GAME DISCUSSION THREAD

[nfreeman]

Here's my report from the game:

 

1. EdwardsSauve is right about the empty seats. If there hadn't been so many Sabres fans there, I really think it would've been less than half full. It probably helped the Sabres, but there was certainly no home-ice advantage for NJ. It actually made it feel like a fairly boring game.

 

2. Vanek may be still feeling the effects of his rib injury, but he looks completely ineffective -- just a non-factor in the game.

 

3. Ellis never stops hustling.

 

4. Gaustad may be the 4th-line center, but he plays a lot of special-teams time. He's an important piece.

 

5. Roy and Hecht wore the As.

 

6. Another tight, disciplined game by the Sabres. NJ had the better of the play in the 2nd period, but they still didn't create many scoring chances. I think they had only one real one in the 3rd.

 

7. Miller was completely in control. I'll say it: he's the best goalie in the league right now.

 

8. I think the top 2 lines are missing something. There's very little forecheck. It's still way too easy for the other team's D to get the puck out of their zone. By contrast, Gaustad's line seems to spend its entire shift on the forecheck. Having said that, Connolly and Roy are both playing very well on the backcheck. Also, Pommer is producing more.

 

9. All in all, this was a very good win against a good team -- and one they likely wouldn't have gotten last year. How many 3rd period leads did they squander last year?

 

Go Sabres.

[nfreeman]

I wonder if they also lead the league in least amount of time trailing.

Do you think they look...you know...well coached?

[repster]

Wow, everyone seems to be singing the praises of this team - nice to read while resting after letting the waves wash me ashore. I am enjoying reading these threads between Mai Tai's here in Maui. It was 92 degrees today - back to Niagara in a few days though...The only thing I have to look forward to is Sabres - Flyers at HSBC Nov 6th.

[FogBat]

Wow, 1, everyone seems to be singing the praises of this team - nice to read while resting after letting the waves wash me ashore. I am enjoying reading these threads between Mai Tai's here in Maui. It was 92 degrees today - back to Niagara in a few days though...The only thing I have to look forward to is Sabres - 2, Flyers at HSBC Nov 6th.

1, I caught the last 13 minutes of the game last night. Is it me, or did our D really outwork the Devils? Looked to me like our blueline corps showed up to work last night.

 

2, I apologize in advance for sounding crass, but I now have a new nickname for the Flyers: the Broad Street Beavers. After all, there was a university out there that was once called Beaver College that had to rename itself Arcadia University a few years ago.

[wjag]

Now that I've slept on it:

 

1. Best first period in NJ ever. Sabres defanged NJ early.

2. Pommers kicking the puck to break up 2 on 2 rush clearly saved a quality scoring chance and maybe a goal. Parise was in prime position had that pass gotten through. After bashing his PP point play, he makes me eat crow with a goal.

3. Miller made a bunch of good saves tonight. The one on Ralston was his best.

4. The Hecht-Kennedy-Grier line makes at least one good scoring chance a game. The SportsCenter highlight type. Last night was no exception.

5. Vanek-Roy 2 on 1 was one of the slowest developing plays. Vanek was too slow and Roy got in too deep.

6. That Kennedy goal came out of no where. That move literally lulled Brodeur to sleep.

7. Nice to see Montador come to redress the Kennedy helmet popping hit. Hecht cross checked some one over Miller into the back of the net.

8. The ice was tilted. All goals came in the same end.

9. Kennedy got the second star behind Miller.

10. How weird was MSG last night? In MD we got RJ calling the game and Doc and his NJ crew during the intermissions. I can't remember that in the past

[Calvin]

Also some interesting stats-

 

-Sabres 4-0-0 on the road

-Sabres best team 5v5 in NHL

-Sabres lead NHL in shots for

-Paul Gaustad #1 in faceoff %

 

Not too shabby.

If I'm not mistaken, every one of the points you noted above were major issues for us last year

[Calvin]

1. Best first period in NJ ever. Sabres defanged NJ early.

I'd like to see us coming out like that in most if not all away games.. ready to play.

 

I took some flak for saying after the Panthers game, but I would settle for us playing all our away games like this - come out great guns, get a couple of early goals, build a solid lead in the first period and if their starting goalie gets chased.. hey, that's just a bonus!

[LabattBlue]

I am enjoying reading these threads between Mai Tai's here in Maui. It was 92 degrees today...

While you are rubbing it in, can you at least upload some pics from the beach? :rolleyes:

[BetweenThePipes00]

2, I apologize in advance for sounding crass, but I now have a new nickname for the Flyers: the Broad Street Beavers. After all, there was a university out there that was once called Beaver College that had to rename itself Arcadia University a few years ago.

Careful, the city of Buffalo was almost named "Beaver" ... ;) Apparently the Native American words are similar and some believe it was mistranslated. I refuse to quote Wikipedia as a source, but I know I read it in an actual book somewhere also once ...

[That Aud Smell]

7. Miller was completely in control. I'll say it: he's the best goalie in the league right now.

i agree - no one's playing better.

 

8. I think the top 2 lines are missing something.

agreed - the strangest (and, yeah, most troubling (if only in a latent way, so far)) storyline of the young season is that our top 2 lines don't generate much on the forecheck.

 

when i think about who's been generating chances and goals out of the corners, from behind the opponent's net, it's the kennedy and gaustad lines. in that regard, the kid's "ugly" goal last night was, what, the 17th time he's snuck out from behind the end line and put a puck on net?

 

it also seemed to me that part of jersey's game plan was to put a bullseye on kennedy's jersey -- white's hit wasn't the only time they seemed to be gunning for him.

[Stoner]

Do you think they look...you know...well coached?

 

Asked and answered, your Honor.

