Scott suspended seven games for hit on the Bruins Loui Erikson

In my opinion, this suspension, isn't long enough. I would like to see this be a 10-game suspension. Just for the record, Loui Eriksson hasn't played since October 23rd, because he's suffering from a concussion. Also, during his NHL Career, John Scott has scored a grand total of (1g-4a—5pts) in 187 NHL games. Not known for his offensive prowess, the Sabres' pylon has racked up 320 PIM.

Blog: Sabres' John Scott suspended seven games for hit on Eriksson http://t.co/uWf8MJDcXj #bruins
— Boston Globe Bruins (@GlobeBruins) October 31, 2013

Related articles

• Sabres Hack John Scott Pounds Bruins Forward Loui Eriksson in the Head (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Happy Birthday to Drew Stafford

Happy birthday to #Sabres forward Drew Stafford! pic.twitter.com/Mz0mnM8OCS
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) October 30, 2013

Former Fighting Sioux and current Buffalo Sabres forward Drew Stafford is celebrating his 28th birthday today. Stafford is having what some might classify as a rough season going four games without a point and scoring (1g-2a—3pts) in 14 games, he’s also a -4.

Related articles

• Buffalo Sabres: The Week Ahead (thehockeywriters.com)

Thomas Vanek traded to Islanders

Thomas Vanek, Ice hockey player of the Buffalo Sabres (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Don't worry Wild fans, Dany Heatley's over-inflated contract will be up in Minnesota, after the season is over, and the Wild will be free to bid for Vanek's services. That being said, the Islanders get a good rent a player for the rest of the season to make a run in the playoffs.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- The New York Islanders acquired forward Thomas Vanek from the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday night for forward Matt Moulson, a first-round pick in 2014 and a second-round pick in 2015.

The 29-year-old Vanek, a former University of Minnesota star from Austria, had four goals and nine assists in 13 games this season for Buffalo. In nine seasons with Buffalo, he had 254 goals and 243 assists in 598 games.

Both players are in the last year of their contracts.

Vanek's agent, Steven Bartlett, told ESPNNewYork.com that no contract extension for Vanek is in place with the Islanders. He doesn't expect any such talks to take place soon, either.

"He'll concentrate on going down there and doing well," Bartlett said when reached by phone Sunday night. "Hopefully, it will be a breath of fresh air."

Related articles

• Report: Thomas Vanek Traded to Islanders for Matt Moulson, First-Round Pick in 2014, Second Rounder in 2015 (nesn.com)

Bettman upholds Buffalo Sabres "Rat" Patrick Kaleta's 10-game suspension

English: NHL Commisioner Gary Bettman in 2007. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There was a some good news today. I love the fact that the NHL stood strong and wouldn't reduce Buffalo Sabres Foward/Rat Patrick Kaleta's 10 game suspension. I think it's the right call and it's the first step in the right diection in further preventing theses of dirty hits. Like I said before, I am all for gritty play and big hits, but there's no defending hits to head that violate the NHL's rule 48.

NEW YORK -- Commissioner Gary Bettman today upheld the 10-game suspension that was assessed to Buffalo Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta by the Department of Player Safety for an illegal check to the head of Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson in NHL Game No. 49 in Buffalo on October 10.

Commissioner Bettman heard Kaleta's appeal of the original decision, assessed Oct. 15, at a hearing in New York on Monday.

Kaleta is considered a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, will forfeit $152,439.00. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

The incident occurred at 3:08 of the first period.

You can read what the NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman had to say about the Kaleta Suspension and why he denied shortening the Buffalo forward's suspension. (Click to View)

Related articles

• NHL upholds Buffalo Sabres Patrick Kaleta's 10-game suspension (o.canada.com)
• Gary Bettman upholds Patrick Kaleta's 10-game suspension (tracking.si.com)
• Sabres Hack John Scott Pounds Bruins Forward Loui Eriksson in the Head (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Sabres Hack John Scott Pounds Bruins Forward Loui Eriksson in the Head

Last night, Buffalo Sabres pylon, hack, one-dimensional forward, John Scott hit Boston Bruins forward Loui Eriksson in the head with one of the dirtiest hits I have seen this season. It doesn't appear that the players are learning anything. Scott's teammate Patrick Kaleta is already serving a 10-game suspension for his dirty hit on Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson. That suspension was appealed by the Sabres and upheld by the NHL today.

