4-0.

Yes - the Isles are 4-0 this season.  In the game in which we faced elimination from playoff competition, we are 4-0.

Do you think I am driving the point of being 4-0?

Well - I always try to take a positive, and make it my focus.  This can work.

This team was supposed to be #30 this season.  We defied the odds, and made the 8 seed, sending original franchises Montreal and Ottawa to the golf courses early.  Many people had the audacity to say Sabres in 4.  But you know what?  We have been in every game, played hard, and not embarassed ourselves one bit.  Our egos have been bruised, and our reputation may have been compromised by the idiots throwing the debris onto the ice.  However, I am very proud of all the guys in that room.

What do we have to do?  We need to continue the aggressive course.  Establish ourselves early and try to put some more hitting on these guys.  As someone else said in a blog - why are guys like Hunter, among others - getting only 13 minutes of ice time?  If we need to apply the muscle - the ones that have them should be applying the punishment.  This needs to change.

Once the third period comes - we have to find a way to counteract the ‘clogging middle’ that the Sabres will apply.  Getting physical there too can help.  Remove the garbage, and create lanes that the defense can use to put pucks on the net.  It showed in game 2 - and we need to repeat it again tonight.  We have won in the building - and need to show that again.  The last thing the Sabres want to see - is a Game 6. 

You know - maybe Ranger fans may be rooting for the Isles tonight - as they hope that we can make this series go on longer, and wear down Buffalo.  That would be good for them.  So Rangers fans - if you are reading - take down your guard and support us for a night.  You want us to physically work on the Sabres to make them easier for you, right?  C’mon - join the dark side for a day or two.  You know that Sean and the rest of your team will appreciate it…!!!

God - did I say that?  Yuck - that is over…

Now - in the words of the great poet, John Belushi in that great movie, Animal House….

Scene:  In a room at the frat house, the guys have been told that Dean Wormer has just shut down the fraternity at Faber College:

D-Day: War’s over, man. Wormer dropped the big one.
Bluto: What? Over? Did you say “over”? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!
Otter: Germans?
Boon: Forget it, he’s rolling.
Bluto: And it ain’t over now. ‘Cause when the going gets tough . . . the tough get going. Who’s with me? Let’s Go! Come on! AAAAEEEEEGGGHHHH!! [Bluto runs out of the room alone; then returns] What the &*$% happened to the Delta I used to know? Where’s the spirit? Where’s the guts, huh? “Ooh, we’re afraid to go with you Bluto, we might get in trouble.” Well just kiss my ass from now on! Not me! I’m not gonna take this. Wormer, he’s a dead man! Marmalard, dead! Niedermeyer…
Otter: Dead! Bluto’s right. Psychotic, but absolutely right. We gotta take these bastards. Now we could do it with conventional weapons. But that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part.
Bluto: We’re just the guys to do it.
D-Day: Let’s do it.
Bluto: LET’S DO IT!

Just replace Wormer, Marmalard and Niedermeyer - with Briere, Drury and Connolly….  Time to get back in the fight boys….