The elephant in the room

[nfreeman]

I'm as happy as anyone that we won tonight and we've won 3 in a row and accordingly are still alive for the playoffs,

 

BUT

 

our last 2 wins are against probably the 2 worst teams in the East.

 

Against the top 5 teams in the East, ie NJ, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Ottawa & the Rangers (by points, so this doesn't include Carolina), here are our results since New Year's:

 

Pitt L 7-3

NYR L 3-2

Mon L 6-2

NYR L 4-3

Pit L 4-1

NYR L 5-1

Ott W 5-1 -- Feb. 12 -- our most recent win

NJ W 3-2 -- Feb. 6

NYR L 2-1

NJ L 3-2

Ott L 3-2

NJ L 2-1

Ott L 5-3

Pitt L 2-1

 

 

So, we've lost our last 6, and 12 of our last 14, against the upper echelon teams in the East (and one of our 2 wins was against the Senators in the middle of one of their hide-under-the-bed slumps). And while tonight's 3rd period was great, against a decent team, we would've gotten smoked. How could this happen at this point in the season?

 

IMHO, it's the same problem we've had all year: a very talented team (good enough to lead the NHL in scoring) that lacks leadership and mental toughness. If this team came out focused and tough every game, we wouldn't be on the outside looking in. OTOH, I couldn't help noticing that the Rangers beat NJ tonight (and guess who scored to tie it up with 4 min. to go?) and are 12-2-3 in their last 17 games.

 

Sorry, but until we show up and beat the habs, boston and ottawa down the stretch, I just can't assume that this team has turned the corner.

[JujuFish]

8 of those losses were 1 goal games. One goal games have vexed us all season long. It's quite frustrating.

[SDS]

I'm as happy as anyone that we won tonight and we've won 3 in a row and accordingly are still alive for the playoffs,

 

BUT

 

our last 2 wins are against probably the 2 worst teams in the East.

 

Against the top 5 teams in the East, ie NJ, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Ottawa & the Rangers (by points, so this doesn't include Carolina), here are our results since New Year's:

 

Pitt L 7-3

NYR L 3-2

Mon L 6-2

NYR L 4-3

Pit L 4-1

NYR L 5-1

Ott W 5-1 -- Feb. 12 -- our most recent win

NJ W 3-2 -- Feb. 6

NYR L 2-1

NJ L 3-2

Ott L 3-2

NJ L 2-1

Ott L 5-3

Pitt L 2-1

So, we've lost our last 6, and 12 of our last 14, against the upper echelon teams in the East (and one of our 2 wins was against the Senators in the middle of one of their hide-under-the-bed slumps). And while tonight's 3rd period was great, against a decent team, we would've gotten smoked. How could this happen at this point in the season?

 

IMHO, it's the same problem we've had all year: a very talented team (good enough to lead the NHL in scoring) that lacks leadership and mental toughness. If this team came out focused and tough every game, we wouldn't be on the outside looking in. OTOH, I couldn't help noticing that the Rangers beat NJ tonight (and guess who scored to tie it up with 4 min. to go?) and are 12-2-3 in their last 17 games.

 

Sorry, but until we show up and beat the habs, boston and ottawa down the stretch, I just can't assume that this team has turned the corner.

 

it's too early to hit on the widow... wait for the funeral reception.

[wjag]

it's too early to hit on the widow... wait for the funeral reception.

:lol: That's quite a line.. :lol:

 

But in fairness to Nfreeman he's right. I was looking at the schedules yesterday and concluded the same thing. The only really good teams (upper echelon playoff seedings) Buffalo has beaten in a long, long time were Dallas, NJ (on the fourth try) and Carolina. Ottawa was another good win but has been dimished because they went into a funk and lost the conference lead which they held from day 1 or 2.. And this period had the monumental collaspe against the Flyers.

 

Certainly tonight's game reinforced that notion for two periods. They had great chances in the first and came away down 2-1. They got embarassed in the second. And the first few minutes of the third weren't any better.

 

I'm excited they have a chance. I'm also a realist and recognize that we have 3 rookies on the blueline. Our season hangs in the balance one game at a time and there are some tough teams in our way. Hopefully, last night's game is a spring board to better play. Time to start felling the big timber.. enough of the saplings...

