Game Day Thread: Sabres @ NJ Devils, November 3, 2008

[Hawerchuk]

LOL, sadly that was about the extent of it. Of course, it was in response to a brilliant question ... something like "What do you think of what these guys can do at high speeds? Always in motion, it's so much like what you guys do, but it's so different from what you do." :blink:

 

Yeah, like Basketball is even remotely anything like hockey. It takes years to develop into a great skater. Basketball, you just put on sneakers and throw gang & rap signs.

[inkman]

Yeah, like Basketball is even remotely anything like hockey. It takes years to develop into a great skater. Basketball, you just put on sneakers, get a bunch of ink and throw gang & rap signs.

fixed :)

[wonderbread]

When Shaq came on I knew that somewhere some how The Devils had reached bottom. Crimony I couldn't even understand what he was saying. "Yeah I went to a dfew Kings games when I was with LA, and now...um now I here"

Real brilliant Shaqdaddy.

 

Anyways Sutter really did look like a freaking Zombie tonight. Looks like the may have needed to get a blood transfusion at the intermision.

 

 

I saw the skill with out a helmet and wondered if his eggshell thin skull would get cracked.

[Kevbeau]

Harsh, dude!

 

Not necessarily a bad thing. It throws guys off their game sometimes, but from what I've seen he is a little "more free" with dishing it out than most people.

[inkman]

Not necessarily a bad thing. It throws guys off their game sometimes, but from what I've seen he is a little "more free" with dishing it out than most people.

He doesn't seem to end up in the box any more often than anyone else, so I guess it's a good thing.

[Kevbeau]

He doesn't seem to end up in the box any more often than anyone else, so I guess it's a good thing.

 

I'd agree, but I saw two blatant slashes (one to the upper body) that he got away with. I believe he also got a hooking call in the game tonight and it seems like he's good for at least one trip to the bin a game (too lazy to look up stats :thumbsup: ). Don't get me wrong, I like that he plays with an edge, he just needs to be smart about it. Also, hack is probably too strong of a word, just that I had a played in my own chippy game yesterday, so I'm ready to accuse anyone of being a hack.

[darksabre]

When Shaq came on I knew that somewhere some how The Devils had reached bottom. Crimony I couldn't even understand what he was saying. "Yeah I went to a dfew Kings games when I was with LA, and now...um now I here"

Real brilliant Shaqdaddy.

 

Anyways Sutter really did look like a freaking Zombie tonight. Looks like the may have needed to get a blood transfusion at the intermision.

I saw the skill with out a helmet and wondered if his eggshell thin skull would get cracked.

 

C'mon, we all know Shaq was outside buyin a dime bag and they were like "hey shaq, you here for the game?!" and he was like "buhh uhh yeah. ah be righ in."

[mrjsbu96]

they moved the arena to the ghetto of jersey they had no one going to games before they have less now.

Sabres are playing outta this world right now but have nothing to show for it.

 

i remember not too long ago that HSBC looked like that on a week night....

 

i just got back from game and the new arena is real nice and i think it will be better for the devils in the long-run, but it is amzing all the other 'crap' that goes on. i.e. i was sitting behind the net in the '2nd tier' of seats and there were actual tables with 4-5 bar stools/per tableand each table had its own television! people were watching football, cartoons, and everything else in between.

 

two thumbs up, or other anatomy, for the devil dancers, even though there were only four of them and they don't put skate around..

 

decent showing of buffalo fans despsite the fact that historically we NEVER play well in NJ..

[Two or less]

i remember not too long ago that HSBC looked like that on a week night....

i just got back from game and the new arena is real nice and i think it will be better for the devils in the long-run, but it is amzing all the other 'crap' that goes on. i.e. i was sitting behind the net in the '2nd tier' of seats and there were actual tables with 4-5 bar stools/per tableand each table had its own television! people were watching football, cartoons, and everything else in between.

 

two thumbs up, or other anatomy, for the devil dancers, even though there were only four of them and they don't put skate around..

 

decent showing of buffalo fans despsite the fact that historically we NEVER play well in NJ..

 

Let's be fair though, our arena was empty when the NHL controlled us and we had almost no hope of survival.

