It’s about damn time, Darcy! Sabres sign Enroth

Those Sabres sure do like waiting until the last minute.

The Buffalo Sabres announced today that they have signed goaltender Jhonas Enroth, just hours before the Sabres would have lost his rights.

“We’re very happy to have Jhonas under contract,” said Regier. “He’s performed very well in Europe, and we look forward to his continued development as a member of our organization.”

Enroth (6/25/1988, 5’10”, 175 lbs.) spent last season with Sodertalje SK of the Swedish Elite League, and led all goaltenders with a 2.13 GAA in 27 games. A finalist for the league’s Rookie of the Year award, Enroth finished the year with a record of 10-14-3, along with two shutouts and a .932 save percentage.

Honestly, the term “disaster” might not be strong enough to describe the situation if they didn’t get Enroth’s name on paper.

Canucks defenseman Luc Bourdon dead at 21

I was sitting around watching tv this afternoon when I flipped over to the NHL Network (BTW, thank you, television gods for that channel). They were replaying last night’s Game 3, and as soon as I looked down at the ticker along the bottom, I felt my heart sink a little when I read that Luc Bourdon was dead.

First off, condolences to the Bourdon family, Canucks organization, and all Canucks fans.

Bourdon was a very promising young player. Selected 10th overall in 2005 by Vancouver, Luc was always one of the top prospects in hockey. The Hockey News in their 2007 Future Watch issue had him ranked as the 9th best prospect in the league. He was a franchise defenseman in the making.

Now, at the age of 21, his life is over.

If Sidney Crosby is the savior, Chris Osgood is the anti-christ.

Well, for being supposedly a tough match-up for both teams, Pittsburgh apparently doesn’t know that they need to score goals to win.

And they haven’t won, and they haven’t scored.

Chris Osgood has been lights-out for the Wings. While Detroit’s defense has limited most of the opportunities, Osgood has made the saves he needed to in the first two games. Hard to say he isn’t the star of the series, and potential Conn Smythe winner, when he hasn’t allowed a goal yet.

The only thing worse than the Pens’ shooting percentage is Detroit’s diving. They are probably the most talented team in the league, but they must feel the need to sell every fringe call because it’s obvious they’re embellishing. Johan Franzen flopping around in Game 2 after the hit from Roberts was a great example. Yeah, it probably did deserve two minutes, but he tried selling it like he was seriously hurt.

Pittsburgh’s running out of chances to get back in this series. Odds are, if they don’t score the first goal in Game 3, the series will be over before it can even go back to Detroit. It’s going to be one huge momentum swing. Pittsburgh’s been unbeaten in Pittsburgh since the regular season. Now, down 2-0, if that bench or that crowd gets any doubt in their heads, they’re already beaten.

Should be an interesting Game 3.

Bills fans apparently excited to see team miss playoffs

There’s a saying in the sports world: “Winning sells tickets.”

Apparently, that’s not the case in Buffalo. The Bills have now sold over 50,000 season tickets for the 2008 season, and they anticipate even more by the time the season comes.

The Bills still are in the early stages of their season-ticket campaign, yet their 50,000 total is the most in 15 years, since their last Super Bowl season of 1993. Last year’s season-ticket total was 48,236. So the Bills already are up 4 percent in sales despite just one winning season this decade and no playoff appearances in a franchise-record eight seasons.

“This certainly highlights the passion and commitment this region has for the Buffalo Bills and NFL football,” said Russ Brandon, Bills chief operating officer. “With nearly four months remaining before the season opener, we expect momentum to continue.”

So now the Bills can save some money on their marketing, since their on-field performance has apparently sold enough people. How? I don’t know.

And I swear, if I see or hear that damn “Lucky Baby” commercial one more time, I’m gonna find that baby and dropkick it.

• Buffalo News: Buffalo Bills’ season tickets selling quickly

Bills trying to lock up Lee Evans

Well, there’s some promising news coming out of One Bills Drive.

News got out today that the Bills have given an offer to wide receiver Lee Evans.

Terms of the proposed deal were not available.

Evans didn’t talk about any details of the offer and the Bills didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Evans, who had minor surgery on his shoulder this offseason, will likely command a salary comparable to that of Arizona receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald, a two-time Pro Bowler, inked a four-year, $40 million contract — with $30 million guaranteed — in March.

“Lee obviously is a core player in this organization and we want Lee to be here for many years to come,” Bills chief operating officer Russ Brandon said before last month’s draft.

Evans, [emrick]the former Wisconsin Badger[/emrick], is in the last year of a five year deal he signed after he was drafted by the Bills.

NHL probably busting over Finals pairing

Yes, the 2008 Stanley Cup will be awarded to either Pittsburgh or Detroit. Take that, Canada!

With the Red Wings finally defeating the Dallas Stars (I blame the absence of Stu Barnes), we are finally down to the last series of the 2008 playoffs.

The Stanley Cup Finals begin Saturday night, and I’m sure the NHL couldn’t be happier.

They get two of their self-promoted “premier” franchises, Detroit and Pittsburgh. They get to promote the hell out of their savior, Sidney Crosby, and they’ll definitely have large crowds of passionate fans to show to a national audience.

As if the national audience hasn’t seen the teams enough.

Buffalo can celebrate for once

It’s about damn time.

For those eagerly anticipating this post, and I know there’s a lot of you, sorry for the delay. It’s taken a while to get my thoughts together.

Last night, your Buffalo Bandits defeated the Portland LumberJax, 14-13 to claim the 2008 NLL Champion’s Cup.

Of course, like any Buffalo team, they don’t make it easy for the fans. While the Bandits never trailed, and held the lead the rest of the game after Kevin Dostie scored to take a 3-2 lead just over five minutes in, they never led by more than three, which is considered nerve wracking in the NLL.

When the buzzer sounded, it was the Bandits on top, as the franchise won their fourth NLL Championship, their first title in 12 years.

Buffalo Bandits: World Champions

Wow.

Full report coming tomorrow.

Game time, baby.

Okay, folks. It all comes down to this.

This isn’t gonna be a live blog or anything, but feel free to leave comments during the game.

If you’re not there, you can watch it live via B2 Networks. For a few bucks, you can watch the madness unfold live.

If you’re heading out, you can hear John Gurtler with the call on WGR 550.

Hopefully, I’ll be back tomorrow with a celebratory post.

LET’S GO BANDITS!

…and DOWN the stretch they come!

For those of you who aren’t lacrosse fans, the above picture is like seeing your team’s logos painted in the endzone at the Super Bowl.

The next 24 hours will be anxious waiting for Bandits fans. It’s not every year that your team plays for a title. It’s only been a one year absence in the final for the boys in black and orange, but it’s been twelve years since they’ve claimed the championship. Hell, the Aud was still open.

So, to bide your time, and to get you even more amped up for the game, here are a few items to look over:

• Buffalo News: Bucktooth’s return proves a tonic for Bandits
• Buffalo News: McCready wants a title for his dad
• NLL Insider: NLL Q&A with Buffalo Bandits defender Billy Dee Smith
• NLL Insider: NLL: Bandits want to forget 2006 Championship
• NLL Insider: NLL Playoffs: What They’ll Need To Do To Win, The Final Chapter