Remaining October games

[FormerFreddie]

I must say, the Sabres’ start is a nice distraction from the atrocity that is the Buffalo Bills.

 

The Sabres last night DOUBLED the Bills’ output from Sunday, 6-3.

 

The Sabres’ next seven games are against teams that have a combined 8 wins thus far, with NJ claiming three of those. Three games will come against teams that have yet to win a game (2-NYI, 1-TOR). Now is the time to get fat on lower division foes. I don't care if anyone says "Look who they've played." Wins are wins. Last year there were a few inexcusable losses late in the season to lowly teams that cost the Sabres costly points. (Islanders and Senators come to mind.)

 

I think anything less than ten points over the next seven games would be considered disappointing, and 12 is realistic. 9-1-1 heading in to November looks good to me.

[Stoner]

I must say, the Sabres’ start is a nice distraction from the atrocity that is the Buffalo Bills.

 

The Sabres last night DOUBLED the Bills’ output from Sunday, 6-3.

 

The Sabres’ next seven games are against teams that have a combined 8 wins thus far, with NJ claiming three of those. Three games will come against teams that have yet to win a game (2-NYI, 1-TOR). Now is the time to get fat on lower division foes. I don't care if anyone says "Look who they've played." Wins are wins. Last year there were a few inexcusable losses late in the season to lowly teams that cost the Sabres costly points. (Islanders and Senators come to mind.)

 

I think anything less than ten points over the next seven games would be considered disappointing, and 12 is realistic. 9-1-1 heading in to November looks good to me.

 

The Sabres WERE a lowly team themselves last year. And a good start this year shouldn't have them thinking they're anything different this year, yet. I pray the Sabres don't share your attitude. This stretch will be a good test of whether this team has changed. Failure to defend their home ice, or any talk of "we took them lightly" will be a big step back.

[Kristian]

The Sabres WERE a lowly team themselves last year. And a good start this year shouldn't have them thinking they're anything different this year, yet. I pray the Sabres don't share your attitude. This stretch will be a good test of whether this team has changed. Failure to defend their home ice, or any talk of "we took them lightly" will be a big step back.

 

I'd agree with that.

 

It's early, and they're bound to lose games. Some in ways we're going to dislike in a bad way, but at the moment this years edition of the Sabres appears ready to walk the walk, rather than talking the talk, which last years team had down to perfection.

 

I know which edition I prefer any day, win or lose.

[Stoner]

[/b]

 

I'd agree with that.

 

It's early, and they're bound to lose games. Some in ways we're going to dislike in a bad way, but at the moment this years edition of the Sabres appears ready to walk the walk, rather than talking the talk, which last years team had down to perfection.

 

I know which edition I prefer any day, win or lose.

 

It would be interesting to go back one year and see what we were all saying when the Sabres started 6-0-2.

[inkman]

It would be interesting to go back one year and see what we were all saying when the Sabres started 6-0-2.

Here is nfreeman's season foreshadowing from the GDT when the Sabres had that record.

[Stoner]

Here is nfreeman's season foreshadowing from the GDT when the Sabres had that record.

 

Yeah, well, whatever.

[nfreeman]

Yeah, well, whatever.

Is that a response to (i) bad link (I think there is an extra "http" in it, btw) or (ii) the existence of a prescient post this time last year?

 

Also, I'd like an upcoming post by you to focus on how well-coached the Sabres look these days. They will of course need not to crap the bed against the lousy opponents they are about to face.

[Stoner]

Is that a response to (i) bad link (I think there is an extra "http" in it, btw) or (ii) the existence of a prescient post this time last year?

 

Also, I'd like an upcoming post by you to focus on how well-coached the Sabres look these days. They will of course need not to crap the bed against the lousy opponents they are about to face.

 

Is "prescient" Latin for a#$^$#!e?

 

I would love to write such a post. Unfortunately -- I don't know what is -- my fingers are all gnarly and curled up. Very painful. It took me over 20 minutes to write this post. I hope to feel well enough soon to write such a post.

[inkman]

Yeah, well, whatever.

