PLAYOFF DISCUSSION THREAD

[wjag]

Varlamov over Fleury

Thomas over Ward

Osgood over Hiller

Luongo over Huet

[R_Dudley]

Varlamov over Fleury

Thomas over Ward

Osgood over Hiller

Luongo over Huet

 

Is Kabbi injured ? You may want to change that to Luongo over the Bullin wall ...

[Kristian]

I think it would have been worse to bottom out under an incompetent new coach and be rudderless going into next year.

 

The Habs are in complete disarray. Ottawa went on a pretty short hot streak after mumbles took over, but ended up the season losing 4 out of 5 and are still mired in crappiness. The Sharks and Rangers both regressed from last year's playoff performance. Speaking of the Rangers, Tortorella butchered the Avery situation, then freaked out on a fan and got himself suspended -- which in combination probably cost the Rangers the series.

 

As for the Sabres begging for a new coach -- they finished 2 points out of the playoffs despite losing their 2 best players, including their goalie, down the stretch. If those injuries don't happen, and if you substituted, say, Brind'Amour and Cole for Paille and Hecht -- ie if you adjust for items out of Lindy's control -- then the Sabres are probably in the #5 or #6 slot.

 

Point taken, but how much more rudderless do you expect the Sabres to become?

 

Players and Lindy were talking all year about how they "did not play the system", and if that's not a sign of a team and a coach not being on the same page, at the very least it's a sign of a team unable to execute a gameplan.

 

Whatever that gameplan might be.

 

I definitely agree the current roster just won't cut it, but I think it's time Lindy took his fair share of the heat going around.

[Eleven]

At least the Sharks, Rangers and Habs made the playoffs. San Jose won the freakin' Presidents' Trophy.

 

'Cause that's enough to keep us happy around here, right?

[Cereal]

Is Kabbi injured ? You may want to change that to Luongo over the Bullin wall ...

 

Yeah I think Bulin Wall started every game for Chicago against Calgary. Don't expect that to change.

[wjag]

Is Kabbi injured ? You may want to change that to Luongo over the Bullin wall ...

Right you are

 

Luongo over Khabibulin

[Cereal]

Out of the four conference semis, I think the only one that's not a toss up is DET over ANA. Hiller won't be able to handle Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Co.

 

I'll predict that VAN, PIT, and BOS all move on though.

[Eleven]

I'll predict Boston, Washington, Detroit, and Vancouver.

[nfreeman]

Point taken, but how much more rudderless do you expect the Sabres to become?

 

Players and Lindy were talking all year about how they "did not play the system", and if that's not a sign of a team and a coach not being on the same page, at the very least it's a sign of a team unable to execute a gameplan.

 

Whatever that gameplan might be.

 

I definitely agree the current roster just won't cut it, but I think it's time Lindy took his fair share of the heat going around.

I don't think Lindy is blameless -- playing Miller (and even Lalime) 3 games in 4 nights time after time drove me crazy all year. And if you want to hold him accountable for young players not maturing fast enough, this is debatable but not unreasonable. But I think some perspective is in order. The Sabres were 41-41 (I consider SOLs and OTLs to be Ls, regardless of the extra point) this year -- 2 yrs removed from the conf. finals -- and as stated would have made the playoffs if Vanek and Miller hadn't gotten hurt down the stretch. By contrast:

 

- Ottawa was 36-46 2yrs removed from the finals, even though they locked up their big 3.

- Colorado, a historically good franchise, was 32-50.

- Dallas, another historically good franchise that had a great playoff run last year, was 36-46.

- Tampa won the Cup a few years ago, spent like crazy in the offseason, had the #1 overall draft pick and was 24-58.

- Toronto spends like crazy every year and was 34-48.

 

So I think it could've been much worse.

[Stoner]

I don't think Lindy is blameless -- playing Miller (and even Lalime) 3 games in 4 nights time after time drove me crazy all year. And if you want to hold him accountable for young players not maturing fast enough, this is debatable but not unreasonable. But I think some perspective is in order. The Sabres were 41-41 (I consider SOLs and OTLs to be Ls, regardless of the extra point) this year -- 2 yrs removed from the conf. finals -- and as stated would have made the playoffs if Vanek and Miller hadn't gotten hurt down the stretch. By contrast:

 

- Ottawa was 36-46 2yrs removed from the finals, even though they locked up their big 3.

- Colorado, a historically good franchise, was 32-50.

- Dallas, another historically good franchise that had a great playoff run last year, was 36-46.

- Tampa won the Cup a few years ago, spent like crazy in the offseason, had the #1 overall draft pick and was 24-58.

- Toronto spends like crazy every year and was 34-48.

 

So I think it could've been much worse.

 

I liked the animated version of the LQ Show better.

[JujuFish]

I keep reading Hiller as Hitler. It's starting to annoy me. It's giving me very strange images in my head.

[bob_sauve28]

I like the second round the best. Still a lot of very good teams, high energy and I'm not tired of watching hours of hockey every night. Pluse, the sun is actually down when the game ends.

 

That Pittsburgh Washington series will be hot!

 

Vancouver Chicago might be great, too.

 

So might Detriot and Anaheim, but I think the Red Wings will win like 4-1

 

As for Boston/Carolina, I have to admit I don't know what to expect. I suppose Boston could just steamroll ythem, but if Cam Ward is good as he has been, who knows. Don't think Carolina can keep up with the scoring though

[bob_sauve28]

I keep reading Hiller as Hitler. It's starting to annoy me. It's giving me very strange images in my head.

