And Now, the President's Trophy Means Nothing

Tomorrow night brings what we've been waiting for since October 4th, 2006 where the Buffalo Sabres defeated the Carolina Hurricanes on national TV. That win was the same night Carolina rose their Stanley Cup Champions banner at the RBC Center. The win that night helped us, as SABRES NATION, to relax after the onslaught of injuries in that Championship series last Spring.

That's all gone now. Carolina is out, and we're the number one seed. I will talk about tomorrow's four series today, and Thursday's four games (including the Sabres) tomorrow. Deal? OK. Here we GO!

In what is probably the game of the night, the (5) Pittsburgh Penguins head north to take on the (4) Ottawa Senators. Both teams have an excellent talent base but, both have their drawbacks. Pittsburgh is young and only two of their players have real playoff experience (41 year old Gary Roberts, 40 year old Mark Recchi, and Georges Laraque[the tough guy]). The two latter players have the experience from the Finals last year, Recchi with Carolina, Laraque with the Oilers. Look for an extraordinary amount of speed in these games. The Penguins' drawback is that none of their kids (Malkin, Staal, Crosby, Armstrong, Whitney, Fleury) know how to play in the playoffs. It truly is a whole different game. The Senators' drawback is that their playoff experience is horrid. They haven't made it past the second round in years and were the top seed at least twice in the last five years. Chris Neil will most likely square up with Georges Laraque, and I really feel Neil will get pounded. Here's hoping, right SABRES NATION?!

I feel that bad experience outweighs no experience, in this situation. I don't think the Penguins will be able to go at the pace they need to for seven games in just two weeks. I give the edge to Ottawa, in seven games.

In another great series matchup, the Nashville Predators, led by two time Cup champ Peter Forsberg and an excellent goaltending duo in Tomas Vokoun and Chris Mason take on the San Jose Sharks, Yevgeni Nabokov/Vinny Toskala, and Joe Thornton. San Jose is led by a plethora of rookies, some on the blue line. Their offensive rookies won't be the problem; it's their defense without Craig Rivet in that should be worrisome to the Sharks. Scoring, in general, won't be a problem for the Sharks, I expect. J.P. Dumont, SABRES NATION will remember, departed us this summer and has enjoyed his best season of his career this year. Hopefully we haven't forgot how dangerous he was during our playoff run (7+7=14, 1GWG in OT) but I suspect San Jose does.

Given the youth on the Sharks, I cannot help but think that with similar goaltending and more clutch players in Barry Trotz's Predators, that the Preds win this series in six games.

The next matchup is the first of the Western Conference round. (3) Vancouver Canucks led by a couple twins and a brick wall take on the (6) Dallas Stars, led by the face of the franchise, Mike Modano. Roberto Luongo proved to be the steal of the century from the Panthers. The man is, in my not so humble opinion, the best goalie this year. Vancouver has a slightly more offensive system led by the Sedin twins (Dan and Henrik). Taylor Pyatt (we all remember him, right?) also has over twenty goals this year, and figures to be a force in the playoffs. Modano, for the Stars, is an excellent player, surrounded by other talent like Jussi Jokinen and Brenden Morrow. Marty Turco, the Stars' keeper, has consistently been a very good goalie in the regular season the past few years, but has played terribly in the playoffs.

Do I think he tightens it up this year? A little. But I don't think he can out dual Luongo. That said, I pick the Canucks in seven.

The last game of the night is another Western Conference matchup featuring the (2) Anaheim Ducks and the (7) Minnesota Wild. Brian Rolston, the Alternate Captain of the Wild, and Jacques Lemaire, the coach, both boast Stanley Cups on their resume. The same one, as a matter of fact, in 1995 with the New Jersey Devils. Pavol Demitra and Marian Gaborik will cause heck for the Ducks and J.S. Giguere, the Conn Smyth winner of 2003. Teemu Selanne will do everything he can with his teammates Andy McDonald, Scott Niedermeyer, and Chris Pronger. This team is L-O-A-D-E-D with playoff experience. Their only drawback is Minnesota's speed coupled with a stingy trap-style defense.

Because I think Rolston's a winner, and Lemaire is a better coach, I think the Wild will stifle the league's most balanced team. The Wild in seven, according to Pat.

There you have it, SABRES NATION. The Wild, the Canucks, the Predators, and the Senators. A preview of all the series beginning tomorrow. New fans, young kids, old fans all alike- this may be a playoffs to remember. So many possibilities with so many even teams in the salary cap era! Welcome to the Show, ladies and gentlemen. Buckle up, SABRES NATION, here is what we've been waiting for!