Corp000085 Posted February 24, 2009 Report Posted February 24, 2009 7:00pm I have my hopes set to high that Lalime will be an excellent backup and play very well in his time while Miller's ankle heals. Sure, he's been average, and really hasn't been a great goalie when he's had the chance to start. Hmmm, a regular starter who is average to below average relegated to a backup role who sucks in spot duty. I am not talking about Lalime, I'm talking about Marty Biron. If Lalime can do what Biron did in 2005 when Miller's thumb got broken, for a few games, the Sabres will be set. Now to the game: Hopefully Hecht is back scoring again. His goal last saturday was a slump buster. Roy has definitely picked up his game since Vanek went down (who is now skating with the team... Maybe, jsut maybe, he'll be back by st. patricks day!) I think emotion carries th e Sabres to a victory tonight. This is a freebee game since its against the western conference Ducks... Get two tonight and worry about finding a way to beat the canes after this game. GO SABRES!
nucci Posted February 24, 2009 Report Posted February 24, 2009 I am hoping they come out with very high energy level and sense of desperation. While very inconsistent, they have shown they can play hard when they want to.
BeeWhy5 Posted February 24, 2009 Report Posted February 24, 2009 This game will all come down to Buffalo's team defense. The six on defense need to show up and play hard and the forwards will need to backcheck like they did at the beginning of the season. If the Ducks get 40 + shots they will likely win this game because Lalime is not Ryan Miller. Having said that I think this injury will help Buffalo, at least in the next few games. I think it will give them a little more sense of urgency and cause them to skate just a little harder in front of Patty. I LOVE the way Derek Roy is playing right now scoring goals and also leading breakouts and providing those nifty drop passes that more often than not lead to assists (although sometimes they head the other way...). Hopefully Roy and Stafford stay hot and we have another breakout like Danny Paille's last game. GO SABRES!!
CallawaySabres Posted February 24, 2009 Report Posted February 24, 2009 I guess I should just copy and paste this response for the remainder of the season "this is another huge game". You gotta love the playoff excitement that has already started. I really think these guys are going to pull through it!! All they need is for some of the guys in a slump to pick it up a notch!! Let's go fellas!!
Hawk Posted February 24, 2009 Report Posted February 24, 2009 Wingers are going to have to get back to help "D" The slackers will be in Lindy's doghouse for a VERY LONG TIME!!!
wjag Posted February 24, 2009 Report Posted February 24, 2009 No way we lose to the pond fowl twice in the same season.. Who sits amongst the D?
LabattBlue Posted February 24, 2009 Report Posted February 24, 2009 I will not be there tonight! :rolleyes: For those who are concerned about the curse, my next home game is Sat. 3/14 against Atlanta!
R_Dudley Posted February 24, 2009 Report Posted February 24, 2009 I will not be there tonight! :rolleyes: For those who are concerned about the curse, my next home game is Sat. 3/14 against Atlanta! All right, some positive karma before the game even begins. :nana: Well unfortunately I forgot to set the DVR to record this morning and will miss tonight's game. I expect after all the hub-bub in the Bflo paper started by Jerry Sullivan :bag: (aka Deluca) about the soft Sabres, that the team will be playing with a little edge tonight and more in tune with any rough stuff attempted at least for the next couple of games anyways. Adrenaline can only last so long then the plan, system and natural tendency's take over. Although I will say nice job deluca er I mean Jerry you got the captains attention in the paper..... So what I would have liked to watch tonight and hope some of my fellow fans will report back here so I can read after the game is, what style/system does Lindy have the team playing tonight ? I am expecting the tight 2-way style we saw in the first 10 games of the season with lots of body's in shooting lanes, allowing mainly outside shots and use of our speed game in transition for any chances on mistakes made by the opposition. So here's the first chance to see how we handle this latest adversity. And to that I say bring it on, Go Bflo, show us whatcha ya got. :chris:
deluca67 Posted February 24, 2009 Report Posted February 24, 2009 I am hoping they come out with very high energy level and sense of desperation. While very inconsistent, they have shown they can play hard when they want to. An there in lies the problem. I will stand by what I said earlier. The teams that can put together a decent run will make the playoffs and teams that trade wins and loses like the Sabres have been doing won't. It is very discouraging that the Habe have gone 3-7 in over their last ten and the Rangers have gone 2-8 and yet both are still ahead of the Sabres due to the Sabres 5-5 record. The Habs and Rangers more than likely won't go 3-7 and 2-8 over their next ten. Which means the Sabres are going to have to somehow not only survive with Lalime they will have to strive somehow with Lalime. We all know how important each game is. If the Sabres lose tonight they can be in ninth. If they lose back to back against the Ducks and Canes suddenly they are 3 points out of a playoff spot. If the Sabres are going to start their run there is no better time than the present.