[inkman]

How could this happen at this point in the season?

But in fairness to Nfreeman he's right.

While it was hard to discern from the origial post if this was the intent, I think elephant in the room is how on earth does this team play that second period last night? The first period has the effort but not the excecution but the second period they really seemed to be gripping it. I know that may happen with a young team but the season is on the line. What more does it take to get these guys motivated? I'll except a period or game where the effort was there and they just weren't good enough but to lay an egg like the 2nd period at this point in the season baffles me.

[hopeleslyobvious]

I'm as happy as anyone that we won tonight and we've won 3 in a row and accordingly are still alive for the playoffs,

 

BUT

 

our last 2 wins are against probably the 2 worst teams in the East.

 

Against the top 5 teams in the East, ie NJ, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Ottawa & the Rangers (by points, so this doesn't include Carolina), here are our results since New Year's:

 

Pitt L 7-3

NYR L 3-2

Mon L 6-2

NYR L 4-3

Pit L 4-1

NYR L 5-1

Ott W 5-1 -- Feb. 12 -- our most recent win

NJ W 3-2 -- Feb. 6

NYR L 2-1

NJ L 3-2

Ott L 3-2

NJ L 2-1

Ott L 5-3

Pitt L 2-1

So, we've lost our last 6, and 12 of our last 14, against the upper echelon teams in the East (and one of our 2 wins was against the Senators in the middle of one of their hide-under-the-bed slumps). And while tonight's 3rd period was great, against a decent team, we would've gotten smoked. How could this happen at this point in the season?

 

IMHO, it's the same problem we've had all year: a very talented team (good enough to lead the NHL in scoring) that lacks leadership and mental toughness. If this team came out focused and tough every game, we wouldn't be on the outside looking in. OTOH, I couldn't help noticing that the Rangers beat NJ tonight (and guess who scored to tie it up with 4 min. to go?) and are 12-2-3 in their last 17 games.

 

Sorry, but until we show up and beat the habs, boston and ottawa down the stretch, I just can't assume that this team has turned the corner.

 

 

Weren't some of those shootout losses? I see your point, but no shootout in the playoffs changes things a bit. For example, NJ and the Sabres played 4 games this year, all of them ended in a shootout. The one win and three losses could easily have gone the other way in sudden death.

[BetweenThePipes00]

You are 100% right, but the thing is that Philly has been no better. The Flyers have not beaten any of the top 5 teams in the East since Jan. 24, almost 2 months ago. Boston has some good wins when they were hot in February but has 3 wins this month and they are against Atlanta, Washington and slumping Philly. For as hot as Washington has been, the only playoff team they have beaten this month is Boston and they have bad losses to the Leafs and Blackhawks.

I'm not defending the Sabres as a Cup contender or even a team that could surprise and win a round. I'm just saying the reason all these teams are battling for the last couple spots is that they are all pretty flawed. The way the league is set up you don't really have to beat the really good teams regularly to get in the playoffs. I don't think any of us sees the Sabres as a true contender, but they are good enough to make the playoffs if they play well down the stretch. Couple wins against the Leafs and a couple more head-to-head against Boston and all of a sudden they have a fighting chance and they still will not have beaten anyone any good.

[inkman]

All the giddiness I'm hearing from the fans and even hosts on WGR has me irked. I'm as happy as the next guy for the win but man it sure as hell took them a long time to wake up. This game doesn't bode well for the future.

[Knightrider]

All the giddiness I'm hearing from the fans and even hosts on WGR has me irked. I'm as happy as the next guy for the win but man it sure as hell took them a long time to wake up. This game doesn't bode well for the future.

 

I'm not listenimg, but I would be annoyed, too, if I was. Hopefully the team isn't giddy. If they steamroll Montreal or even Boston, and then maybe there is room for giddy.

 

I am starting to feel a little beter about next season, though...

[Buffalo Wings]

All the giddiness I'm hearing from the fans and even hosts on WGR has me irked. I'm as happy as the next guy for the win but man it sure as hell took them a long time to wake up. This game doesn't bode well for the future.

