Making a Statement
I'll admit it - I was nervous about this game. Very nervous.This game was a true test for the Sabres. Calgary is a physically and mentally tough team that has the ability to pound its opponents into submission. Not to mention the fact that they have one of the greatest leaders in sports, Jarome Iginla, on their team.The Sabres had faced what I saw as two tests last week and failed both miserably. Against two of the better teams in the NHL, they crumbled, and I was afraid that the same thing was going to happen tonight. In short, I was losing faith already, and I thought this game had the potential to be the nail in the coffin.

The First One
This was the first one this season.You all know what I'm talking about - the first game that looked like a loss but, miraculously, became a great win. This was the first great comeback this season, the first shootout win, the first game that really had my heart pounding and my hands shaking long after it was over.It was even more than that, though. It was the first time this season that I've seen the Sabres this happy. I loved their enthusiasm after Tyler Myers poked the puck into the Lightning net. I loved how fast Miller got to their end to celebrate, how Hank practically leaped onto the pile, and how adorable Goose and Myers looked as they fell to the ice in t

Never Fails
I knew it was coming.It seems like every time I go to the arena and see an ex-Sabre play, the find some way to rip my heart out. The last time it was Marty Biro

It Took Them Long Enough
The title of this post can refer to a number of things:The fact that it seemed to take the Sabres forever to really put the Islanders away tonight - I was honestly feeling scared until there was about a minute left in the third period. It's going to take sometime to get used to the idea that they can actually hold a lead this season.The feeling of relief that came from beating a team they were supposed to beat. It took a season, but I hope they're getting the hang of not playing down to their competition. Good teams win on nights when they aren't their best because they still find some way to compensate - and tonight the Sabres played like a good team in that regard.

What We Needed (and One Thing We Didn't Need)
After the torture that was Sunday's life-draining Bills game, Buffalo fans needed a lot of things to keep morale up for what was looking to be a long fall and winter for sports lovers in WNY.Even if tonight was just one game, at least we have the Sabres to thank for giving us some of those things that our fan experience had been lacking recently:Offensive productionSolid coaching and a good game planTeam tenacityThe ability to beat a proven winner (or even a team that maybe wins some games every once in a while)Rookies who are actually used effectively and productively on the teamA leader who makes a big play (or s