In what is becoming a nightly thing, another night, another dirty hit. In my opinion, the NHL has no choice but to throw the book at this clown, this is unacceptable. According to Joe Haggerty, Eriksson is suffering from a concussion. Scott has been suspended indefinitely by the NHL pending a in-person disciplinary hearing.

There's no way that you can defend this hit.  Again, I am all for tough guys and for fighting in the NHL, but this guy is a clown that can barely skate and he's on the ice to hurt people. I want the NHL to throw the book at this P.O.S., he's a player that plays four to five minutes a game.

Claude Julien used the phrase "pretty severe" at one point when talking about the concussion Loui Eriksson suffered last night #BruinsTalk
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) October 24, 2013

#BruinsTalk Scott to meet with NHL's Shanahan over Eriksson hit ... By @HacksWithHaggs ... http://t.co/A5rSlJMqqI
— CSNNE.com (@CSNNE) October 24, 2013

Opening night for Penn State at the Pegula Ice Arena

It's on #psu #hockey https://t.co/QhACu6gNxj
— Danelle Del Corso (@ddelcorso) October 12, 2013

Shawn Reznik of the Hockey Writers was in Happy Valley last night for the opening of the Pegula Ice Arena and this is what he saw. He also posted some of the tweets and pictures from fans that were there for the opening night as well. There's some real good stuff to check out. It looks like PSU has a pretty nice arena.

What a night at Pegula Ice Arena for @PennStateMHKY win over Army. http://t.co/31EN9CGNoD pic.twitter.com/JAR5kh3GQa
— Abby Drey (@ADreyPhotos) October 12, 2013

Patrick Kaleta suspended pending hearing for this bush league hit

Buffalo Sabres puke Patrick Kaleta has been suspended by the National Hockey League's department of Player Safety, pending a hearing for this dirty hit on Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson. Kaleta is a repeat offender, having been suspended a couple of times, so I expect him to get at least a 2-3 game suspension for this hit.

From the NHL.COM --- At 3:10 of the first period, Kaleta collided with Columbus defenseman Jack Johnson near the boards just inside the Buffalo zone. No penalty was assessed for that hit, but Kaleta received a fighting major after engaging with the Blue Jackets' Jared Boll after the hit. Johnson remained in the game.

The following grounds are being considered for supplemental discipline: illegal check to the head. However, the Department of Player Safety retains the right to make adjustments to the infraction upon review.

These are the kind of hits that are very dangerous, there's no excuse for these types of hits. Kaleta targeted Jack Johnson's head. This time, the "hockey code" worked the way it's supposed to. I applaud Jared Boll for sticking up for his teammate. You have these "rats" like Kaleta that skate up and down the ice throwing these dangerous hits and then they don't want to fight. In my opinion, Kaleta got what was coming to him. You want to stop these types of hits in hockey? Make the suspensions for hits like this 10-games. If suspension can taper Matt Cooke's dirty hits a few stiff suspensions can curb the behaviors of the other "rats" in the NHL.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Forward Phil Kessel Suspended for the Rest of the Pre-Season

Well, that was swift, the wheel of justice has been spun. I think Kessel's suspension should be longer, because this is the second stick swinging incident for the Leafs star forward in the pre-season. That's unacceptable and that needs to be addressed going forward. We don't want the NHL to start resembling the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation or the movie Slap Shot. Apparently, the head coach of the Buffalo Sabres has been fined an undisclosed amount for his players selection that led to this event.

NEW YORK -- Buffalo Sabres head coach Ron Rolston has been fined for player selection and team conduct as a result of events that took place at 10:01 of the third period during NHL preseason game No. 61 against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Toronto on Sunday, Sept. 22.

The events took place during the face-off after Buffalo forward Corey Tropp fought Toronto forward Jamie Devane. Buffalo forward John Scott initiated an altercation with Toronto forward Phil Kessel, whom he was lined up against on the face-off, resulting in several fights. In total, 211 penalty minutes, including three game misconducts, were assessed due to the various altercations.

