GAME DISCUSSION THREAD

[repster]

Since their 8-1-1 start to the year, they've turned into an average team. 14-10-3 after those first ten games. Their biggest issue is obviously scoring goals. They have players with enough talent to light the lamp, but they are not the type of players that seem to produce under the system that Lindy is using. Connolly, Pominville, Vanek, and Roy are generally not gamebreakers that you can rely on in the clutch this year. Without Miller, this team would be out of the playoffs IMHO. What can you do though? A couple years ago, the more wide-open system landed them outside the playoffs and so did last year's although it could be argued if they could have stayed healthy, they would have made the playoffs. In the last month or so, we have had at least one player injured and the lines have become consistently jumbled. They look like they're playing without confidence and jam - and Miller pointed out that they have to dictate the play not spend the first period feeling out the other team. They need to take the initiative - but they need better consistency and I think the need to stay healthy to do that. The first part of January they will get some rest, but then they have an absolute killer road trip against some of the best teams in the league. If they thought things have been tough recently, they haven't seen nothin' yet. Sometimes they have looked good, but it's been quite a while now that I have watched them play a full 60 minutes and have them rule the game. With Roy out now, I am even more concerned. Hopefully some of the walking wounded return tomorrow and change the vibe - i.e. Kaleta. Which D-man should/will come out to see Butler back in?

[Eleven]

This was not the statement win that I expected. This wasn't even a hockey game, for the most part.

 

Hey, PA, did you hear our "let's get a shot on goal" chant (to a familiar rhythm) in the first?

 

The arena was loud tonight. The Sabres weren't. And I'm done, DONE, with Connolly.

[Kristian]

1 point was a steal.

 

Anytime you let the other team outshoot you 19-1 in the first period on home ice, you deserve to lose. BAD.

[wjag]

Just Cause:

 

1. I saw my first shootout tonight live. Miller goes too far out to challenge the shooter. Not sure if that is his MO, but he is Waaayyyy out there.

2. I saw Leclaire pick up a broken stick behind his net while he had his own stick. Why isn't that a penalty for having two sticks, broken or not? He fumbled it around his goal. The linesman eventually came down and took it away from him.

3. The place was desperate for a win tonight. The roof would have come down had they won.

4. 19-1 ... That was .. pick your own adjective of horrendous .. I don't boo, ever.. but I understand why people did..

5. About as bad a puck clearing game as I can recall.

6. Didn't see the Roy hit as I was following the puck. My guess is he is gone for some time.

7. Vanek on the shoot out.. Just say no..

8. First time I can recall Buffalo allowing the other team to shoot first in the shootout when they had the choice.

9. Does Buffalo lead the league in no look passes?

10. Would love to have heard what Ruff said to them during the first intermission...

 

 

oh and I agree.. One point in that game was Grand Larceny

[CallawaySabres]

Too bad it wasn't Connolly that went down instead of Roy.....Harsh but true. Those guys absolutely did not deserve 2 points last night. Miller deserved and got the one point and a win would have been horrible for the fragile mentality of this team. Show up for 1 period plus and get a win? No, doesn't work that way guys. I still say the goal for this team should be to stay at 8 spot or above ALL season long. Hopefully, by the time playoffs come, the floaters will have picked their game up....

[nucci]

Too bad it wasn't Connolly that went down instead of Roy.....Harsh but true. Those guys absolutely did not deserve 2 points last night. Miller deserved and got the one point and a win would have been horrible for the fragile mentality of this team. Show up for 1 period plus and get a win? No, doesn't work that way guys. I still say the goal for this team should be to stay at 8 spot or above ALL season long. Hopefully, by the time playoffs come, the floaters will have picked their game up....

So Sabres are only supposed to win the games they deserve to win? What about when they outplay a team and lose? Is that ok?

[Stoner]

This was not the statement win that I expected. This wasn't even a hockey game, for the most part.

 

Hey, PA, did you hear our "let's get a shot on goal" chant (to a familiar rhythm) in the first?

 

The arena was loud tonight. The Sabres weren't. And I'm done, DONE, with Connolly.

 

I didn't hear the chant, but I did note that the crowd was loud. (And the LGB chants late were VERY loud. Funny that the mics were working last night. :) ) I really thought the cheer after Montador's shot was going to convert into a real rarity -- the Sarcastic Standing O.

 

It's probably just me, but I can't remember a stranger vibe surrounding a first place team at Christmas time. There really is a problem with this team, and I'd be shocked if Lindy and Darcy don't recognize it. Does ownership? Or are they so clueless that OSP thought the cheer after Montador's shot was for real? If he even cares anymore. Does he attend games? LQ is probably content getting his back slapped down at the Buffalo Yacht Club.

 

Hell, even the people picking the music at the arena are adding their protests! I heard "oooohh, oooooh, ooooh, it's magic" after Montador's shot and that "Little Willy" song later on. I don't know, I just took them as sarcastic comments on the team.

