GAME DISCUSSION THREAD

[darksabre]

Do you honestly believe that Miller would have had no effect on the outcome. That maybe making one or two more saves than the 23 that Lalime managed wouldn't have helped even a little.

 

You keep worrying about April. The Sabres need to accumulate points now when the schedule is soft and they are playing teams they should beat. Keep resting Miller when there is no need to and the games in April will be meaningless.

 

What part of the Sabres looking like absolute garbage tonight don't you understand? They might have won with Miller in net, but they definitely shouldn't have. What a terrible game they played tonight. I blame Lalime for nothing.

[Calvin]

What is the song they use at the arena for PPs? Is it some Rammstein tune?

"Welcome Home" - Coheed & Cambria (

)

[ThePebble19]

What is the song they use at the arena for PPs? Is it some Rammstein tune?

 

Welcome Home by Coheed and Cambria

[...]

"Welcome Home" - Coheed & Cambria (

)

 

 

Welcome Home by Coheed and Cambria

 

 

Thanks!

[Calvin]

was at the game tonight, what a waste of time and money - the Thrashers have our number and shame on Ruff for not coming up with a better game plan to face them, esp when we're at home!

 

the whole team looked lethargic tonight - we have a bunch of consecutive games this season, we really cannot afford to lose the second game all season long..

 

Rivet looked very ordinary tonight, as did Montador. Myers is only a rookie, he will have days like this. Lydman and Tallinder today reminded me why I was so pissed off with them last season. Butler's the only D-man who looked decent today.

 

between yesterday's game and today's, that comes up to four goals we have conceded almost immediately after scoring - twice last night and twice tonight, with Maxi's goal being the backbreaker. shame on the entire team for that. especially the coaching. everyone knows that you are at your weakest immediately after scoring, and yet we go do exactly that four times in two nights against the crap of the league (yes, i do honestly believe that the Thrash are not going anywhere - any team that puts Maxi on the 2nd line is not a top team).

 

by the way, Kennedy is not NHL-ready. i love the kid to bits, but i have to be honest. he looked really mediocre today. he might have had only one decent shift all game long. he has hustle and little else. his shots are little scoops straight at the goalie. he's more like a little pest trying to get on people's nerves. he needs to get more consistent.

 

if Kaleta doesn't hit somebody then the team has no energy. are we really that limited?

 

scratching Ellis in favor of Mair doesn't look like such a good idea now does it?

 

i am bitterly disappointed yet again.. came back home to catch a pair of Sabres games and once again they turn out completely flat the second game (was here for Islanders and Flyers last year - lost both)

[...]

Some other things now that I've had a moment to sit down and reflect.

 

Mair. Mair was a wasted slot tonight. I've liked Mair in the past, but not only did he bring nothing to the game, I actually thought he was distracting. Get him out.

 

Stafford and Kennedy. From what I could see, it was difficult to distinguish between them at times and in this sense: Several times I saw out a Sabre get man-handled and I thought, okay that must be Kennedy - turns out it was Stafford. A few times I saw a play that looked okay, like something happening behind the Atlanta net, and I'm thinking it was a Stafford play - turns out it was Kennedy.

 

Same happened with some hits that I was sure were made by Kaleta - turns out it was Stafford.

 

I don't really know what the above means, if anything significant at all, although it was kind of odd to keep mixing up the play of Stafford with other people. Mix that with the idea that for a long while I thought Stafford was invisible. All it really means to me right now is that I like MacArthur's play a lot better than Stafford's. Indeed, I like Hecht's play so far this season better than Stafford's.

 

Paille was completely invisible. I had no idea he was playing at all.

 

Interesting, too, that Ellis was out.

 

So, the team turns to crap when Miller, Vanek, and Ellis are out.

[deluca67]

What part of the Sabres looking like absolute garbage tonight don't you understand? They might have won with Miller in net, but they definitely shouldn't have. What a terrible game they played tonight. I blame Lalime for nothing.

That's why Miller makes the money he does. Keeping the Sabres in games they have no business being in. It's why you start Miller until you absolutely need to rest him. Tonight was not the night and it may have cost the Sabres two points.

