GAME DISCUSSION THREAD

[Stoner]

I hope you're wrong, but I can see why you fear that might be the case. The good news is that he never lost consciousness. The bad news, whether it's head or neck we are still likely to be without Patty for awhile, and that really sucks. I'm still outraged that nobody even looked at Ruutu after that shot. Nothing. In fact, late in the 3rd Ruutu was back at it pushing us around some more, and we just sat back and took it.

 

Mair engaged him. That's when Ruutu took a little jab at him and Mair's head jerked back so far, it impressed Linda Blair. Honestly, for all the blather about how tough hockey players are, this is largely a game played by pussies.

 

What I'm trying to figure out is how Ruutu avoided a game misconduct on the boarding call. An automatic game misconduct follows a major for boarding that results in injury. Does the league, in its infinite stupidity, not regard a concussion as a head injury?

[SwampD]

Any new news?? on Pat? Here is a link to the utube video, a little grainy, didn't see anything up on the network. Still think it was a cheap shot from where he came from and a should to the head from behind is a cheap shot and he should be suspended. Since he is a repeat offender make it 7 games. http://www.youtube.c...h?v=AJDbvrsfRWA

 

The more I watch it the more it looks like a head butt from behind, not a shoulder. Check it out between the 13 and 15 second marks in slow motion.... what B.S.

WOW! Watching that replay, it's hard to see how he wasn't going for Kaleta's head. Kaleta was not moving at all, so it's not like he was going for the shoulder but just missed.

[nfreeman]

I made it home in time for the post-game show, where Miller was awarded the first star, and whatever anonymity who plays in the Ottawa net was awarded the second. Is this MSG, or is this real? The anonymity had a shutout; give him the gold star.

That anonymity is 6-0 lifetime vs the Sabres. Unbelievable.

 

The day the Sabres sign Jarko Ruutu is the last day you will see me post here. Seriously, he maybe the only player in the NHL that I literally hate. He is beyond dirty. Every game that I can remember watching against the Sens where he has played, he has been caught on film doing something that was not just against the rules, but showed clear intent to injure. The fact that he's still in the NHL boggles my mind.

Of course it's time. The Code says Kaleta must be removed from the game. For good. It's sad, but true. I'll be interested to see how the league justifies no suspension. I imagine, behind the scenes, that Kaleta's style will be the justification. Who knows what they will tell the fans. We might even hear "blame the victim" again. After all, it was Kaleta's head that got in the way.

I have to believe Ruutu will get suspended for that hit. It was maybe the dirtiest hit I've seen in the NHL this year.

 

I'm actually used to watching 4 of our top 6 suck balls every night, nothing new there.

 

BUT......I cannot believe Ruutu went untouched. Say what you want about being owned by the Sens, or all the excuses about food poisoning, blah blah blah. When one of your teammates, one that's been busting his ass to help you win games, gets run like that and you stand there with your head up your ass doing absolutely nothing to let the league and the rest of the teams know you will NOT put up with that crap, you can go ahead and mail it in right now. That's the most ridiculous thing I have ever witnessed on Ice in my 30 years of existence. I want to puke right now. Those pussies should be ashamed of themselves, seriously.

 

Sorry, I'm done....

While the rest of this post is a bit over the top, I totally agree that both the hit on Kaleta and the late charge into Miller (don't remember which Senator did it) should have been answered, immediately and forcefully. Myers and Tallinder were on the ice for the Kaleta hit and didn't lift a finger.

 

I know. The Rangers were fully aware of how the Sabres refused to defend Miller against the Sens which is why Gomez went into Miller without any fear of repercussions. It's also why a player can drive Kaleta's into the boards and not worry about his teammates coming after him. The talk of this team being tougher or grittier is a myth. Somehow Miller's standing out there on his own stealing games is translating into ideas that this is a completely different team. It is a myth.

It's not a myth. They are tougher and grittier than in the past 2 years, and by more than a little. They haven't turned 180 degrees, but you can't look at the 07-08 team compared to this team and say this team isn't tougher. Remember that Gaustad is out, Kaleta was knocked out, and Grier is (understandably) not all the way back yet.

