GAME DISCUSSION THREAD

[Calvin]

Sometimes we need a different language altogether to remind us to appreciate the team we have.

[Eleven]

 

 

"Its best, in all end of match, was stripped on reception of a master key which crossed the enclave. " ?????

 

 

 

I'll bet Dan Brown can turn this quote into another crappy novel.

[JujuFish]

Connolly has turned it on lately, 5G 4A in the last 6 games.

[darksabre]

"Result: Ryan Miller collected its 5th white play of the season and it inflicted to the Canadian its fourth reverse by washing this season whereas the Sabres carried it 1-0."

 

"No the possible doubt, the Americans will be well defended with Miller in front of their net with the Olympic Games of Vancouver. Perhaps that will compensate for the more permeable defensive in front of him…"

 

"Its best, in all end of match, was stripped on reception of a master key which crossed the enclave. " ?????

 

"Located and joined by Jason Pominville which carried out an erudite master key on the play, Connolly made deviate the disc towards the goal of the Canadian. Carey Price partially blocked the disc which then struck the post with the right-hand side of the guard."

 

Couldn't have said the following better:

 

"“It is a team which does not do anything very spectacular, but which does all well that it makes. They put the disc at the net, sink with the goal for the returns and can put pressure in front failure."

 

Did you know the following:

 

"Jochen Hecht having collected a master key on the goal, the Sabres were supported by the statistics whereas they presented a dossier of 13-0-0 when Hecht collects at least a point in a meeting."

 

Just one more:

 

"To finish some with the statistics, the Sabres dominate the League with 13 victories and especially only one defeat in prescribed time this season (13-1-4) in the matches which decide by a goal."

 

I lied, one more on Tyler Myers:

 

"“I am not the kind of very generous guy on the compliments, but I could not be any more impressed by quality of the play of this defender. And it is only 19 years old. All that it does on the skating rink, it does it well. It is solid with the disc, is always well placed in defensive, it supplements its master keys, cuts plays, that made three or four times that we face the Sabres and I cannot remember errors which it made. But I have well in memory of the heaps of good games which it carried out. They have a special defender between the hands.”"

 

Wow, that Hecht statistic is pretty random!

 

I'm glad even the opposing teams have a bit of a chubby for Tyler Myers. I still have a hard time believe he really is this good. I really can't wait till he can bring the body a little more, but he's been playing to his strengths this season and it works. He seems to have a really good brain for hockey and with the height advantage, I'm sure he can see the ice better than many. I know who my next jersey is going to be.

 

Thanks for those translations wjag, they're always a good read. :beer:

[end the curse]

Funny, isn't it, that we have gone from wide-eyed amazement at Myers' every move to almost just taking for granted that he'll be our best player on the ice every game.

[darksabre]

Funny, isn't it, that we have gone from wide-eyed amazement at Myers' every move to almost just taking for granted that he'll be our best player on the ice every game.

 

I don't know maybe some take it for granted, but I can't say I do personally. This kid just amazes me. Every now and then he screws up but for the most part, to paraphrase you, he has been the best [skater] on the ice.

 

I haven't really had a favorite player on this team since Drury during the post lockout days. But Myers has me hooked. All my chips are in. He's a superstar in the making.

[end the curse]

I don't know maybe some take it for granted, but I can't say I do personally. This kid just amazes me. Every now and then he screws up but for the most part, to paraphrase you, he has been the best [skater] on the ice.

 

I haven't really had a favorite player on this team since Drury during the post lockout days. But Myers has me hooked. All my chips are in. He's a superstar in the making.

I meant we take for granted that he'll be that good, not that we take having such a great player for granted. I'm with you on the Myers Kool-aid, btw. Just over 40 games into his first season and I already think he's the best defenseman we've ever had.

[nfreeman]

Here is something scary ... I can hardly believe this myself ...

2006-07 Sabres after 41 games: 29-9-3 = 61 points

2009-10 Sabres after 41 games: 26-11-4 = 56 points but without the shootout wins, if ties were ties ...

 

2006-07 Sabres after 41 games: 23-9-9 = 55 points

2009-10 Sabres after 41 games: 24-11-6 = 54 points

Nice stats work. Thanks.

 

- For a defense first team, the Sabres really struggle in their own zone.

 

- A better effort by Butler than what I have seen since he has been back.

 

- I normally don't comment on the officiating, but there could have easily been diving called on both Kennedy penalties.

I agree on Butler and the so-called power play, but I thought the Sabres were outstanding in their defensive zone today (and have generally been very good all year on D). Also, Kennedy's 2nd penalty was a clear hook, IMHO, and a pretty dumb penalty by him.

