GAME DISCUSSION THREAD

[MDriscoll]

very impressed with the win...anybody else feel that whenever Afinogenov gets the puck at center ice he turns into a one man team trying to weave through defenders. I saw that during the 8 minutes he played, but have noticed it a lot this year. Anyway good win and it makes next monday's game in buffalo even better.

[BetweenThePipes00]

Actually I thought the PP looked decent tonight ... I mean, usually they struggle to gain posession. Tonight they controlled the play, got a couple chances and never had me wanting to decline a penalty.

Just a really solid game overall. I hate to bitch about officiating but the Vanek call for basically trying too hard on the penalty kill was ticky-tack, and the bench minor to give them a 5-on-3 was thin-skinned ... you gotta let some venting go on when then penalties are 7-1 against a team ...

But whatever, it turned out to give the Sabres some momentum. No reason to overreact but that's a couple nice wins over Pittsburgh the last couple weeks. At least they seem to have a pulse and are getting their fight back. I was starting to wonder.

[wonderbread]

maybe Lindy vs the team is not the motivation they need and rather the officials vs the team is what they needed...i don't recall the last time i saw a game where one team had three 5-3's by the halfway point of the game. maybe the boys are using that as motivation for these d-bags who seem intent on giving America's team every chance it needs to win the game...

 

well put. My old man even called me bitchin up a storm. He mentioned that it sounded like Crosby and Malkin were the only two players on the ice. Thank God neither of them choked on their appendages as we wouldn't have been treated to that homertastic pbp and color commentary.

[SwampD]

Game thoughts...

 

 

-One thing I liked about Gerbe...I didn't see him knocked to the ice even once.

I think he actually does get knocked it's just that he is so short he gets up and back into the play before you even notice.

 

 

I'm only half joking.

[LabattBlue]

-One other thing. I'll give them credit for something they have been sucking at....I thought the Sabres did a good job on the PP with offensive zone faceoffs. The won at least 4 in a row at one point.

[Stoner]

What? You giving Miller props? I never thought I'd see the day :thumbsup:

 

Every two years. That's about right.

[carpandean]

Speaking of Gerbe, I wonder if he chose to shoot instead of pass on that 2-on-1 with Stafford would he be celebrating his first NHL goal right now? Having watched him in pre-season and in Portland, he is a sniper from that spot. Rookie mistake.

[BetweenThePipes00]

Speaking of Gerbe, I wonder if he chose to shoot instead of pass on that 2-on-1 with Stafford would he be celebrating his first NHL goal right now? Having watched him in pre-season and in Portland, he is a sniper from that spot. Rookie mistake.

 

Yeah that was a spot to be selfish ... that's why he is up, provide some offense ... no point getting timid. But also not unusual for a kid in his second game.

[wjag]

Actually I thought the PP looked decent tonight ... I mean, usually they struggle to gain posession. Tonight they controlled the play, got a couple chances and never had me wanting to decline a penalty.

Just a really solid game overall. I hate to bitch about officiating but the Vanek call for basically trying too hard on the penalty kill was ticky-tack, and the bench minor to give them a 5-on-3 was thin-skinned ... you gotta let some venting go on when then penalties are 7-1 against a team ...

But whatever, it turned out to give the Sabres some momentum. No reason to overreact but that's a couple nice wins over Pittsburgh the last couple weeks. At least they seem to have a pulse and are getting their fight back. I was starting to wonder.

I agree they had great zone possession on the PP tonight... They won a ton of face offs. But when was the last time they scored a PPG? I can't remember..

[carpandean]

Toni Lydman - 7 hits and 5 blocked shots! 7:48 of PK (same as Sekera.)

 

Sure, Malkin undressed him a little on that first goal, but Lydman is making me very glad that we did not trade him away like so many of us called for. If I never see Tallydman on the ice together again, I'll be very happy, but Toni can definitely stay.

[BetweenThePipes00]

I agree they had great zone possession on the PP tonight... They won a ton of face offs. But when was the last time they scored a PPG? I can't remember..

 

Well they are now 2-for-20 their last 5 games. They got one against Florida (5-on-3, Kotalik ... pretty meaningless ...) and another against Montreal ( I can't remember it either) ... it's not good for sure but ... they have had worse stretches the last couple years. It feels about average ;)

[jimiVbaby]

Yeah that was a spot to be selfish ... that's why he is up, provide some offense ... no point getting timid. But also not unusual for a kid in his second game.

The good thing is that there's no 'time limit' to keep this kid up like there was for Mancari. He barely missed that pass, but I'm sure he doesn't want to be the selfish @sshole like the reputation he has following him from college. Give him time and more confidence and those will be in the back of the net.

[carpandean]

But when was the last time they scored a PPG? I can't remember..

Kotalik's 5-on-3 goal in the 2-1 loss to Florida. 5-on-4, I'm not sure.

[BetweenThePipes00]

Toni Lydman - 7 hits and 5 blocked shots!

