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New York, NY • United States • 2013 Years Old • Male
I always enjoy playing out big Sabres games just before they take place on my PS2...sort of "predicting" if you will. I set the rosters up so that they match the Game Day rosters, and I go at it.

Historically, I'd say I pick the winning team about 75% of the time whenever I do this, so it's pretty accurate. In fact, I've done playoff games in the past in which I get the score exactly right, even the goal scorers right on...it's scary sometimes.

Of course, with the Sabres season opener against Montreal - in Buffalo - less than 24 hours away, I had to play this game out. Bad news unfortunately, and I hope it's a different result on the ice...

MONTREAL 4, BUFFALO 3

It's a heartbreaker, I'm afraid. Sabres storm the Canadiens in the first period, outshooting them 18-4 in the frame(!), but Carey Price stands on his head and somehow Montreal skates out of the period with a 1-1 hockey game. Derek Roy opens the scoring 8 minutes in and on a nice pass from Thomas Vanek. Guy Latendresse ties it for the Habs with 1:19 to play in the period on a softie Miller should have had!

2nd period. Alex Tanguay pots a power-play goal nine minutes in, immediately making his presence known in his first game with his new team - 2-1 Montreal. But guess who answers? Craig Rivet in his first game as a Sabre - on a breakaway no less - two minutes later! Montreal was caught on a line change and a weird bounce let the Sabres captain get away. He went up high to beat Price. 2-2 after 2.

3rd period. Maxim Afinogenov shows he's back for 08-09 with his first goal of the season! Vanek another nifty pass for another assist. Goal came with 8:59 left in the game. Then the terrible happened. Montreal got a power play with 3 minutes to go in the game. They pulled their goalie and tied it with 1:36 on the clock. Then..even worse..Andrei Kostitsyn on a terrible Tallinder turnover beats Ryan Miller five-hole with 56 seconds left in regulation. Buffalo pulled their goalie but couldn't notch the equalizer. And so, a 4-3 loss. A wasted, quite good Sabres effort, actually, as they outshot Montreal 41-26.

And there you have it. Gee, I really hope that doesn't happen. But I'm real excited for the actual game, just a few hours away, and for 08-09 to finally begin! It's been a long offseason. Let's Go Buffalo!!
Filed Under:   season   sabres   montreal   game day   prediction   nhl   hockey  
October 10, 2008 9:00 AM ET | Delete
I really hope your wrong on this prediction. Is it too much to ask for them to be pumped up for the first game of the year against last years top point producer in the East. I'm thinking Buffalo - 4 Montreal - 3 Goals by Vanek, Roy, Kotalik,
October 10, 2008 9:00 AM ET | Delete
October 10, 2008 9:01 AM ET | Delete
and Spacek
October 10, 2008 11:09 AM ET | Delete
My predictions were also 4-3 montreal, but in overtime.
October 10, 2008 1:37 PM ET | Delete
I'll hope for a better result, but seeing Rivet on a breakaway would make any game worth watching!
October 10, 2008 2:51 PM ET | Delete
haha agreed claudelemieux.thefuture - i would like that very much. a point from the canadiens is nothing to frown on. but being at home, obviously, a win would be much more desired!
October 10, 2008 5:35 PM ET | Delete
MillerTime, love the predictions... I appear to be kicking your tail in super league by the way ;)
October 10, 2008 5:53 PM ET | Delete
you must be sabresfrancisco....week's not over yet! and i have millsey
October 10, 2008 7:10 PM ET | Delete
I'm not very good at predictions, but one thing I will say: as the game goes this evening, so goes the Sabres' season. That may sound extreme, but they need to make a strong statement the first game of the season if they are going to make a believer out of me and, I suspect, a lot of other hockey fans.
October 12, 2008 12:06 PM ET | Delete
Miller!!! Good on there, eh? I didn't pick a lot of Sabres, if the team does poorly, at least I can cling to my fantasy league. LOL.
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