Here’s a scenario that would normally be reporter heaven… you are covering the Sabres; no competition as the only other beat reporter covering the game is John Vogl from the News; the Anaheim media contingent is skimpy to begin with and all engaged with their players; the locker room isn’t the labyrinth of side rooms and coves where players duck out like in Buffalo, but just one big room with locker stalls and an adjacent shower. I walk in and nirvana!… 25 hockey players in various stage of undress, and Media Coordinator Chris Bandura beseeching me to please have at it and interview anyone I like. I have the room pretty much to myself.

The down side? We know the Sabres sucked tonight, the players know they sucked tonight, Lindy knows his team sucked tonight, and who the hell really wants to rehash all that!

But I dove right in, and started with our favorite Andrew Peters, who was very much a factor in the game, taking on Ducks bad boy George Parros not once but twice in spirited fights, finishing the evening 1-1. “That’s what I’m paid to do” said Peters. “Their guy goes after Paille, and later on cheap shots Mairzie, if that’s the way they want to play the game then fine just let me know.”I asked Peters what went down when the final buzzer sounded, and it looked for a moment like both benches might spill out onto the ice, and he was right in the thick of things. “Oh just the usual trash that goes on in a situation like that. The referees were right there it wasn’t going any farther.”

To a man, the players insisted that jet lag or fatigue was not a factor in the outcome and that the team was feeling fine. “We got out here on Monday so everyone has had time to adjust to that” said Jaroslav Spacek. Jochen Hecht was equally adamant. “That is never an excuse and we just played horrible hockey thats all and that has to change.”

Goalie Ryan Miller took the perfunctory questions and gave the pat answers looking weary of the whole thing, but when I asked him this question his eyes seemed to light up. “Ryan, so how was it like seeing your brother in competition on this stage, and when will you two guys rehash the evening that was?” “Having this chance to play each other is something that two brothers just dream of as kids and here we are in the National Hockey League together. Our parents flew out to watch us play and my aunts and uncles are here as well. It’s a shame because of the conference set up we don’t get to see each other as often as we’d like but hopefully next year when the schedule changes that too will change. But yeah, this was something very meaningful for all of us I just wish it had ended better for our team.” I could tell that this was a very special night for Ryan Miller and his family.

Lastly, on to the Lindy Ruff press conference. Lindy is usually full of quips, anecdotes and great quotes. But not tonight. “Played a terrible second period, cost us the game” said Ruff. Answers short, replies curt. You know you want to press for more, but you also got to know when to stop. I ask, “So what are you planning to tell the guys as they try and regroup tomorrow?”. Lindy’s reply “I tell them we’re playing the Kings tomorrow.” Like on cue, all the reporters tape players snapped to off. You knew it was time to end this.

Pete had the easier task, talking to Ducks forward Drew Miller after the game. “First game ever against your brother?” “Yeah” replied Miller. “Juniors, minors first time we ever crossed paths.” He described the shots he took on his brother (didn’t figure in the scoring), and when he was told “Well you got a Stanley Cup right?”, Miller laughed and replied “Yeah well I won’t hold that in his face.”

We’re still learning, even after all these years, how to do this reporter biz, but anyone who thinks that this is easy and the free popcorn and $8 buffet is so awesome really ought to try this and see how challenging it could be. Make no mistake it is work “covering” a game, and that’s why we’re learning that attending a game the old way like we did this past weekend, having your ticket ripped scanned, buying a program and a popcorn and just cheering from your seats has it own joy and charm.

Our agenda today is to skip the morning skate and bop around LA and sightsee; we’ll be at the Staples Center for the 7:30PT/10:30ET face off against the Los Angeles Kings and will be live blogging again.

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