STAY CLASSY, KOOKY SABRES FANS

Great night to be one of the quote, unquote small-town kooks that belong to the burgeoning Buffalo Sabres Nation; the boys in blue and gold are unbeaten in six starts after whipping the Philadelphia Flyers 9-1 last night.

Look good, play good: the Sabres broke out the old school sweaters with the white buffalo crest -- the Buffaslug was limited to a helmet decal -- and scored six goals in the second period. Maxim Afinogenov picked up five points and slahomed through the Flyers defence for one highlight-reel goal as if they were just set decoration. Which they pretty much were on this night.

Flyers goalie Robert Esche was left in for all nine goals, which had James Mirtle counting on some post-game fireworks, and not the Fourth of July kind for the team from the birthplace of democracy.

The Sabres are threatening the NHL record for most consecutive wins to start the season. Don't get too excited, though, Buffalo fans: The record of 10 straight wins was first set by the '93-94 Maple Leafs, and you can probably guess how that Toronto hockey season ended.

By the way, there's a book Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock should check out: It's called What Color Is Your Parachute? It's the "job hunter's bible," hint-hint.

OTHER HOCKEY STUFF

• Say hello to Sammy Spirit: Microbano revealed the other day that the Saginaw Spirit have a mascot to complement Steagle Colbeagle The Eagle, the Colbert Report-themed mini-mascot of mid-Michigan's Ontario Hockey League franchise.
  
  Sammy Spirit is the mascot, while Steagle is the mini-mascot. Question: are they, like the U.S. president and vice-president, forbidden to travel together? And what if Steagle shoots a hunting buddy in the face?
• It has to start somewhere ... it has to start sometime. The Kingston Frontenacs try to break their four-game losing streak Friday against the 67's, one of this blog's "local" junior hockey teams. The Fronts have time to turn this Love Boat around, but Memorial Cup plans might have to wait... the London Knights are tearing up the Ontario league and the Vancouver Giants are doing about the same out West.

That's all for now. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.