ThePebble19 Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 There is no way this loss can be blamed on Lalime. The Carolina goal is the same type of shot that Miller lets in constantly. High over his glove shoulder. I've seen it at least a dozen times from Miller this year. It's a tough shot, with traffic in front, and it handcuffed him. But we have to score goals, and get even a little bit of production out of our top lines. Without that, we will be headed right for the tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carpandean Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 But we have to score goals, and get even a little bit of production out of our top lines. Without that, we will be headed right for the tank. Hopefully "Vanek is expected back next week" means that he will back for the game against the Canadiens on Wednesday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eleven Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 Game thoughts... - About as good an effort as you are going to see from Lalime is pissed away. - Hecht's play is absolutely mind boggling. - Sekera has some really good offensive skills which I believe will come to the forefront in the coming years. - Kaleta showed why he should never be in the press box again. His LEGAL hit on BrindAmour was a thing of beauty. - Bottom line...The Sabres needed to to find a way to win, yet only could manage one goal. I agree with all of this, and I want to add a couple of, or several, or few points: - I really liked Gaustad's play tonight. - We all know Kotalik is streaky with his scoring, but if this isn't the bottom of the sine curve, I don't want to see what the bottom actually is. Two open nets in two games, and then the obvious move to the backhand on the shootout. - The Skill, take note: When you have a beautiful, open upper-right corner available on the last shot of a shootout that matters for the last playoff spot, and the opposing goaltender already has figured out Kotalik's backhand move, DON'T duplicate that backhand move! Take the shot to the upper-right. - Liked the way the Sabres got on Ward early, but it should have continued further into the game. - If Lydman would have skated harder, he could have checked hard into the boards rather than cross-checked. It was a cheap penalty, but it only was called because it was obvious that Lydman could have actually tried to make a legitimate check. - Pominville, your turn to take note: You're not finishing this season, and maybe it's because the expectations are high because of your new contract. But this nonsense has to stop after this year. You used to be able to finish, and you need to learn how to do it again. - I'm not the biggest fan of Drew Stafford. I'm really not. But I don't want to see a shootout without him in the first three again, until (1) the Sabres are so far ahead of the rest of the conference that it doesn't matter, (2) the Sabres are so far behind the rest of the conference that it doesn't matter, (3) the Sabres sign a bunch of snipers that would make the Mossad jealous, or (4) Stafford isn't in the lineup. Tonight, it should have been Kotalik, Stafford, Roy. Those are three of the top ten in the NHL. They're on this team. Why the hell are the Sabres messing around with Pominville and Connolly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deluca67 Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 Are you referring to Jokinen in the shootout or Babchuk's goal in the third? I'm pretty sure Lalime was screened on Babchuk's goal and did not see the puck. Chad Larose was standing right in front of Lalime and the defenseman did not clear Larose out of the way in order to allow Lalime to see the puck. That's a difficult save for any goalie to make when they are screened and cannot see the shot, including for Miller. Better goalies make difficult saves. I wasn't blaming the loss on Lalime I was just saying that the Sabres needed that save. Lalime has had a easy time of it up until the third period today. 35 shots over five periods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JujuFish Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 It must be easy to bring the "A game" when you face 13 shots over the first 40 minutes. Tell that to Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who has won only 9 of the 27 games in which he's faced fewer than 35 shots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SabresFan526 Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 Better goalies make difficult saves. I wasn't blaming the loss on Lalime I was just saying that the Sabres needed that save. Lalime has had a easy time of it up until the third period today. 35 shots over five periods. Miller has consistently given up goals this year and in years past when he has been screened on point shots. Sometimes goalies get lucky and the puck finds their armor, but those are very difficult saves to make when you don't see the puck coming at you. Regardless, Lalime made some great saves tonight including a beauty on Jokinen. The Sabres should not be getting only 1 goal and assuming that is enough for Lalime to win the game with. That's not something they would do with Miller in net and that's not something they should do with Lalime in net either as a one goal lead is never safe. The Sabres needed to give Lalime goal support and they needed to bury the open net chances that they had like Kotalik's in the second and Hecht in OT. Absolutely ridiculous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carpandean Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 - I'm not the biggest fan of Drew Stafford. I'm really not. But I don't want to see a shootout without him in the first three again, until (1) the Sabres are so far ahead of the rest of the conference that it doesn't matter, (2) the Sabres are so far behind the rest of the conference that it doesn't matter, (3) the Sabres sign a bunch of snipers that would make the Mossad jealous, or (4) Stafford isn't in the lineup. Tonight, it should have been Kotalik, Stafford, Roy. Those are three of the top ten in the NHL. They're on this team. Why the hell are the Sabres messing around with Pominville and Connolly? Geez, with my whole big rant, I forgot about Drew. Pommer has been decent, too, but you are right with your three