunt for goal #400.

It’s no secret to anyone that offensively speaking the Blackhawks are on a ridiculous tear, but as talented as their defense looks on paper there is much to be desired. I feel like I write about it in every wrap or preview the past few weeks: defense needs to be tighter, clean up the defense, OH MY GOD DO I NEED TO SEND BEERS COOKIES TO BRIBE YOU TO PLAY DEFENSE. So yeah, it’d be nice if the d-corps make the trip to New York.

That’s all I’ve got, let’s hope the Nassau Coliseum doesn’t crumble underneath them and the Blackhawks come out with the two points. Play 60 because for the love of god, Emery in the shootout is nothing I want to end my night with.

Let’s go Hawks!