With all of the altercations that have transpired in the pre-season, it should be a good exciting and emotional regular season. I also think that NHL's department of Player Safety has set the tone early and sent the playes in the NHL a message that they're not going go easy on players that cross the line.

Phil Kessel Light Saber Gif... (Humor?)

s/t to Next impulse sports and to my friend @scofarr

NHL Hockey: Sabres and Leafs Line Brawl.

I predict that there's going to be a few suspensions and fines from this altercation. First, I would be willing to bet that David Clarkson will be looking at a 10-game suspension for jumping over the boards to enter an altercation. That's supposed to be an automatic suspension. This is after Biznasty was just given a 10-gamer for doing the same thing. I don't think that Clarkson has a leg to stand on here.

This is what the Sabres pylon had to say about the incident. Quote courtesy of Buffalo Hockey Beat.

“He had obviously some other guys in the lineup,” Scott told a throng of reporters this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. “I think their coach kind of wanted to maybe downplay it. But I was just doing my job.

”The 6-foot-8 Scott knew he had to respond and said he would’ve went after anyone who lined up beside him, so he told Kessel, who’s about eight inches shorter and 60 pounds lighter, “Phil, we’re going to have to go here, just to let you know.

”How did Kessel respond?“I think he said, ‘All right, let’s do it,’” Scott said.

Within seconds, a full-scale brawl had erupted between the fierce rivals.“I wasn’t going to try to hurt him,” Scott said about Kessel. “I was just trying to send a message.”Kessel responded by ferociously whacking Scott with his stick as Leafs mauled Scott.

Also, I don't think that Leafs forward Phil Kessel should get off Scott free for swinging his stick, pardon the pun. That being said, I love a good fight, I like a good brawl like the next guy, but a guy like John Scott is basically a waste of a roster space. The guy can barely skate and is in Buffalo to protect the Sabres. My question is, can't they at least find a goon that can take a regular shift and add something to the game?

Kessel: "It was pretty stupid, right? He said he was going to jump me... He's a big boy. If he's coming after me, what are you gonna do?"
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) September 23, 2013

Sabres star Thomas Vanek hasn’t requested a trade

Good read MT @BillHoppeNHL Thomas Vanek: http://t.co/Z3yLE8NDx0 "I’m telling you right now, that’s not true. I’ve never asked for a trade"
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) August 29, 2013

If I am reading this right, it would appear, at least from my vantage point, that Thomas Vanek might not be all that happy about the Sabres being in a rebuilding year. Of course, a player like Vanek doesn't have to worry too much, he's going to be in demand and he's going to command at least 7-7.5 million. I also think that he will have a few offers to look over like Zach Parise did.

Bill Hoppe, Olean Times Herald – Thomas Vanek spoke firmly. No, the high-scoring winger said, he hasn’t asked to be traded from the Buffalo Sabres. The widespread belief he wants out of town doesn’t bother him. But it’s simply not true.

“The media and people, they can make up their own assumptions as long as I know where I’m at and stuff and my family’s at. That’s fine,” Vanek said following an off-ice workout Wednesday morning. “At the end of the day, people will find out, either from me or the Sabres, just like I’m telling you right now, that’s not true. I’ve never asked for a trade, so I’m not surprised that I’m still here.

”Nonetheless, the Sabres have said Vanek and starting goalie Ryan Miller, the two franchise cornerstones whose contracts expire after the upcoming season, could be dealt.

After the Sabres dished several high-profile veterans late last season and began looking to the future, Vanek was the most outspoken, voicing some disappointment and saying he didn’t want to partake in a two- or three-year rebuild. But the 29-year-old also said he would wait and see before making another commitment to the Sabres, something that he repeated on Wednesday.

Related articles

• Vanek Keeping Options Open Entering Camp (wkbw.com)
• Saturday Pontifications: The Thomas Vanek File (hockeywilderness.com)
• Vanek: 'I didn't ask to be traded' (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)

Buffalo Sabres: Introduce Alternative Captain and Alternate Captain Patches

Introducing the Captain and Alternate Captain patches #NewThirdJerseys #Sabres pic.twitter.com/vPGFApv4KC
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) August 22, 2013

These are looking sweet.

