matter2003 Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 Just thought about how good the team has been playing and then again about how we got fooled last year after a fast start... When are going to allow ourselves to believe this is a pretty good team? I mean at some point, there has to be a realization this is not some flash in the pan this time...they have beaten a few pretty good teams already in New Jersey, Calgary and now Philly tonite. Granted they have not looked great in a few of their games, but I am sure that can be said of pretty much every team in the NHL. So how long will it be before you buy into this years version of the Sabres as being a good or even really good team? I personally am almost there...Miller appears to be turning into one of the elite goaltenders in the NHL, and the Sabres have a good young team with key veterans sprinkled in. Grier and Montador have been huge additions for this team, as have Myers and Kennedy. They really seem to have a similar mixture of young talent with veteran leadership as when Briere, Drury and Grier were here. Now they are getting it done with stingy defense and great goaltending more than offensively, but this might be much better suited to playoff hockey anyways...
... Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 I will need to consult the graph before I can answer this question. Carp, is it you with the graph?
darksabre Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 I'm so very close to believing in this team. Last night at the game, I felt it. That little twinge of "hey, these guys are pretty good". After tonight, I think I'm on the brink. With the next three games vs. FLA, BOS and @OTT, I see no reason we can't win all three. I am confident of that at least.
Blazedal Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 Ennis is certinaly is proving his case to help the team too, after his first nhl game. 1 goal, could have been 3. Im feeling pretty good about this team.
carpandean Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 I will need to consult the graph before I can answer this question. Carp, is it you with the graph? You mean this graph? Edit: or this one of the EC ...
JJFIVEOH Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 I'm not one of those fans who says 'We're going to the Cup" after one win, or "Fire Ruff" after every loss. But I think we have a reason to be optimistic. It looks as if the coaches have worked on some of the issues that needed to be addressed after last year so I don't foresee the team self-destructing. But don't get too excited, we will have our slumps. I will start to believe if/when we have enough of a lead over that #8 spot where we are in must-win situations when we get to the 5 of 6 on the road to finish the season. Too many times we've been filled with false hope for me to jump the gun. I believe we have a good enough team to possibly win the division and perhaps be a 3-5 seed in the conference. (Yes I know the division winners are seeded 1-3, I mean overall) I'm just glad Regier didn't shake the team up in the offseason like people wanted, I didn't think he had to and it looks like it may pan out.
... Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 You mean this graph? The first one. I don't know what the hell that second one is plotting! :blink: But now I can answer this question: it's too early to believe.
carpandean Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 I don't know what the hell that second one is plotting! :blink: Same thing, but comparing our performance this year (dark green) to all of the teams in the EC rather than to the Sabres past four seasons. Both charts are points net of a 93 point pace.
wjag Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 I've drunk the Kool Ade. This is a playoff team.
Stoner Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 A really important version of this question is when do Darcy and ownership start to believe? Would they then have the guts to do something at the deadline to really improve the team in-season for once?
SwampD Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 I will allow myself to believe when I am screaming my fool head off, flipping cars over and burning Buffalo to the ground during the Stanley Cup parade.
Trey Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 You mean this graph? Great graph! First off, if you're a fan you typically believe in your team, even when the numbers don't support it. That's what being a fan is all about. So start believing now. However, there's a catch...we're tired of having our hearts broken after believing. That's where the convincing comes in. Unfortunately it's not going to come from me. I love the team we have this year and I like the latest version of Ruff. However, we are still a team that has to work a little harder to win against the big boys. We've had an easy schedule to this point and the team has had time between games to adapt after a loss. Come December the schedule changes and life it going to get hard for these guys. Lots of 4 game weeks and 3 games in 4 nights. It's going to be really easy for this team to have a few bad games and then forget what it was that worked for them so well earlier in the season. That's when the graph will turn down. Our one hope IMO lies in the locker room leaders. If those guys can keep this team level we may just pull it off.
FearTheReaper Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 I'm going to reserve my judgement until its either the 25 to 30 game mark of the season. Or we have a real losing streak going on. You cannot tell how a team is going to perform at the most grinding portion of the season (The middle) , based purly on a fast start. Things are looking great right now, but we need a run of really good competition to see how this team has matured. And its looking like that period of games is approaching December on 3rd. We faceoff against, The Habs, Rangers, Devils, Caps (I'm going to this game!), And Blackhawks. Thats a pretty solid set of good teams. We'll see how they react. The optimism is here, thats for sure.