[SabresBillsFan]

w

 

by the way, Kennedy is not NHL-ready. i love the kid to bits, but i have to be honest. he looked really mediocre today. he might have had only one decent shift all game long. he has hustle and little else. his shots are little scoops straight at the goalie. he's more like a little pest trying to get on people's nerves. he needs to get more consistent.

 

 

I have seen this as well that's why I think he will be sent down soon. He's getting too comfortable on the team and isn't putting in the effort like he did in preseason. He needs to be hustling and making things happen, he seems like he coasting alot.

[deluca67]

I have seen this as well that's why I think he will be sent down soon. He's getting too comfortable on the team and isn't putting in the effort like he did in preseason. He needs to be hustling and making things happen, he seems like he coasting alot.

Keep Kennedy right where he is. He'll be just fine.

[Ted's Hot Dogs]

Why is everybody freaking out over our 1st regulation loss in an 82 game sched?

[Kristian]

Why is everybody freaking out over our 1st regulation loss in an 82 game sched?

 

Probably because everyone's waiting to find out if the team learned anything over the summer and get pissed at themselves and come back strong, or believe they should have won last night given their shot advantage instead.

 

Everyone's just taken a deep breath, and are now waiting to see if they drop the next 4-5 games and rip off the rubber masks to reveal the 07-08/08-09 Sabres.

[stenbaro]

Miller wouldnt have made a difference..The team played flat from the d out..Cant pin this on Lalime at all...They cant win all of them and they are a relatively young team to say the least...With that said players I am becoming increasingly tired of are Roy, Lydman, Paille, Pominville. These players should be in the prime of their careers and the only prime thing about them are the excuses. Put up or shut up... I would not mind seeing Roy get moved for a real center..His antics are old and his production is spotty at best and never when it counts..Not jumping off the bridge at all I just expect way more from these gents than they give on a consistent basis...

[Calvin]

Why is everybody freaking out over our 1st regulation loss in an 82 game sched?

I have no issues with us putting in a good effort and losing, nights like that will happen.

 

Yesterday, effort was non-existent. A lineup of disinterested fruit bats would have put up a stronger, more concerted effort.

 

As I said previously, if we are going to keep dropping the second game of the consecutive-day games, then this is just a rehash of last season's team again.

[Eleven]

Do you honestly believe that Miller would have had no effect on the outcome. That maybe making one or two more saves than the 23 that Lalime managed wouldn't have helped even a little.

 

You keep worrying about April. The Sabres need to accumulate points now when the schedule is soft and they are playing teams they should beat. Keep resting Miller when there is no need to and the games in April will be meaningless.

 

I honestly believe that. Especially after he let in three against the Islanders, two of which were preventable, and one of which was a complete mental error on Miller's part. Occasional rest is important for goalies. It might have been better for Miller to get that rest on the front end of the back-to-back (when the team in front is fresher and thus more likely to make up for Lalime's shortcomings) than on the back end, though.

 

And the way the team played last night, I'm not sure that Hasek in his prime would have won the game for them. Maybe he would have gotten them to OT.

 

It's a marathon, not a sprint. I fully realize that Lalime is, er, less than ideal. Apparently, the Sabres tried to address the situation during the offseason, and weren't able to find a satisfactory replacement. But that doesn't mean it's a smart idea to exhaust the starter early on. The Sabres need him to be fresh when the schedule gets tougher.

[Eleven]

Keep Kennedy right where he is. He'll be just fine.

 

Had this discussion with a friend last night. There's no need to move Kennedy down right now. I'd rather take chances with Paille or Paetsch on the waiver wire.

[Stoner]

Some other things now that I've had a moment to sit down and reflect.

 

Mair. Mair was a wasted slot tonight. I've liked Mair in the past, but not only did he bring nothing to the game, I actually thought he was distracting. Get him out.

 

Stafford and Kennedy. From what I could see, it was difficult to distinguish between them at times and in this sense: Several times I saw out a Sabre get man-handled and I thought, okay that must be Kennedy - turns out it was Stafford. A few times I saw a play that looked okay, like something happening behind the Atlanta net, and I'm thinking it was a Stafford play - turns out it was Kennedy.