shooters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bills_fan_in_raleigh Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 Just got back from the game, what lopsided offiicating. Spacek takes a stick to head/neck no call, Kaleta checks a player facing him that is handling the pucket and gets charging. Goose was molested in front of net no call. As always Sabres fans were loud however the RBC handed out its fan protocol sheets and even went as far to hand to fans that were cheering. Kotalik was pathetic today barely putting in any effort at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePebble19 Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 Yep, I can't quite figure out why Stafford didn't shoot tonight. Connolly has been ice cold on shootouts, no reason to have him in there... Kotalik, Stafford, Roy...should be that way every time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deluca67 Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 Tell that to Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who has won only 9 of the 27 games in which he's faced fewer than 35 shots. I'm not sure where you got your numbers from but Giguere has 13 of his 16 wins in games in which he has faced less than 35 shots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JujuFish Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 I'm not sure where you got your numbers from but Giguere has 13 of his 16 wins in games in which he has faced less than 35 shots. Right from Elias Sports Bureau, the people whose business it is to know stuff like this. GIGUERE BETTER WHEN HE'S BUSYJean-Sebastien Giguere stopped 34 of 36 shots on goal by the Sabres to lead Anaheim to a 3-2 victory in Buffalo. Giguere is 7-1-2 (with one no-decision) in the 11 games in which he faced at least 35 shots on goal this season, but only 9-14-2 (with two NDs) in the 27 games in which he faced fewer than 35 shots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayFinkle Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 I just got home from the game, a couple of observations: Lalime played off his ass tonight. Great game. Sabres were the victims of some homer calls The Canes fans are still crying about the hit on Rod the Bod from Patty. They claim nobody should take a shot like that on a player of Rod's status, like the guy is fuggin number 99 or something. How was that a penalty on Patty? What happened to Spako? It was behind the play and I missed it. Hecht is just going through the motions. Every other player comes off the ice fired up after their shift. Yapping, banging sticks. Hecht just comes on and off like a zombie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsrcursed Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 It was charging. It was also unnecessary. Kaleta took a feel good shot and he got nailed for the penalty. If you want Kaleta to hit you have to live with those penalties. I was more upset about the Lydman cross check penalty. Lydman must be a strong SOB because that Canes player acted like he got hit by a semi. Also, Is it just me or does Lydman take more penalties for shooting the puck over the glass than most teams do? Unnecessary?? I don't remember which Sabre player was playing "grab-ass" with Rod, but they were losing. Kaleta not only made sure Rod wasn't going anywhere with the puck, he "CLEANLY" took their captain into the boards. All the complaining from everyone about how soft this team is, yet when someone steps up and cleans someone's clock, legally, we complain about it being unnecessary?? Not sure I understand, especially coming from someone who was all for someone, anyone, going after Gomez regardless of the consequences...... I understand the situations are different, I just don't understand the idea that the hit was unnecessary. I for one was glad somebody hit an opposing player....especially with it being Rod!!! :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deluca67 Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 Right from Elias Sports Bureau, the people whose business it is to know stuff like this. According to NHL.com their numbers are off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claude_Verret Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 Unnecessary?? I don't remember which Sabre player was playing "grab-ass" with Rod, but they were losing. Kaleta not only made sure Rod wasn't going anywhere with the puck, he "CLEANLY" took their captain into the boards. All the complaining from everyone about how soft this team is, yet when someone steps up and cleans someone's clock, legally, we complain about it being unnecessary?? Not sure I understand, especially coming from someone who was all for someone, anyone, going after Gomez regardless of the consequences...... I understand the situations are different, I just don't understand the idea that the hit was unnecessary. I for one was glad somebody hit an opposing player....especially with it being Rod!!! :thumbsup: Thank you. I was at the game too. Horrible call. DeLuca is delusional.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deluca67 Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 Miller has consistently given up goals this year and in years past when he has been screened on point shots. Sometimes goalies get lucky and the puck finds their armor, but those are very difficult saves to make when you don't see the puck coming at you. Regardless, Lalime made some great saves tonight including a beauty on Jokinen. The Sabres should not be getting only 1 goal and assuming that is enough for Lalime to win the game with. That's not something they would do with Miller in net and that's not something they should do with Lalime in net either as a one goal lead is never safe. The Sabres needed to give Lalime goal support and they needed to bury the open net chances that they had like Kotalik's in the second and Hecht in OT. Absolutely ridiculous! That is why they call Miller "Mr. Softy." I sure other goalies give up bad goals as well. The problem is they weren't in net for the Sabres tonight. The Sabres were scrambling and the shot came from the outside. Lindy talks all the time about keeping chances down and keeping the shots to the outside. If it falls on Lalime or the entire six man unit that goal can't be allowed to happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deluca67 Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 Unnecessary?? I don't remember which Sabre player was playing "grab-ass" with Rod, but they were losing. Kaleta not only made sure Rod wasn't going anywhere with the puck, he "CLEANLY" took their captain into the boards. All the complaining from everyone about how soft this team is, yet when someone steps up and cleans someone's clock, legally, we complain about it being unnecessary?? Not sure I understand, especially coming from someone who was all for someone, anyone, going after Gomez regardless of the consequences...... I understand the situations are different, I just don't understand the idea that the hit was unnecessary. I for one was glad somebody hit an opposing player....especially with it being Rod!!! :thumbsup: Kaleta went for the kill shot. Which he does often. He also takes himself out of position which I can live with. I am also glad he is one of the few players on this roster that likes to hit. He just needs to learn to pick his shots better and remember he has a rep around the league. We can argue back and forth if it was charging or not. I think it was close enough that is another player had made the same hit it may have not been called. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deluca67 Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 Thank you. I was at the game too. Horrible call. DeLuca is delusional.. And if Connolly was on the receiving end of the exact same hit many on this board would be yelling for a suspension. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfreeman Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 Game thoughts... - About as good an effort as you are going to see from Lalime is pissed away. - Hecht's play is absolutely mind boggling. - Sekera has some really good offensive skills which I believe will come to the forefront in the coming years. - Kaleta showed why he should never be in the press box again. His LEGAL hit on BrindAmour was a thing of beauty. - Bottom line...The Sabres needed to to find a way to win, yet only could manage one goal. Good post. I know it's disheartening when you don't get the two points, but really, there's no need to give up hope so quickly. Even after the firing of Renney, Torts still hasn't won a game and the Rangers continue to self-destruct. Montreal's season is unraveling. You can't rely on the rest of the teams to fall apart, I know, but really, all the Sabres have to do is keep pace with the Eastern Conference until Miller and Vanek get back. It's going to be a tight race and there are 6 teams fighting for only four spots. So, if we play the probability game, the Sabres still have a good shot. Also, with regard to Spacek, they said it was an upper body injury, not a lower body or knee/leg injury. My guess is that may miss a game or two, but not a lot of time. And, while this team is definitely injured, they do not lack depth on the blueline right now, so they'll be okay. It's discouraging to lose, but keep the hope, I think the Sabres will get back in this thing. It's not time to sell, yet. And another one. It must be easy to bring the "A game" when you face 13 shots over the first 40 minutes. Getting beat on the short side from a shot of that distance? I guess if Lalime could make that save he would be a starter. Sucks though, they needed him to make that save. The Sabres did a great job for the second straight game keeping the shots down, at least up until the third period. 35 shots over five periods is pretty damn good. They deserve to have gained more than one point out of the four. And this is what we call "grinding the axe". You can't deny that Lalime played very well. The Sabres aren't going to beat anyone, regardless of who their goalie is, without scoring more than once. BTW, I'd like to know how those other goalies that you were criticizing Darcy for not signing have fared this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claude_Verret Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 And if Connolly was on the receiving end of the exact same hit many on this board would be yelling for a suspension. Not me. Puck was there and he was facing the checker. Clean hit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claude_Verret Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 By the way....... For those who attended tonight... did you keep track of the scoreboard cheap shots? Quite the classy organization they have down here.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deluca67 Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 Good post.And another one. And this is what we call "grinding the axe". You can't deny that Lalime played very well. The Sabres aren't going to beat anyone, regardless of who their goalie is, without scoring more than once. BTW, I'd like to know how those other goalies that you were criticizing Darcy for not signing have fared this year. Auld has 12 wins and a .913 save percentage. Kolzig played half the amount of games and has as many wins as Lalime with a similar save percentage as Lalime. There are third string goalies out there with more wins than Lalime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfreeman Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 Auld has 12 wins and a .913 save percentage. Kolzig played half the amount of games and has as many wins as Lalime with a similar save percentage as Lalime. There are third string goalies out there with more wins than Lalime. Are those the only 2 you were pushing? I seem to recall others. I'll dig up the posts and the stats if I have to, or you can just come clean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eleven Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 Cool. Another thread about DeLuca. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claude_Verret Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 Auld has 12 wins and a .913 save percentage. Kolzig played half the amount of games and has as many wins as Lalime with a similar save percentage as Lalime. There are third string goalies out there with more wins than Lalime. You can't lay the game tonight on Lalime. Get a grip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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