I think there is an extra "http" in it

Sorry. Fixed.

[...]

Here is nfreeman's season foreshadowing from the GDT when the Sabres had that record.

 

 

Is there much contrast to what we're saying now?

 

WJAG "This is the BEST game for back checking by the Sabres I can recall" in the same thread.

 

SwampD "you can feel nothing but good about this game. don't know why we lost but the sabres owned them. this is a good sabres team."

 

Carpandean "Glad to see them get back to focusing on "team defense", holding another high-scoring team (the highest, actually) to just one junk goal."

 

 

Guys - I'm not picking on any one of you, those are just some comments that jumped out as ways to illustrate whatever point I'm trying to make here. Looks like a lot of us were ready to believe early in the season last year, too.

 

Are they really different now? Will this last? I don't know if I should have looked at that old thread.

[wjag]

Is there much contrast to what we're saying now?

 

WJAG "This is the BEST game for back checking by the Sabres I can recall" in the same thread.

 

SwampD "you can feel nothing but good about this game. don't know why we lost but the sabres owned them. this is a good sabres team."

 

Carpandean "Glad to see them get back to focusing on "team defense", holding another high-scoring team (the highest, actually) to just one junk goal."

 

 

Guys - I'm not picking on any one of you, those are just some comments that jumped out as ways to illustrate whatever point I'm trying to make here. Looks like a lot of us were ready to believe early in the season last year, too.

 

Are they really different now? Will this last? I don't know if I should have looked at that old thread.

Yeah, I just read through that. Kind of like an outer body experience... I don't remember the game nor writing any of that..

 

Scary how we thought last year was going so well except for those injuries......

[nfreeman]

FWIW, here's the schedule from last year's strong start:

 

Fri, Oct 10 Montreal W 2-1 SO

Mon, Oct 13 @ NY Islanders W 7-1

Wed, Oct 15 @ NY Rangers W 3-1

Fri, Oct 17 Vancouver W 5-2

Sat, Oct 18 @ Atlanta L 2-3 SO

Tue, Oct 21 Boston W 3-2 SO

Thu, Oct 23 @ Minnesota W 4-3 OT

Sat, Oct 25 @ Colorado L 1-2 SO

 

 

Plenty of good wins in there, but none as good as last night's thrashing of the Wings. Still, it looks like a pretty strong defensive effort. While this year's team looks better and tougher (mentally and physically) to me than last year's, we certainly can't ignore last year's strong start and subsequent swoon.

 

Optimistic reasons this year might be different:

 

1. Rivet -- healthy and more used to the team/his role as captain/Lindy/the system/etc.

 

2. Grier -- I think he looks terrific. He's skating at least as well as in his prior stint here. I also didn't realize how good his hockey IQ is. It's great to have a grownup to step in for end-of-tight-game situations.

 

3. Myers -- Wow.

 

4. Tallinder -- looks much better playing next to the Natural. It's like the Sabres added a decent-to-good top 6 defenseman out of nowhere.

 

5. Lalime -- maybe he's healthy and will prove DR right for signing him. The Sabres need this to happen, because their season will depend on Miller not getting worn down.

 

6. Natural maturity/improvement from young players -- MacArthur, Kaleta and Butler all look improved.

 

It could happen.

[Kristian]

Is there much contrast to what we're saying now?

 

WJAG "This is the BEST game for back checking by the Sabres I can recall" in the same thread.

 

SwampD "you can feel nothing but good about this game. don't know why we lost but the sabres owned them. this is a good sabres team."

 

Carpandean "Glad to see them get back to focusing on "team defense", holding another high-scoring team (the highest, actually) to just one junk goal."

 

 

Guys - I'm not picking on any one of you, those are just some comments that jumped out as ways to illustrate whatever point I'm trying to make here. Looks like a lot of us were ready to believe early in the season last year, too.

 

Are they really different now? Will this last? I don't know if I should have looked at that old thread.

 

True, which is why I used the term "appears ready to walk the walk".

 

We'll all be much wiser come April.

