The coach pic.twitter.com/BlIUgutS6H
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) November 16, 2013
The Buffalo Sabres are now 1-0 this season. The dismal 20 game exhibition season is over.
The last time Ted Nolan won a game as head coach of the Buffalo Sabres was May 9, 1997. Third Eye Blind's "Semi Charmed Kind Of Life" was the #1 song on the U.S. rock charts. On Friday night, Nolan won his first regular season game since April 10, 1997.
Charmed life indeed.
Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.
Nolan confided after the game that it took a lot for him to hold back tears before the game when he was introduced to his adoring public on the video boards. Nolan said that he'd probably have a good cry after later on when the events of the Buffalo 3-1 win over Toronto had sunk in. Nolan said that he made it a point to remember every moment and nuace of November 15, 2013. It was Nolan's second chance to deliver entertainment and value to the hard working hockey fanatics in Buffalo.
Nolan didn't disappoint. His team heeded his appeal to have fun, play with passion and to compete like a team.
Boy, did they ever!
The Sabres controlled the puck and carried play for most of the game. they won loose puck battles, and dominated on the walls.
They also created scoring chances off their neutral zone trap. The Leafs turned over pucks at the blue lines because the Sabres denied their flow throw the neutral zone. Conversely, the Buffalo forwards used their speed to drive wide and to create chances against the Leafs D. The speed game worked on the first Buffalo goal when Marcus Foligno scored a sexy 2 on 1 goal off a tasty sauce from captain Steve Ott, who beat Leafs D Mark Fraser to create the odd man opportunity on D Paul Ranger. Ott fed Foligno, who was traveling at 100 mph towards Bernier and the net.
Talk about doing what your coach tells you what to do. Ott and Foligno used their speed, hustle and determination to get the puck deep and to create a high percentage chance off the rush.
Ott tied the game at 1-1 with a great PPG. Tyler Myers ripped a one-timer that Bernier couldn't handle the rebound on. Otter picked up the loose change and threw it in the piggy bank.
Sabres D Christian Ehrhoff factored directly in two goals and made the save of the game with Leafs goalie Jonathon Bernier on the bench for the extra attacker. Trevor Smoth's goal kissed off Ehrhoff to give the Leafs the 1-0 lead. Then, he scored the empty netter to seal the 3-1 win. Ehrhoff also channeled his inner Terry Sawchuk when he made spectacular, desperation save on a James Van Riemsdyk chance. Ehrhoff was put in the position to make the save when Ryan Miller was bumped into by a leafs forward and he was spun out of his net, with his back to the play. Ehrhoff had Miller's back--literally-- and he found the puck, settled it and threw it down the ice into Bernier's empty net.
After the game, Ott said that a heavy load was lifted off the shoulders of all Sabres players when Ted Nolan and Pat LaFontaine walked through the door on Tuesday:
" I'm just one of the guys like everyone else in here. We're all clean-slated. The last 20 games hasn't been pretty for anybody and we know that. Thats what we're doing right now. We're going out there and keep playing the work ethic thats going to earn us the ice time. Thats where everybody's mindset is right now".
Ott likened the vibe inside the Sabres room and inside First Niagara Center as a playoff game.
"It was a playoff game. Those are fun ones when there is a playoff atmosphere, those are the best games. For a lot of guys in this room its a lot of fun to play in those types of atmospheres".
What was the difference from the first 20 games to game one of the Ted Nolan era?
"It did feel completely different, and it was for a lot of reasons. To be honest with you, the last 48 hours, I would say the biggest reason is that the slate has been wiped clean. The 20 games or so have been thrown out the window. They (LaFontaine and nolan) came in and to a man, told very guy its time to work for your ice time, and work for your chances. You know what? Tonight, I thought every guy did that. It was a lot of fun to go out there and feel like the weight is off our shoulders from the last little while. We've been playing with some heavy backs for the last few months and it hasn't been fun at all. Tonight brought that fun and great atmosphere back.'
"You know what? It honestly is just wiping clean the slate. Obviously, when you tell the guys you know what... he (Nolan) was like, "I'm not watching video on you guys, I'm not looking at your stat packs. I really don't care. I want to see what you're going to do for me now and i'll figure everybody out as we go along here. You know what? It made a lot of guys realize that game one is basically tonight and throw the other 20 away. It felt like a completely different room in here. It really, truly felt like a complete team effort and that was a fun game to play in".
Translation:
Ron Rolston took to bagging on his vets in the media. Perhaps the older guys grew resentful of Rolston's insistence to call them out when mistakes were made. Perhaps Rolston held grudges against players and harped on their mistakes and misgivings.
All that changed when Nolan walked in the door.
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PHOTO: John Scott and Colton Orr exchange words during tonight's game. #Sabres #Leafs (@BWipp) pic.twitter.com/MkWSiQ8SM3
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) November 16, 2013
BACK IN BUFFALO: Here's a picture of Ted Nolan behind the #Sabres bench during the 1st period. (@BWipp) pic.twitter.com/AB2oC24usu
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) November 16, 2013
Welcome to the Pat LaFontaine / Ted Nolan Era in Buffalo Sabres history!
Sixteen years after his untimely departure from the Buffalo Sabres, Ted Nolan is back to finish the jib that he started long ago.
Thanks, Sabres.com
The First Niagara Center is a buzzzzzzzzz right now. The blitzkrieg lights are lighting up the skyline.
The beers flowing and the fans are ready for change!
Oh, by the way, the Toronto Maple Leafs are here, too!
Follow all the action here tonight!!!