GAME DISCUSSION THREAD

[billsrcursed]

Well, that sucked. No energy at all. None. Totally uninspired play. Send Weber away. Gerbe isn't ready for the big time. JJ Pommers is a waste. Even Mr. The Skill was more like Mr. The Butter-fingers. The General has completely lost the spark he had early in the season. Miller was far away.

 

That's it. No wonder the crowds are quiet. The crowd gets totally into it when the team does, but you can't fool 18,690 - none of us saw anything to cheer for. Does the team hear the booing? Damn.

 

Pretty much what you said. I'm also sick and tired of Mair taking retarded penalties, although I think it was only 1 tonight.

 

On the obvious side, I thought Kaleta was great again tonight. Seems to be the only guy who knows his role and does it well with some friggin hustle. Sad night, hope we can move on.

[inkman]

I'm also sick and tired of Mair taking retarded penalties...

You must really hate Kotalik, Afinogenov and Vanek. Those three take way worse penalties, every game.

[spndnchz]

There is absolutely nothing positive to say tonight. The Sens gave the Sabres every opportunity to get into this game with 14 penalties and 13 powerplays. Absolutely unheard of and they can muster up only one PP goal while Ottawa gets two against the so called #5 PK in the NHL. Well, I don't buy it.

 

Clearly, without Vanek and Gaustad this team absolutely has zero presence in front of the net that will help us score goals. There is no one who can make the tip play or has the skill in front of the net that these two guys have and it is painfully obvious that the Sabres PP is going to suffer tremendously without them. The kids in Portland are not good enough to replace these guys. I think it's time Darcy start working on the phones and see if there is a trade to be had because this combination of forwards will not help the scoring.

 

As for the callups. Send them all back to Portland. Gerbe did absolutely nothing. He's not making smart reads. When the play is behind the net he should be standing in the slot to collect a centering pass but he is nowhere nearby. It happened 3 times that I counted. He's not using his speed, he's not getting into scoring positions and he's generally not doing what made him get called up in the first place. For those who think Mike Weber is the saving grace for this organization, I think this game clearly proves he is not ready for the NHL yet. This guy takes too many stupid penalties. He had 3 penalties. This has been his problem in Portland and he showed it again tonight. He's not ready to play in the NHL if he's going to take so many stupid penalties that are unnecessary.

 

As for the defenseman as a whole, why does Chris Butler wait till 1 minute left in the game to actually hit a guy when Miller gets run over? I'm glad at least someone responded, but it could have been done a lot earlier than 1 minute left in the third. It's been going on all game long and there's nothing from Rivet, Lydman, or anyone on this team. Our so called savior, Mike Weber does nothing in front of the net to clear the crease and hurt any of the forwards that take a run at Miller. I'm highly disappointed with Weber during this callup.

 

As for the veteran forwards, that was just pathetic. I'm referring to Roy, Pominville, and Hecht in particular. Stafford did nothing tonight either. This was just an ugly ugly performance and we've got San Jose coming in. I'm concerned about an absolute slaughter on Friday if this is the same team that shows up. Absolutely pathetic.

Nail

 

meet

 

Head.

 

:death:

[Chief Enabler]

Nail

 

meet

 

Head.

 

:death:

Rivet captain? maybe Vanek is more like it..... <_<

 

Hell, I'd make Kaleta captain FWIW

[bottlecap]

Hecht makes me want to vomit. I said he was dispensible when he was injured, he wasn't missed...yet no one believed me. I think he lost every battle for the puck last night. Also Kotalik also is just One Dimensional. The man can't play hockey. Pommers - change the stick back and hopefully Ruff changes Hecht off Pominville's line and into the doghouse. What a waste of money.

 

Certainly these two aren't just the only problems, but they're a good start. :thumbdown:

[inkman]

Hecht makes me want to vomit. I said he was dispensible when he was injured, he wasn't missed...yet no one believed me.