BuffalOhio Posted February 24, 2009 Report Posted February 24, 2009 All right, some positive karma before the game even begins. :nana: Well unfortunately I forgot to set the DVR to record this morning and will miss tonight's game. Dude, seriously? You mean you can't program it remotely over the Internet? DirecTV my man!
cdexchange Posted February 24, 2009 Report Posted February 24, 2009 Well unfortunately I forgot to set the DVR to record this morning and will miss tonight's game. If you have DirecTV, you can easily set your DVR remotely online. :thumbsup: EDIT: Ohio beat me to it!
Cereal Posted February 24, 2009 Report Posted February 24, 2009 Well unfortunately I forgot to set the DVR to record this morning and will miss tonight's game. It looks like Versus will re-air the game tomorrow at 5p-7p, if you're willing.
carpandean Posted February 24, 2009 Report Posted February 24, 2009 I will stand by what I said earlier. The teams that can put together a decent run will make the playoffs and teams that trade wins and loses like the Sabres have been doing won't. It is very discouraging that the Habe have gone 3-7 in over their last ten and the Rangers have gone 2-8 and yet both are still ahead of the Sabres due to the Sabres 5-5 record. The Habs and Rangers more than likely won't go 3-7 and 2-8 over their next ten. Which means the Sabres are going to have to somehow not only survive with Lalime they will have to strive somehow with Lalime. Yes, they could have done better, but they also could have done worse, especially since they were without their best scorer for seven of those games. They were 11 points behind the Candiens through 44 games and even 7 points behind through 51 games, but are now just 1 point behind. They were 9 points behind the Rangers through 35 games and even 7 points behind through 49 points, but are now somewhere between 1 behind and 1 ahead (they are 1 behind with a game-in-hand.) They have, unfortunately, given up a little to the Panthers and the Hurricanes (really, that Carolina games was the one completely unacceptable clunker that they've had recently.) While the Canadiens and Rangers are unlikely to continue playing as poorly as they have been, we have no idea how well they will play. One point (max) over 22 games is definitely possible. Of course the team will have to try even harder without their best scorer and franchise goaltender. Let's see if they do before condemning them to a late spring golf course tour.
deluca67 Posted February 24, 2009 Report Posted February 24, 2009 Yes, they could have done better, but they also could have done worse, especially since they were without their best scorer for seven of those games. They were 11 points behind the Candiens through 44 games and even 7 points behind through 51 games, but are now just 1 point behind. They were 9 points behind the Rangers through 35 games and even 7 points behind through 49 points, but are now somewhere between 1 behind and 1 ahead (they are 1 behind with a game-in-hand.) They have, unfortunately, given up a little to the Panthers and the Hurricanes (really, that Carolina games was the one completely unacceptable clunker that they've had recently.) While the Canadiens and Rangers are unlikely to continue playing as poorly as they have been, we have no idea how well they will play. One point (max) over 22 games is definitely possible. Of course the team will have to try even harder without their best scorer and franchise goaltender. Let's see if they do before condemning them to a late spring golf course tour. They are right behind the Rangers and Habs more so do to their failures than a playoff push by the Sabres, which is my point. The Sabres can't languish around the .500 mark the rest of the way and expect to make the playoffs. At some point they are going to have to put a stretch together and take playoff spot instead of hoping one falls to them. I'm not wishing the Sabres miss the playoffs. I just want them to assert themselves. Despite the injuries the Sabres have found themselves recipients of great fortune. Now is the time to forgo fortune and make their own luck by rattling off some wins and breaking away from the pack.
carpandean Posted February 24, 2009 Report Posted February 24, 2009 They are right behind the Rangers and Habs more so do to their failures than a playoff push by the Sabres, which is my point. The Sabres can't languish around the .500 mark the rest of the way and expect to make the playoffs. At some point they are going to have to put a stretch together and take playoff spot instead of hoping one falls to them. I do agree that they will need to make a push, which will be tough before at least getting Vanek back (Ruff said that he is on-schedule for the 3-4 week time table, which is sometime next week as Friday is three weeks from the game in which he was injured.) However, their rise was 50% the fall of those two teams and 50% their mid-season push (you are right that it wasn't a playoff push.) Prior to Vanek's injury, they went 11-5-0, gaining six points on both the Rangers and the Canadiens. Since his injury, though, they've still gained one point on each (well, between 0 and 2 on the Rangers, due to that game-in-hand.)