[deluca67]

Back to back shutouts? Just makes me wonder what the hell happened against the Sens and Lightning.

 

Does Miller go at home against the Thrashers? Or, do you save him for the tougher test against the Bruins? Maybe both? With three days rest playing both shouldn't be out of the question.

[nfreeman]

i just got back from game and the new arena is real nice and i think it will be better for the devils in the long-run, but it is amzing all the other 'crap' that goes on. i.e. i was sitting behind the net in the '2nd tier' of seats and there were actual tables with 4-5 bar stools/per tableand each table had its own television! people were watching football, cartoons, and everything else in between.

 

two thumbs up, or other anatomy, for the devil dancers, even though there were only four of them and they don't put skate around..

 

decent showing of buffalo fans despsite the fact that historically we NEVER play well in NJ..

I was at the game too. The arena was at least half empty. I was frankly amazed that a team as good as NJ, playing against a good team, drew that poorly. I'll agree with mrjsbu that the arena is nice -- but so what if it's that empty? The Devils either got an extremely sweet deal from Newark, or they are going to be in big financial trouble.

 

More importantly -- while it didn't seem like a terribly exciting game from my vantage point, it was a good, professional win in what would last year have been a letdown game and an automatic loss. A few notes:

 

1. Miller -- very strong again.

 

2. Great to see Rivet back. He looked a bit rusty, but still very captain-like.

 

3. Kaleta is turning into a real hockey player. He's not just a 5 minute-per-game agitator/hitter. He can kill penalties, block shots, clear the zone, make a nice pass and forecheck. He had more ice time tonight than Max, Stafford, and Mair. Come to think of it, Gaustad-Kaleta-Paille was effectively the 3rd line tonight, and Max-Stafford-Mair was 4th.

 

4. Speaking of Gaustad's line -- great forechecking all night.

 

5. Guess who was #3 in ice time among forwards tonight? Just enjoy him while he's around, boys.

 

6. I thought Teppo was quietly very effective.

 

7. I thought Kotalik hustled pretty well, but (and I don't think this is his fault) I haven't seen them work it to him on the PP for the slapper in a long time. What's the deal? That is a great weapon, and his best contribution to the PP IMHO. It seems like they have him on the half-wall most of the time now, and he's not nifty enough for that spot.

 

All in all, not a thrilling win, but a good, professional road win by what could be an upper-tier contender.

 

Go Sabres.

[will]

I was at the game too. The arena was at least half empty. I was frankly amazed that a team as good as NJ, playing against a good team, drew that poorly.

 

with brodeur out, would you pay to see the devils trap all night?

[wjag]

C'mon, we all know Shaq was outside buyin a dime bag and they were like "hey shaq, you here for the game?!" and he was like "buhh uhh yeah. ah be righ in."

:w00t: Classic.. That had me literally laughing out loud this AM...

[Corp000085]

I didn't get to post yesterday before or during the game, but i h ave just a couple comments.

 

1) Those are not the same guys that gave up 10 goals in 2 games last week. What am I getting at? Connolly is good for this team. We bash him cause he's oft injured, but the dude makes the team better. Period. Also, Rivet coming back was huge. Lydman played a huge game not being paired with tallinder, and tallinder played a better game being paired with rivet. Rivet showed some grit himself. He took a cross checking penalty, but he cleared the guy out of the crease. assuming that the team has confidence in its PK, which it does, Rivet can take those penalties all day long. I think, going down the road, a huge difference between this team or last year's team, or the presidents trophy team, is that other teams will eventually fear them. Not fear the breakout pass, but literally fear them. I want this team's motto to be "do what you want, but don't F**k with us". Grit wins championships.

 

2) Loved the announcers stroking weeks in the 1st.

 

Shot before pominville's goal: "Weeks has been a brick wall, save after save, superhuman, bla bla bla."

 

literally 3 seconds later after the population went up by 1: "Weeks can't stop em all".

 

Gotta love the complete 180 degree turnaround in under 5 seconds. With that said, weeks was the only reason it wasn't 10-0. I honestly didn't know he had it in him. Remember about 10 years ago when he threw his stick and got a game misconduct against the sabres? Gotta give the guy some credit for holding his own.

