I'm putting away my beautiful handmade red ribbon scarf. The Sabres have lost both times I wore it. My pups will continue to wear their red and black collars as that seems to be lucky for the Sabres. We are trying to figure out how to get my son's lucky chair to him in FL where he is for a few days. They win every time he sits in it. Perhaps we can plant it in the Arena for luck.

Don't you love all the game superstitions? What are your good luck charms?

Let's Go Buffalo!

"Hostile" does not start to describe the Buffalo fans at the RBC Saturday, I am told. Don't know if they were mostly transplants or just visiting. My cousin from Chapel Hill had tickets, and used words like very rude, obscene trash-talking, pushy and abusive to describe them. Carolina tail-gating has always been about friendly banter and offering a beer or a burger to the opposing team's fans. Hurricanes supporters were shocked to see this behavior, and the condition some Buffalo fans left the parking lot in.

My cousin says the Montreal fans were a different story years ago, that they never had any of these problems with them or with any other team's fans. I am sure all Buffalo fans do not behave this way but it's sad that any of them do.

I feel compelled to defend the great Buffalo fans that I know. I've been going to sporting events in Buffalo and in other towns for many years. Soemtimes as a Buffalo fan but more often when it's out of town, just to see another team/sport/venue. Over the years, fans all over have gotten more vocal and passionate about their teams, but I have always felt that Buffalonians were among the most polite. Not necessarily quiet, but respectful. I'm sorry to hear that there were some exceptions in your town. You should head on up to Buffalo to see the true fans.

Maybe "hostile" was not the right choice of words. I wasn't implying rude or abusive behavior. I have been going to Buffalo sporting events (Bills and Sabres) as a season ticket holder for years and agree with Rachel that the behavior or a few shouldn't spoil the reputation of Buffalo sports fans, most of whom are well behaved and friendly toward the opposing teams fans.

Okay, it's an hour and a half until game-time so ................

:-d GO HURRICANES!!!!!!!!!! :-d

(Sad to say, Leelane's cousin is right about the Buffalo fans here in Raleigh for the game this past Saturday ... some were arrested and made the papers! My neighbor, a season ticket-holder, says she'd never seen anything like them! :-( I told her they were obviously not like my nice Buffalo friends on Fodors! :-) )

=D> LET'S GO, HURRICANES!!! =D>

I don't mind the 'Canes losing to Buffalo fair and square; when we lose to Buffalo AND the officials, that's another matter. The second period was the worst officiating I've EVER seen. :-(

I'm not a whiner about referees ... but this was inexcusable!

WE WILL....WE WILL....ROCK YOU!

WE WILL....WE WILL....ROCK YOU!

Buffalo Sabres: 8-) ((H)) ((#))

Carolina 'Canes: X( :-B :((

Yikes, tonight was almost identical to Monday's game!

There, there, Bonnie. Everything will be alright. Prepare yourself for tomorrow night. Take a deep breath......I'm going to send you some sponge candy even though I probably won't have to. Shhhh...it's going to be OK........there, there!

(I take it upon myself to apologize for any and all Buffalonians who may have been responsible for bad behavior in Hurricane territory. That is SO not typical behavior of our fans. I can only hope and assume that the fans got a little out of control due to the excitement, like the teams themselves, and allowed themselves to revel more than necessaary. Well, that and the alcohol. Very atypical. Really. I am embarressed for them.)

LET'S GO, BUFFALO!!!! GO SABRES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oops, I meant to say "Prepare yourself for FRIDAY!"

Bonnie, I felt the same way about Monday night's game.

Talk about officiating.....what do you thing happened to the Sabres during the Stanley Cup game against Dallas a few years ago. TOTALLY INEXCUSABLE!!!

I know, that was then...and this is now. Just imagine losing four super bowls in a row :-(.

