Updated 9:50am EDT:
Zemgus Girgensons wanted to take Jared Cowen to task for the the head hit that he delivered to his Tuesday night. The Latvian Locomotive composed himself, shook off the head hit and soldiered on. Discretion is the better part of valor. Girgensons handled the situation the best way possible. Rather than take matters into his own hands, he scored the shootout game winner.
In real time, it looked like Cowen's shoulder hit Girgensons squarely in the chin. The replay confirmed it. The NHL is calling Cowen to the carpet for his Rule 48 violation on the Sabres rookie power forward.
The NHL announced today that Cowen will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety Wednesday for his head hit on Girgensons Tuesday night at First Niagara Center.
The play in question occurred at 18:02 of the third period, Cowen tracked Girgensoins and corked him with the high hit as the Sabres center crossed teh Ottawa blue line. There was no penalty was called on the play. Girgensons remained in the game. He scored the GWG in the 10th round of teh shootout.
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.
Buffalo won the game, 2-1, in a shootout.
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TSN's Bob McKenzie reported Tuesday night that Sabres president of hockey operations will take his time before he hires his new GM. The hiring may not happen until the Olympic break in February.
It should come as no surprise that LaDFontaine isn't ready to reveal his new GM yet. He's still hunting for his man. He has the luxury of time on his side. Last week LaFontaine said in an interview that he will wait for his candidate. Meaning, he's not going to hastily hire a GM just to hire one. LaFontaine knows exactly the type of hockey man that he is looking for. He isn't going to settle for second best. If he has to wait until January or February to hire Benning away from Boston, then so be it. Patty will keep the GM seat warm until then. He said that he wants to get his selection right and that he has been pleasantly surprised by the amount of interest that has been shown to the Buffalo GM position inside the NHL.
What's not to love about a job that will give the GM total autonomy to run his program? No meddling owner. Diehard, passionate fans, great facility, cupboards stocked with the best young talent in pro hockey. There's a lot to love about the Buffalo gig.
The next GM of the Buffalo Sabres will inherit $28 million in contracts for the 2014-15 season. Earlier this week, the new $71 million salary cap figure was floated out from sources at the Board of Governors meetings in California. If the cap is going to be $71 million, that means the floor is going to be $52 million. The Sabres will have to spend $24 million on player contracts in order to get to the cap floor. Do you think Terry Pegula wants LaFontaine and the new GM to run the Sabres as a floor team? I don't. Thats why LaFontaine is getting hawked by interested candidates. The new GM will have an open check book to buy new talent, after all of the UFAs and RFAs are signed, of course. Ryan Miller, Steve Ott, Matt Moulson, Cody McCormick and John Scott are all UFA in July 2014. The new GM has the ability to offer Ryan Miller Oprah money: 6 years at $9 million per season, and he still would'nt scrape his cap ceiling. Far from it. Conceivably, all can get huge pay bumps and still not put the new GM in cap trouble. The RFAs are as follows: Tyler Ennis, Marcus Foligno, Brayden McNabb, Luke Adam, Chad Ruhwedel, Matt Hackett, and Connor Knapp. The new GM can bump them up 10% or more, and still have gobs of cap space ($12+ million next season) to go out and buy free agent scorers.
LaFontaine will continue to interview GM candidates.After Rick Dudley was taken off the market by his Montreal Canadiens two weeks ago, LaFontaine has been busy identifying new, qualified candidates. LaFontaine has said repeatedly that he wants his next GM to have some or all of the following qualifications:
* Keen eye for talent
* Understanding of the NHL entry draft
* Assistant GM experience
* Stanley Cup win(s) as an executive
Its being reported that his list now consists of 6-10 candidates. Names known to be on the list include Jim Benning (Boston), Jason Boterill (Pittsburgh), Tim Murray (Ottawa), Joe Nieuwendyk (formerly of Dallas).
No word if LaFontaine will be interviewing Nashville AGM Paul Fenton.
Philly AGM Ron Hextall has also been rumored to be a candidate for the vacant Buffalo job.
McKenzie added a new name to the mix when he said that LaFontaine may be zeroing in on asking for permission to interview LA Kings director of amateur scouting Michael Futa, who is in his sixth full season with the Kings as Director of Amateur Scouting. He was named to his current position on June 5, 2007.
Futa came to the Kings after five successful seasons as General Manager of the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where he was named OHL Executive of the Year in 2005. The Attack advanced to the post-season in all five seasons with Futa at the helm, and high profile players like Trevor Lewis (17th overall, 2006 NHL Entry Draft) and Wayne Simmonds (second round, 61st overall, 2007 NHL Entry Draft) played for Owen Sound during Futa’s tenure there. Futa has also served as Director of Team Ontario’s Under-17 program for three seasons, and his Under-17 team won the gold medal at the Canada Games in 2007.
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Washington goalie Brayden Holtby’s game continues to circle the drain.
On Tuesday night versus Marty St. Louis and the Tampa Lightning, Holtby was yanked AGAIN from his net by his impatient head coach Adam Oates. Tuesday night was the fourth time since October 4th that Oates had to pull the ejector seat on Holtby. This time around, Holtby only lasted 11:07 into the first period. He allowed three goals on just eight shots. Holtby was also yanked on 10/4 vs. Calgary, October 27 vs. Calgary, and December 3rd vs. Carolina.
How great would Ryan Miller look in red, white, and blue?
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The Buffalo Sabres need all the help that they can get to fill the opponent's net with pucks. They entered Tuesday night's home game vs. Ottawa as the NHLs lowest scoring team. They average 1.5 goals per game.
It goes without saying that Buffalo will take goals any way they can get them. Late in the second period vs. the Senators, it appeared as though Luke Adam have scored the go ahead goal for Buffalo. The referee waved off the goal and told the two teams to go to center ice for the faceoff. No explanation whatsoever. Odd. Then, the Toronto war room called the scorer's bench and summoned the ref to the head set. The played was reviewed and the referee's poor call was upheld by the NHL. Needless to say, the fans in the stands were none to pleased as they watched the
Watch the controversy here:
During the second period intermission of the 1-1 game, the NHL issued this statement to cover their behind on the terrible call.
At 15:30 of the second period in the Senators/Sabres game, the Situation Room initiated a video review because the puck entered the Ottawa net. The referee informed the Situation Room that he had a delayed hi-sticking penalty against Ottawa's Jason Spezza therefore the play was stopped as soon as any Ottawa player gained possession/control of the puck. According to Rule 15.1 "When the team to be penalized gains control of the puck, the Referee will blow his whistle to stop play and impose the penalty on the offending player." This is not a reviewable play therefore the referee's call on the ice stands. No goal Buffalo.
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Toronto Maple Leafs D Dion Phaneuf has been suspended for two games, without pay, for boarding Boston Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller in Toronto on Sunday, December 8.
Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Phaneuf will forfeit $66,666.66. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.
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The Chicago Blackhawks are praying that Corey Crawford's lower body injury heals sooner than later. Crawford will miss the next 2-3 weeks, per the team.
Crawford was injured in Sunday night's game vs. Florida. He left the game and didn't return
He was replaced by rookie Aaniti Raanta.
Crawford was injured when he made a right leg save on a shot by the Florida forward Marcel Goc with 6:32 remaining in the first period. Crawford was hunched over in pain after the save, then asked the official to call timeout. The game was stopped at the 6:15 mark of the period. The Blackhawks' training staff observed and examined Crawford, then slowly guided him to the Chicago room.
Crawford is 17-6-3 record, with 2.50 GAA and .906 save percentage. He has played in 27 of the team's 32 games this season.
Raanta is 3-0-1 with a 2.08 GAA and .918 save percentage in four games this season.
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The Rochester Americans announced today that goaltender Martin Biron and former Amerks captain Steve Ludzik have been added to the list of players scheduled to take part in the Sabres vs. Amerks Alumni Game at the Greater Rochester Area Honda Dealers Frozen Frontier presented by Labatt on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 5:00 p.m. at Frontier Field. In addition, Sabres Hall of Fame broadcaster Rick Jeanneret will provide pregame player introductions and Amerks Hall of Fame broadcaster Don Stevens will conduct player interviews during the game.
The will be a pregame Meet & Greet for fans and members of the Sabres and Amerks Alumni from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Labatt Blue Zone inside Frontier Field located on the left field concourse. The meet & greet in the Labatt Blue Zone will be open to any fan with a ticket to the Alumni Game.
Biron and Ludzik join the list of Amerks and Sabres Alumni already scheduled to take part in the game, including:
Tom Askey, Matthew Barnaby, Kevin Bolibruck, Paul Brydges, David Cullen, Randy Cunneyworth, Daryl Drader, Richie Dunn, Dan Frawley, Jody Gage, Danny Gare, Mike Hurlbut, Jim Jackson, Yuri Khmylev, Steve Langdon, Grant Ledyard, Ray Maluta, Brad May, Scott McCrory, Jay McKee, Brian McKinnon, Scott Metcalfe, Craig Muni, Scott Nichol, Chris Palmer, Andrew Peters, Geoff Peters, Rob Ray, Kenton Rein, Craig Rivet, Ric Seiling, Darryl Shannon, Richard Smehlik Derek Smith, Chris Taylor and Jim Wiemer.
Other Amerk and Sabre greats are scheduled to be in attendance at the game but will not play in the game, including Joe Crozier, Jim Hofford, Gates Orlando, Jim Pettie, Rene Robert and Geordie Robertson.
Tickets for the Sabres-Amerks Alumni Game can be purchased online at FrozenFrontier2013.com.
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