USA & Buffalo Sabre goalie Ryan Miller is doing just fine for himself...on and off the ice

            

Onto The Weekend That Will Be: Hockey Edition for the games on hand...

Pittsburgh Penguins: The Pens have jumped right back into things after the Olympic break. One fun fact you might like to hear is that Tuesday’s much anticipated rematch of Crosby and Miller in the 'Burgh saw an unusual twist by Pens' fans. They greeted Ryan Miller with a standing ovation in recognition for his play with team USA and actually turned their backs on one of their own and booed Sid the Kid. I wish I could’ve seen it, it was quite the talk of the town here in Buffalo on Wednesday morning. Pittsburgh has two home games ahead to round out the week. Saturday they will face the Dallas Stars. They are 5-4-1 in their last ten played, and were blown out in both games they played this week. 5-1 on Tuesday and 6-1 on Thursday. Sunday the Pens take on the Boston Bruins. Boston is 5-2-3 in their last ten. They split their return games this week, losing 4-1 Tuesday and winning 3-2 on Thursday. It should make for an interesting set of games at Mellon Arena this weekend.

Prediction: While I think the Stars are no match for the Pens, Sunday may play a different way. I think the weekend will be split. W over Dallas, L to Boston.

Philadelphia Flyers: The Flyers have two games this weekend and they have reverted right back to their seesaw results dealing with games. Winning Tuesday 7-2 and losing Wednesday 7-4. Tonight they are in my neck of the woods, or better yet said, the land of melting snow…They will be in downtown Buffalo facing the Sabres. Miller and his boys are 2-6-2 in their last ten, losing both return games this week. I would look to see a challenge for this evening as the Sabres were very disappointed in their play Wednesday against Washington. On Sunday, Philly will return home and welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs into town. Toronto is 2-6-2 in their last ten, losing both return games this week as well. Toronto finds themselves standing in the doorway of the basement of the league in second to last place. The Maple Leafs seem to be nothing but a slight bump in the road for most teams lately.

Prediction: Once again I see another split weekend of games. I see an L on the road in Buffalo, and a W at home over Toronto.

Washington Capitals: Much like the Penguins this week, Washington plowed right through this week’s games not missing a beat. With the added additions to the Caps’ scoring arsenal, newly added players see these moves as a possible chance to win the cup in our nation’s capital. Here are Scott Walker’s own words on being traded to Washington, "I’d buy my own plane ticket there." Walker backed up those words by showing his excitement at bearing the Red, White, and Blue by scoring twice in a three minute span in the third period to capture the W. The Capitals find themselves with only one game on hand this weekend. Saturday they welcome the New York Rangers to the "Phone Booth". The Rangers are 5-4-1 in their last ten, splitting their return games this week. While this game might not seem like any indicator for the rest of the season, you’re always in for a show of hockey at the sold out Verizon Center.

Prediction: I see the "Washington Wrecking Ball" smashing forward. W over the Rangers.

Hershey Bears: At this point in the season most AHL fans find themselves wondering if their team can keep going. When the trade deadline rolls around, it is usually the farm club that takes the biggest punch in losing key players and saying "now what?" This year, Hershey seems to have dodged the bullet, and while we must bid our goodbyes to Oskar Osola...one player is still just one player. Osola leaves Hershey with 15 goals in 53 games played this season and appearances in two NHL games last season. It has also been reported that shortly following the trade, he was assigned to the Albany River Rats so Bears fans will see him again...just no longer wearing the Chocolate and White. Onto Hershey’s games this weekend. The Bears have two games this weekend. Saturday against the in-state rival WB/Scranton Penguins and ex-instate rival (now newly moved way north) Adirondack Phantoms. The Bears overtook the Baby Pens in the last meeting via a shootout and suffered a road loss to the Phantoms in their last meeting. Hopefully the boys of the Chocolate and White can continue on with their amazing homestand winning streak that currently sits at an AHL record 21.

Prediction: While I want to see Hershey get both Ws this weekend, a split in the games would not be a surprise. But I am going with the 2 Ws. Yes Bearcat, I am such a Hershey homer…

Thanks for coming and suckling Daddy's Sugar Ball...