 

Same happened with some hits that I was sure were made by Kaleta - turns out it was Stafford.

 

I don't really know what the above means, if anything significant at all, although it was kind of odd to keep mixing up the play of Stafford with other people. Mix that with the idea that for a long while I thought Stafford was invisible. All it really means to me right now is that I like MacArthur's play a lot better than Stafford's. Indeed, I like Hecht's play so far this season better than Stafford's.

 

Paille was completely invisible. I had no idea he was playing at all.

 

Interesting, too, that Ellis was out.

 

So, the team turns to crap when Miller, Vanek, and Ellis are out.

 

Good observations sizzle. Fun and interesting to read. But Myers was never benched. His ice time was down a bit, yeah.

[SwampD]

Of course it has to be one-on-one against the only guy who hasn't seen Afinogenov's moves live and in person.

They actually used this line on NHL On The Fly this morning (last night?).

 

 

I still say if Ruff had to play Lalime this weekend it should have been Friday. It's funny, that's right where Max shot it to ice the game.

[SabresFan526]

For anyone interested, Ellis was scratched because of a quad contusion, not because he was a healthy scratch. I think this team plays harder when Ellis is in there. I prefer Ellis over Paille, that's for sure.

 

Here's the article: http://www.buffalonews.com/buffalosabres/story/831212.html

[carpandean]

Same happened with some hits that I was sure were made by Kaleta - turns out it was Stafford.

I noticed that, too. While his offensive production hasn't been impressive, it is nice to see him embracing the physical side of his game. If he can put the two together consistently, he will be a real nice player ... but that's a big IF.

[LabattBlue]

Here is what I would like to see tonight...

 

1. Good games from Roy and Connolly.

 

2. Myers taking the man in his own zone and focusing more on play in his own end. I am not talking about bone jarring checks. Just take the man out along the boards. I'm nitpicking again. The kid has shown a lot for his first couple of weeks in the NHL. I don't thing anyone expected to see some of the offensive skills he has displayed.

 

3. Kaleta comes out and smokes a couple of Thrashers early on.

 

4. The Sabres as a team, both forwards and defensemen, play better in their own zone

The Sabre went 0 for 4 on what I wanted to see.

 

I DVR'ed the game and since I knew the final score, I zipped through most of it.

 

- It doesn't look good when your so called checking line all get caught deep in the offensive zone while Max is undressing Myers.

 

- Hecht was badly out of position on Atlanta's first goal. A mistake that should not be made by a veteran.

 

- Everyone blamed injuries on Rivet looking old and slow last season. Is it just me or does he still look old and slow?

 

That's all I have since I watch the entire game in about 30 minutes.

[FearTheReaper]

 

What is the song they use at the arena for PPs? Is it some Rammstein tune?

 

Its Coheed and Cambria,"Welcome Home".

 

And it is utterly annoying after hearing it before EVERY powerplay. I think the reason the powerplay looks the same everytime is because the team hears the same song before every powerplay.

[Stoner]

Its Coheed and Cambria,"Welcome Home".

 

And it is utterly annoying after hearing it before EVERY powerplay. I think the reason the powerplay looks the same everytime is because the team hears the same song before every powerplay.

 

Great point. The psychology of music in sports arenas is probably overlooked.

 

I want to know why a sound effect of a goose honking isn't played after a Gaustad goal.

[DR HOLLIDAY]

How about the sound of a toilet flushing when ever Lalime lets in a goal....... :thumbsup:

[Stoner]

How about the sound of a toilet flushing when ever Lalime lets in a goal....... :thumbsup:

 

:thumbsup:

[nobody]

It's kinda sad when you expect that Lalime will give up that killer goal with 5 minutes or less left in every game. I figured he would give up a short handed goal on that last power play. Then when the Sabres scored on it I knew that he would give up a quick one to kill the momentum. Only made it worse when for the first time in 2 years Max makes one of his moves and actually doesn't lose the puck. That play might be enough to let Darcy get his way and send Myers back to jrs.