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Penguins-Bruins game postponed to Saturday

Per release, final decision on rescheduled day/time of game will be made by NHL, Bruins & Pens by 8:30 am ET tomorrow, Saturday, April 20^CS
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 19, 2013

Another good move by the National Hockey League and the Boston Bruins. The Boston Police and Federal Law Enforcement officials can track down the terrorist without having to worry about 1000's of people in harms way.

NEW YORK/TORONTO -- The game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins scheduled for tonight at TD Garden has been postponed, the National Hockey League announced today.
The game has been tentatively rescheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, April 20, at TD Garden beginning at 12:30 p.m., Eastern time. The game's status will be formalized no later than 8:30 a.m.
The game between the Penguins and Buffalo Sabres, scheduled for Saturday night in Pittsburgh, has been moved to Tuesday, April 23 at 7:30 p.m., ET.

Boston Strong and National Anthem, Bruins and Sabres game - Daniel Paille goal.

Unbelievable night in Boston, Massachusetts. I don't believe that there were very many dry eyes in the arena tonight, I know there wasn't in my living room at home tonight. According to Mike "Doc" Emrick, every Boston Bruins player lives with in the city of Boston.

“Boston is a tough and resilient town," President Obama said. So are its people

Buffalo's Steve Ott demonstrates textbook embellishment

Speaking of clowns. This is a textbook embellishment. You can't tell me that a big guy like Steve Ott who is 6'0" and 193 pounds, should be able to be knocked over this easily, no way, it's not possible. This should be a penalty on Steven Ott for embellishment. I also believe that it's probably not a smart play by Flyers defenseman Oliver Lauridsen because he fell for the bait as well. Not a good day for the Flyers defender.

Sabres Patrick Kaleta and Flyers Oliver Lauridsen fight

That was former Saint Cloud State Husky defenseman Oliver Lauridsen's first NHL fight, I suppose, he would have liked to have done beter. Nice to see that Lauridsen take on one of the biggest pukes in the NHL.

As you probably know, I don't hold Kaleta in very high regards, at all, he's a reckless players that has been suspended numerous times, by the NHL. Earlier this season, Kaleta was suspended for five games, without pay, for boarding New York Rangers forward Brad Richards

In March,  Kaleta was also called out by teammate All-World Goalie Ryan Miller, and told to grow up, Miller has since apologized.

I checked out Oliver Lauridsen's Hockey Fight's page and he did have a fight against former Fighting Sioux forward Darcy Zajac on 1-18-13. [click on the link for the video]

Related articles

• Patrick Kaleta gets five games for this cheap shot on Brad Richards (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

(Video) John Scott boards Stephen Gionta

Mr. Anger management Buffalo forward/defenseman John Scott drives a much smaller Stephen Gionta into the boards with what can only be seen as a knuckleheaded penalty, and of course all Gionta can do is laugh about it.

Sure, why not!

I guess it’s funny and no one got hurt, but it’s was a dangerous play by the Sabers goon John Scott. In my opinion, Scott is nothing more than a cement head, but also an insurance policy, to use only in case of an emergency.

Looking at the stats sheet, you will see that Scott adds little in the way of offense and rarely takes a regular shift on the ice, unless the Sabres are ahead or need Scott's toughness. In 26 games for the Sabres Scott has an unimpressive line of (0g-0a—0pts) 52 minutes in penalties and is averaging 4.25 minutes of ice time. According to hockeyfight.com, Scott has also been in 6 fights and has won them all, but has had a tough time finding anyone to dance with as of late.

Scott became necessary for the Buffalo Sabres when Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic ran over the Sabres goalie Ryan Miller last year and the Buffalo Sabres did nothing in response. After the non-response to Lucic running over Ryan Miller, the Sabers were seen as being a weak and gutless team by the rest of the NHL.

(Video) Steve Ott and Tyler Seguin embellishment

It's nice to see that the NHL "finally" gets this, and it's about time that the NHL starts calling the embellishment, fans are tired of watching players diving and flailing all over the ice. Diving is unsportsmanlike behavior and if the refs call this stuff, eventually the players will get the message and stop doing it. Now, it's time for the NCAA on-ice officials to get the message and start calling the embellishment. So hats off to the NHL officials for giving both Tyler Seguin and Steve Ott penalties for their embellishment.