[Stoner]

Hey eleven, Johnny Millsie-Eyes noticed:

 

"A rhythmic chant of "Let's get a shot on goal!" filled the arena with about three minutes left."

 

Edit: And Bill Hoppe: With three minutes left, when the Ottawa Senators held an 18-0 shot advantage, the capacity crowd of 18,690 fans inside HSBC Arena finally had enough, chanting, “Let’s get a shot on goal.”

[Stoner]

And it should be noted that the team that didn't skate, "stretch" or ride bikes before this one was much better. This is at least the second time this season Ruff has chosen to work his team on game-day and the second time said team has had no legs in the game.

[FearTheReaper]

HSBC arena is proabably the biggest joke of a hockey arena in this league. Sold out on most nights, yet the crowd is lifeless on most occasions. For christ sake, can Miller get a slight jeer from the crowd for saving the game during the first? We also show very little respect to opposing teams, which is extremly irritating, its ok for us to cry over a missed call, but boo good calls on the Sabres? Its really cool and fun to boo the worlds greatest player, Alexander Ovechkin, and show absolutly no respect to him even though he had a horrible game on the 9th. But everyone gets upset when we boo'ed that prick Pat Kane!?

 

Should i point out the garbage music they play in the arena consantly? "Shortie fire buring on the dance floor" right before OT. That would get me pumped like hell to bury a divison rival in overtime. Its a hockey arena, not dave and busters.

[Hawk]

Guys I thought played their behinds off:

1. Montador..He seemed to be in a really pissed off mood tonight. Not to be a mind reader but I seemed that he was sending a message to the forwards, when he stormed down the ice for that first shot. I have been on teams where some players are not giving a crap during a certain contest. It was like he was saying "HERE YOU DUMBASSES, IS IT REALLY THAT HARD TO SHOOT ON NET!!"

2. Kennedy always seems to come to play. No fear in that kid

 

Guys that sucked:

1. Hecht.. Does he have any other shot besides the backhand?? WTF!!

 

2. Roy...Blind passes across the ice, near the blue line, and other various screwups. I hate to say this but when he left the ice after getting injured, I was like good, goodbye.

 

3. LUUUDman.. See above

 

EDIT: "JESUS, TAKE THE WHEEL!!!"

[FearTheReaper]

If Ruff continues his Kennedy project, the kid will be a stud on that third line. I like seeing him on a scoring line with Mac and Pommer. You figure, he's had him out there with Goose and Grier to make hardwork and girt the fundation of his game. Now he's on a scoring line, allowing him to work on his offensive game. If he can find a niche' in the middle, he could become a solid third line playmaker.

[Stoner]

Guys I thought played their behinds off:

1. Montador..He seemed to be in a really pissed off mood tonight. Not to be a mind reader but I seemed that he was sending a message to the forwards, when he stormed down the ice for that first shot. I have been on teams where some players are not giving a crap during a certain contest. It was like he was saying "HERE YOU DUMBASSES, IS IT REALLY THAT HARD TO SHOOT ON NET!!"

2. Kennedy always seems to come to play. No fear in that kid

 

Guys that sucked:

1. Hecht.. Does he have any other shot besides the backhand?? WTF!!

 

2. Roy...Blind passes across the ice, near the blue line, and other various screwups. I hate to say this but when he left the ice after getting injured, I was like good, goodbye.

 

3. LUUUDman.. See above

 

EDIT: "JESUS, TAKE THE WHEEL!!!"

Hell yeah to 1. I think that's exactly how it played out.

[Stoner]

Should i point out the garbage music they play in the arena consantly? "Shortie fire buring on the dance floor" right before OT. That would get me pumped like hell to bury a divison rival in overtime. Its a hockey arena, not dave and busters.

Hear hear. I'd put the players in charge of all aspects of arena atmosphere. Don't want the horn? No horn. The music might be more important than people realize.

[Eleven]

I didn't hear the chant, but I did note that the crowd was loud. (And the LGB chants late were VERY loud. Funny that the mics were working last night. :) ) I really thought the cheer after Montador's shot was going to convert into a real rarity -- the Sarcastic Standing O.

 

It's probably just me, but I can't remember a stranger vibe surrounding a first place team at Christmas time. There really is a problem with this team, and I'd be shocked if Lindy and Darcy don't recognize it. Does ownership? Or are they so clueless that OSP thought the cheer after Montador's shot was for real? If he even cares anymore. Does he attend games? LQ is probably content getting his back slapped down at the Buffalo Yacht Club.

 

Hell, even the people picking the music at the arena are adding their protests! I heard "oooohh, oooooh, ooooh, it's magic" after Montador's shot and that "Little Willy" song later on. I don't know, I just took them as sarcastic comments on the team.

