This is one of those times when I discuss sports for a little while. I’ll save you the trouble, if you like, and provide you with non-sports content right now: A great video of the Foo Fighters performing at the Late Show with David Letterman. If you want to read about Your Buffalo Sabres and the NHL 2011 Playoffs, onward!

Before February of this year, the future of the Sabres was a little uncertain. There were grumblings of moving the team, of a sale to buyers unknown, of Jim Balsillie buying the team and moving it to Hamilton, Ontario. There was talk that reigning Vezina Trophy-goaltender Ryan Miller had had his confidence shaken and was a shadow of what he once was.

Meanwhile, the Flyers, who snuck into the playoffs on the last day of the regular season last year, and then followed it up with a deep run, are this year the #2 seed and were predicted by many to repeat their deep run. They have a talented young goaltender in Sergei “Bob” Bobrovsky. They made some great moves before the trade deadline in February, particularly the acquisition of Kris Versteeg from Toronto, to solidify an already talented established core, led by captain Mike Richards and the diminutive and dangerous Daniel Briere.

Let’s address some of those items, shall we?

The fate of the Sabres in Buffalo is settled. The purchase by and introduction of energy billionaire Terry Pegula has really solidified the team, their financial status, and the fans. The death of Richard Martin (Rico #7) galvanized the team, as he was a player many of them had come to know and was among the most famous to wear the blue & gold over 40 years.

From a talent standpoint, it is a toss-up. Philly has better players on paper, but if you watch game film, you’ll see that both teams are stacked with snipers and grinders. Both teams can wow you with plays. There is one differentiating aspect: Goaltending experience.

Ryan Miller is one of the top 5 goalies in the world. He has the mental fortitude to strap a team on his back – take a look at the US Men’s team during the last winter Olympics. Canada got the gold, Miller got the MVP. That is not a coincidence. Bob and backup goalie Michael Leighton have marginal playoff experience and are prone to periods of great inconsistency. They have also not shown a lot of the psychological toughness necessary to get 16 wins in the playoffs.

Given Miller’s experience, his health (the upper body injury was a bone bruise or stinger from a Dion Phaneuf slapshot, depending on who you talk to) and Jhonas Enroth’s play of late, I give the edge to the Sabres by a fair margin in terms of goaltending. Miller faded last year because of the extra games of the Olympic competition and a lack of scoring by the Sabres. They also ran into the buzzsaw that is Tim Thomas. Vanek & Miller got extra rest in the last 2 weeks (Vanek heading into the playoffs, Miller because of his injury). Both will be healthy and rested come Thursday night.

Each team can put a lot of pucks in the back of the net. While Phila. was 1st in the conference in goals-for, the Sabres were very quietly 4th in that category. Goals against was 223 – 229, virtually a wash.

The teams are well-matched when it comes to heart. The Sabres have a ton of heart, but the Flyers have some serious emotional-impact players. These two teams hate each other, and the fans hate each other – they have ever since 1975.

One overlooked statistic is the depth of the scoring – while the Flyers have 9 guys who tallied 10+ goals, the Sabres have 11 who were 10+. Among those 11 Buffalo goalscorers, 1 hasn’t played since December and 2 are defensemen. Scoring from any O-line AND the addition of supplemental blue-liner goals is a pretty key stat. The Sabres can also tap into a very talented albeit inexperienced reserve of players in Portland if there are serious injuries. What those young guys have shown in the last 3 weeks is that they have great chemistry among themselves and with the big club regulars.

It could well go 7 games, and it would be a treat if it did. Given the Pronger injury in the early games, it will be a challenge for Phila. to overcome the loss of his size and grit.

My money is on Sabres in 6, winning 3 at home and stealing one in Phila. during the first two games.

And you can quote me on that.

Let’s Go Buffalo.