Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

I've always been partial to seats about 2/3rds of the way up an arena's 100 level, ideally looking over the goalie's shoulder. Perfect vantage point of the entire ice, including the far end. 300 level works fine, too, though.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=301565

I remember using this story as ammo with my friends for showing how tough hockey players are:lol. SOB played that very night.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

First couple rows of the upper deck for me.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

:thumbsup:thumbsup. I guess, coming from a guy who's only been to a handful of NHL games (but a ton of AHL and ECHL:rolleyes) due to his... unfortunate... geographical location, any seat is a good seat for a pro hockey game!

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

That's right. I was thinking it was Trent Hunter for some reason.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Too bad it wasn't OMGCG. There would be no truck left.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Hmmm, interesting point of view from Brooks Laich:

I see what he's saying... but I wonder if he'd be singing a different tune if he'd ever experienced a serious concussion. What would Paul Kariya say? Ian Lapperriere? Eric Lindros? Keith Primeau?

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

I always sit in the 300's at HSBC/First Niagara. I used to sit in the 100's alot but like you said, terrible sightlines.

That said, I'm heading up to Buffalo now!

Let's go Buffalo!

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

in Lappy's case though he willingly went down and blocked a shot. About half those guys got concussions from head shots or dirty hits.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Yes, but then he went ahead and played, later admitting he was having symptoms. In hindsight, he may think differently now.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

:thumbsup Have an awesome time. I'll be watching the stream on frontrowsports. They better have a link to the MSG broadcast. I miss going to games in Buffalo. My folks had season seats from the moment the Sabres started up in 1970 until the end of last year.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

we should ask them....

Anywho, was at the Hawks game last night. Followed it up with a tour of the Gold Coast (bar area for non-Chicagoans) until 4 am. Good night. Bring on the Bruins.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Mike, we're gonna have to meet up for a beer at one of these games this season.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

yeah the next time I can find the time to make it to a game we should definitely do that, I don't know why we haven't before. I'm going to be at less games this year with medic school starting a week from Monday. The only game I have lined up so far is down in STL the first weekend in December.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Streaming the Buffalo broadcast of the Sabres' home opener. RJ (Sabres' announcer, for those of you not following them) just introduced the entire team and staff. Amazing that I recognized the name of the Sabres' head equipment manager from my years as a kid reading Goal! magazine (I think most, if not every, NHL franchise used it as their game program, with local modifications made). Same dude that was behind the bench at my first game in 1983 is still there.

Nice sellout crowd at the First Niagara Center (another new name--not as easy to nickname as Marine Midland Arena or HSBC Arena were--all the same naming contract, by the way, just that the bank keeps getting sold). Wish I were there.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Neil Young, you are dead to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXkZnAqKDYo

P.S. I look forward to seeing you at Bridge School.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Neil Young is so awesome

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Fucking Sabres power play. Last I checked, it was supposed to give the team on the power play the advantage. Two shorties in one game: not good. Glad I was running to the to the corner store when the second one happened...:BANG

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Go Sabres!

Haven't been in this thread since last season. It's definitely weird seeing Leino wear #23.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

He did well on the trip to Europe--goal in the first game of the season. Been a nice addition to the team so far. MSG just showed a shot of the Sabres' locker room going into the intermission commercial break. Sabres' Facebook page had been posting pictures of the renovation all summer, and damn, if that thing doesn't look fantastic. Uncle Terry's spending money everywhere.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Yup. I'm definitely greatful for Tom Golisano for saving the team but Terry is really spending money.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Golisano was an angel for the team: bought them out of bankruptcy/Adelphia financial mis-dealings, lowered ticket prices to give the average Sabres fan the chance to go to a game (I was talking with my dad earlier tonight about how quiet the arena was the first couple of seasons; simply put: rich people (the only ones who could get seats the first few years at the Bank Building) don't yell the way most hockey fans in Western New York do), but I love the way Terry's thrown money around. Would have liked another top line All-Star forward signed at some point, but he's put money behind more good off-season acquisitions than anyone else this year. There's a reason that 10/12 of the ESPN hockey analysts have us winning the Northeast this season.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

:thumbsup :thumbsup

Wait....ESPN has hockey analysts?! :p

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

:lol Outside of Barry Melrose and Matthew Barnaby (the latter still baffles my mind; an ex-Sabres scrapper doesn't quite fit the profile of a guy in a suit offering hockey analysis. Of course, Rob Ray does the same thing for MSG, so I guess "Why the hell not?" is the question), they don't let many of them on camera.

And while I was typing, Dreeeeeeew Stafford scores!!! 'Bout damn time. Tyler Myers totally created that one. Love the way that guy plays in the offensive zone.

ETA: Augh. Sonofabitch!! Damn lousy penalty kill, right there. As good as the special teams were in Europe, they've been terrible tonight.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Damn, that was a sloppy 3rd period. Power Play was awful tonight. So much for 82-0-0. :trap

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Damn. 42 shots on goal for Buffalo. Cam Ward made a lot of difference for Carolina in that one, but no team that gives up two shorthanded goals in one game should be winning. Next four on the road. Trying to get some extra cash together for when they're here in South Florida next Thursday.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

I went to a bar in Olde City and nearly jumped for joy because every TV had NHL network on. :lol

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Cam Ward was on fire all night, made Miller look mediocre.

Gragnani was terrible, Vanek couldn't do anything right, and Adam probably could've gotten back on one of the SH goals.

0/7 on the power play. We looked terrible all night after the 1st period.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

I always sit higher up at CONSOL. I hate not being able to see the plays form. It's awesome when you can see a scoring chance start from your own end and know it's going to be an opportunity.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Hawks are going down tonight.