Nathan Horton has been a man posessed for the Florida Panthers this season. He and Stephen Weiss have been finally begun to live up to the high expectations that had been foisted upon them from the moment that graduated from juniours.The Panthers will have to contend for the Playoffs without the services of Horton, who broke his leg Thursday night vs. The Islanders. Freak accident. Huge loss. The Panthers are in need of a top six forward to replace Horton for the next six weeks. Horton's 17 goals and 29 assists will be sorely missed.

Might they call Buffalo about Derek Roy?

Roy was captain on the 03/04 Kitchener Rangers squad that was coached by present Panther bench boss, Peter DeBoer. The Panthers, 21-21-9, enter Saturday's match with Tronna with 51 points, just four points behind the Bruins and Islanders for the eighth and final Playoff spot.


There's buzz that the Panthers covet Roy and may pursue his veteran experience for their stretch run.

Tyler Ennis has been tearing it up in Portland this season. The centreman has 13 goals and 28 assists in 43 games played.



________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________


Captain Craig Rivet and Mike Grier are no doubt showing the boys a fine time in their former stomping grounds.

This SJ visit prompted me to flash back to the last time these two teams met. It was in Buffalo on February 13, 2009. The day before that game, Continental Flight 3407 crashed in suburban Clarence, NY as it prepared to land at Buffalo International Airport. In all, 50 people lost their lives. Just hours before the crash, the San Jose Sharks' chartered into Buffalo International from Pittsburgh. I remember speaking with members of the Sharks team and PR staff, and they recounted the treacherous flight from Pittsburgh that the Sharks had encountered. "White knuckle", was the operative phrase that many of them used to describe the experience of flying that night. The Sharks team landed safely, however, many of the Sharks were shook up from the rough ride. Air travel is a necessity for NHL teams.

The news of the crash hit close to home for the Sabres as the crash occurred in the direct vecinity of the homes of Patrick Lalime, Teppo Numminen, and several of the other Sabres coaches and players.

Personally, I'll never forget being inside HSBC Arena for the moment of silence before the game. One could see Sabre fans in every direction, hugging one another and openly weeping during the touching tribute to the families who lost loved ones in the crash.

The Sabres would tie the game with four seconds left to play in regulation. They won the game in the Shootout.

For three and a half hours that night, the Sabres had converted tears to smiles and high fives. A brief respite from the enormity of the tragedy of Flight 3407.

________________________________________________________________________


The Sharks will be without the first-pass services of their best defenseman on Saturday night. Dan Boyle has an upper body deall, and will miss his second straight game.


The Sharks have recalled Jason Demers from Worcester to skate with Marc Edouard Vlasic.

________________________________________________________________________

San Jose is 6-13-5 lifetime vs.Buffalo.

They are an impressive 5-2-4 in the Shark Tank.

________________________________________________________________________


Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Dany Heatley has not seen his "good friend" Adam Mair and the Sabres since last Spring. Beating on each other six times a season, plus Playoffs, can bond guys together. Heater tormented the Sabres for the time that he donned a Sens sweater.

Whats the nore potent line? Heatley-Jumbo Joe-Marleau? Or, Heatley-Spezza-Alfredsson?


Should be a mutual admiration society when the Sharks and Sabres get it on.

________________________________________________________________________

The Sharks have won 6 of 7.

Their PK have defused 27 straight enemy PP attempts.They are the #1 Penalty Kill unit in the NHL at 88.1%. Buffalo are #3 at 86.2%.

The secret to their PK success is hard work. Todd McClellan rolls four PK units that include forwards: Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski, Manny Malhotra, Jed Ortmeyer, Patrick Marleau, Scott Nichol, Torrey Mitchell, Ryan Clowe, and Devin Setoguchi.

Evgeni Nabakov is SJ's best Killer Shark.

________________________________________________________________________

Miller -v- Nabakov.

________________________________________________________________________


Conan bid farewell with style on Friday night.

He said goodbye with a little help from his friends...





Jay Leno is a chisel chin loser.


________________________________________________________________________

Join the Discussion: Chat Room » Message Board »

» MAC BACK IN N'EAST

» IRON MAN

» POT O' SILVER

» PIRATES WITH SABRES

» MANCARI RE-UPS