You know it has to be a Sabres Leafs game when the dressing room is jammed with reporters, and 8 camera tripods are bunched in close to film Lindy Ruff’s morning comments.

On the ice this morning it was just one goaltender - Jocelyn Thibault, practicing with the guys, as Ryan Miller was away in Michigan attending memorial services for his cousin who recently passed away. Miller is expected to be back by game time. Just the other day Ruff was waffling about the date when Thibault would get the start in net, but this morning Jocelyn was the center of attention. Ruff praised Thibault’s strong work ethic - “He was always the one out there the longest in training camp. He would always spend extra time working with the younger players. And if Ryan (Miller) should go down with an injury, we feel confident he could step in nicely.”

Much of the buzz from the Leafs media contingent has to do with Buffalo’s newly found offensive prowess. The team is getting plenty of shots on net and scoring chances, and with Toronto lighting the lamp as well this season, everyone is expecting a wide open and high scoring affair.

The guy with the most swagger in the dressing room these days is Jaroslav Spacek, and why the heck not! He’s got four goals, and Ruff complimented him this morning by saying “He’s probably the best defenseman we have right now, in penalty kills, on the power play and 5 on 5″. There’s a new song going around called “Spacho - Man!” done to the famous Village People tune, and Jaroslav is eating that up.

About 1000 tickets remain for sale, and let’s hope for a big walk up to keep the sellout streak intact. So that means you Leafs fans too get your asses down here and bring that colorful currency of yours!

7 PM start time and I’ve got the Artvoice chair tonight. I also got a call and an email from roadtripper Joe Connor, who is traveling the country visiting football venues in a car powered by used vegetable oil. Pete and I met him last year at Dunn Tire Park and we were a bit sour on him because he totally dissed our ballpark back then and we thought most of it was unfair. Anyways, he is in town and will be attending the game so I might at least hook up with him and say hi.

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