:unsure:

[LabattBlue]

You must really hate Kotalik, Afinogenov and Vanek. Those three take way worse penalties, every game.

MacArthur has also jumped on the bandwagon. Anyone who commits an interference, holding, hooking or tripping penalty that would not have otherwise resulted in a scoring chance should be benched the next game.

[stenbaro]

I havent watched a full game all year..I promised myself I wouldnt get sucked in this year till they went out and fetched a couple of good players so my comments havent been as many this year..Last night I watched about 15 minutes of the game and the Sabes had 3 power plays in a row..I was actualy kinda impressed with the way they moved the puck around and thought Hecht did a surprisingly good job of getting in front of the net...Of course they didnt score but it looked like they had it going..Kinda surprising they played as bad as it sounds here from what I saw..

[Spudz]

I watch most of the game, it was hard to watch, but didn't post last night. Throughout this thread I would like to comment on;

 

1. Gerbe... people please realize he is not a god. He might or might not be a good player, but to expect him to jump in in his first year of AHL even and pick up some of Vanek's would be goals is asking way too much. Consider that he is here gaining experience and nothing else at this point. I either hear he will be the next Lafontaine or a complete bust and can never play with the big boys. You cannot tell at this point so these statements shouldn't be said.

 

2. Hecht and Pommers. They both suck and were largely responsible for the success a couple years ago. They need to turn it around or one needs to get traded for a center, and they should be told this.

 

3. This is the type of game where Vanek contributes an unassisted goal and provides a spark. I was listening to WGR when they first announced he'd be out and they said it would be a huge loss. I think it is devastating to the team.

[nucci]

I watch most of the game, it was hard to watch, but didn't post last night. Throughout this thread I would like to comment on;

 

1. Gerbe... people please realize he is not a god. He might or might not be a good player, but to expect him to jump in in his first year of AHL even and pick up some of Vanek's would be goals is asking way too much. Consider that he is here gaining experience and nothing else at this point. I either hear he will be the next Lafontaine or a complete bust and can never play with the big boys. You cannot tell at this point so these statements shouldn't be said.

 

2. Hecht and Pommers. They both suck and were largely responsible for the success a couple years ago. They need to turn it around or one needs to get traded for a center, and they should be told this.

 

3. This is the type of game where Vanek contributes an unassisted goal and provides a spark. I was listening to WGR when they first announced he'd be out and they said it would be a huge loss. I think it is devastating to the team.

Kinda going out on a limb with No.3? Losing our All-Star and leading goal scorer? Yeah, it's a big loss.

[Spudz]

Kinda going out on a limb with No.3? Losing our All-Star and leading goal scorer? Yeah, it's a big loss.

 

 

edit: my bad... I typed a would and should be wouldn't

 

 

Well according to WGR and their dumb little web poll they said it wouldn't hurt to much. Just sayin....

[nucci]

edit: my bad... I typed a would and should be wouldn't

Well according to WGR and their dumb little web poll they said it wouldn't hurt to much. Just sayin....

np

[stenbaro]

Well according to WGR and their dumb little web poll they said it wouldn't hurt to much. Just sayin....

I said years ago I wouldnt listen to them till they got rid of their childish format...I pretty much stopped watching the sAbres due to their lack of commitment to players and I swore myself to never watch a Dick Jauron coached Bills team..I have almost made myself a eunich..lol..Or I I have added years to my life..Cant figure it out at this point

[inkman]

I promised myself I wouldnt get sucked in this year till they went out and fetched a couple of good players...

There is a word for this...

[nucci]

I said years ago I wouldnt listen to them till they got rid of their childish format...I pretty much stopped watching the sAbres due to their lack of commitment to players and I swore myself to never watch a Dick Jauron coached Bills team..I have almost made myself a eunich..lol..Or I I have added years to my life..Cant figure it out at this point

Just curious about the Bills. Did you decide to not watch as soon as they hired Jauron or was it after a couple of years?