 

So, the hit on Kaleta. Is it a sign of the times that it really didn't get much attention? DeLuca will say it's a Sabres thing, but you see those hits more and more where there isn't mayhem that follows. I think a lot of people have been desensitized to them.

 

Watching it again, it's tough to tell if Ruutu hits Kaleta's head with his shoulder. Anyone with a nice HD view?

 

I'm sure some will say that the body language of Kaleta was suspicious. Could he have been more statue-like? Has he been coached to take a hit like that to draw a penalty?

I thought it was a direct shoulder-to-head hit -- and entirely intentional.

[BADMOFO518]

i think this team needs a copme to Jesus meeting with all the coaching staff...then the top vets in the room need to have their own peepy spanking from the top, the sum of the event being (this coming from the upper management) that if a true leader doesnt emerge and take charge right now, nobodys job is safe...

what we all saw last night was not only a classic example of this team's inability to handle alot of adversity, but LACK OF LEADERSHIP!! thaat is 75% of the problem with this team. and while rivet tries, he is not getting the job done as captain. the most frustrating thing for me is that this team has sooooooo much potential, they are like 1-2 key players away from a serious cup run, last night just exposed ALL their flaws.

[Stoner]

i think this team needs a copme to Jesus meeting with all the coaching staff...then the top vets in the room need to have their own peepy spanking from the top, the sum of the event being (this coming from the upper management) that if a true leader doesnt emerge and take charge right now, nobodys job is safe...

what we all saw last night was not only a classic example of this team's inability to handle alot of adversity, but LACK OF LEADERSHIP!! thaat is 75% of the problem with this team. and while rivet tries, he is not getting the job done as captain. the most frustrating thing for me is that this team has sooooooo much potential, they are like 1-2 key players away from a serious cup run, last night just exposed ALL their flaws.

 

BADMOFO laying the wood in his first post!

[BADMOFO518]

BADMOFO laying the wood in his first post!

haha yeah but seriously, wtf? make a statement! make a move or something! or, cuz i know darcy is cheaper than mr. scrooge, just put a couple stars in the press box for the night! call it "corrective training"

[deluca67]

Underwood was born in Oklahoma

I hope you had to look that up on google or something. :doh:

[deluca67]

It's not a myth. They are tougher and grittier than in the past 2 years, and by more than a little. They haven't turned 180 degrees, but you can't look at the 07-08 team compared to this team and say this team isn't tougher. Remember that Gaustad is out, Kaleta was knocked out, and Grier is (understandably) not all the way back yet.

Thank you for proving it is a myth. Gaustad out? Yes. Kaleta was the victim? Yes. Grier has other things on his mind? yes. Where was Rivet or Montador? Or the 15 other guys that were dressed? Take the 7 guys that allegedly had food poisoning and that leaves 8 guys that did nothing. You have smartly pointed out that the so called "grittier" players have zero effect on the remainder of the roster. There is no trickle down toughness. Players are not playing with the confidence that other players have their back and they themselves are not willing to stick up for their teammates. If 14 of the 19 guys you dress on a nightly basis refuse to stand up for a fallen teammate then "team toughness" does not exist. This team is not more talented that the previous two versions nor is it tougher. The only difference is the play of Ryan Miller. If Miller was having a average season this team would be in the 8-14 group in the Eastern Conference. If his play dips even a little it will severely jeopardize this teams playoff chances.

[Sabretip]

Owned again. The intimidation Ottawa has over us is incredible. They beat the crap out of us and we just take it like little . You could see right away that the Sabres were playing passive and scared...it's unbelievable to see, really. It's actually getting worse, because now we don't even try to compete physically. Kaleta getting that cheap shot from Ruutu without any response at all from the rest of the team was just incredible. I mean, not even a gentle push or angry word, just complete subservience to Master Ottawa.