[BetweenThePipes00]

FWIW, here's the schedule from last year's strong start:

 

Fri, Oct 10 Montreal W 2-1 SO

Mon, Oct 13 @ NY Islanders W 7-1

Wed, Oct 15 @ NY Rangers W 3-1

Fri, Oct 17 Vancouver W 5-2

Sat, Oct 18 @ Atlanta L 2-3 SO

Tue, Oct 21 Boston W 3-2 SO

Thu, Oct 23 @ Minnesota W 4-3 OT

Sat, Oct 25 @ Colorado L 1-2 SO

 

 

Plenty of good wins in there, but none as good as last night's thrashing of the Wings. Still, it looks like a pretty strong defensive effort. While this year's team looks better and tougher (mentally and physically) to me than last year's, we certainly can't ignore last year's strong start and subsequent swoon.

 

Optimistic reasons this year might be different:

 

1. Rivet -- healthy and more used to the team/his role as captain/Lindy/the system/etc.

 

2. Grier -- I think he looks terrific. He's skating at least as well as in his prior stint here. I also didn't realize how good his hockey IQ is. It's great to have a grownup to step in for end-of-tight-game situations.

 

3. Myers -- Wow.

 

4. Tallinder -- looks much better playing next to the Natural. It's like the Sabres added a decent-to-good top 6 defenseman out of nowhere.

 

5. Lalime -- maybe he's healthy and will prove DR right for signing him. The Sabres need this to happen, because their season will depend on Miller not getting worn down.

 

6. Natural maturity/improvement from young players -- MacArthur, Kaleta and Butler all look improved.

 

It could happen.

 

I agree with all of that except the Lalime part ... I don't disagree either, we just have not seen him. he could be worse.

The biggest thing that seems different to me is the attituide ... the things they are saying ... last year I seem to remember almost a "told you so" attitude from the players ... like "see, we're still good, last year was a fluke, we can still flip the switch" ... they seem much more even-keeled, not getting excited or patting themselves on the back ... like MAYBE they LEARNED from last season. Last year at this time, I don't think they learned anything from missing the playoffs the year before ... they took no responsibility and blamed it all on losing Briere and Drury and then Campbell at the deadline. We'll see ... lots of hockey left.

[nfreeman]

I agree with all of that except the Lalime part ... I don't disagree either, we just have not seen him. he could be worse.

The biggest thing that seems different to me is the attituide ... the things they are saying ... last year I seem to remember almost a "told you so" attitude from the players ... like "see, we're still good, last year was a fluke, we can still flip the switch" ... they seem much more even-keeled, not getting excited or patting themselves on the back ... like MAYBE they LEARNED from last season. Last year at this time, I don't think they learned anything from missing the playoffs the year before ... they took no responsibility and blamed it all on losing Briere and Drury and then Campbell at the deadline. We'll see ... lots of hockey left.

Good post.

[spndnchz]

Is "prescient" Latin for a#$^$#!e?

 

I would love to write such a post. Unfortunately -- I don't know what is -- my fingers are all gnarly and curled up. Very painful. It took me over 20 minutes to write this post. I hope to feel well enough soon to write such a post.

 

You could use a pencil or, ur p p. That way u don't have2 worry about hitting more than 1 key at a time.

[Stoner]

You could use a pencil or, ur p p. That way u don't have2 worry about hitting more than 1 key at a time.

 

JKLoiukhj yrtjghioufds?

[spndnchz]

JKLoiukhj yrtjghioufds?

 

No fair using the blisters. :nana:

[LabattBlue]

6. Natural maturity/improvement from young players -- MacArthur, Kaleta and Butler all look improved.

I would expect the younger players you listed to mature/improve/become more consistent. Unfortunately, if the same does not go for Vanek, Roy, Pominville, Miller, Connolly, etc..., it will be another season of spinning their wheels.

 

PS You need to included the next two games of the 08-09 season to paint a better picture of how quickly the fast start was negated...

 

Home losses by the score of 5-2 at the hands of Ottawa and Tampa. :(

[nobody]

The key is they have to play the same style they have played these first few games for the whole season. This style also looks nothing like what they played last season.