Talk to you Friday........ :-)

Bonnie, What did you think of the officiating in the first period? There were quite a few non calls that would have gone against Carolina. I was at the game and I must say, the Buffalo fans were fantastic. The atmosphere in the 2nd period was comparable only to what I experienced in the Bills come back game vs. Houston in 1993. Something special is going on here.

KathyK, as I said before, I am almost never a whiner about officiating, as I think *bad calls* usually balance out, and I get tired of friends and family whining when actually their teams have played badly. NOT last night ... the second period was disgusting, for the obvious bias toward the Sabres. I think the refs were making very sure that the Sabres won the first game at home! I know you don't agree with me, but that is exactly what I think ... :-(

I sure hope they will do better tomorrow night ... they couldn't call it any worse!

Bonnie, I truly thought the officiating in the previous game, which was played in Raleigh, was very biased toward the Hurricanes! I can't tell you how many times we (me, hubby, and son) threw our arms up in the air on all the "missed" calls against the 'Canes. One after another.

I think we focus so much on our teams and players that we don't notice the officiating as much toward the other teams. I honestly didn't notice bad officiating toward Raleigh last night.
Just my thoughts!

You were right about one thing....this is fun!

@};- to my Buffalo friends!

Enough said ... it's like chewing the gristle off a pork chop, as my Granny said. It could go on all day! :-d

Tomorrow's another day/game!!! GO 'CANES! :-)

Friday may just be the defining night in this series. Either the Canes are facing elimination or the Sabres are facing a mostly hostile (way too many Buffalo fans down here last weekend) RBC crowd and the possibility of being one game away from the golf course themselves. I still think this series is going 7 games. It has been quite a battle so far. The Canes, officiating aside, really need to stay away from those momentum changing penalties near the end of the first period. Luckily, it didn't end up costing them in Game 2.

I still believe! Right now, I am going with Canes in 7, and within three weeks Eric Staal may join Michael Jordan as an alltime Triangle sports legend.

:-d :-d :-d :-d :-d :-d

=D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

CAROLINA HURRICANES .......... 4

BUFFALO SABRES ............... 0

To my Buffalo friends: @};-

Great game tonight. Of course, my power went out during the last two periods!!! Thank goodness for radios.

We're in trouble. 3 of our top 4 defensemen are injured, so we need someone to score some goals and last night it didn't happen. But all season the Sabres have come back with a big game when they needed it so tomorrow I'm expecting a win.

KathyK, I feel your pain. When the Pittsburgh Penquin JERK (he never even apologized ... and he almost paralyzed another player!) hit Erik Cole and broke his neck the latter part of our season, it was devastating for Carolina (he is HUGE, HUGE to our team!) You hate that these things happen ... but hockey is that kind of game, isn't it? :-(

GO 'CANES! ONLY TWO MORE TO GO!!! :-)

I think we're in a lot of trouble with all the injuries.

BuffaloGirl: :-( :-( :-(

Bonnie: Thank you for the @};-. We need it after last night.

:-d :-d :-d :-d :-d :-d :-d :-d :-d :-d

((*)) CAROLINA HURRICANES 4 ((*))

((*)) BUFFALO SABRES 3 ((*))

Best sign in the crowd tonight: "Send the Buffalo Home 2 Roam!" ;;)

WAY TO GO, 'CANES!

Just one more ... :D

=D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

To my Buffalo friends: @};-

Oh my god!! Both teams came to play and what a tense but beautiful ending. Hard to go to sleep tonight. Glad tomorrow's holiday.

It ain't over till it's over. :S-

GO SABRES....GO SABRES....GO SABRES!!!!

You're right. I am also a long-time Red Sox fan, so I truly believe in "it ain't over til it's over." I hope this time it is over though.

I'll be there tonight. I would be just like this years Sabres to come back and win 2.

