Corp000085 Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 7:00pm "It's not about the play you just made, it's what you do next that counts the most". Go into Detroit and kick their a$$es. That'll be a statement to the fans who don't believe that this little run is for real and to the other teams hanging around the sabres in the standings. Beat detroit!
SabresFan526 Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 This is another huge statement game for Buffalo. They are playing one of the best teams in the league on the second of back-to-back nights, and they are playing on the road. The Sabres have played well on the road this year, but this is a big test against one of the NHL Powerhouses. The way I see Buffalo winning this game is to beat Detroit at their own game. The Sabres need to play a simple, gritty style of hockey, and must control the puck and not let Detroit get much possession time because if they do, that's when they are at their best. Whoever's in goal tonight will have to be very strong for the Sabres as he will be facing a ton of shots as Detroit loves to shoot the puck. Winning faceoffs, controlling the tempo, getting shots on net, attacking the net with forwards, and strong goaltending will win tonight. Let's carry this momentum and get 5 straight to start the new year. 1-2-3-4, we want 5!
Guest Sloth Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 This is another huge statement game for Buffalo. They are playing one of the best teams in the league on the second of back-to-back nights, and they are playing on the road. The Sabres have played well on the road this year, but this is a big test against one of the NHL Powerhouses. The way I see Buffalo winning this game is to beat Detroit at their own game. The Sabres need to play a simple, gritty style of hockey, and must control the puck and not let Detroit get much possession time because if they do, that's when they are at their best. Whoever's in goal tonight will have to be very strong for the Sabres as he will be facing a ton of shots as Detroit loves to shoot the puck. Winning faceoffs, controlling the tempo, getting shots on net, attacking the net with forwards, and strong goaltending will win tonight. Let's carry this momentum and get 5 straight to start the new year. 1-2-3-4, we want 5! Buffalo needs to play like they did in the last 25 minutes or so in last nights game. They were outplayed for the first two periods, but Buffalo controlled everything after that. Didn't they have 13 shots or so in the 3rd? Any how, if Buffalo doesn't play w/ the intensity they had w/ Boston, a full 60 minute effort, I don't think they'll win. Detroit's goalies have been playing extremely well as of late and their offense has been scoring a decent amount of goals. No lead is safe when you play the Redwings. I hope whoever is starting in net tonight is standing on top of their head. Part of me really wants Lalime to play tonight. *I like the friendship Miller and Lalime appear to have. Lalime supports Miller all the way. Did you guys see how Lalime went straight to Miller after the game and showed a very excited congrats to him? T-bo and Miller didn't seem to get a long. And I do think that affected Miller's level of play last year.
cilevel Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 Buffalo needs to play like they did in the last 25 minutes or so in last nights game. They were outplayed for the first two periods, but Buffalo controlled everything after that. Didn't they have 13 shots or so in the 3rd? Any how, if Buffalo doesn't play w/ the intensity they had w/ Boston, a full 60 minute effort, I don't think they'll win. Detroit's goalies have been playing extremely well as of late and their offense has been scoring a decent amount of goals. No lead is safe when you play the Redwings. I hope whoever is starting in net tonight is standing on top of their head. Part of me really wants Lalime to play tonight. *I like the friendship Miller and Lalime appear to have. Lalime supports Miller all the way. Did you guys see how Lalime went straight to Miller after the game and showed a very excited congrats to him? T-bo and Miller didn't seem to get a long. And I do think that affected Miller's level of play last year. Puck posession and knowing no lead (if they get one) is safe at all times are the key. A win tonight is a long shot IMO, but a 60 minute effort does give them a shot at two points. Here's hoping we see 60 minutes of hockey. If they get dominated (like they did last night for the second period) this one will be ugly. Can't let their guard down at all.
carpandean Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 If they played Boston like a playoff game, then they need to play this game like a SC final game (same with Wednesday's game in Chicago.) Detroit has almost as good of a home record as Boston had when we beat them. They also have a similar road record, so given the questionable home play of the Sabres, I'm almost glad that they are playing in Detroit. The Sabres need to work their off from the opening faceoff, dictating play and being patient for those real good scoring opportunities. Then, even if they get a lead, they can't let up; Detroit will never think that they can't come back. This is definitely a case of play your best game and you might win; play any other way and you will lose.
wjag Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 I doubt they'll have trouble getting up for this one.. Whether their 'up' is good enough remains to be seen. 8 points to start the year has been a nice 'no'see'um... Keep it rolling... Sabres are climbing the playoff ladder....