 

What seems to happen the majority of the time that the Sabres play Ottawa is that the Senators simply outskate Buffalo, plain and simple. Last night, like has occurred so many times before in games between the two teams, the Sabres looked like a bunch of pylons standing around or bumping into each other as the Senators skate around them. The proof is in how many times the Sens get odd-man rushes against Buffalo in a game. And despite what the TV commentators want to have the viewers believe, this current Buffalo roster is nowhere near the speedy squad the Sabres iced after the lockout.

 

 

Food poisoning excuses, and a bunch of whaaah, whaaaah, whaaah belly aching... I'm the one sick after that display. Sick. Ottawa is without Neil, without Spezza, without Foligno, yet the Sabres have the audacity to whine about queasy stomachs? I think the queasiness came from being afraid to play the Senators.

 

Pathetic.

 

I don't think Ruff was lying with the excuse but it still strikes me as suspicious why the public always learns of some incident like this or a flu bug AFTER a loss rather than ahead of time - especially if Ruff knew about it the night before and could have said something in the morning interviews with the press. Had the Sabres won the game last in Ottawa, does anyone think we'd have even heard about the food poisoning? I doubt it because it would have been irrelevant; in the face of a loss however, it's a convenient out to keep the critics at bay.

[Stoner]

I don't think Ruff was lying with the excuse but it still strikes me as suspicious why the public always learns of some incident like this or a flu bug AFTER a loss rather than ahead of time - especially if Ruff knew about it the night before and could have said something in the morning interviews with the press. Had the Sabres won the game last in Ottawa, does anyone think we'd have even heard about the food poisoning? I doubt it because it would have been irrelevant; in the face of a loss however, it's a convenient out to keep the critics at bay.

Whenever Ruff says, "I'm not using it as an excuse," he's using it as an excuse!

[Sabretip]

 

I have to believe Ruutu will get suspended for that hit. It was maybe the dirtiest hit I've seen in the NHL this year.

 

Really? Ruutu's intent was certainly clear and consistent with his history but I wouldn't say it was as blatant a cheap shot as Richards' blindside railroading of Booth was. And I've seen some others where a player is fully facing the boards with the puck in their feet and an opponent comes charging in to wallpaper the player against the boards. Ruutu's hit on Kaleta didn't seem any more severe than the hit Kaleta put on Kross in Philadelphia and got a suspension for - both were dirty but the victims in each case did seem to see the onrushing attacker coming.

[LabattBlue]

I hope you had to look that up on google or something. :doh:

American Idol is the only thing myself, wife and daughter watch together. I amaze myself with things I remember, while at the same time cannot tell you what I had for lunch yesterday.

[carpandean]

Ruutu's hit on Kaleta didn't seem any more severe than the hit Kaleta put on Kross in Philadelphia and got a suspension for - both were dirty but the victims in each case did seem to see the onrushing attacker coming.

:blink:

 

1) Kaleta's hit was shoulder to shoulder (well, maybe shoulder blade), which caused Kross to spin and hit his face on the boards, while Ruutu's hit was shoulder to head.

 

2) Kaleta was looking at the play going on behind Ottawa's net and the puck came around the boards to him. At no point was Ruutu even in he peripheral range. Kross turned to take a quick look back up ice before turning back to the puck. It's possible that Kaleta was in his peripheral range, but even that's not guaranteed. Kross may or may not have caught Kaleta coming in his peripheral, but there doesn't seem to be any chance that Kaleta could have seen Ruutu coming.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJDbvrsfRWA

[Stoner]

:blink:

 

1) Kaleta's hit was shoulder to shoulder (well, maybe shoulder blade), which caused Kross to spin and hit his face on the boards, while Ruutu's hit was shoulder to head.

 

2) Kaleta was looking at the play going on behind Ottawa's net and the puck came around the boards to him. At no point was Ruutu even in he peripheral range. Kross turned to take a quick look back up ice before turning back to the puck. It's possible that Kaleta was in his peripheral range, but even that's not guaranteed. Kross may or may not have caught Kaleta coming in his peripheral, but there doesn't seem to be any chance that Kaleta could have seen Ruutu coming.

