GAME DISCUSSION THREAD

[carpandean]

I tolerate the Blue unis with the slug. I do not like it in white at all... We've been in white all freakin month....

I agree and actually own a blue slug jersey (nearly cost me my posting rights on SabresNotSlugs.) The white slugs are the worst uniforms that the Sabres have ever worn by a long shot. Can't wait for these:

[SabreInFla]

Yeah, per Paul Hamilton from WGR, he said Miller will play tonight and Lalime will play on Monday against the Ducks. Things could definitely change between now and then, but I would expect Lalime to get the start given it was announced.

Boggles the mind why we start a guy that is 2-6-1, 3.19 a game and .886 in saves. Just scares me when things are as tight in the standings as they are.

[SabresFan526]

As mentioned, Weber is back in the lineup in Portland. Unless Darcy pulls a trade out of his @ss, he'd be my guess. You know, the Coyotes are hurting on the front end, maybe we could trade them a forward for a D man.

Good to hear. Now Portland will be shorthanded on D again. I expect we will be seeing Weber Monday night against the Ducks since I assume Sekera, Teppo, Tallinder, and Spacek will all be out unless there is a miracle healing treatment. While the Sabres are still fighting for a playoff spot, I guess we should be thankful that we've only lost 4 defenseman to injury in the regular season instead of it being in the playoffs/Eastern Conference Finals.

[SabresFan526]

Boggles the mind why we start a guy that is 2-6-1, 3.19 a game and .886 in saves. Just scares me when things are as tight in the standings as they are.

A couple of points here.

 

First, don't read too much into the stats. He did not look good against Chicago, but in a lot of those games, the team in front of him absolutely looked terrible, did not give him any goal support and gave him nothing to work with. He's looked bad at times, but that record is a bit misleading given the play in front of him in the games that he has played this year.

 

Second, you can't play Miller every game. He needs to get some rest and has played quite a few games. Don't want to burn him out and have what happened last year happen this year and prevent the Sabres from making the playoffs.

[SabreInFla]

A couple of points here.

 

First, don't read too much into the stats. He did not look good against Chicago, but in a lot of those games, the team in front of him absolutely looked terrible, did not give him any goal support and gave him nothing to work with. He's looked bad at times, but that record is a bit misleading given the play in front of him in the games that he has played this year.

 

Second, you can't play Miller every game. He needs to get some rest and has played quite a few games. Don't want to burn him out and have what happened last year happen this year and prevent the Sabres from making the playoffs.

I agree, but it almost seems like a damned if you do damned if you don't situation. Hopefully he will surprise us and play solid to at least give us chance to get some points.

[Foligno's Nose]

No Max, Hecht, Spacek, Teppo, and Tallinder... On to the big bad Ducks...

 

 

Sounds like next season, except for Jochen.

Plug back in Mair on Monday.

 

Gragnani, Paetsch, & Weber on the call-up.

 

Defense of the future...today!!!

[ExiledInIllinois]

The logo looks like a bad knockoff of the Greyhound Bus logo.

 

I like their first logo in PHX since leaving Winnipeg:

[...]

If this team is "for real" then Monday's game is no different than than any other.

[...]

BTW, Butler led the team with ice-time tonight. A whopping 29:55. Wowzers!

 

FWIW Gragnani had 19:19. Not too bad. +1, too.

[Foligno's Nose]

Boggles the mind why we start a guy that is 2-6-1, 3.19 a game and .886 in saves. Just scares me when things are as tight in the standings as they are.

 

Excuse my yada-yada-yada comment: "You can't play Miller every game." (There is only one Martin Brodeur)

 

Lalime has to play.

Record has nothing to do with it.

Nothing mind-boggling about it.

Lindy must start him against the Ducks.

 

We will need Miller back home against the Leafs on Wednesday.

 

By the way, thank the Buds for taking care of Sid and Co. tonight.

Although they did not help their 'John Tavares Sweepstakes' chances much.

That is the plan?

Right, Brian Burke/ Ron Wilson?

[Foligno's Nose]

I agree and actually own a blue slug jersey (nearly cost me my posting rights on SabresNotSlugs.) The white slugs are the worst uniforms that the Sabres have ever worn by a long shot. Can't wait for these:

 

Lock and load.

No slug?

No big loss.

 

These look great.

A spin on the Winter Classic jerseys.

 

Great!

[Foligno's Nose]

Those black unis would look better with that circle shoulder patch they have. That would be a nice looking uniform.

 

This would be a nice looking uniform for them:

[carpandean]

BTW, Butler led the team with ice-time tonight. A whopping 29:55. Wowzers!

FWIW Gragnani had 19:19. Not too bad. +1, too.

I just noticed these. I thought Rivet with 27:27 and Lydman with 28:34 were both impressive until I got to Butler's line. 7:54 of PK TOI! That's two minutes more than anyone else on the team. He was also second on the team in EV TOI, just 4 seconds behind Lydman.

 

Paetsch with 7:39 of total TOI -- yes, that's less than Butler spent just on the PK -- but a whopping 21 PIM (penalties in minutes)!

 

For an offensive defenseman, Gragnani got 3:43 of PK time. Anyone else catch the article where Lindy compared him to a young Brian Campbell?

[carpandean]

A spin on the Winter Classic jerseys.

Basically, just a white version of our current thirds.

 

But, yes, not too far from the WC jerseys either. Why mess with a classic? :thumbsup:

[...]

For an offensive defenseman, Gragnani got 3:43 of PK time. Anyone else catch the article where Lindy compared him to a young Brian Campbell?

 

 

Yeah, I saw that. Lindy seems to have a lot of confidence in both Butler and Gragnani if his comments and the way he's using them is any indication. I think that says a lot about what our D will look like next season.

