The Buffalo Sabres are goin down

by AP

New York Rangers will beat the Buffalo Sabres in 6 games. No, I did not forget that the Sabres were the best team in the regular season and remain the most offensively balanced team left in the playoffs. Congratulations to the Sabres for winning the President's Trophy and finishing the season with more 30 goal scorers that anyone. It's an incredible accomplishment. Now, none of that matters and virtually meaningless. Last time, I checked the Stanley Cup wasn't won in the regular season. All sixteen teams entering the playoffs had the same record 0-0. The remaining eight teams have four wins. The Rangers just swept Atlanta. Atlanta generated a mere six goals, including just one from the team’s three-highest-scoring forwards in the regular season. And yes fans, Atlanta is a much better club than the Islanders are or were.

I want to start off and say to all those idiots that still think "Carolina beat Rochester Americans". No, last time I checked, it was Hurricanes over the Sabres. The same could be said for Sabres over Bridgeport Sound Tigers in Game 1. Why? "The Islanders recalled Wade Dubielewicz from Bridgeport of the AHL on March 27." Yes, it is a stupid comment so is the comment of Hurricanes over Americans. Get over it Sabre Fan, that was last year.

The Sabres will be very surprised at the transformation the Rangers have made since they last met in December. They call him Avery and he will stir the pot.

Reason #1 - Hank is better than Ryan. Hot goaltending wins it in the playoffs and who is hotter than Hank right now? No one. Hank had a better season last year and better season this year statistically. Hank let in 160 goals in 70 games while Miller let in 168 in 63 games. Did I forget Henry had 37 wins to Miller's 40? or .917 SV% and 5 shutouts to Ryan's .911 SV% and a lousy 2 shutouts. Henry played in one game versus the Sabres this season. Who was actually apart of the Olympic team for their country and who won a Gold Medal? – Lundquist not Miller.

Reason #2 - Sean Avery. Avery will put the focus on him and get the Sabres off their game. Avery is going to hurt someone, why? He said so already. "I’ve just secretly been making up things in my head about guys on their team that they’ve done to me so I can identify with them when were going in a corner." "I'm going to hurt them, I'm going to hit them, and I’m going to be in their face as much as I can.” Avery is going to be the Domi-Claude Lemieux-Neil all rolled into one. Since trading for Avery, the Rangers are 21-6-6. Avery will run someone and don't think for a minute Drury isn't on top of the list. Someone's going to get hurt. Who’s going to stop Avery? Peters? I don't think so he will see the whole ice from the press box.

Reason #3 - #Jagr and Shanahan. Yes, Jagr will torch the Sabres this series. Against the Thrashers, Jaromir Jagr and Brendan Shanahan showed just how dominant and dangerous they can be in the postseason. The two combined for 10 points off five goals and five assists, with Jagr posting seven points off two goals and five assists and Shanahan netting goals in three consecutive games, including the game-tying goal in the series clincher.

Reason #4 - Special Teams. Where has the power play been for the Sabres? I thought little Timmy would solve the power play woes, too bad he is spending all his time closing down bars on Chippawa. Rangers have better special teams than the Sabres. Rangers pp ranked 8th, Sabres 17th. Ranger’s pk, 12th, Sabres, 20th. Jagr will have at least four power play points in this series.

Reason #5 - Solid Supporting Cast. Drury is the only one with a ring. Rangers have Jaromir Jagr (2), Brendan Shanahan (3), Matt Cullen, Sandis Ozolinsh with cups. Did I forget to mention Cullen beat the Sabres last year? I guess I just did. Cullen knows how to beat the Sabres. The team has seasoned pros like Michael Nylander, Martin Straka and Matt Cullen, who all know how to score. The Rangers also have little known Marcel Hossa, Petr Prucha, and Ryan Callahan, who provide the team with offense as well. The no-name defense shut down Kovalchuk, Hossa, and Kozlov. Sure, the Rangers don't have "Soupy" but they do have Malik, Mara, Fedor Tyutin, Michal Rozsival, Tommy Pock, and Danny Girardi.

Let’s look at the match ups

Lundquist vs. Miller = Advantage Rangers

Straka-Avery-Shanahan vs. Drury-Zubrus-Kotalik = Advantage Rangers
Jagr-Nylander-Hossa vs. Briere-Pomminville-Hecht = Advantage Rangers
Cullen-Callahan-Prucha vs. Roy-Vanek-Afinogenov = Advantage Sabres

Defense vs. Defense = Advantage Sabres

Hollweg-Betts-Ortmeyer vs. Mair-Connolly-Stafford = Advantage Sabres