 

 

I'll accept all this. But there's still something weird about Kaleta's attitude on this play. Standing so still -- waiting for the puck -- putting his head down. I think there's a good chance Kaleta knew exactly what was going to happen and was trying to buy a call. I'm afraid this is exactly how the league is going to view the play. We as fans surely underestimate how good these guys are. Maybe hockey commentary suffers from the idea that many fans think they understand the NHL from playing in beer leagues or whatever. NHL players actually do have eyes in the back of their heads. Or maybe one of the Sabres yelled, or someone yelled from the bench. "Incoming!"

 

By the way, unless you're looking at another video of the play, I don't see how you can definitively say Ruutu hit Kaleta in the head. Once again, as fans, if this is Kaleta hitting Ruutu, we see it a lot differently.

[carpandean]

I'll accept all this. But there's still something weird about Kaleta's attitude on this play. Standing so still -- waiting for the puck -- putting his head down. I think there's a good chance Kaleta knew exactly what was going to happen and was trying to buy a call. I'm afraid this is exactly how the league is going to view the play. We as fans surely underestimate how good these guys are. Maybe hockey commentary suffers from the idea that many fans think they understand the NHL from playing in beer leagues or whatever. NHL players actually do have eyes in the back of their heads. Or maybe one of the Sabres yelled, or someone yelled from the bench. "Incoming!"

 

By the way, unless you're looking at another video of the play, I don't see how you can definitively say Ruutu hit Kaleta in the head. Once again, as fans, if this is Kaleta hitting Ruutu, we see it a lot differently.

Oh, I have know doubt that Kaleta puts himself in positions that almost dares other teams to take penalties. He has accepted that as part of his role (though, he may need to start rethinking it.) Maybe, the league should take a game or two off of the suspension than that, but Ruutu could easily have him Kaleta legally and that cannot go unaddressed.

 

The replays that I watched were on my 40" TV. If he made any contact with the shoulder, it was a light brushing of the jersey. Most of the contact was to the head.

[BADMOFO518]

it doesnt matter!!! this team DID NOT RESPOND the way they should have to stick up for their teammates, and we (lindy included) should all thank ruutu and kaleta for doing the team a favor and putting their deficiencies out there so they can be recognised and hopefully (although prob not unfortunatly) addressed appropriately...this is the worst problem this team has and they will be on a totally different level if they can fix it.

[spndnchz]

 

 

I don't think Ruff was lying with the excuse but it still strikes me as suspicious why the public always learns of some incident like this or a flu bug AFTER a loss rather than ahead of time - especially if Ruff knew about it the night before and could have said something in the morning interviews with the press. Had the Sabres won the game last in Ottawa, does anyone think we'd have even heard about the food poisoning? I doubt it because it would have been irrelevant; in the face of a loss however, it's a convenient out to keep the critics at bay.

 

Yeah, Ruff should've said something like "The Sabres would like to tell the Sens that they are sick with food poisoning so please go easy on us tonight".

 

Yeahthatllwork.

[Mbossy]

Ruutu isn't getting suspended. He's only getting fined.

 

Gaustad is back on Friday night vs Leafs, Miller is starting. LaLime plays Saturday.

 

Hank and Myers had food poisoning too.

[darksabre]

Yeah, Ruff should've said something like "The Sabres would like to tell the Sens that they are sick with food poisoning so please go easy on us tonight".

 

Yeahthatllwork.

 

Thank you. At least you get it.

[Eleven]

Yeah, Ruff should've said something like "The Sabres would like to tell the Sens that they are sick with food poisoning so please go easy on us tonight".

 

Yeahthatllwork.

 

Right-ho.

[Mbossy]

Ruutu isn't getting suspended. He's only getting fined.

 

Gaustad is back on Friday night vs Leafs, Miller is starting. LaLime plays Saturday.

 

Hank and Myers had food poisoning too.

 

edit: linkers

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/ottawa-senators/suspension+Ruutu/2352061/story.html

[end the curse]

This is why you take care of business on the ice. Waiting for the league office to fight your battles is a waste of time. We've sure become a docile group of submissives to Ottawa since that '07 brawl.