 

I'd root for Al Qaida to beat Ottawa.

nice.

 

5. Last year, there was simply no way they win this game.

6. Still undefeated with a 2nd period lead. Very NJ-like. That's 16-0 for those scoring at home.

9. Pominville with a team high 5 SOGs. His play is picking up.

 

Right on, esp. #5. This team has built on its strengths -- great goaltending and great coaching -- and this year has added mental toughness, great team defense and a top D pairing that, on the defensive end at least, is right there with any other in the NHL.

 

I think it's time to actually, gulp, stop judging this team according to it's every flaw and get behind them for how much heart they are showing. These guys are really giving their all, and to be on pace for 112 points without any top scoring leaders is a testimony to grit, heart, goaltending, coaching, and a full team effort. I am not ashamed to say that I really like this team.

Another good one, although it's hard to like the "top 6" forwards.

 

My 2 cents:

 

- I'm happy to say that I was at the game today. The family and I took a holiday road trip to Montreal, I worked Craig's list for some tickets, and my son and I went and had a great time. It was my 2nd time seeing a game there. Both were great, although the Sabres' suffocating D kept the crowd pretty well out of it today. Also, we had more time in Montreal this time than the first time. What a great city. It's a long drive from NYC, but well worth it.

 

- This is only a slight exaggeration: the men's room near my section at the Bell Centre was the size of the entire Aud.

 

- This is not an exaggeration: the smoked meat sandwich at the Bell Centre was the best food item I've ever had at a sporting event.

 

- Now for the game itself: from my perspective, the Sabres' team defense completely dominated this game. Montreal had a few scoring chances, but they were few and far between, and I don't think they had any after their first PP (in the 1st period) until there were only a few minutes left in the game. Miller was great when called upon, but he really wasn't called upon that often.

 

- Myers was great. Probably the best player on the ice other than Miller.

 

- Overall, that was a textbook exercise in grinding out a tight, well-played road win against a divisional opponent. Montreal had won 6 out of 7 on a 7-game road trip, had gotten Markov and Gionta back, the crowd was ready to rock, and the Sabres completely took them out of it.

 

- Even though the Sabres played great D, Montreal didn't play with any fire whatsoever.

 

- Vanek played less than 14 minutes and maybe found his way into the doghouse. There was one shift late in the 1st period in which he completely butchered a 2-on-1, then stood flatfooted while the habs blew by him the other way, creating a potential 3-on-2.

 

- By the 2nd period, Gaustad took Mac's spot on Roy's line.

 

- I thought Rivet, Grier, Hecht and Gaustad all played very solid games.

 

- I don't see how anyone with 2 eyes and a brain could watch tonight's game and say that the Sabres aren't playing excellent team defense and/or aren't very well-coached.

[SabresRepublic]

I'd root for Al Qaida to beat Ottawa.

 

You cannot be serious! Al Qaida is responsible for 9/11 and the enslavement of women and children wherever they

assume jurisdictional control!

 

They continue to pose a huge threat to Life, Liberty, Property and until they are eliminated we are all in danger!

[Doohicksie]

You cannot be serious! Al Qaida is responsible for 9/11 and the enslavement of women and children wherever they

assume jurisdictional control!

 

They continue to pose a huge threat to Life, Liberty, Property and until they are eliminated we are all in danger!

OH PULLLEEEZE keep that #%^$#! on FreeRepublic.

[JohnRobertEichel]

You cannot be serious! Al Qaida is responsible for 9/11 and the enslavement of women and children wherever they

assume jurisdictional control!

 

They continue to pose a huge threat to Life, Liberty, Property and until they are eliminated we are all in danger!

 

All valid points, but Al Qaida isn't a division rival. Ottawa is.

[Kristian]

Game thoughts...

 

 

- I normally don't comment on the officiating, but there could have easily been diving called on both Kennedy penalties.

 

GO SABRES!!!

 

Yeah, that first one was particularly obvious, the guy went down like he'd been shot.

 

The second might've been a penalty going by the rulebook, but how many times do you see those called in the NHL?

 

And the Habs were clutching and grabbing all night. I don't think I ever saw so many one-hand-on-the-stick, other-hand-around-the-shoulder plays in one game.

 

Seemed to go both ways though, as only three penalties were called all game.

[wjag]

 

6. Still undefeated with a 2nd period lead. Very NJ-like. That's 16-0 for those scoring at home.

7. Are the Sabres becoming the Devils before our eyes?

 

I guess I'm not the only one who thinks this:

 

"They did a good job backchecking and we played a little into their hands that way," said Cammalleri, who had a couple of scoring chances in the final minute. "They have a lot of confidence in their goaltender and they play like it. They seem to have adopted some of that New Jersey style, where they five you that outside and take away anything in the middle."

