Tonight is Do or Die for the Buffalo Sabres

I put off posting mid-week because I was hoping I would get to write something happy, like, “The series is tied at two! There’s still hope!”

Instead, all I can come up with is this:

Dear Buffalo Sabres,

You have broken the hearts of this professional-sports-team-championship-less city too many times in this past, yet we keep crawling back to you with hope. Please, please, with every fiber of my being, I am asking you to not do it again.

We had high hopes after Game One. We let Game Two slide, because everyone has a bad day. But now that you’ve blown leads in three games in a row — well, Sabres, we’re frustrated.

Perhaps you don’t understand the lengths to which we go to show our devotion to you. We stand outside HSBC Arena on cold, April-in-Buffalo days to cheer you on. Those among us who can grow beards. We play into superstitions, wearing this “lucky” shirt or eating at that restaurant before the game because that’s what we did when you won. We scream and yell until our voices are hoarse. Don’t you see how much we love you?

But, most importantly, Sabres, we never give up on you. We may whine and curse you after a week like this — but we keep coming back. We keep thinking, “Maybe this will be the year.” Because, in the end, you’re all we’ve got. And we know, one of these days, you’re going to win it all. And, the thing is, we will support you no matter how long it takes.

But you — oh, you, Buffalo Sabres. You torture us! We’re biting our nails and pacing around the room, hearts racing as we prepare for another period, another game — and, once again, you put us through the pain and anguish of a letdown.

So, please, Sabres, win this. If not for you, then for us, your fans. Because, honestly? I don’t think I can deal with my boyfriend, sitting there dejected after you lose — just sitting there. Stunned. Upset. You can cut the tension with a knife.

And if I can’t deal with just him, how am I going to deal with it if it happens to 18,000 fans, all with me in HSBC Arena tonight?

Love,

Angela

Dramatic? Probably a little. But when I said this series wasn’t going to be easy, I didn’t think it would be this hard.

It doesn’t matter if you believe this sudden slump is because of bad penalties, unfair refereeing, injuries, nerves, post-season inexperience, laziness or simply being out-played — the facts remain the same: this series is 3-1. If the Sabres do not win tonight, it’s over.

It’s do-or-die time, Buffalo. Show us that you want the Stanley Cup.

Congratulations, Tyler Myers

Tyler Myers -- Calder Trophy Winner

And now, for some good news (because writing about the past week in Sabreland is depressing): Tyler Myers is nominated for the Calder Trophy, the NHL’s Rookie of the Year award.

Myers, the Sabres 2008 first-round draft pick, surprised pretty much everyone in his first year with the club, showing that he was not only a defensive force to be reckoned with, but pretty helpful with the scoring opportunities, too. Myers ended the regular season with a +13 plus-minus rating and 48 points (11 goals and 37 assists).

Colorado Avalance center Matt Duchene and Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard are the other two nominees. The winner will be announced in June at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas.

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