 

Sure, Malkin undressed him a little on that first goal, but Lydman is making me very glad that we did not trade him away like so many of us called for. If I never see Tallydman on the ice together again, I'll be very happy, but Toni can definitely stay.

Wish I could give proper credit, but I forget who said it ... someone called them the Terror Twins earlier in the season and every tme I see them together, even by accident for 15 seconds, I giggle a little thinking of that.

But you are right, Lydman was solid tonight, and Sekera was VERY good. Can they be a consistent pair? we can only hope.

[carpandean]

Well they are now 2-for-20 their last 5 games. They got one against Florida (5-on-3, Kotalik ... pretty meaningless ...) and another against Montreal ( I can't remember it either) ... it's not good for sure but ... they have had worse stretches the last couple years. It feels about average ;)

Do you remember last year when we were giving up more shorties than we were scoring PP goals? There was a time that I really did feel we should decline penalties. The PP is looking better, moving the puck, getting good shots and good rebounds, but they haven't been finding the back of the net. Baby steps.

[SwampD]

I almost forgot. It's still funny when they say Letang.

[BuffalOhio]

And the pick by Stall that wasn't called. Yet again.

 

Tons of interferences by the Penguins went uncalled tonight. I'm totally convinced the this team is the NHL's golden team and can never ever do any wrong.

 

F them!

 

FU NHL!

[shrader]

hehe, Letang.

 

Anyway, not that anyone cares, but I'm always amazed at how many college defensemen Pittsburgh has. Orpik, Whitney (whenever he comes back), Eaton, Gill, Scuderi, Goligoski... and now they've added Lovejoy to that list. Crazy. Hell, 3 of them went to BC (5 of the 7 in Hockey East). Ok, I'm done with my post that no one will read.

[LabattBlue]

hehe, Letang.

 

Anyway, not that anyone cares, but I'm always amazed at how many college defensemen Pittsburgh has. Orpik, Whitney (whenever he comes back), Eaton, Gill, Scuderi, Goligoski... and now they've added Lovejoy to that list. Crazy. Hell, 3 of them went to BC (5 of the 7 in Hockey East). Ok, I'm done with my post that no one will read.

I read it and am amazed by your neverending college hockey info! :rolleyes:

[BuffalOhio]

hehe, Letang.

 

Anyway, not that anyone cares, but I'm always amazed at how many college defensemen Pittsburgh has. Orpik, Whitney (whenever he comes back), Eaton, Gill, Scuderi, Goligoski... and now they've added Lovejoy to that list. Crazy. Hell, 3 of them went to BC (5 of the 7 in Hockey East). Ok, I'm done with my post that no one will read.

 

Hey, good post Shrader!

 

I wonder if it's because they don't have to pay the player for as long a period while they develop. Draft 'em at 18, let them go to college, sign them at 22, and with all that college seasoning, they're almost NHL-ready when they sign them. Not a bad formula, if you ask me.

[SwampD]

hehe, Letang.

 

Anyway, not that anyone cares, but I'm always amazed at how many college defensemen Pittsburgh has. Orpik, Whitney (whenever he comes back), Eaton, Gill, Scuderi, Goligoski... and now they've added Lovejoy to that list. Crazy. Hell, 3 of them went to BC (5 of the 7 in Hockey East). Ok, I'm done with my post that no one will read.

That really is interesting. I wonder if it is a choice or if there are personal connections to the east that leads them to those players.

[bob_sauve28]

What a c0ck sucker of Crosby to jab hecht at the end there.

He's such a chit head that Crosby

[shrader]

Hey, good post Shrader!

 

I wonder if it's because they don't have to pay the player for as long a period while they develop. Draft 'em at 18, let them go to college, sign them at 22, and with all that college seasoning, they're almost NHL-ready when they sign them. Not a bad formula, if you ask me.

 

Well they brought in Gill and Eaton via trade and free agency, so they don't factor in. Goligoski was a late 2nd round pick and played 3 years at Minnesota. Orpik was a mid-1st round pick and lasted 3 years. Whitney, also 3 years, was 5th overall and was a very highly regarded prospect. Scuderi (5th round) and Lovejoy (undrafted) are the only one's that were really Pittsburgh project players. So they either have scouted very heavily in the east coast over the years, or it's all just one big coincidence.

 

 

As for the game, they've played Pittsburgh really well this year, minus that 5-10 minute stretch in the first game. At least that's one positive note for this season. As much as I love seeing Vanek put the puck in the net, it was great to see 3 other names on the score sheet. Obviously they need that on a nightly basis, especially the two "garbage goals".

[SwampD]

On another note about the defense. Teppo has definitely lost a step, even from last year, but man, sometimes he makes plays that are so pretty and look like he is using no effort at all. Just a thought.

[carpandean]

I almost forgot. It's still funny when they say Letang.

Along those same lines, I laughed ever time that they said Smaby in the game against Tampa. They sent him down to the AHL today and all I could think was "Smaby? Smaby not!"