hockey

Ugly sweaters are about to become the next fashion craze. Mark my words.

The first game of Ted Nolan's return as head coach of the Buffalo Sabres is the only game the Sabres have won so far. They've lost three in a row since then, including Thursday night's 4-1 loss at Philadelphia.

It was one of those games where if he was still in charge, the fans would have been calling for Darcy Regier to be fired. Even with the hiring of Pat LaFontaine and Ted Nolan to fix the Buffalo Sabres, there's still a lot of work to be done.

There are touchdown dances and goal dances in hockey, but hockey is one sport where no one puts on an elaborate production after slipping in one in the net. That may be about to change.

Since late last season when the Buffalo Sabres were playing at their worst and the fans at First Niagara Center were so quiet you'd think they were paying their respects at the funeral of a friend, there was one fan who would always bellow "Fire Regier." He always picked the perfect time to do it too, because everybody was thinking the same thing.

It took 10 games to do it, but the Buffalo Sabres finally sent their fans home happy for a change.

At least they figured out how to get started on the right foot.

As hockey fights go, this one was pretty intense and a little strange.

Offensively challenged would be a good way to describe this year's edition of the Buffalo Sabres. They pass when they should shoot and shoot when they should pass. And the Sabres made it an easy night for New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundquist, who stopped all 29 Buffalo shots to pick up a 2-0 shutout victory.

Lindy Ruff won his first game back at First Niagara Center while Buffalo Sabres coach Ron Rolston is still looking for his first win at home this season.

For all the criticism Buffalo Sabres general manager Darcy Regier gets, he's pulled off some pretty good trades. The one that sends winger Thomas Vanek to the New York Islanders falls into that category.

Same ol', same ol' for the Buffalo Sabres -- another embarrassing loss.