 

 

3) Ryan miller must read these message boards. He was getting roasted last week. This week, shutout, shutout. I honestly didn't know he had it in him. He won't be perfect the whole year, but I do hope that he, ruff, and corsi keep these tapes to show him that he can do it if he's down again.

 

 

 

Nice break till friday against the thrashers, which I'll be at. I'm driving home on thursday to get a new car saturday. making a 4 hour pitstop at the HSBC friday night.

[WayneGibbous]

The announcers weren't homers or anything

[bottlecap]

that was one empty arena.

[Chief Enabler]

Back to back shutouts? Just makes me wonder what the hell happened against the Sens and Lightning.

 

Does Miller go at home against the Thrashers? Or, do you save him for the tougher test against the Bruins? Maybe both? With three days rest playing both shouldn't be out of the question.

The way this team has been, I vote for Lalime at home and Miller on the road.

[darksabre]

I play Miller both games. I wouldn't play Lalime again until Friday the 14th against the Blue Jackets.

[LabattBlue]

I was at my daughters concert, but DVR'ed the game and watched it quickly when I got home...

 

-Dominating performance for the 30 minutes or so. Only negative is that they only got one goal past Weekes during this time.

 

-Back to back shutouts for Miller? WTF is going on here. Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket tonight!

 

-Sabres continue to be undefeated on the road(in regulation).

 

-Good job killing penalites. NJ had no problem controlling the puck in the Sabres zone, but just couldn't seem to get many good shots on net. Numerous shots were either blocked or went wide.

 

-I noticed MacArthur take the body several times. The key thing here is that they weren't bone crushing checks, just solidly taking the man out along the boards. Lindy has a tough decision to make when Hecht comes back at the end of the week.

 

-Rivet makes a difference. This game is what he is all about. Just a really solid defenseman, who can also help out in the offensive zone from time to time.

[Stoner]

I play Miller both games. I wouldn't play Lalime again until Friday the 14th against the Blue Jackets.

 

OK, but how quickly could Lindy fall back in the same trap of playing Miller every night? Lalime is very due for a start.

 

On the subject of the Versus announcers, I thought Emrick was Emrick, but the color guy was fantastic! Darryl Reaugh? Never heard him. He was insightful and hilarious. A fresh voice for sure. When he said Weekes' play was Mastodonic, I laughed. No idea why, but I laughed.

[inkman]

-I noticed MacArthur take the body several times. The key thing here is that they weren't bone crushing checks, just solidly taking the man out along the boards. Lindy has a tough decision to make when Hecht comes back at the end of the week.

Lindy has already said that several other skill players are playing worse and would sit before Clarke. I'm guessing Drew and Max better look over their shoulders.

[That Aud Smell]

Lindy has already said that several other skill players are playing worse and would sit before Clarke. I'm guessing Drew and Max better look over their shoulders.

wow, a mention of our skill players without mentioning The Skill.

 

well played.

[That Aud Smell]

Tallinder looked more physical along the boards tonight.

i noticed the same thing.

Could it be Rivet's influence?

that's my theory as well. full marks to lindy, if this is the case.

[Guest Sloth]

Lindy has already said that several other skill players are playing worse and would sit before Clarke. I'm guessing Drew and Max better look over their shoulders.

 

Stafford is great in the shootout and he can also lay a hit. Max has speed and seems to be more in sync w/ his teammates this year. He creates more scoring chances than Stafford. Max just can't seem to find the back of the net, though.

Tough decision, but my guess is that Stafford will get the night off. Maybe Ruff will rotate them until one of them plays good day in and day out.

[Kristian]

Stafford is great in the shootout and he can also lay a hit. Max has speed and seems to be more in sync w/ his teammates this year. He creates more scoring chances than Stafford. Max just can't seem to find the back of the net, though.

Tough decision, but my guess is that Stafford will get the night off. Maybe Ruff will rotate them until one of them plays good day in and day out.

 

Max never could hit the broad side of a barn with his shot, so I wouldn't say his lack of scoring is a surprise to me.

 

That said, I think he's been better than last year, but still.

 

Drew however needs to start playing with some consistency, as he by far has been the most disappointing forward so far.

 

Maybe not the worst, but the most disappointing.