((*)) HERE WE GO, HURRICANES! HERE WE GO! ((*))

I will be at RDU to meet the guys when they get home tonight ... I'm thinking we'll have A LOT to celebrate! ;;)

((*)) LET'S GO, 'CANES! ((*))

This is a case of wishing both teams could win ( for me)
Good luck to all :D

Scarlett, I forgot .... I guess you ARE torn between! But, really, girlie, you need to pull for the Southern team! :-d :p

Okay, all together now (Scarlett!):

GO, 'CANES!!!!!!!!!!! ;;)

Scarlett,

At the last game I sat right behind a man and woman who were both Buffalo fans, and their teenage daughter was wearing a Carolina jersey. We asked them how did that happen, and they said they guess they went wrong somewhere.

Should be a war tonight. One team has to win, and I hope the other plays like it has to as well.

KC & The Sunshine Band says:

"That's the way, uh huh...uh huh, I like it, uh huh, uh huh!" \:D/

Austin Powers says: "Yeah, Baby!"

BuffaloGirl says: "Phew!" And then, "Sweeeeet!"

To Bonniebroad and dan: @};- ((R))

LET'S GO, BUFFALO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YIKES!!!!!!!! :-( I've had to hit the bottle (of Rhine) tonight after that one! :p

I'm not sure I can sit through another one .... I guess the 'Canes just want to win it at home! :-)

Thanks for the rose, BG! Your guys played well ... :D ( X-( )

Yeah, now I have to go to a school function and Game 7 in one night. Oh well. That was a frustrating game because of the way it ended and Justin William's missed shot earlier, but at least the final game is here in NC. Go Canes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was there! What a game! I can't wait for game 7. Buffalo could not be more pumped up!!

I'd like to say I'm speechless after last night's game, but what I really am is voiceless! Or pretty darn close! It was a great game and game 7 should be wild. The Arena was rockin'. Sabres in 7!!!!!

Holy Cow.

As a (sad and frustrated) Bruins fan, I don't have a favorite, but this series sure is fun to watch. I can't wait for game 7.

And then, even better, its winner vs Edmonton. Rock on.

I do think both teams did some great playing last night .... BUT I think the officials did some awful calling/not calling in the overtime, to the detriment of Carolina. Laviolette almost NEVER compains about officials ... but you can hear him loud and clear today, and I agree! X(

I don't think the officials were the reason Buffalo won (they played hard and well), but they may have helped Buffalo end the game when it ended. Williams had a rough night.

Ah, but that call against McKee (I think it was him) was totally bogus!

I agree that was a bad call on the McKee trip, but the frustrating thing about the last no call was that it resulted pretty directly in the game winning goal. Still, the Canes should have avoided a penalty leading up to it and should have had a lead if not for William's blown shot off of Brind'Amour's great pass. Buffalo outworked the Canes last night, but I would be shocked if that happens Thursday. I think both teams will play their butts off. One side is going to be devestated even if they realize what a great series it was. I give the Canes a small advantage because of home ice and the desire to make up for last night's mistakes, but it will almost certainly go down to the wire. Let's all take a deep breath before each period and hope to live through it.

Since this is a travel site, I must mention that my wife and I desided to go on our first cruise for our anniversary, and now it turns out the ship leaves two days before Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals (and I have tickets for the game). What perfect timing!! "If" the Canes do make it, I am praying it ends in 5 or less, but first Game 7 of this series has to be decided.

Enjoy your cruise, Dan. Trust me, you won't be missing any games! :-)

I love the focus of the Buffalo players and coaching staff. I haven't heard one complaint all playoffs about officiating, ice conditions, injuries, etc. They are just playing their game. On the other hand, did you hear Doug Weight's whining about the penalty called on him in overtime? I was there and have watched the replay on television several times, and the officials had no choice but to call the penalty. Either way, calls and non calls are part of the game, and neither team has won or lost because of the officiating. Penalties have been called on the Sabres in overtime all 3 series so far, and they just go out there and kill them off.

With all due respect, Buffalo lets its coach do all the complaining for the team : )