STORY TIME!!

Again, I realize I've been a terrible blogger, but once again I fell (sort of) ill, and was helping Kim house/dog sit at a house where they don't have wireless internet. I therefore had to become a "bandwidth theif" as my brother likes to call them, and had to leech off their neighbors, which didn't work out too well. I was able to change my Facebook status, check my email, and IM my brother for about a minute, and then I gave up trying to find a wireless connection that didn't require a password. FAIL.

But the Sabres? PASS!!!

(But that doesn't mean you, Derek Roy, because you most definitely need to SHOOT.)

Seriously, though?? How good has this team been? And I'll be the first to admit that I expected to lose that game last night. I didn't think that, having just traveled cross-country the day before, and having just played the Western Conference teams, that the Sabres would have the energy. And really, who could blame them had they not? Not only that, though, but we were playing Toronto. Now, I know the Leafs aren't exactly daunting when you consider the standings, but I've gone to more than my fair share of Buffalo/Toronto games to know that they're crazy ridiculous. It's usually a very high-tempo, spirited game between the players, as well as the battles in the stands.

But last night? Were the Sabres playing some high school team from Toronto? Because that was probably the worst example of a game between such bitter rivals that I've ever witnessed. I didn't mind it at all, don't get me wrong. I'm just saying it was, well, a disappointment of sorts. I miss those really rough and tumble Leaf games that Rob Ray and Brad May were reminiscing of...

Anyways, back to my point.

Drew Stafford. Sick goal, babe. There's really nothing else I can say about it. And that interview was just precious. I looked over at Kim while he was talking and just said, "Kim, my friend, this is what I want in a man. A really dry, witty sense of humor, from a guy who doesn't give a damn what people think about him, and just tells it like it is. That's what I want." Well, alright, maybe he should give a damn, but you know what I mean... I hope.

Thomas Vanek. What is there left to say? This man is outrageous. He never ceases to amaze me. I thought for sure he was going to try to deke on his one goal, but that sniper, top shelf, totally caught me off guard. Wow, Tommy... Wow. And to think, we almost lost you. I almost hate to think where we might be right now if we had... Whew, I just got chills, actually...

Tim Connolly. The man is on FIRE. 5 goals in 5 games; in the 12 games since his latest return from injury, he has 8 goals and 11 points, which gives him 18 points in 18 games on the season. Nice. This is why we need this guy healthy and in the lineup. It is essential. Enough said.

Ryan Miller. Hot. Damn. Love this guy. I love shut outs. They're fantastic, and he's fantastic.

And do you know what else is FANTASTIC??

Not only did Teppo hit the ice again last night, but Jaro and Jochen will be back on Fridayyyyyy!!!! (Can you tell I'm excited?)

Okay, so in regards to the title, I have a story to tell. Now, I'm not going to lie, I feel like I have to share this story because Anne, from Sabretooth's House, mentioned that the Leafs have some damn good looking fans.

I can definitely attest to that.

Last March, over Spring Break, I traveled to Tampa, Florida with my brother and Kim to hit the beach (and take in a Tampa/Washington game, of course). On the way back to Buffalo, though, is when I had the most fun.

Whilst waiting in the baggage-check line in the Tampa airport, I happened to notice a svelte young man further down the line, holding goalie sticks and a hockey bag. So that peaked my interest immediately (okay, so maybe I do have jersey chaser tendencies). But what kinda killed it at the same time... He was wearing a Leafs hat.

Now, the Sabres were playing Boston that evening, and if you all remember, it was quite the effort for the Sabres to get into the playoffs, and we needed help from other teams. I can't really remember if Toronto was in the running at all, but I don't really have the time to look into right now either.

But what I did was try my hardest for him to overhear me loudly talking about the Sabres in line. And in the terminal, as he was on our flight.

If, though, you think back to my post when Kim and I were in Boston (a bit ironic, don't you think?), I'm not the confrontational type.

So, even though he walked onto the plane right behind us, and I'm sure he heard me, he didn't say a word. I was a tad bit disappointed, but I got over it.

My brother didn't want to sit with us on the plane, which was fine by me, so Kim and I went to the last row on one side, and he to the other (we flew Southwest). Kim took the window seat, so I took the middle one, because there were just too many people on the flight to be stingy and leave a seat open. This cute little old man sat down next to me because there was only one other empty seat (next to hot Toronto fan) and he allowed his wife to sit there with the fine young gentleman.

But, like I said, he was a gentleman. Goalie got up from his seat, approached the man who had sat next to me, and said, "Sir, would you like to sit with your wife?"

I DIED. I do a lot of that, I'm sure you've noticed. I have more lives than a cat.

So I watched whatever movie he was watching on the way home, and while at the baggage claim, Kim scoped out his baggage for his name. I forget what it is though... Something with Thomas, but I don't remember if that was his first name or last name.

That was a fun day.

And then I saw him at UB like, two weeks later. And he said hey and smiled like he remembered me. Weird.

So that was story time. Be sure to check out the Tim Connolly and Mike Milbury drama over at Puck Daddy. Pretty entertaining shit.