[Spudz]

I said years ago I wouldnt listen to them till they got rid of their childish format...I pretty much stopped watching the sAbres due to their lack of commitment to players and I swore myself to never watch a Dick Jauron coached Bills team..I have almost made myself a eunich..lol..Or I I have added years to my life..Cant figure it out at this point

 

 

 

You a fan the TB lightning before the season started? :nana:

[bottlecap]

I said years ago I wouldnt listen to them till they got rid of their childish format...I pretty much stopped watching the sAbres due to their lack of commitment to players and I swore myself to never watch a Dick Jauron coached Bills team..I have almost made myself a eunich..lol..Or I I have added years to my life..Cant figure it out at this point

 

So what is it you're saying? That Buffalo major league sports teams are run in a half-assed way? Say it ain't so!

[CallawaySabres]

This could be a long couple weeks ahead. I think that Pitt and Florida are going to make the playoffs so I just hope that Montreal, Rangers or both have a crappy couple of weeks as well. If Buffalo can just stay within a few points of the last playoff spot until Gaustad and Vanek get back, it should be OK...that's a BIG if

[stenbaro]

Just curious about the Bills. Did you decide to not watch as soon as they hired Jauron or was it after a couple of years?

I puked when they hired him but gave him a whirl for 2 years..I am forty and have been an avid fan for 32 of them..In my 32 yrs of watching any football game on tv possible I have never witnessed a more inept gameday coach in my life..The gameday decisions are more from the mind of a a piece of dust if a piece of dust has one..Iwas going to ues the example of a cockroach but as disgusting as they are they accomplish what they are here on the earth for..Jauron accomplishs nothing

[LabattBlue]

One other note...the Sabres record this season when I have been there in person is now something like 1-7 or 1-8. Absolutely ridiculous. It has reached the point where I have little enthusiasm walking into the arena.

 

The young lady who sang the national anthems was great and it all went downhill from there.

[Chief Enabler]

Kinda going out on a limb with No.3? Losing our All-Star and leading goal scorer? Yeah, it's a big loss.

In some respects, Vanek to the Sabres this year reminds me of what Rick Nash is to Columbus.

[Kristian]

In some respects, Vanek to the Sabres this year reminds me of what Rick Nash is to Columbus.

 

I just don't get how we year after year can absorb so many injuries.

 

When was the last time we didn't have at least 2 regulars out?

 

06-07 playoffs?

 

The farm's starting to look mighty depleted, and it worries me, seeing as some of the youngsters get to see too much of the NHL way before they're ready.

 

A guy like Gerbe shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the big club for at least 2 more years, but what can you do?

[inkman]

A guy like Gerbe shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the big club for at least 2 more years, but what can you do?

It seems like most teams have some regulars out with injuries whenever the Sabres play them. I don't think Buffalo is apart from the norm.

[tom webster]

It seems like most teams have some regulars out with injuries whenever the Sabres play them. I don't think Buffalo is apart from the norm.

 

Exactly, as of the middle of January, Buffalo was 20th in the league in games lost due to injuries. It still amazing how some won't let the facts get in the way of their whining.

[Kristian]

Exactly, as of the middle of January, Buffalo was 20th in the league in games lost due to injuries. It still amazing how some won't let the facts get in the way of their whining.

 

What? So now wondering about the frequency of injuries is whining?

 

"BWAAAAHAAAAAA, OMG OMG OMG BUFFALO IS CURSED, THE HOCKEY GODS HATE US, CURSE DRURY, CURSE BRIERE FOR WALKING, BWAAAAHAAAAA". That's whining for ya :thumbsup:

 

Seriously, I think you may be reading too much into my post.

 

Also, I wasn't only thinking about this season, but really the frequency we've had key personnel out since the lockout, starting with JP and DB's sports hernias.

 

But you're probably right, it just seems that it's always our key guys that are out, not guys like Paille, MacArthur, Mair or Paetsch.

 

Probably cause they don't log too many minutes.