GAME DISCUSSION THREAD

[carpandean]

Let's not forget that human beings tainted this experiment. A person, probably LQ, decided which games the Sabres would wear their third sweaters. Was this person trying to pick games he or she (edit: have no idea why I put she in there!) thought the Sabres would win?

I'll give you that four games against the Leafs (though, one was in Toronto) and one against the Kings doesn't sound strong, but look at the remaining ten games:

 

Detroit (1 of 1)

Boston (2 of 3)

Montreal (2 of 3)

Rangers (2 of 2)

Philly (1 of 2)

Pittsburgh (1 of 2)

Panthers (1 of 2)

Ottawa (1 of 3)

 

None of the Islanders, Thrashers or Lightning games were in thirds (despite our actual record against bottom teams, one would have expected those to be relatively easy games.) Boston, Montreal, NYR, Philly and Pittsburgh were expected to be good this year and at least half of each were in thirds (to be fair, Washington, Carolina and NJ games were not.) You are right that the experiment was not well controlled, but looking at the schedule, I wouldn't say that they were trying to make it easy.

[Eleven]

Let's not forget that human beings tainted this experiment. A person, probably LQ, decided which games the Sabres would wear their third sweaters. Was this person trying to pick games he or she (edit: have no idea why I put she in there!) thought the Sabres would win?

 

 

PA--that's the same LQ who approved the slug sweaters, right? Why would he sabotage his own legacy, if, as you imply, the sweater selection is for personal reasons?

[deluca67]

I'll give you that four games against the Leafs (though, one was in Toronto) and one against the Kings doesn't sound strong, but look at the remaining ten games:

 

Detroit (1 of 1)

Boston (2 of 3)

Montreal (2 of 3)

Rangers (2 of 2)

Philly (1 of 2)

Pittsburgh (1 of 2)

Panthers (1 of 2)

Ottawa (1 of 3)

 

None of the Islanders, Thrashers or Lightning games were in thirds (despite our actual record against bottom teams, one would have expected those to be relatively easy games.) Boston, Montreal, NYR, Philly and Pittsburgh were expected to be good this year and at least half of each were in thirds (to be fair, Washington, Carolina and NJ games were not.) You are right that the experiment was not well controlled, but looking at the schedule, I wouldn't say that they were trying to make it easy.

Does this "experiment" take into account that the players just don't seem interested in making the playoffs?

 

The schedule can be picked apart and broken down every way possible. It just doesn't matter unless the Sabres decide to put out the effort needed to get the job done. Even if this team was playing well making the playoffs would be a tough task. Half-hearted efforts make the task impossible. Until this team shows that the playoffs are something they are willing to fight for it will be hard to take any theory on how they can make the playoffs seriously.

[carpandean]

Does this "experiment" take into account that the players just don't seem interested in making the playoffs?

The schedule can be picked apart and broken down every way possible. It just doesn't matter unless the Sabres decide to put out the effort needed to get the job done. Even if this team was playing well making the playoffs would be a tough task. Half-hearted efforts make the task impossible. Until this team shows that the playoffs are something they are willing to fight for it will be hard to take any theory on how they can make the playoffs seriously.

I have to ask, did you actually read the post or just see a list of games and assume that it was about the games left in the season? That was a list of the "remaining games" in the set of games played in the third jersey after you exclude the four against Toronto and one against the Kings, not remaining in the season. The discussion was about how their record in the third jerseys is significantly better than their record in the "slug" home jerseys. There was question about the relative strength of schedule between the two jerseys. It had absolutely nothing to do with the playoffs.

[deluca67]

I have to ask, did you actually read the post or just see a list of games and assume that it was about the games left in the season? That was a list of the "remaining games" in the set of games played in the third jersey after you exclude the four against Toronto and one against the Kings, not remaining in the season. The discussion was about how their record in the third jerseys is significantly better than their record in the "slug" home jerseys. There was question about the relative strength of schedule between the two jerseys. It had absolutely nothing to do with the playoffs.

The appears to be two separate conversations going on that a melded into one. My apologies. :thumbsup:

[carpandean]

The appears to be two separate conversations going on that a melded into one. My apologies. :thumbsup:

No problem. Been there; done that.

 

With the easy games that they've lost and the hard games that they've won, I would make no guesses about which ones they can or will win. For the next fourteen games, I'm just going to ride the roller coaster and hope that it somehow lands us higher than seven other teams in the East. :thumbsup: