Tag Archives: ScottGoodwin

Sabres: Coaches Challenges Are Taking Away From the Game

Posted on December 14, 2015 by | Leave a comment

– Scott Goodwin

Risto has taken his game to another level this season. (Getty Images)

Risto has taken his game to another level this season. (Getty Images)

The only proper start for this write-up is an obligatory congratulations to Rasmus Ristolainen for his hat-trick recorded on December 10, 2015 against the Calgary Flames. A Buffalo blue-liner has not completed a hat-trick in over twenty years (Phil Housley 1987-88 season). Risto managed to notch all three goals in the short span of a single period of play (3rd).

The Sabres lost the game by a score of 3-4 after Sean Monahan was setup for the game-winner on a beautiful pass off of the stick of Johnny Gaudreau. It continues a trend of the Sabres losing to underperforming teams. That being said, Calgary deserves classification as a hot team, going 4-0-1 in their last five games and scoring over twenty goals total during that span. Continue reading →

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Sabres Have High Hopes for the Month of December

Posted on December 1, 2015 by | Leave a comment

– Scott Goodwin

Buffalo’s scouting team breathes a sigh of relief as Reinhart tallies two goal in a Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Nashville [Photo Credit: USA TODAY Sports]

Buffalo’s scouting team breathes a sigh of relief as Reinhart tallies two goal in a Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Nashville [Photo Credit: USA TODAY Sports]

Boy does it feel good to write about this hockey team again. It was a heartbreaker over the weekend for only half of Buffalo’s professional sport spectrum. The Bills loss to the Kansas City Chiefs all but seals the fate of a team that currently holds the title of “longest playoff drought in professional sports”. Yes, as a big Buffalo guy it is very hard to hear that astounding fact.

On a more positive note the Buffalo Sabres finished up the month of November with a 4-1 victory against the Nashville Predators. The Preds shrugged off the Sabres only three nights before in a game that forced Buffalo fans to channel-swap between primetime hockey and Thursday Night Football. Continue reading →

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The Return of a Legend: Miller Back in Buffalo

Posted on November 10, 2015 by | Leave a comment

–Scott Goodwin

**This piece was written before the Sabres 3-2 victory over the Canucks on Saturday

Fans will salute the former Buffalo Sabre as he takes ice for the Vancouver Canucks in a Saturday afternoon home game. – Phot Credit: Associated Press

Fans will salute the former Buffalo Sabre as he takes ice for the Vancouver Canucks in a Saturday afternoon home game. – Phot Credit: Associated Press

Attention has focused directly on Ryan Miller for this weekend’s matchup against the Vancouver Canucks. There will be intense emotions streaming throughout the First Niagara Center as fans, players, coaches and other staff members reflect on the 11 seasons that the Michigan native spent in between the pipes for the Buffalo Sabres.

It will be a different situation for Miller when he skates onto the ice wearing blue, white and green. I know, that sounded pretty good up until the green was mentioned. Miller was traded to the St. Louis Blues on a night that went from routine to hectic. It became a scramble to find an additional goaltender when it was announced that a trade had been made a mere half hour before puck drop. Steve Ott and Ryan Miller were exchanged for Jaroslav Halak and Chris Stewart on March 1, 2014.

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Reflections and Comparisons after a 7-2 Sabres Loss

Posted on October 24, 2015 by | Leave a comment

-Scott Goodwin 

Andrei Markov is all offense on a Friday night at the First Niagara Center. The defenseman is involved in five out of seven of Montreal's goals. (Photo Credit: AP)

Andrei Markov is all offense on a Friday night at the First Niagara Center. The defenseman is involved in five out of seven of Montreal’s goals. (Photo Credit: AP)

The Sabres fell behind quickly to the Montreal Canadiens on Friday night, losing by a score of 7-2. Before jumping to conclusions onlookers should step back and account for Montreal’s past season. They broke the 50-win barrier for the first time since the 1988-89 season. Michel Therrien and his offensively stacked team expect nothing less than taking the Atlantic Division title for a consecutive year.