 

It was louder last night than any game I've been to this year, but that doesn't mean that the other nights were as quiet as you have characterized them. Anyway, there was a festive, loud crowd in there last night cheering on that team, and it completely let us down. The third period was as bad as the first. And it wasn't just the offense--where he hell was the hitting? Voting for the "Carubba Collision" was like choosing between Mick Kearns and Byron Brown--a couple of lightweight options were all we got. Every time the Sabres had the chance to give a solid body check, they satisfied themselves with rubbing shoulders instead. No heart at all last night. I'm a little pissed off that I spent what I did to watch just 25 minutes of decent hockey.

 

IMO, the problem with this team are a couple of party boys that are more interested in getting some drinks in after the game than they are in playing hard. (LQ probably is not getting his back slapped down at the Buffalo Yacht Club; I'm sure he can get into better clubs.)

 

The guy who runs the music is a little bit of a wiseass, so I don't doubt that he was broadcasting his own frustration.

[Stoner]

It was louder last night than any game I've been to this year, but that doesn't mean that the other nights were as quiet as you have characterized them. Anyway, there was a festive, loud crowd in there last night cheering on that team, and it completely let us down. The third period was as bad as the first. And it wasn't just the offense--where he hell was the hitting? Voting for the "Carubba Collision" was like choosing between Mick Kearns and Byron Brown--a couple of lightweight options were all we got. Every time the Sabres had the chance to give a solid body check, they satisfied themselves with rubbing shoulders instead. No heart at all last night. I'm a little pissed off that I spent what I did to watch just 25 minutes of decent hockey.

 

IMO, the problem with this team are a couple of party boys that are more interested in getting some drinks in after the game than they are in playing hard. (LQ probably is not getting his back slapped down at the Buffalo Yacht Club; I'm sure he can get into better clubs.)

 

The guy who runs the music is a little bit of a wiseass, so I don't doubt that he was broadcasting his own frustration.

 

On the other hand, it sounded pretty quiet in the first. Shouldn't the joint have been jumping off the opening faceoff? Not that it would have made any difference to the team, but it might have.

 

Yeah I just threw the Buffalo Yacht Club out there. I actually googled it after I wrote it to make sure it actually existed. The web site said something about it being affordable, but selective. Doesn't sound like an LQ kind of place, does it? So where does LQ hang out? And who are the party boys?

[Eleven]

On the other hand, it sounded pretty quiet in the first. Shouldn't the joint have been jumping off the opening faceoff? Not that it would have made any difference to the team, but it might have.

 

Yeah I just threw the Buffalo Yacht Club out there. I actually googled it after I wrote it to make sure it actually existed. The web site said something about it being affordable, but selective. Doesn't sound like an LQ kind of place, does it? So where does LQ hang out? And who are the party boys?

 

It was loud as hell when that puck dropped! With a good ol' "Let's Go Buffalo" chant, too.

 

LQ might be more of a Buffalo Club type of guy.

 

Connolly is no. 1 on my list of party boys. That guy is out all the time.

[Stoner]

It was loud as hell when that puck dropped! With a good ol' "Let's Go Buffalo" chant, too.

 

LQ might be more of a Buffalo Club type of guy.

 

Connolly is no. 1 on my list of party boys. That guy is out all the time.

:rolleyes:

[VansTheMans]

Last night was prolly Vanek's best game of the season. If our offense hopes to turn around, he needs to lead the way.

 

The Grier Kennedy Vanek line is easily the team's best line. Keep that one rolling.

[Sabre Dance]

HSBC arena is proabably the biggest joke of a hockey arena in this league. Sold out on most nights, yet the crowd is lifeless on most occasions. For christ sake, can Miller get a slight jeer from the crowd for saving the game during the first? We also show very little respect to opposing teams, which is extremly irritating, its ok for us to cry over a missed call, but boo good calls on the Sabres? Its really cool and fun to boo the worlds greatest player, Alexander Ovechkin, and show absolutly no respect to him even though he had a horrible game on the 9th. But everyone gets upset when we boo'ed that prick Pat Kane!?

 

So, is the building quiet because the team is not playing exciting hockey or is the team not hitting and scoring because the crowd is so quiet? Buffalo is a notoriously tough sell when it comes to entertainment. (There was even a saying back in the Vaudeville days - "If it'll play in Buffalo, it'll play anywhere.") Buffalo audiences want value for their money and apparently the way the team is playing this year (i.e., their style of play, not their standings in the points), they feel they're not getting it. This is not to defend the HSBC crowd; it IS a hockey game and the fans should be loud. One only has to watch a game from Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton or Vancouver to see what a hockey-crazed crowd is really like.

I think another factor was that the crowd Saturday night was expecting the Sabres to come out banging after the loss in Ottawa last week. The teams truly horrible effort translated to fans sitting there in stunned silence....