NowDoYouBelieve Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 I believe in this team, and I especially believe in Ryan Miller. If he goes down for any significant period of time like last season, we're not automatically out of the playoffs but we'll have to claw and scratch our way there. There have already been a few games that Miller directly stole from the other team. Lalime isn't always awful, but he doesn't steal games.
Mbossy Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 A really important version of this question is when do Darcy and ownership start to believe? Would they then have the guts to do something at the deadline to really improve the team in-season for once? What needs to be improved? Back up goalie? Full time non-slug jerseys?
Orange Seats Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 You mean this graph? Edit: or this one of the EC ... Love the first graph! There should be a thread where we can consult a regularly updated version of it!
Rox11 Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 Great graph! First off, if you're a fan you typically believe in your team, even when the numbers don't support it. That's what being a fan is all about. So start believing now. However, there's a catch...we're tired of having our hearts broken after believing. That's where the convincing comes in. Unfortunately it's not going to come from me. I love the team we have this year and I like the latest version of Ruff. However, we are still a team that has to work a little harder to win against the big boys. We've had an easy schedule to this point and the team has had time between games to adapt after a loss. Come December the schedule changes and life it going to get hard for these guys. Lots of 4 game weeks and 3 games in 4 nights. It's going to be really easy for this team to have a few bad games and then forget what it was that worked for them so well earlier in the season. That's when the graph will turn down. Our one hope IMO lies in the locker room leaders. If those guys can keep this team level we may just pull it off.
repster Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 You could look at the chart and say we aren't that different from last year's pace at this point, but you could also say we're way ahead of the 05 pace. I think what separates this team from last year's team is determination and team effort which I see as more consistent on a night by night basis - so far. I'm sure the guys are tanked this morning, but they know they can't get complacent and mail in the Saturday third in four night game. As the schedule gets tougher, they could lose four in a row and be 8th or 9th - look at Pittsburgh before last night. They had such a torrid start that they didn't drop too much, but they are in the pack again. This was a good weekend but there are still a lot of variables that can come up over the season so it's still to early to predict anything. Next weekend's 3 in 4 looks a little more manageable on paper. Unlike Calgary who had 3 days off before the Friday game, Boston plays the night before in Atlanta, but Ottawa has the same advantage over us Saturday. I would start Lalime Wednesday and play Miller on the weekend, but Lalime made a statement about possibly playing in Ottawa.
Rox11 Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 I love the Sabres ... always have ... and I am very excited with this team that I'm seeing. They all look like they do want to play on almost every night and I think that attitude will carry them when they play 'lesser' teams (i.e. the Islanders or Thrashers). And those two teams have improved and will not be walk-overs. I hope Lalime gets a start soon and the team plays their best game as far as ALL pitching in because that will really be a good shot in the arm as far as leadership and camaraderie for the team (and the naysayers) that this team is different than last year's. Bottom line is all about being HEALTHY.
cdexchange Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 I believe. After this past week, I'm all in... :)
heyMAN Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 Ill start believing if they make the playoffs
McJeff215 Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 I feel good about the team now. I "believe" they'll make the post season at this rate. Though when am I going to think they're cup bound? When I see our 'C' make his victory lap, that's when.
Stoner Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 What needs to be improved? Back up goalie? Full time non-slug jerseys? Power play looks like it could be a real anchor. Anchor, in a bad way. Near the bottom in road percentage, and only Minnesota has allowed more shorthanded goals. Part of believing in your team as a contender is making those moves to at least try to put it over the top. Look at the moves Ray Shero made at the deadline last season.
darksabre Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 Power play looks like it could be a real anchor. Anchor, in a bad way. Near the bottom in road percentage, and only Minnesota has allowed more shorthanded goals. Part of believing in your team as a contender is making those moves to at least try to put it over the top. Look at the moves Ray Shero made at the deadline last season. Our PP has to get past the habit of shooting it into shin pads, which means they need to move around more to get the defense out of position. It's a very simple concept that we keep managing to screw up. They like to stand there and pass it back and forth, but that doesn't work. If the defense doesn't have to move, then what good is the power play?
Stoner Posted November 15, 2009 Report Posted November 15, 2009 Our PP has to get past the habit of shooting it into shin pads, which means they need to move around more to get the defense out of position. It's a very simple concept that we keep managing to screw up. They like to stand there and pass it back and forth, but that doesn't work. If the defense doesn't have to move, then what good is the power play? Well said. I've always described Ruff's power plays as "power play by numbers." Player A to B. B to C. C to A. A to B. So static. OK power play by letters. The Sabres also always seem to stay far on the perimeter. Point to point passes traveling practically the width of the ice. Vanek in the heart of the slot last night is pretty rare.
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