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The 2015 New York Yankees: A Disappointing Surprise

Posted on October 12, 2015 by | 1 comment

– Scott Goodwin

Brian McCann tears off the batting gloves as Houston celebrates a 3 - 0 victory over the NY Yankees on October 6th/Photo Credit: Adam Hunger USA Today Sports

Brian McCann tears off the batting gloves as Houston celebrates a 3 – 0 victory over the NY Yankees on October 6th/Photo Credit: Adam Hunger USA Today Sports

The New York Yankees lost to the younger, more athletic and lesser compensated Houston Astros in the AL Wild Card Game by a score of 3 – 0. The sold out crowd roared throughout the opening frame as Yankee’s ace Masahiro Tanaka aimed strike after strike at the Houston batters. Vinny Milano, the leader of the Bleacher Creatures clearly had a rough time leading his traditional roll call. He added an absent C.C. Sabathia to the call, the pitcher departed from the team on Monday to enter an alcohol rehab clinic.   Continue reading →

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Sabres Lose But Eichel Shines

Posted on October 9, 2015 by | Leave a comment

– Scott Goodwin

Eichel Leads Third Period Rally But Buffalo Falls Short to Ottawa

Jack Eichel scores his first NHL goal of the 2015 - 2016 season in the Sabre’s opening home game Photo Credit: Tom Brenner / Getty Images

Jack Eichel scores his first NHL goal of the 2015 – 2016 season in the Sabres opening home game (Tom Brenner / Getty Images)

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Bylsma: Leader of the Sabres Uphill Climb

Posted on September 8, 2015 by | Leave a comment

-Scott Goodwin

Dan Bylsma faces a steep task in the upcoming 15-16 Buffalo Sabres season (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)

Dan Bylsma faces a steep task in the upcoming 15-16 Buffalo Sabres season (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)

Dan Bylsma has a resume that does not disappoint. He is an individual that takes nothing for granted. His firing served as a way for him to step back and watch over the strategies used around the league. His path back into the North American hockey league required steady patience and optimism.

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Is Robin Lehner the Sabres Goaltender of the Future? 

Posted on August 21, 2015 by | Leave a comment

– Scott Goodwin

Sabres GM Tim Murray hope Lehner will be the long term answer in net (Getty Images)

Sabres GM Tim Murray hope Lehner will be the long term answer in net (Getty Images)

Robin Lehner has a lot to live up to this upcoming hockey season. This amount of pressure can make or break a young goaltender. Lehner has been given the opportunity to prove himself as a starting caliber goalie during an anticipated Buffalo Sabres season. Now that all pieces appear to be in place fans expect nothing less than constant improvement. Continue reading →

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Patrick Kane: What We Know So Far

Posted on August 12, 2015 by | Leave a comment

– Scott Goodwin

Patrick Kane is under investigation after being accused of raping a woman (Ann Heisenfelt/AP)

Patrick Kane is under investigation after being accused of raping a woman (Ann Heisenfelt/AP)

Don’t push me off of the podium too quickly. It may not be news directly affecting the Buffalo Sabres organization. However, it adds to a growing list of poor behavior from prominent NHL team leaders and could have added impact on Ryan O’Reilly’s league punishment. He remains at the forefront of bad offseason press stemming from the Eastern Conference. Now Patrick Kane has decided to represent the Western Conference. With Kane entering the scene it’s wise for Buffalo and Chicago fans to prepare for the Commissioner’s hammer. I could see Gary Bettman dealing a harsh, maximized suspension or fine to those that brought a poor image to the league during offseason to go along with any legal ramifications. On August 6, 2015 two law enforcement sources told The Buffalo News that Patrick Kane was being investigated by Hamburg police for an alleged rape incident. This incident was alleged to have occurred between the dates of Saturday August 1, 2015 – Sunday, August 2, 2015.  Continue reading →

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O’Reilly in Trouble

Posted on July 15, 2015 by | 1 comment

In his first piece for Hardfoulsports.com, Sabres beat writer Scott Goodwin details Sabres forward Ryan O’Reilly’s fateful July night that landed him in some legal trouble.

Due to make $6.2 million next season number one center Ryan O’Reilly is charged with impaired driving. (AM 980 London, Ontario)

Due to make $6.2 million next season, freshly minted number one center Ryan O’Reilly is charged with impaired driving. (AM 980 London, Ontario)

It is rarely a good sign when a professional athlete is forced to delete his Twitter account due to intense fan scrutiny. Ryan O’Reilly had to do just that after adding to the poor behavior occurring inside of the Buffalo sports scene recently. Friday, July 10th, Buffalo fans woke up in anticipation for the development camp scrimmage set to occur in the First Niagara Center. Excitement continued to build for the approach of a brand new season that boasted newly acquired leadership and talent. The excitement that carried over on Monday slammed into a wall when damaging news broke regarding the Sabres newly signed number one center. Ontario native Ryan O’Reilly had been charged in Middlesex, Ontario, CA with impaired driving, care or control over 80 milligrams of alcohol (equivalent to blowing .08 in the States), and failure to remain at the scene of a crime. It’s safe to label O’Reilly’s Wednesday night as one that unraveled quickly. Continue reading →

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