What has Lindy Ruff complained about?

KathyK, I shouldn't even go there with you, and won't after this post ... I couldn't disagree more with your assessment of Lindy Ruff; he has complained about everything under the sun. As for the Sabres, of course, they haven't complained about the officiating! Good Lord, why would they .... when every call (or non-call) is going their way??? ;;) (And there HAVE been plenty of comments from the Sabres, regarding their injuries! Carolina could certainly do the same thing ... think Erik Cole!!! :-( )

Oh, well ... enough said. Back to travel stuff!!! :-d

Bonnie, I'll agree to disagree with you about the officiating. I'll repeat my question - what has Lindy Ruff complained about? Not sure what "everything under the sun" is. The only time that I've heard him or the players talk about the injuries is when they have been asked about it by reporters. As you know, we are missing 3 of our top 5 defenders and our top offensive player, Tim Connelly. There have been alot of questions from reporters about how the team has dealt with that, it's not something that has been brought up by the team. I don't think you can compare our injury situation to Carolina's.

Oh no! Our local radio station is reporting this morning that our TOP defenseman, Jay McKee is sick (must be very sick) and did not make the trip to Raleigh. That means we will be playing with our # 7,8,9&10 defenseman, 3 of which played on our farm team all season in Rochester. We're going to need alot of offense from our forwards. Come on Buffalo, do you believe in miracles?

I heard about McKee on the radio too. Buffalo media must have a different take on Ruff. Maybe it is just gamesmanship, but down here all the media is talking about Ruff and his comments.

Want to hear something funny - I went to the zoo last Saturday, and there was a bunch of bison really close to the fence. I booed them!! Quietly though; wouldn't want everyone to think I was crazy.

I can't wait until this game is over because the anticipation is killing me. It is the 2005 NCAA basketball championship and 2004 Game 7 Red Sox-Yankees all over again for me. Actually it is even worse when you have tickets and want desperately to have the chance to use them.

My cousin who resides in Chapel Hill says that Buffalo has turned into "whine country," especially their coach. I believe she is right.

I'm a Buffalo fan but I really think they'll have a hard time against Edmonton w/all their injuries. Carolina will have a better shot.

I'm still waiting to hear what it is that Linsay Ruff is whining and complaining about. Could someone be specific? I recall that game 5 was won in overtime by Carolina on a power play, did you hear any whining from the Buffalo locker room like you did from Carolina after game 6? The only thing I've heard Ruff complain about is the Carolina whining of it's coach and players.

According to what I have heard and read, Ruff told the players before the last game that Carolina had champagne ready in the locker room - not true. He called Carolina an arrogant team. He apparently accused Carolina of complaining about Buffalo's ice and making other excuses. It's not that he is complaining about the refs right now as the way he is talking about the opposing team. They say that is part of his style. Down here, the media seems to think it could have an impact on the game tonight because between this and the way the Canes' players feel they didn't get the job done Tuesday, their anger could push them tonight. I think anger is great, if it is controlled and doesn't lead to penalties or getting out of their game.

Dan, Thanks for some specifics. I don't know who is telling the truth about the champagne, but it would make sense that the Sabres would have access to information about what was going on in their building. Lindy did complain about the champagne. There were complaints from Carolina about the ice in game 6, but both teams had to play on the same ice. Reportedly the ice in Raleigh hasn't been good, but the Sabres haven't used that as an excuse. Carolina did have lots of excuses for the loss after game 6. My hope is that they have many more excuses after another loss tonight. Will you be at the game? Logic tells me that the Sabres will have a very hard time with 5 key players out, but that is only one more than last game so who knows? McKee is definitely out, with a seriously infected shin. Talk radio here is crazy today, we don't want this to end!

I'm totally up with what KathyK says!

And let's just HYPOTHETICALLY say the
'Canes win tonight (and I do mean HYPOTHETICALLY). Forget the officiating, how much more could the 'Canes have going their way when the other team is missing SEVERAL of it's key players????

Wah....wah....wah....wah....wah....wah
Now there's some whining for you! >:O

Let me say it one more time:

"IT AIN'T OVER TILL IT'S OVER!!!"

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

That's it, I'm pulling out my autographed French Connection picture for good luck from the hockey gods! (Well, that and my Jim Schoenfeld album).

What a great hockey series we are all witnessing. I think Lindy's comments are just his way (and good coaching) of just taking the pressure off his players. For a blonde, he's pretty smart (just kidding). Dan, I feel for you if your team makes it to the finals and you're on a cruise. One of my sons cancelled an overseas trip to witness the playoffs and hopefully, finals. He claims it was other reasons, but I know this was a major reason. He's young, he's got lots of time to travel. And this is Buffalo---how many times have we almost won a championship? I guess he wants to be here when it happens this time! Let's Go Buffalo!!!!

Yes, I will be at the game tonight. My daughter has a short event at school, so I will have to hustle not to miss much of the first period. As for the cruise, if the Canes get there, I can at least go to 3 games here before leaving. Hard to win in 5 though.

I am sure tonight will be exciting and probably very nerve wracking. I know Buffalo has lots of players out, but weird things can happen in these situations, and the ones they have left will give it their all I am sure.

Dan - win or lose, please report back on the game and the atmosphere in the arena. I'll be interested to hear how many Sabres fans make it there. There were many reports of carloads of Buffalo fans leaving during the night.