[Stoner]

This is why you take care of business on the ice. Waiting for the league office to fight your battles is a waste of time. We've sure become a docile group of submissives to Ottawa since that '07 brawl.

 

It really does seem like that night was a turning point, even though the Sabres won. Neil took out Drury -- clean hit or otherwise Neil was willing to get dirty to win a game. The Sabres were the responders, and it looked pretty pathetic when our goon couldn't do any damage to their goaltender, Lindy jumped and down like a baby and OSP wrote a whiny letter to GB on some stationery he stole from the Hyatt.

 

After the lockout, through the events of that night, the Sabres held their own against their now-nemesis, going 10-10, including the playoffs in '06. Since that night, starting with losing the back end of the home and home in Ottawa, the Sabres have lost something like 17 of 22 games to the twats.

 

What the Sabres need is something roughly akin to the Pearl Harbor that Neil's hit represented. If it means ending Alfie's career, so be it. It's a dirty game and it has to be done. I won't like it. But it has to be done.

[rickshaw]

edit: linkers

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/ottawa-senators/suspension+Ruutu/2352061/story.html

 

I thought Myers seemed to be labouring most of the night, even though he was still skating well. He was huffing and puffing a whole lot more than I'm used to seeing him.

[nfreeman]

Thank you for proving it is a myth. Gaustad out? Yes. Kaleta was the victim? Yes. Grier has other things on his mind? yes. Where was Rivet or Montador? Or the 15 other guys that were dressed? Take the 7 guys that allegedly had food poisoning and that leaves 8 guys that did nothing. You have smartly pointed out that the so called "grittier" players have zero effect on the remainder of the roster. There is no trickle down toughness. Players are not playing with the confidence that other players have their back and they themselves are not willing to stick up for their teammates. If 14 of the 19 guys you dress on a nightly basis refuse to stand up for a fallen teammate then "team toughness" does not exist. This team is not more talented that the previous two versions nor is it tougher. The only difference is the play of Ryan Miller. If Miller was having a average season this team would be in the 8-14 group in the Eastern Conference. If his play dips even a little it will severely jeopardize this teams playoff chances.

I too would've liked to have seen Rivet, Montador or Mair put Ruutu through the boards the next chance they had. And I agree that Grier, Montador, Rivet, etc. have not made Connolly, Pommer, Roy, Tallinder, etc. more physical or more inclined to avenge Ruutu's hit. But that doesn't mean that the overall team toughness isn't significantly better than it was 2 years ago.

 

The guys I would expect to mix it up in that situation are: Gaustad, Grier, Kaleta, Mair, Kennedy, Ellis, Stafford (maybe), Rivet and Montador. That's 9 out of 18.

 

Really? Ruutu's intent was certainly clear and consistent with his history but I wouldn't say it was as blatant a cheap shot as Richards' blindside railroading of Booth was. And I've seen some others where a player is fully facing the boards with the puck in their feet and an opponent comes charging in to wallpaper the player against the boards. Ruutu's hit on Kaleta didn't seem any more severe than the hit Kaleta put on Kross in Philadelphia and got a suspension for - both were dirty but the victims in each case did seem to see the onrushing attacker coming.

Well, I suppose it depends on how you feel about head shots. To me, an intentional blow to the head is the dirtiest play in hockey.

 

Booth got hit in the head, but he was skating the puck up ice, didn't look both ways before crossing the street and got creamed in a high-speed collision. There were 2 players moving fast who collided. The drill-the-guy-into-the-boards-from-behind hits are plenty dirty, but usually the hitter drills the hittee in the back -- not in the head directly. Kaleta was standing still, and Ruutu lined him up and targeted his head with his rock-hard shoulder pad. Ruutu could easily have targeted Kaleta's back or his side/shoulder but instead intentionally nailed him in the head. That makes it, IMHO, the dirtiest hit I've seen this year.

 

Yeah, Ruff should've said something like "The Sabres would like to tell the Sens that they are sick with food poisoning so please go easy on us tonight".

 

Yeahthatllwork.

Right-ho.

Well, she might have a bit of a potty mouth, but I wouldn't go so far as to call her that.