JohnRobertEichel Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 7:00pm"It's not about the play you just made, it's what you do next that counts the most". Go into Detroit and kick their a$$es. That'll be a statement to the fans who don't believe that this little run is for real and to the other teams hanging around the sabres in the standings. Beat detroit! ...which would be me. The first 35 minutes of last night's game was utterly pathetic. If it wasn't for Miller, we would have easily collected our 10th regulation home loss. They had 3 whole days of rest before this one, so why couldn't they come out with the same fire as the Rangers? NOTHING HAS CHANGED. Tonight's matchup: the league's most consistent team hosting perhaps the league's least consistent team.
jwcolour Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 Not only is this a statement game, so is the game following it. Hope Miller got a lot of rest on that 3 day break. I'd like to see him start these next to and win agains two of the best western teams
DR HOLLIDAY Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 Miller has to start............. :beer:
nfreeman Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 I think the keys to this game are: 1. forecheck like crazy -- Detroit is really good at getting possession of the puck in their defensive zone and getting it out. This is why they allow so few shots on goal (which in turn is why they allow so few goals). Their skill at this aspect of play can't be overcome by pretty passes. It has to be disrupted by fast, physical, determined forechecking. This was the way Pittsburgh was able to win a couple of games in the SCF last year. 2. protect the front of the net -- guys like Holmstrom and Franzen score a ton of goals down low. Rivet can't be the only one playing tough in front. Everyone has to bring it. 3. goaltending -- I think Lalime should play tonight, but he's gotta be sharp. 4. Vanek needs to shoot more. Enough with the blind passes across the crease to Roy! Detroit's D is too good for that. We can beat them.
JujuFish Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 Buffalo and Detroit are the only teams that have not lost in 2009. Fitting that they meet tonight.
BeeWhy5 Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 Miller has to start............. :beer: Agreed. Miller is hot and stole that game last night with some amazing saves while the team was asleep in the second period. Lalime will get his chance to play, but Miller is paid to win games like this, big games. Sorry Patty, your start is coming soon. Sabres 4-3. Go SABRES!!
LabattBlue Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 Either Buffalo by 1 goal or Detroit by 5. :rolleyes:
R_Dudley Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 Some good points here by allot of posters. Detroit is defintely a big test. I guess the good news is they play a similar frustrating style allot like what we saw last night from the Rangers. I know that's a separate thread and allot of people including myself got down on Buffalo's effort last night but a good deal of how bad we looked for the first period and a half had to do with the Rangers and the plan they were using on us. They looked prepared and had scouted Buffalo and were jumping and blocking our zone exits along the boards and along the boards through center ice. Later when we adjusted and ran a player through center or carried the puck through center we forced them off their earlier set's and we were able to create allot more and carry the 3rd period and both sides did exchange some good chances. Very entertaining indeed.. So what's this have to do with Detroit you say. :rolleyes: Similar smart veteran team that plays a sound defensive style first and scores allot off the transition and other teams errors' when other teams try to force plays.. So take what we did, adjusted and learned that worked against NYR's style and include a pound of passion, a pound of grit, maintain puck possesion, can the blind cross ice passess and we should have a competitive game and a chance... Add a dash of luck, a couple of bounces and the fact that we are due to beat this bum Conklin (that we would have never traded if he had looked this good in Buffalo) and I can us see us winning this one.....closely something like 3-2..... If we don't bring our A-game well, Than I see us getting spanked something like 5-1. All right boy's i'm counting on the entertaining close hard fought game, :chris: their is honor in losing one like that. Go Buffalo
cilevel Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 Either Buffalo by 1 goal or Detroit by 5. :rolleyes: Sad but accurate prediction! <_<
darksabre Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 Off topic but when are the Mods going to change the schedule on the main page to January? It is...
Stoner Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 Winning faceoffs, controlling the tempo, getting shots on net, attacking the net with forwards, and strong goaltending will win tonight. Let's carry this momentum and get 5 straight to start the new year. 1-2-3-4, we want 5! Agree that winning faceoffs would be huge, but it won't be an easy task against Detroit. Tops in the league on draws. Sabres 26th.
carpandean Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 Agree that winning faceoffs would be huge, but it won't be an easy task against Detroit. Tops in the league on draws. Sabres 26th. A lot of that was Hecht being the "top line" center and Gaustad being out, as well as MacArthur playing center at the start of the season. With most of the draws being taken by Roy, Gaustad, and Mair, their average is going up. Hecht still takes to many, but hopefully as Timmy plays more, that will change (I know that he's not great*, but he's better than Hecht.) * Edit: Timmy's actually first on the team for anyone who has taken more than just 7 faceoffs. He's taken 91 and is at 54.9%.
SabresFan526 Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 Well, for those interested, Vogl is predicting that Miller and Butler are playing tonight and thinks Hank may get the scratch. We'll see what happens. Not surprised if Miller plays as it is a "homecoming" of sorts for him. Butler's intriguing, we'll see if he plays as Hank didn't seem to have a bad game last night. We'll see what happens in an hour and a half. http://buffalonews.typepad.com/sabres/
carpandean Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 Well, for those interested, Vogl is predicting that Miller and Butler are playing tonight and thinks Hank may get the scratch. We'll see what happens. Not surprised if Miller plays as it is a "homecoming" of sorts for him. Butler's intriguing, we'll see if he plays as Hank didn't seem to have a bad game last night. We'll see what happens in an hour and a half. Tallinder had just under 14 minutes of ice time, the lowest among defensemen, in last night's game, was the only one not to play shorthanded (even Teppo did and he was in the box for one of the two penalties) and was a -1. He would definitely seem to be the obvious choice unless Teppo is actually feeling 40. Edit: guess I should have read the article first since he said most of that.
SwampD Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 Sabres 5 - Detroit 2. And it won't mean anything other than we won tonight.
ROC Sabres Posted January 11, 2009 Report Posted January 11, 2009 Tallinder scratched and Butler is in. Probably one of the better defensive moves I've seen in a while.
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