I'd say the opposite...at least for now, this game stirs up some confidence. Yes, TB is in last place, but they had won 3 in a row and were looking like world-beaters for the past week. They played well during the first 2 periods and looked like a playoff team....granted, TB's 3rd period this year is horrendous and the Sabres picked on that. Either way, it was definitely a wake-up call that should help them.

 

That said, I agree that there's no need for giddiness just yet. Good come-from-behind win, but they haven't accomplished anything yet.

[X. Benedict]

Sorry, but until we show up and beat the habs, boston and ottawa down the stretch, I just can't assume that this team has turned the corner.

 

After seeing the second period, and then the third period last night,

There is no assuming anything.

 

The third period guys have to show up.

If the second period guys show up we are talking tee-times.

[apuszczalowski]

After seeing the second period, and then the third period last night,

There is no assuming anything.

 

The third period guys have to show up.

If the second period guys show up we are talking tee-times.

For the first 2 periods the Sabres were making the Lightnings backup look like an all star

[RayFinkle]

All the giddiness I'm hearing from the fans and even hosts on WGR has me irked. I'm as happy as the next guy for the win but man it sure as hell took them a long time to wake up. This game doesn't bode well for the future.

If you expect a team to be on every game, every period, it just isn't going to happen. We had an off game, and came out with a W.

[inkman]

If you expect a team to be on every game, every period, it just isn't going to happen. We had an off game, and came out with a W.

I do expect a team on the verge of playoff elimination to play like they care. That was questionable during the 2nd period last night.

[Buffalo Fan]

All the giddiness I'm hearing from the fans and even hosts on WGR has me irked. I'm as happy as the next guy for the win but man it sure as hell took them a long time to wake up. This game doesn't bode well for the future.

 

 

Our highs are too high and our lows are too low...even keel is the way to go, but it's hard when you are emotionally vested. Maybe that is part of the problem with the team...young teams have a tendency to struggle with emotions. Although to me they seem to have a grasp on not getting too high, it's the lows that they REALLY struggle with.

[wjag]

Our highs are too high and our lows are too low...even keel is the way to go, but it's hard when you are emotionally vested. Maybe that is part of the problem with the team...young teams have a tendency to struggle with emotions. Although to me they seem to have a grasp on not getting too high, it's the lows that they REALLY struggle with.

Magnified by the fact that we are on the outside of the playoffs looking in. Magnified by the fact that even if we win out we may not make it if someone ahead of us matches our wins. Magnified by the fact that we all know they can "stink up the place or blow some one out" on any given night. Magnified by the fact that we want a winner sooooo bad... Magnified by the fact that we have our history.. Magnified by the fact....

 

Every shift, every shot, every goal matters sooo much now... That is why the fans emotions were on display in last night's GDT.

[K-9]

I'd say the opposite...at least for now, this game stirs up some confidence. Yes, TB is in last place, but they had won 3 in a row and were looking like world-beaters for the past week. They played well during the first 2 periods and looked like a playoff team....granted, TB's 3rd period this year is horrendous and the Sabres picked on that. Either way, it was definitely a wake-up call that should help them.

 

That said, I agree that there's no need for giddiness just yet. Good come-from-behind win, but they haven't accomplished anything yet.

 

I agree. Same could be said for Carolina & Toronto. Both were playing lights out hockey and were considered hot teams when we played them. That said, you have to be concerned that they would even need a wake-up call at this point. In a word, that's immaturity. And a huge and VALUABLE lesson for a young team. It may not pay off this year but will in years to come.

 

GO SABRES!!!

[SwampD]

I think the real elephant in the room is Lindy's "system" that Miller complained about so loudly earlier in the year.

He has the forwards in so deep on defense that at one point all five guys were at our own goal line, leading to the lacavalier goal. The points are always wide open and it forces them to play way too much time in thier own zone. I've been concerned about this since we lost the Carolina series and believe it is one of the reasons we suffer more injuries on defense than most teams. They just get worn down.

 

Also this notion of having to roll four equal scoring lines bothers me. Most teams have one great scoring line and three "just don't let them score" lines. That's what changed in the third period last night. We were lucky enough to be able to put a 1A and 1B scoring line on the ice in the third. I hope he keeps those lines together for the next game.

 

I will say that I'm glad I could bring these things up after some of wins, otherwise it just seems like whining about Lindy.