Eleven Posted February 24, 2009 Report Posted February 24, 2009 Apparently Anaheim's coach thinks the Sabres are tough enough: "I know that we have to play to a certain level. I'm sure they feel they have to play to a certain level of aggressiveness to have success. When you have a (Patrick) Kaleta, you have an Adam Mair, you have Gaustad, those aren't shrinking violets." http://www.ocregister.com/articles/ducks-g...-miller-buffalo
NowDoYouBelieve Posted February 24, 2009 Report Posted February 24, 2009 Apparently Anaheim's coach thinks the Sabres are tough enough: "I know that we have to play to a certain level. I'm sure they feel they have to play to a certain level of aggressiveness to have success. When you have a (Patrick) Kaleta, you have an Adam Mair, you have Gaustad, those aren't shrinking violets." http://www.ocregister.com/articles/ducks-g...-miller-buffalo No, no, no. Didn't you hear? We're a soft team.
spndnchz Posted February 24, 2009 Report Posted February 24, 2009 No way we lose to the pond fowl twice in the same season.. Who sits amongst the D? Teppo, Peters and Paetsch all sit tonight. I DO think this game is more than win-able. I'm just hoping for a good game and no "oh, woe is us, we'll never do it without Ryan" if they lose.
carpandean Posted February 24, 2009 Report Posted February 24, 2009 I played an NHL09 game against Anaheim using a Connolly-Gaustad-Stafford first line (I might have gone with Gaustad-Connolly-Stafford, but you can't have your winger take faceoffs in the game like you can in real life) and it actually seemed to work well. I doubt Lindy would try that particular line, but I wouldn't be surprised to see something like Kaleta-Connolly-Stafford. Lindy did something like that against LA to counter Dustin Brown.
carpandean Posted February 24, 2009 Report Posted February 24, 2009 Teppo, Peters and Paetsch all sit tonight. Can't say that I am ever upset about having Peters out of the lineup, but it is a little surprising given who we are playing.
Eleven Posted February 24, 2009 Report Posted February 24, 2009 I played an NHL09 game against Anaheim using a Connolly-Gaustad-Stafford first line (I might have gone with Gaustad-Connolly-Stafford, but you can't have your winger take faceoffs in the game like you can in real life) and it actually seemed to work well. I doubt Lindy would try that particular line, but I wouldn't be surprised to see something like Kaleta-Connolly-Stafford. Lindy did something like that against LA to counter Dustin Brown. I think it would be a lot of fun to see what Connolly and Stafford could do with Gaustad hanging out in the crease.
shrader Posted February 24, 2009 Report Posted February 24, 2009 Can't say that I am ever upset about having Peters out of the lineup, but it is a little surprising given who we are playing. Peters fears the porn stache?
R_Dudley Posted February 24, 2009 Report Posted February 24, 2009 Peters fears the porn stache? :lol: , Nicely Played. Along the lines of things that make you go Hmmm...... Given Lindy's record and past rational for when he plays Peter's vs sits him, seconded only by his penchant for not tipping his hand to other team on players or line-up till last minute, does this move try to tone down the potential physical side of the re-match game? Seems to me with two old cagey veteran coaches in Carlisle and Ruff almost like Lindy calling a truce on the rough stuff. With Anahiem in the middle of a long road trip and both teams fighting for their playoff lives maybe they just want to get out of the game alive.... I dunno, just saying, thinking out loud, :rolleyes: ... I guess we'll see in 6 1/2 hours.
ThePebble19 Posted February 24, 2009 Report Posted February 24, 2009 Well, points wise, Tuesday is our best night of the week to collect 1 point. We have done so in 80% of our Tues games. So, we have that going for us...which is nice.
NowDoYouBelieve Posted February 24, 2009 Report Posted February 24, 2009 Time once again for my bizarrely specific prediction... Sabres win this one 4-3 in OT. Pominville gets off the schnide with two goals in the first period, while Lalime stands on his head stopping 16 shots. In the second, Corey Perry redirects a shot from Pronger past Lalime, but Buffalo responds quickly when Connolly fakes a move and drops a pass back to Spacek for a laser goal. 3-1 after two. In the third, we outshoot the Ducks but can't score. Lalime lets up a softie to Bobby Ryan, and then with 50 seconds left and Giguere pulled from the net Ryan Getzlaf fires one into the net. A minute and a half into the overtime, Giguere allows a bad rebound and Macarthur capitalizes. Or maybe something else happens, I don't know.
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