Finally, the last thing the Boston Bruins players want to look like is the Montreal Canadiens and the Vancouver Canucks, who embellish up and down the ice. Think about this, especially, after Claude Julien complained about the Habs diving to the Boston media. If Julien's players are diving and flailing up and down the ice like the Hab's and the Canucks players, then he really doesn't have the moral high ground anymore. Does he?

Patrick Kaleta gets five games for this cheap shot on Brad Richards

I could have predicted that Brendan Shanahan and the Department of Player Safety was going to throw the book at Patrick Kaleta for this dirty hit on the Rangers forward Brad Richards. If I am not mistaken, this is the longest suspension in the NHL so far this year. Kaleta has now been suspended three times for a total of 11 games by the NHL, he's starting to develop quite a name for himself. Personally, I think he's a puke, a Matt Cooke or Raffi Torres type player.

NEW YORK -- Buffalo Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta has been suspended for five games, without pay, for boarding New York Rangers forward Brad Richards during NHL Game No. 317 in New York on Sunday, March 3, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today.

Kaleta is considered a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Based on his average annual salary, he will forfeit $76,219.25. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

The incident occurred at 3:28 of the third period. Kaleta was assessed a major penalty for checking from behind and game misconduct.

This weekend's NCAA Division one television schedule

This hockey season, with this absence of the NHL I have focused on the game of college hockey while the NHL and the NHLPA decided to act like a bunch of children, and hence, the two sided ended up causing the cancelation of 40% of the NHL Hockey season.  Now that the NHL is back up, and running, I would urge fans to continue watching the Division I college hockey.

This season, I have tried keeping up with the ever changing NCAA Division I hockey schedule, and for the most part it’s been difficult because the national college hockey television schedule is very fluid, they continually add games, and obviously delete games. So, I have decided to do it more by a week-to-week basis.

Programing note, for UND hockey fans that are looking for tonight’s game to show up on their DirecTV lineup, there is one change, DirecTV is not picking up Friday’s game between the Wisconsin Badgers. This was announced by the UND Sports Information Director Jayson Hajdu.

If you watch the NHL during the week, you will see numerous former college hockey fans lighting up NHL goalies all over the NHL.

On Wednesday  30, 2013, there was a game between the Minnesota Wild and St Louis Blues and it  looked like all WCHA reunion as there were nine former players from North Dakota (2X), Wisconsin (4X), Minnesota State,  Saint Cloud State, Colorado College. What I didn’t mention is the other schools that were represented in that game as well.

Last night, former Minnesota Gopher Thomas Vanek torched Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask for three goals and lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 7-4 victory over the Boston Bruins. Vanek is currently leading the NHL in points with 15. Former Wisconsin Badgers forward Joel Pavelski is sitting in fourth place with 12 points.

In the offseason, The Minnesota Wild signed former Fighting Sioux All-American Zach Parise, the Wild are seeing instance results from Parise, who’s currently leading the Minnesota Wild in scoring with (5g-4a—9pts).

In Toronto last night, former Fighting Sioux forward Matt Frattin scored the game winning goal for the Toronto Maples Leafs as they beat the Washington Capitals 3-2. Frattin is currently third in the NHL with 2 game winning goals.

I think that it’s safe to say, that the future of the NHL is on stage every Friday and Saturday on a television channel near you.

So, if you don’t have the NHL package or you’re one of those fans that have refused to spend the $50.00-$60.00 to get this package, you have options, especially if you have DirecTV.

*NESN = New England Sports Network. FCS= Fox College Sports. NBCSN = NBC Sports Network. DirecTV requires the “Sports Pack” to view the Regional sports Networks.

Fri.	Feb. 1		Michigan State at Michigan	BTN	6:35 p.m.	610 / 439 (C)
Fri.	Feb. 1		UMass Lowell at Merrimack	NESN	7:00 p.m.	628 / 434
Fri.	Feb. 1		Dartmouth at Union	NBC Sports Net.	7:30 p.m.	603 / 159
Sat.	Feb. 2		Michigan vs. Michigan State (JLA)	FS Detroit	3:00 p.m.	663 / 430
Sat.	Feb. 2		University of Wisconsin at UND	FCS/Midco	7:07pm	626

Cross Posted at The Hockey Writers - Combine...