[Eleven]

I just noticed these. I thought Rivet with 27:27 and Lydman with 28:34 were both impressive until I got to Butler's line. 7:54 of PK TOI! That's two minutes more than anyone else on the team. He was also second on the team in EV TOI, just 4 seconds behind Lydman.

 

Paetsch with 7:39 of total TOI -- yes, that's less than Butler spent just on the PK -- but a whopping 21 PIM (penalties in minutes)!

 

For an offensive defenseman, Gragnani got 3:43 of PK time. Anyone else catch the article where Lindy compared him to a young Brian Campbell?

 

 

Caught the article on Gragnani, but like the article said, it took 6 years for Campbell to become Campbell.

 

Butler was solid tonight, and he obviously can take some responsibility in his own end (thus the PK time). I'm really liking that kid's stint with the big club so far.

[Kristian]

Caught the article on Gragnani, but like the article said, it took 6 years for Campbell to become Campbell.

 

True, but Campbell was such a late bloomer that some people had pretty much given up on him.

 

I think the "New NHL" pretty much saved Brian's career, because it allowed him to grow some confidence, and take his game to the next level successfully.

[billsrcursed]

Anyone else thinking they should have gone with Lalime tonight and Miller on Monday against the Ducks, or am I the only one?

 

 

You're the only one.....

 

I know, I cheated!!

[Eleven]

A question about last night's game: I was watching it without sound (in a restaurant), and so I have no idea why the game became so chippy, so quickly. There doesn't seem to be an explanation in the News, either. What happened?

[SwampD]

A question about last night's game: I was watching it without sound (in a restaurant), and so I have no idea why the game became so chippy, so quickly. There doesn't seem to be an explanation in the News, either. What happened?

Kaleta played.

[deluca67]

Excuse my yada-yada-yada comment: "You can't play Miller every game." (There is only one Martin Brodeur)

 

Lalime has to play.

Record has nothing to do with it.

Nothing mind-boggling about it.

Lindy must start him against the Ducks.

 

We will need Miller back home against the Leafs on Wednesday.

 

By the way, thank the Buds for taking care of Sid and Co. tonight.

Although they did not help their 'John Tavares Sweepstakes' chances much.

That is the plan?

Right, Brian Burke/ Ron Wilson?

Lalime doesn't have to play against the Ducks. You play your best goaltender against the better teams and play the crap back-up against crap teams like the Leafs. Playing Lalime against a good team is surrendering the two points.

 

In theory Miller does need his rest. Unfortunately the Sabres are about as good at finding back-up goalies as the Bills are finding head coaches. For some reason the Sabres decided to sign Lalime for two years. Which really sucks since better goalies have hit the waiver wire this year and the Sabres missed the chance to upgrade significantly.

 

If the Sabres are going to make the playoffs Miller is going to have to play pretty much every game. The Sabres have 7 games against the Leafs, Thrashers and Islanders left on the schedule. You play Lalime in some of those games and hope he doesn't lose any for you.

[carpandean]

Kaleta played.

That helped, but Phoenix has some tough, hard-hitting players even on their top lines (e.g., Shane Doan.) It shouldn't have surprised anyone ;) :

I expect a low scoring game and could see it turning physical.

 

I also pointed out a key to holding to for the shutout:

our PK is one of the best, while their PP is one of the worst.

[NowDoYouBelieve]

Caught the article on Gragnani, but like the article said, it took 6 years for Campbell to become Campbell.

 

Butler was solid tonight, and he obviously can take some responsibility in his own end (thus the PK time). I'm really liking that kid's stint with the big club so far.

 

I forgot who it was, but I read a quote from a Sabres player saying that they wouldn't be surprised if Butler was captain in a couple years. Apparently he became a leader in the lockerroom the moment he was called up.

[BetweenThePipes00]

Lalime doesn't have to play against the Ducks. You play your best goaltender against the better teams and play the crap back-up against crap teams like the Leafs. Playing Lalime against a good team is surrendering the two points.

 

In theory Miller does need his rest. Unfortunately the Sabres are about as good at finding back-up goalies as the Bills are finding head coaches. For some reason the Sabres decided to sign Lalime for two years. Which really sucks since better goalies have hit the waiver wire this year and the Sabres missed the chance to upgrade significantly.

 

If the Sabres are going to make the playoffs Miller is going to have to play pretty much every game. The Sabres have 7 games against the Leafs, Thrashers and Islanders left on the schedule. You play Lalime in some of those games and hope he doesn't lose any for you.

Some might argue you play him in Calgary because you are likely going to lose anyway and make sure you have Miller to make sure you win the games you should win. Not sure I agree with it, but some would argue it.

 

Still, even based on your theory to play him in winnable games, Anaheim is not such a bad choice on this trip.

 

As we all know all too well, it is not 2006-07 anymore ... the Ducks are not one of the better teams. they do have some scary offensive talent, but the numbers say they are average. They went 6-7-1 in January ... They have played two more games than the Sabres yet have two fewer points. They are only two points ahead of Edmonton despite playing four more games. Phoenix is only 2 points behind them with a game in hand and was 16-7-2 at home before last night. The Ducks are also just 13-11-3 at home, and have lost 3 in a row at home, including one to Tampa. Defensive injuries notwithstanding, it is a winnable game for the Sabres no matter who the goalie is, if they play well in front of him. I have no problem getting Miller a little more rest with 4 division games and San Jose on the horizon the next two weeks.

[mercury]

I like the Coyotes broadcast. I was a fan of Pang and Strader on ESPN and they are good on the Yotes broadcast.

 

Indeed. All three alternative broadcasts since the break have been entertaining and refreshing.