6:25PM… The teams have yet to take to the ice for their pregame skate, but the pressbox is totally empty right now, because everyone is down in the media room attending a 6:30PM press conference. Ducks GM Brian Burke is set to announce that Scott Niedermayer is apparently not retiring after all, and is set to return to a Ducks uniform. Pete is downstairs attending and we will have more.Meantime, about 150 fans have gathered around the visitors tunnel entrance to the ice, chanting “Lets Go Buffalo!” Sabresfan is in the building! (How shocking) -ak

7:02 PM Brian Burke’s quips from earlier press conference played over center ice scoreboard. Scott Niedermayer has decided to pull a Roger Clemens and return to the team. Burke stated that he should be ready to play within the next 7-10 days. Chris Pronger will remain team captain. -pf

7:07 PM Just noticed that directly below me in the arena’s top row is LeafFan. Travel 2600 miles and I still can’t get away from these freaks…..game on! -pf

7:13 PM - Pominville to Hecht on a smokin’ two on oh breakaway and just like that it’s 1-0 Buffalo. The Let’s Go Buffalo chants are beginning. -ak7:18 PM First noticable “Let’s Go Buffalo” chant quickly drowned out by Ducks fans.-pf

7:25 PM Second media timeout, useless thought of the day. You know you’re in SoCal when the big local newsstory of the day is about the dangerously high waves hitting the beaches today. Back to action - pjf7:28 FIGHT! Peters v. Parros….lengthy, seems like Parros got the better of it - pjf

7:32 Goal! Turn that stupid horn off!!!!-pjf

7:39 End of 1. 1-1 SOG Dux 9, Sabs 8…..Not a power play opportunity to be had by anyone….

7:55 They’re playing the Niedermayer announcement again….no word as to whether Suzyn Waldman is in the building or not…. -pjf

8:01 Was that Todd Bertuzzi I just saw???? Hockey oblivion I tell ya. Ducks control play early… - pjf

8:07 1st TV time out, shots on goal 8-0 Ducks for the period. -pjf 

8:12 I just got back from taking a walk around the building concourses to do a few snaps for the web site. Most of the Buffalo fans are wearing the old black and red jerseys. Must be expats. The hallways here are very pretty and opulent, marble tile and mirrors everywhere, but the seating bowl is sterile and uninspiring. I like our building much better. -ak 

8:13 First PP of the game, message to Anaheim PA guy, it’s pronounced spah-check, not spay-check…. successful PK-pjf

8:20 Second penalty on Spacek, and again PA guy gets it wrong…..arrgh…..2-1!-pjf

8:24 If you’ve gone to bed after the first period, not to worry apparently so have the Sabres. Not a pretty sight here for Buffalofan here at “The Pond” SOG for second period is currently 13-1 in favor of Anaheim. - pjf

8:30 five on four? No difference from the rest of the period. - pjf

8:32 3-1! Todd….@#$#!! Bertuzzi! The cigar is out of the pocket, if Anaheim scores next I will light it…-pjf

8:36 End of 2….Anaheim 3, Six guys wearing Sabre jerseys 1….I thinks the real Sabres are still out on the beach. SOG Ducks 16(25) Buffalo 3(11). - pjf

8:45 Stat that needs to be mentioned in an effort to jinx Anaheim: The Sabres have not lost at “The Pond” since Ted Nolan was behind the bench(5-2, 1/10/97). - pjf

9:00 Clock strikes midnight back east, and its Bertuzzi v. Gaustad on the ice….Bertuzzi making me look silly for my “oblivion” comment…..now it’s Peters v Paroos again…and this time Peters makes quick work of it. Guess they’re making up for the fact that these two clubs haven’t…ummm….faced off since October of ‘03. - pjf

9:05 The attendance has been announced at 17,174(sellout). All I’m sayin’ is that a couple thousand people, give or take a couple grand paid not to see the game. That’s all I’m sayin….-pjf

9:10 Sad Sabre PP, can’t get much going with Niedermayer without a stick for over a minute….Anaheim kills, and quickly here comes another. Pronger to the box, hmmm…..this is the game for all intents and purposes(damn you Kotalik!)-pjf

9:16 Kotalik penalty(ain’t it something) PP goal….cigar is lit….everyone back east go to bed now. - pjf

9:31 2:31 to go and Miller just made a great save, still fending for himself out there. This clock going waaaaaaayy too slow. - pjf

9:36 Finito! 4-1 Ducks…..postgame crap to come……

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