Ghost of Dwight Drane

Thanks. The Sabres love to manipulate statistics. That's one of the reasons I feel management is disingenuous. They always throw out little BS numbers to keep the masses at bay. Like, Tyler Ennis leads the league in assists per inches, divided by age. It's not really out there, but would you be shocked?

PS....In the regular season, When Dominik Hasek IS NOT the starting goaltender, Lindy Ruff is in the Neighborhood of 5 games over .500 This includes the years Hasek was on the team, but did not start. Ruff was a few games over after the '08-'09 season when I looked up the stats. Last year he was 7 over and this year 4 under. So call it 5 games over .500 in 12 years of coaching without Hasek between the pipes.

Math! There were 14 teams in the conference but 15 now for the majority. In 12 years, 12 eastern teams make it to the Cup 12/14 or 15 teams = .8 or .86 trips to the Cup per team 8 teams from the east make the playoffs each year 8/14 = 57% 8/15 = 53% Each year, teams in the east win 4+2+1 playoff series, and assuming a 50/50 chance in the Cup, .5, for 7.5 playoff series wins per year. in 12 years under Ruff, the East has 90 playoff series wins. In 8 years without Hasek, 60 wins. 60 wins / 15 available teams = 4 playoff series wins per team average 8 years * 54% chance of making playoffs = 4.32 trips to playoffs per team There are some teams that go more, and some less.....but those are the statistical averages to be expected. The only above average aspect of Ruff's record is 10 playoff series wins versus the 6 that can be expected. But once again, post Hasek, he is below average.

It's code. He means "I saw Lalime in a Montreal brothel and he told me not to say anything." It's like that 4:20 stuff. You gotta be hip

Ruff has been coach 12 full years In those years there were 14 and 15 teams in our conference An average coach given that tenure will get his team to the Stanley Cup 0.85 times Ruff made the playoffs 7 of 12 years That is 58% The average team should make it 54-56% of the time Ruff has won 10 playoff series The average team has won 6.1 series Since Hasek has left: Ruff has gone to the playoffs 3 of 8 years The average team has gone 4.32 times Ruff has won 4 playoff series The average team has won 4 playoff series The results? With Dominik Hasek, Lindy Ruff was a slightly above average coach Without Hasek, Lindy Ruff has been a slightly below average head coach Lindy Ruff is the 18th best head coach in the league according to Drane Enterprises Hockey Software Ltd.

It's a goal scoring bukakke

I predict Neil is going to headhunt Myers. If he wants to get them off their game...that's the way to go.

She could go viral in Buffalo in 2 seconds. Although viral may have a double meaning. If I were a young chap still, and was at the game tonight. I would smuggle in a blonde wig, 2 giant balloons, and a Hi Dad sign.....and at the very least go down to the glass for warmups. There is no doubt in my mind the camera team had about 30 shots of her that night which didn't make it on air. I give Harry Neale credit for not saying something that would get him fired. I was waiting for it.

If that's your opinion...then i want to party with you soldier! Maybe you really are Clint Eastwood.

44/28/34

If she's a poster here....I can be on the 10:15 to Atlanta on Delta with $1500 cash in my pocket. She had a Blackberry...maybe they'll....I mean, she'll check in.

The most fun I've had at the arena in recent years is to be sitting in the 300's surrounded by Montreal fans. They were semi-obnoxious, but mainly in good fun. We started getting into playful barbs with them....and because they knew their hockey and obviously are into it, making the drive, it was all the better. If you gave a Sabres IQ test to people.....and say average on this site would be 40 out of 50......I bet the average fan over 20 years old at the arena would be lucky to sport a 20-25. Again....I can't blame the current crowd. Going to a Sabres game the past 4 years many nights is like walking into the DMV. A bunch of people are there because they have to be, a few because they want to be, and the employees show the same passion.

Lots of good points throughout the thread. The Halls story is awesome. The arena HAS changed over the years. The President's Trophy team for some reason changed a lot of the dynamics. It's probably a combo of fans getting priced out of attending games on a regular basis, the disappointment of getting your team gutted and missing the playoffs just months later, and don't forget....the lockout plays a roll. I used to be a die-hard Braves fan until the baseball strike. They came back and won the series the next year...and I didn't feel it in my gut. This from a guy you used to watch every game when they were 62-100. If you had a time machine and took someone out of the crowd from the Aud...and transported them to the Sabres/Devils game, they would have taken a shotgun to their own head. There wasn't one moment during that game other than Miller's nice sprawling leg-stab save where I couldn't clearly hear the person next to me in a conversation. Back in the day you would be so focused on the play on the ice you wouldn't dare talk during play, and the crowd excitement would make it tough to talk during breaks. Seriously, the only reason I went to the game was to get dinner and drinks. There just happened to be a hockey game going on around us. I take some of the blame for that, but if I believed in this team, that they were doing everything they could to win and tried with even 93% effort....I would be enthralled in the game. The Sabres to me are sort of the deadbeat relative you have to sit through Thanksgiving dinner with. You are polite and listen to their endless talking....but don't believe a word that comes out of their mouth and are happy to see them go. I can't be alone in that thought....and because bigger money is now in control of the seats at the arena, you are not going to have an exciting atmosphere. The arena now is not much different than a Florida Panthers game.

That was freudian.....Golisano is cheap, but if he's serving it up, that brings new meaning to cutting off your nose to spite your face.

When your team takes on the character of a Philharmonic, that's the type of atmosphere and patrons which will follow. When your team takes on the character of a jazz band, you will get the drinking, dancing, smoking, cheering, and revelry. Darcy is first chair cello. Quinn plays flute, and Lindy is the conductor with the extra starched shirt. This team has been system oriented for years. Systems make you think instead of go on instinct. I would much rather see trust within a structure. That's what jazz is. Guys who know in their hearts what to do, and are allowed the freedom to show it. This team has little to none of that.....and it rubs off on the crowd.

I hate to say it....but Gaustad is a joke. Slap fight after the final whistle again.....and he had Hajlamarsisshission on the ice...but has to go hug Seabrook. He got Trent Edwards'd by Lindy. So much promise but solid regression over the last few years.

I should read the context before making a Viking joke. And an Asian joke. Sorry. Nice elbow to Roy's head....

I'm surprised you even get that far....my wife usually tells me "NOrway"! Although she is Korean....

That was my point. He is not right out there. He has that "constipated" look that Thomas Vanek skates around with. I have noticed other teams just ignoring him when he gets in after the whistle this year. He's hit a little bit, but he also has skated off checks many times. Who knows....that may be Lindy's call.

I think Kaleta is done. He can no longer do what he was good at which was being a pest. Nobody will take him seriously if he can't fight. He is moving gingerly out there and his scoring was mediocre to begin with.

Maybe it's time for a Rally Landing Strip

When you hide from adversity, life has a way of extending your pain long term. Look at our hockey team.

urine works

I think this place could use a little Napalm.

Corinthians 2:15 Even God hates the Maple Leafs