GAME DISCUSSION THREAD

[jrsarkov]

these problems started last April

 

3rd period collapse against the Isles- we escaped because Satan choked

2 goal lead at home against Sens in Game 2

 

the examples are countless this season.

[millbank]

Today: Boston 2 - Ottawa 0 second period

[carpandean]

Today: Boston 2 - Ottawa 0 second period

*cough* *cough*

So ... hard ... to ... breath ...

air ... getting ... thin ...

coffin ... lid ... almost ... shut ...

final ... nails ... going ... in ...

[tom webster]

I'd say that's remembering last season on the rosey side of things.

 

I can't remember the number of times we dropped two goals leads last year, only to turn it on again for 5 minutes and score the winner.

 

Granted, we'd win those games and didn't usually find ways to lose them, but to suggest that the team last year never dropped a two goal lead, as the writer does, is just distorting the facts.

 

That said, the current team is spineless and mentally fragile, and something desperately needs to change with regards to the line-up.

 

We don't need scoring, we need defense, grit, and in more situations than I can recall, we have needed goaltending too.

 

 

You are the one that constantly distorts the facts of last year's team. Go ahead, count the games that they lost a two goal lead. Maybe you can't remember because it wasn't a problem. The writer was making a point and taking every sentence out of context accomplishes nothing.

[wonderbread]

You are the one that constantly distorts the facts of last year's team. Go ahead, count the games that they lost a two goal lead. Maybe you can't remember because it wasn't a problem. The writer was making a point and taking every sentence out of context accomplishes nothing.

 

 

You incessant bickering is tiresome. Move one.

[RichyRich]

Mgmt. thought that the youth in the roster would be overcome by the experience and maturity most of these guys acquired by going to back to back ECF. That hasnt turned out to be the case, in fact quite the opposite. This team is comprised of a bunch of young guys that displays their playoff acquired experience by folding under pressure.

 

Youth + No Experience (+ managerial incompetence, goaltending, no D, no heart, etc.) = the second time in NHL history that a team which won the President's trophy the year before misses out on the playoffs the next year.

[SabresFan526]

Bruins beat Ottawa 4-0. Our playoff hopes are almost gone. All we need is a win tonight by Philly over the Isles, and it's pretty much over. 6 and 7 points respectively are going to be very tough to catch up on, especially with only 4 games left. Unless Boston loses 4 straight games and the Sabres get at least 7 out of a possible 8 points, they are finished.

[Bmwolf21]

Weber dropped to make a couple big blocks. He is a step in the right direction.

 

Also, on the PK, I've seen a lot this season from guys like Roy, Pommer and Hecht sacrificing themselves when necessary.

Weber's about the only guy I can recall dropping make a big, clutch-type shot block. I know a few others have done it periodically, but it's been a while since I recall Pominville, Roy or anybody give up the body to make a big block. That could also play a role in why so many pucks are getting through from the point and getting tipped/deflected before getting to the goalie.

 

A quick tally of the numbers shows that our shot blocks are down quite a bit over the last two years:

05-06 - 1214

06-07 - 1266

07-08 - 936

 

I think those numbers are high, since a lot of them seem to be from guys getting hit with shots doing their one-legged pelican stance with the stick in front of the skates - which doesn't qualify as "trying to block a shot" in my book.

[Bmwolf21]

On a side note - not trying to pile on, but that is the second time in recent weeks that Big Al has made a bonehead play at crunch time that has hurt his team immensely. First was the assist to Avery on his GWG in the 4-3 loss to the Rangers and then the tripping call last night.

[Kristian]

You are the one that constantly distorts the facts of last year's team. Go ahead, count the games that they lost a two goal lead. Maybe you can't remember because it wasn't a problem. The writer was making a point and taking every sentence out of context accomplishes nothing.

 

Why don't you go ahead and count them?

 

I remember the games where they lost a two goal lead fine, you're obviously the one having problems.

[tom webster]

Why don't you go ahead and count them?

 

I remember the games where they lost a two goal lead fine, you're obviously the one having problems.

 

 

Do you want to wager on how many I will find?

[millbank]

Flyers tied at 2 - 2 with Islanders in third

 

 

Islanders make it 3- 2 with nine minutes remaining

 

 

Flyers score, now Flyers 3 - Islanders 3 three minutes remain

[millbank]

Briere scores to win shoot-out Flyers now 7 points ahead of Sabres, Boston are 6 points ahead.

[Bmwolf21]

From the News' Sabres Edge blog (posted 330 this afternoon)

 

So Boston temporarily moves into seventh in the East with 90 points. Philly is eighth at 89 pending tonight's game on Long Island. Washington, which plays tonight at Florida, is ninth at 86 and the Sabres have 84.

 

The Sabres' last chance of catching Boston is a win Sunday. And if Philly wins tonight and the Sabres don't win tomorrow in regulation, the misery will be over and the Sabres will officially be done.

Obviously that has changed, given the completion of tonight's games, but the basic premise remains - we can earn a stay of execution with a regulation win tomorrow. Anything else and it's all over but the crying.

 

Couple more fun nuggets, courtesy of Mike Harrington:

---Habs center Saku Koivu and defenseman Mark Streit will both miss tonight's game in Toronto with foot injuries suffered when they took shots from Ales Kotalik in the opening minute of the first period Friday. Both recovered to play the entire game -- with Koivu making the key play from behind the net on the Habs' overtime goal and Streit assisting on the final three Montreal tallies -- before their pain grew overnight.

 

---The Sharks clinched the Pacific Division title with last night's 3-1 win over the Ducks. So for those keeping a Brian Campbell scorecard, San Jose is 14-0-2 since he was acquired from the Sabres at the trade deadline and he has 15 points (2-13) in those games. The Sharks are unbeaten in regulation in their last 18 games (16-0-2). Any Steve Bernier sightings lately?

[tom webster]

From the News' Sabres Edge blog (posted 330 this afternoon)

Obviously that has changed, given the completion of tonight's games, but the basic premise remains - we can earn a stay of execution with a regulation win tomorrow. Anything else and it's all over but the crying.

 

Couple more fun nuggets, courtesy of Mike Harrington:

 

 

Stevie bruised his hip and couldn't play any more so he went home. True grit!

[BuffalOhio]

Stevie bruised his hip and couldn't play any more so he went home. True grit!

 

Well he got hurt trying to hit someone late in the game, so you've got to give him credit for that. But yeah, he's been pretty much invisible since the Nashville game.

[stenbaro]

I'm indifferent. Unaffected, I let go. Lost in oblivion. Dark and silent and complete. I found freedom.

I agree..Theres 3 things now...

[spndnchz]

Mgmt. thought that the youth in the roster would be overcome by the experience and maturity most of these guys acquired by going to back to back ECF. That hasnt turned out to be the case, in fact quite the opposite. This team is comprised of a bunch of young guys that displays their playoff acquired experience by folding under pressure.

 

Youth + No Experience (+ managerial incompetence, goaltending, no D, no heart, etc.) = the second time in NHL history that a team which won the President's trophy the year before misses out on the playoffs the next year.

Yeah, Rangers. Guess what they did the year after moneybags. :ph34r:

[spndnchz]

and another thing, that last minute of the third, Pommers shoots it wide, Hecht goes around the net to touch it and they call it icing! He got to that puck first! That totally changes the outlook of the game. Pommers would have been sittin' all alone with the puck. You can cry about icings all you want, but the no-touch icing is not for this league. Full face gear, nerf pucks and foam sticks are next.