[tom webster]

I think the real elephant in the room is Lindy's "system" that Miller complained about so loudly earlier in the year.

He has the forwards in so deep on defense that at one point all five guys were at our own goal line, leading to the lacavalier goal. The points are always wide open and it forces them to play way too much time in thier own zone. I've been concerned about this since we lost the Carolina series and believe it is one of the reasons we suffer more injuries on defense than most teams. They just get worn down.

 

Also this notion of having to roll four equal scoring lines bothers me. Most teams have one great scoring line and three "just don't let them score" lines. That's what chaned in the third period last night. We were lucky enough to be able to put a 1A and 1B scoring line on the ice in the third. I hope he keeps those lines together for the next game.

 

I will say that I'm glad I could bring these things up after some of wins, otherwise it just seems like whining about Lindy.

 

I remember Miller complaining that players weren't playing the system, not complaining about the system.

[SwampD]

I remember Miller complaining that players weren't playing the system, not complaining about the system.

I admit I may have put my own thoughts into what he was saying.

[tom webster]

I admit I may have put my own thoughts into what he was saying.

 

I think sometimes you have to read between the lines if you want the truth because they are not going to tell you everything, however, I have never got the sense that Miller has had a problem with Lindy's system. First off, I think it is incorrect to believe that the system is stagnant and not fluid, that is he is constantly tweaking it depending on a lot of variable. Second, I think it is hard to argue with a system that has been as succesful as Ruff has been.

[SwampD]

I think sometimes you have to read between the lines if you want the truth because they are not going to tell you everything, however, I have never got the sense that Miller has had a problem with Lindy's system. First off, I think it is incorrect to believe that the system is stagnant and not fluid, that is he is constantly tweaking it depending on a lot of variable. Second, I think it is hard to argue with a system that has been as succesful as Ruff has been.

I don't think it has been as fluid as you think. Don Cherry talked about the points always being open during the Ottawa series. That was two years ago and it is still happening. And we are yet again down to our 9th and 10th defensemen.

[tom webster]

I don't think it has been as fluid as you think. Don Cherry talked about the points always being open during the Ottawa series. That was two years ago and it is still happening. And we are yet again down to our 9th and 10th defensemen.

 

I think one thing most teams do is clog the area down low leaving the points open and assuming that youo will either block the shot or the goalie will stop it from that far out.

That's why my suggestion for creating more scoring chances has always been to create an NBA like lane and allown only defensemen to stay there for any duration.

[X. Benedict]

I don't think it has been as fluid as you think. Don Cherry talked about the points always being open during the Ottawa series. That was two years ago and it is still happening. And we are yet again down to our 9th and 10th defensemen.

 

As entertaining as he is, there are some very good reasons why Don Cherry had a very short coaching career.

 

On the whole, I think Buffalo has done a good job of covering point.

The problems last night had much more to do with zone entry and playing look at me Mr. fancystick, and neutral zone brain farts like Mad Max's. Those aren't part of any system.

 

The biggest part of the system -( if you want to call it that - lets just call it Lindy's expectations) - is that the defense has offensive zone responsibilities and also they are committed to a flowed exchange in transition out of the defensive zone. If anything my biggest problem with it is that there are times when icing the puck may be the best decision, or simply dumping it to the neutral zone.

[tom webster]

As entertaining as he is, there are some very good reasons why Don Cherry had a very short coaching career.

 

On the whole, I think Buffalo has done a good job of covering point.

The problems last night had much more to do with zone entry and playing look at me Mr. fancystick, and neutral zone brain farts like Mad Max's. Those aren't part of any system.

 

The biggest part of the system -( if you want to call it that - lets just call it Lindy's expectations) - is that the defense has offensive zone responsibilities and also they are committed to a flowed exchange in transition out of the defensive zone. If anything my biggest problem with it is that there are times when icing the puck may be the best decision, or simply dumping it to the neutral zone.

.

I think Lindy's biggest gripe this year has been the gap between the forwards and the defensement with the forwards sometimes leaving their defensemen out to dry. Like oyu said, they sometimes try to be too cute when dumping the puck is their best option. Their poor face off numbers might discourage too many icings , however.