A National Socialist goalie? :D

[Buffalo Wings]

I'll predict Boston, Washington, Detroit, and Vancouver.

Can't disagree with any of these, but I'm a little tired of seeing Detroit all the time.

 

Though, I do see Anaheim giving Detroit a battle, maybe even 7 games' worth. Hiller is playing like Varlamov - confidence that spreads to his teammates. Even though Detroit is a machine, I wouldn't be upset if the Ducks pulled this one off, too.

[nfreeman]

I liked the animated version of the LQ Show better.

A reasonably witty rejoinder, granted, but have you anything of substance to offer to the discussion besides "I want Lindy fired because we missed the playoffs again and other teams fired their coaches and they made the playoffs so we should have done so because since it worked for the other teams it would have worked for the Sabres"? Anything to refute the position that Lindy's been asked to make chicken salad out of chicken feathers and would have succeeded in doing so but for injuries to his 2 best players?

[Hawerchuk]

I don't care. I'm going to the sportsbook tomorrow and putting $20 on the Ducks. Probably pay 4 to 1 I'm guessing.

 

The rest of my picks would be:

BRUINS in 6

HAWKS in 7

PENS in 6

 

Call me crazy!

 

Good playoffs so far. If only our B Swords were in it and had some more grit too.

[FearTheReaper]

I'll predict...

 

Washington in 6

Carolina in 7

Anaheim in 7 and

Vancouver in 6

[carpandean]

I'll say:

Pittsburgh in 7

Boston in 6

Detroit in 6

Vancouver in 6

 

Of course, with my history, you could bet completely the opposite way and do better.

[Two or less]

My picks-

 

Pittsburgh in 7

Boston in 5

Red Wings in 6

Hawks in 6

[nfreeman]

My picks:

 

Boston in 5

Pittsburgh in 6

Detroit in 6

Chicago in 7

[Stoner]

A reasonably witty rejoinder, granted, but have you anything of substance to offer to the discussion besides "I want Lindy fired because we missed the playoffs again and other teams fired their coaches and they made the playoffs so we should have done so because since it worked for the other teams it would have worked for the Sabres"? Anything to refute the position that Lindy's been asked to make chicken salad out of chicken feathers and would have succeeded in doing so but for injuries to his 2 best players?

 

Nope, you nailed it. Glad to see you're coming around.

[Kristian]

A reasonably witty rejoinder, granted, but have you anything of substance to offer to the discussion besides "I want Lindy fired because we missed the playoffs again and other teams fired their coaches and they made the playoffs so we should have done so because since it worked for the other teams it would have worked for the Sabres"? Anything to refute the position that Lindy's been asked to make chicken salad out of chicken feathers and would have succeeded in doing so but for injuries to his 2 best players?

 

Vanek's injury was a fluke, nothing to do about that.

 

However, I think Miller's injury was a direct result of how many pussies we have on the team, and in particular Lindy Ruff's policy of never running opposition goaltenders regardless how many times ours is run. Ask Hasek how he feels about this one.

 

I'll say it again - If Gomez knows he as much as looks funny at Miller, then Peters puts Lundy through the Zamboni door on the next shift, no way that injury ever happens.

 

Fluke? Yes. Preventable? Hell yes!

 

Two points on the line, sure - Then you wait until the next game, or the game after that, or next season, but at some point you make sure Lundy gets it, never mind Gomez.

 

Teams like the Rags can't afford to lose their starter anymore than we could, and don't think for a second they don't know that. Let them know that by touching your goaltender, they make theirs an instant target, and then see how they feel about that situation.

 

The way things are at the moment, Miller might as well wear a big neon bullseye on his back instead of a number, so I fear we may as well get used to injuries to one of our best players.

 

Unless things change, other teams will knock him out of service as well.

[Buffalo Wings]

I'll say it again - If Gomez knows he as much as looks funny at Miller, then Peters puts Lundy through the Zamboni door on the next shift, no way that injury ever happens.

I'd rather Peters put Gomez through the zamboni door.

[Kristian]

I'd rather Peters put Gomez through the zamboni door.

 

He'd never be able to catch him :thumbsup:

[nfreeman]

Vanek's injury was a fluke, nothing to do about that.

 

However, I think Miller's injury was a direct result of how many pussies we have on the team, and in particular Lindy Ruff's policy of never running opposition goaltenders regardless how many times ours is run. Ask Hasek how he feels about this one.

 

I'll say it again - If Gomez knows he as much as looks funny at Miller, then Peters puts Lundy through the Zamboni door on the next shift, no way that injury ever happens.

 

Fluke? Yes. Preventable? Hell yes!

 

Two points on the line, sure - Then you wait until the next game, or the game after that, or next season, but at some point you make sure Lundy gets it, never mind Gomez.

 

Teams like the Rags can't afford to lose their starter anymore than we could, and don't think for a second they don't know that. Let them know that by touching your goaltender, they make theirs an instant target, and then see how they feel about that situation.

 

The way things are at the moment, Miller might as well wear a big neon bullseye on his back instead of a number, so I fear we may as well get used to injuries to one of our best players.

 

Unless things change, other teams will knock him out of service as well.

Good post.