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Tonight's Sabres vs. Panthers game won't be remembered as a playoff-style game between two superior teams. We'll have a to wait a couple of years for that type of storyline to develop between these two division rivals.
Tonight marks the first of many times that the #1 pick in the 2014 NHL Draft Aaron Ekblad will compete head to head against the #2 pick in the draft Sam Reinhart.
#1 & #2 picks in 2014 Draft, Aaron Ekblad & Sam Reinhart, to play each other in @NHL for 1st time tonight. #FLAvsBUF pic.twitter.com/naoXDh6Szp
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) October 17, 2014Ekbald is winning the early statistical battle between the two players.
Ekblad is averaging 21:49 TOI in his 3 games played. He's collected 5 SOG, 4 PIMs and an assist and is -1 thus far.
Sam Reinhart's first four pro games have been learning experiences for the 18 year old. He's currently skating on the fourth line. He's averaging 11:19 TOI. He has landed on 2 shots on goal and has struggled in the faceoff circle with a 22.7% win percentage.
Reinhart finds himself centering the fourth line. He told Sabres.com that he's ready for more ice time and added responsibilities should the coaches call on his tonight.
“There’s no question I’m used to playing a lot more and getting a lot more opportunities. I was aware that if I were to still be here at this point that it would have to be an adjustment. I’m trying to go through that now,… Reinhart said. “I think last game, obviously it was important to get the win, but I think I handled it well and was able to observe a little bit more.
“When it was my time to get out there, I was ready to battle and compete. I think that was the biggest thing for me to watch and learn. If I get out anymore tonight, I’ll be ready for that.…
Ted Nolan likes the way that Reinhart has responded this far:
“If you’re going to try to change things, you’ve got to hate losing more than you like winning sometimes,… Nolan said. “As players go, you want them to have that hunger and desire to get out there. Certainly we want to see that from Sam but we want to see it from everyone.…
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Lucic has ben fined $5,000 by the NHL for the obscene preamble to his Cup raising gesture.
I chose not to share that part of the video in this space. I'm not going to validate goon behavior. Leave that to Bruins fans.
What is it with the Boston Bruins and their love affair with Stanley Cup lifting smack?
What's eating Milan Lucic?
The Bruins power forward entered Thursday night's revenge game in Montreal pointless in his first five games of the young season. Lucic's overall play has left a lot to be desired by his head coach and teammates.
Perhaps a tussle with the hated Habs would thaw Looch's cold front. Maybe not.
On Thursday night in Montreal, Milan Lucic lost his cool and then boarded Habs SD'er Alexei Emelin with a heavy body check from behind along the boards. At the time of Lucic's brain cramp, the Habs were leading 5-4 and there was 1:20 remaining.
Lucic ignored the conventional thinking to dog the puck, create a turnover and try to make a play to tie the game before the final horn had sounded. He instead opted to selfishly board Emelin who had taunted and tormented the Bruins in last Springs seven game series win by the Habs.
You'll recall that Montreal tough guy Dale Weise and Emelin were vocal about Boston's antics in the hand shake line when the Habs defeated the Bruins in Game 7 last spring. The Habs wisely scratched Weise from Thursday night's game to avoid another large scale flare up between the two hated rivals.
As he was entering the metal bar motel, Lucic inexplicably dusted off Brad Marchand's Stanley Cup raising yoga move and proceeded to share it with the Habs fans seated directly behind the sin bin.
The Habs scored into the empty net that Lucic had created to make the final score 6-4 Habs.
Curious move by Lucic. He would have been better served using that creative license to score the game tying goal rather than assisting on the insurance goal that the Habs pumped into the open net that Lucic created with his dumb penalty.
It bega the question:
What is the statute of limitation on Stanley Cup raising smack>? One season? Two? Three?
Lucic and the Bruins haven't won the Cup since 2011.
If any team deserves to raise the Cup while taunting opposing fans and players its the LA Kings who have hoisted Lord Stanley's chalice twice in the past three seasons.
Lucic chipped in two assists in Montreal--- his first two points in six games played. He's -2 with 10 shots on goal. He has 26 PIMs for the struggling Bruins.
Lucic and the Bruins play in Buffalo on Saturday night.
Between now and then, Lucic will likely be fined by the NHL HQ for his sophomoric act in Montreal.
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