The Carolina players did NOT complain about the ice, in terms of the loss. The comment I heard was that "the ice was not good, but BOTH teams had to play on it so that's no excuse" .... that was it! Dan, I read the same comments you did, from Ruff. He's also constantly accused the Carolina players of diving, he lied about champagne in the locker room, etc. When the Hurricanes say there was no champagne in the locker room, I believe them. Ruff, of course, has not complained of the officiating because he's had nothing to complain about! It's pretty much all gone his way! :-d

He obviously insults the opposing team and coach in the press, hoping to ruffle them into a loss. Seems to be his style ... I'm betting it won't work this time!!!!!!! ;;)

We'll let you know about your Buffalo fans ... Let's hope they stay out of the utility closets tonight!!! (Did you hear about that, Dan??? :-d )

MAY THE BEST TEAM WIN, FAIR AND SQUARE!!! AND MAY THAT BE:

CAROLINA!!!!!!!!! GO 'CANES!!!!!!!!!!! :-D

I want my mommy!!!!!!!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS HURRICANES!!!!!!

My 14 yr. old son just broke down in tears :-( He was SO into this.

Bonnie and dan: =D> =D> =D>

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

WAY TO GO, HURRICANES!

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

((f)) to my Buffalo friends! Your guys played great, but the hockey Gods were smiling on us this year! It's been fun ............

The Sabres are a fabulous team, but tonight is a Carolina Hurricanes thrill night! Yipppppppeeeeee!

BuffaloGirl, tell your son that his team was terrific this whole series, and there's always next year! He can be very proud ...

My husband says that he enjoyed these games with Buffalo more than any games we've seen this year. Hugs to you, BuffaloGirl! You're fun to watch games with ... ((L))

Damn, I hit the reply button too soon:

OK, It's officialy OVER!!!! It hurts. It really, really hurts.

bonniebroad: PLEASE drop me a line at eleven (at) buffalo (dot) com.

Girlfriend, you are gonna LOVE the sponge candy!!!!!!

I am so :'( :`( :((

SIGH.

BuffaloGirl, you are a gracious and charming person. Insist Bonnie send you some of her banana bread to ease the pain......

Thanks, bonnie and cmcfong. My son, after a tear or two, bounced right back.....just like the Sabres will!!! Hey, real men (and boys) cry, right?????

Enjoy your win and good luck in your quest for Lord Stanley!

After four Super Bowl losses, we can handle anything :-)!

Bonnie...I mean it....contact me. If you don't, I'll bug the heck out of you! :-)

As a die hard Buffalo sports fan who was in attendance at all 4 Super Bowl losses and the Sabres/Dallas "no goal" game in the Stanley Cup finals, it's hard to describe how disappointed I am that the Sabres lost tonight. However, I am so proud of the Sabres team, who battled all season long, especially through the playoffs, with injuries that would have kept most teams far away from game 7 in the conference finals. While I congratulate the Hurricanes, I can't help but root for the Oilers, a team from a city that will really care about supporting their team in the finals. Carolina, will you have tickets available for game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals, like you had available for game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals?

Here is my report from a rocking, and I do mean rocking RBC Center. I got home an hour ago, but my wife was on the computer. There were several hundred Buffalo fans as usual, but I barely made it there for the start of the game. After the game, I stayed outside for a while with hundreds of other Cane fans. A band played before a very enthusiastic crowd - such greats as "Rock You Like a Hurricane," "Sweet Home Alabama" (changed to "Sweet Home Carolina"), and "I Love Rock 'n' Roll." Hundreds of more fans were still hanging around all over the parking lots, and I saw a few remaining Sabres fans getting ready to head back north. I did shake one guy's hand and tell him that it was a great series. The Buffalo fans tried to cheer tonight, but this was the one night when they didn't have a prayer of being heard. This place was soooooooo loud with "Let's Go Canes!" I know I had to stop at one point for fear of losing my voice.

For a Hurricane fan, the way this game went was about as good as one could hope. Weight and Williams both had terrific plays to make up for Tuesday's mistakes, and the captain Rod Brind'Amour scored the go ahead goal. He did it all tonight. Plus, like all year, they came from behind with a big third period.

Lastly, let me say that it is impossible for me to feel sympathy for the opposing team, but I do feel for some of the fans (I know how much this would have meant to your city - I would have pulled for the Sabres in the Finals if we had lost). I thought all year long that Buffalo was a terrific team, and they really showed that in the playoffs. There is a lot to be proud about, but I am sure it hurts a lot right now. Sure, I would have gladly taken a four-game sweep, and I was disappointed we lost Tuesday night, but the way this series went gave me some of the greatest thrills of my life. Thank you Buffalo for an amazing series. Who knows how good a team will be from year to year these days, as players move around all the time, but I imagine the Sabres will be back in force. See you in the fall. Now, I am ready for the Finals!! And tomorrow is Friday. Doesn't get much better.

Dan - you almost make me want to cheer for Carolina now in the finals.

Congrats to Bonnie and Dan and all the Canes fans. It was a great series. We Sagbres fans have a lot to look forward to if Sabres management spends the $$ to keep some key players. I'd like to say I will be cheering for the canes in the cup but Mike Peca (a fromer Sabre)is on the Oilers and I'll probably root for his team. Great to speak with so many hockey fans!!! Have a great weekend!