[wjag]

I was left scratching my head when they announced the three stars last night. What did Pouliott do to justify a star? It should have clearly gone to Carey Price who played a whale of a game. The Montreal writer says what I was thinking:

 

"The only member of that quartet to play a significant role in yesterday's game was Pouliot. He was inexplicably presented with the third star in the game, but the only time he was noticeable was when he was late covering Tim Connolly during a Buffalo rush in the second period."

[rbochan]

No phantom penalties late.

 

PTR

Indeed. I was waiting for the inevitable late game stupid Lydman penalty...

[LabattBlue]

I agree on Butler and the so-called power play, but I thought the Sabres were outstanding in their defensive zone today (and have generally been very good all year on D). Also, Kennedy's 2nd penalty was a clear hook, IMHO, and a pretty dumb penalty by him.

- Not that Kennedy didn't hook him, but what happened to the coinciding "embellishement" penalty? I thought this could have been called on both of Kennedy's penalties.

 

- As far as the Sabres in their own end, they really struggle at times getting the puck out of their own end to the point, where I would love to see a stat that details the amount of time the puck is in each zone.

[Kevbeau]

I lied, one more on Tyler Myers:

 

"“I am not the kind of very generous guy on the compliments, but I could not be any more impressed by quality of the play of this defender. And it is only 19 years old. All that it does on the skating rink, it does it well. It is solid with the disc, is always well placed in defensive, it supplements its master keys, cuts plays, that made three or four times that we face the Sabres and I cannot remember errors which it made. But I have well in memory of the heaps of good games which it carried out. They have a special defender between the hands.”"

 

"It puts the lotion on the skin or it gets the hose."

[MattPie]

Funny, isn't it, that we have gone from wide-eyed amazement at Myers' every move to almost just taking for granted that he'll be our best player on the ice every game.

 

Yep, it's always interesting to see what he's going to do. Like someone else mentioned, in the 2nd at center ice he had the puck and didn't panic and somehow made the MTL forward skate right by him. Absolutely amazing for someone so young.

 

- I'm happy to say that I was at the game today. The family and I took a holiday road trip to Montreal, I worked Craig's list for some tickets, and my son and I went and had a great time. It was my 2nd time seeing a game there. Both were great, although the Sabres' suffocating D kept the crowd pretty well out of it today. Also, we had more time in Montreal this time than the first time. What a great city. It's a long drive from NYC, but well worth it.

 

- Vanek played less than 14 minutes and maybe found his way into the doghouse. There was one shift late in the 1st period in which he completely butchered a 2-on-1, then stood flatfooted while the habs blew by him the other way, creating a potential 3-on-2.

 

It sounded like a tomb on TV for much of the middle of the game.

 

But, I did see Vanek take a MTL player to the boards at center ice after MTL dumped it in. He has been using the body a bit, which is nice to see if he's not scoring.

 

All valid points, but Al Qaida isn't a division rival. Ottawa is.

 

That's some high quality comedy right there, I think that'll be my sig for a bit.

[wjag]

I can't help myself:

 

"Connolly made the good play while slowing down with the net. It knew well that there is sometimes waste to collect. Pouliot could not leave this cesspool clearer without monitoring!"

 

Did they just call TC, what I think they called TC?

[wjag]

Did you know:

 

"The Sabres of Buffalo have an output of 16-0-0 when they start the third period with an advance. Three other teams have a perfect card with an advance after 40 minutes: New Jersey (20-0-0), Los Angeles (16-0-0) and Montreal (13-0-0)."

 

I get NJ, and maybe MTL, but LAK? That is a surprising stat.

[wonderbread]

I can't help myself:

 

"Connolly made the good play while slowing down with the net. It knew well that there is sometimes waste to collect. Pouliot could not leave this cesspool clearer without monitoring!"

 

Did they just call TC, what I think they called TC?

 

 

Did they call him a sewer?

[darksabre]

I can't help myself:

 

"Connolly made the good play while slowing down with the net. It knew well that there is sometimes waste to collect. Pouliot could not leave this cesspool clearer without monitoring!"

 

Did they just call TC, what I think they called TC?

 

Does this mean The Skill's new nickname is The Scat Man?

[JujuFish]

6. Still undefeated with a 2nd period lead. Very NJ-like. That's 16-0 for those scoring at home.

They have 3 losses with a 2nd period lead.

[end the curse]

They have 3 losses with a 2nd period lead.

 

Who are you referring to?

[wjag]

They have 3 losses with a 2nd period lead.

I think they mean, leading at the end of two.