The Sabres squeaked by the Bruins at home last night in a 2-1 overtime victory, keeping playoff hopes alive, but gasping. With three games left, they are still five points behind the 8th place Flyers the 7th place Bruins and 6th place Rangers. Buffalo needs all three remaining games, and for Washington and Philadelphia, Boston or New York to drop each of their remaining three if the Sabres want to make the post season. Of the five teams, Buffalo has the second easiest schedule remaining. One slip-up, though, and it’s all over.
The governor and legislators have reached a final budget agreement for the state with well over 24 hours remaining to enact it before the 2008 fiscal year begins tomorrow. Major changes include increased school funding, a $1.25-per-pack increase in the cigarette “sin” tax, increased funding for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and rejection of a gasoline tax. The total budget—about $124 billion—constitutes a 4.5 percent increase from the 2007 state budget. (more…)
