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The Eastern Conference Finals began this afternoon. We finished watching the game at around 9:45pm (tape-delayed by us, due to some other plans for this day). And I was just in shock. Seriously. This is nuts.

Buffalo has never won a championship. Well, I take that back… the Buffalo Bandits won the NLL championship their very first year in the league. What’s the NLL, you ask? Exactly.

But in 2006, it appears we have a very, very solid shot at this. The Sabres look to be, in my opinion, by far the best of the four remaining teams. They are playing aggressively, but smart. They are hustling all the time, making things happen. They never give up, and they never let down. Even when they were up 3-1 half way through the third period, they were still pouring it on. They have a rookie goaltender who is playing brilliantly, and though they are noted for their offensive production, their defense (particularly in blocking shots) has been simply outstanding.

If you haven’t watched the Sabres in a while, you won’t know any of the names. But as you watch them, you’ll notice that these young unknowns are quite talented, very team-oriented, and just super fun to watch!

Next game is Monday night on the Outdoor Life Network. I think you know where we’re going to be Monday night at 7:30!!

Care to read a couple articles (recaps) from tonight’s game?
Newsvine.com (AP): Sabres Hold Off Hurricanes In Game 1
NHL.com: Sabres Strike First, Lead 1-0