[shrader]

8. I think the top 2 lines are missing something. There's very little forecheck. It's still way too easy for the other team's D to get the puck out of their zone. By contrast, Gaustad's line seems to spend its entire shift on the forecheck. Having said that, Connolly and Roy are both playing very well on the backcheck. Also, Pommer is producing more.

 

I thought the Vanek had a couple shifts, especially in the 3rd where they retained possession deep in the Jersey zone for a good amount of time. They really didn't generate many scoring chances off of it, but with a late lead, I'm more than happy with that. That's the big hope for this team in my mind right now. If the other lines can keep their strong play going, we know that at least the Vanek line is going to break through eventually. They are far too good to not take over the stat sheet at some point.

[carpandean]

it also seemed to me that part of jersey's game plan was to put a bullseye on kennedy's jersey -- white's hit wasn't the only time they seemed to be gunning for him.

I noticed that, too. He was nailed three or for times, and bumped a lot more times. I was trying to figure out the logic there.

[shrader]

I noticed that, too. He was nailed three or for times, and bumped a lot more times. I was trying to figure out the logic there.

 

They were gunning for both of the rookies. Myers took a bunch of shots early. Those are just harder to notice thanks to the size difference. It seems like a pretty logical move to me, press the young guys and force them into making mistakes.

[LabattBlue]

I noticed that, too. He was nailed three or for times, and bumped a lot more times. I was trying to figure out the logic there.

Maybe it's because he is sticking his nose into those places on the ice that some forwards don't dare venture into! ;)

[MattPie]

10. How weird was MSG last night? In MD we got RJ calling the game and Doc and his NJ crew during the intermissions. I can't remember that in the past

 

There was something funky last night. CI on Philly Comcast had both feeds, but the Buffalo feed was stuck at 'We'll be right back!' and the guitar music all night. For at least part of the Rangers-Islanders game (which also had both feeds) the Rangers feed was in the same state but the Islanders feed was on. The Rangers feed came back eventually, but even the CI guide had the Buffalo feed marked "Game no longer available".

 

I have no idea what that was all about.

[shrader]

There was something funky last night. CI on Philly Comcast had both feeds, but the Buffalo feed was stuck at 'We'll be right back!' and the guitar music all night. For at least part of the Rangers-Islanders game (which also had both feeds) the Rangers feed was in the same state but the Islanders feed was on. The Rangers feed came back eventually, but even the CI guide had the Buffalo feed marked "Game no longer available".

 

I have no idea what that was all about.

 

MSG broadcasts all 4 teams. They were all playing each other, sharing video feeds for both broadcasts. It's a screwy situation set up by the network trying to cut a few corners to save some money. It's not something that we'll have to deal with too often.

[spndnchz]

Just two points for this game.

 

Nice to see Kennedy get one. He's played so hard and has been beat up almost every game (to his delite it seems). BTW, Hecht grabbed the puck for him.

 

Myers grandparents at the game. That was cool to see them high 5ing each other.

 

Well, one more. How in the hell did Stafford not score on that pass from Vanek? No replay.

[Calvin]

Just two points for this game.

 

Nice to see Kennedy get one. He's played so hard and has been beat up almost every game (to his delite it seems). BTW, Hecht grabbed the puck for him.

 

Myers grandparents at the game. That was cool to see them high 5ing each other.

 

Well, one more. How in the hell did Stafford not score on that pass from Vanek? No replay.

Was that Staff or Roy, I couldn't tell! Looked like whoever it was had gone too deep while Vanek was holding up the puck and almost in reverse gear, allowing Brodeur to close the gap at the post.

 

There was quite a few one-on-one type situations we failed to score on in the first period.. Hecht, Kaleta too..

[nucci]

Was that Staff or Roy, I couldn't tell! Looked like whoever it was had gone too deep while Vanek was holding up the puck and almost in reverse gear, allowing Brodeur to close the gap at the post.

 

There was quite a few one-on-one type situations we failed to score on in the first period.. Hecht, Kaleta too..

Vanek needs to bury that one. Let it rip just inside the faceoff circle. He is paid to score. I wish he would shoot more.

[nfreeman]

Vanek needs to bury that one. Let it rip just inside the faceoff circle. He is paid to score. I wish he would shoot more.

Right on. It seems like he looks to pass almost every time on the 2-on-1.

[Trey]

There was something funky last night. CI on Philly Comcast had both feeds, but the Buffalo feed was stuck at 'We'll be right back!' and the guitar music all night. For at least part of the Rangers-Islanders game (which also had both feeds) the Rangers feed was in the same state but the Islanders feed was on. The Rangers feed came back eventually, but even the CI guide had the Buffalo feed marked "Game no longer available".

 

I have no idea what that was all about.

 

 

The problem is that MSG and CI have not worked out an agreement on the HD games (at least that's my understanding). Therefore, no HD game for us CI people and we're forced to watch the other announcers. Not to mention, I missed 14 minutes of the first period last night because I recorded the Sabres broadcast. Glad I checked, else I would have been ticked later that night when I tried to watch it!

[Stoner]

Right on. It seems like he looks to pass almost every time on the 2-on-1.

 

Vanek needs to get his ass in gear. Start moving his legs. Look alive on a chance like that. I don't know. I could find a way to blame Lindy for this, but I elect not use this power at this time.

[LabattBlue]

I could find a way to blame Lindy for this, but I elect not use this power at this time.

:lol:

[X. Benedict]

Vanek needs to bury that one. Let it rip just inside the faceoff circle. He is paid to score. I wish he would shoot more.

 

Yes. He's paid to shoot too....... it is the threat of the shot that will open the pass.....not the fear of his pass that will open the shot.