GAME DISCUSSION THREAD

[Stoner]

Sylvester again. Ouch. They should give Hamilton a shot again.

 

This was Kevin's best play by play to date. Yeah, the Sabres winning 7-2 helped. Still, credit where credit is due.

[Stoner]

Interesting indeed, so after the last 2 starts it's time to do the "Lindy Shuffle".

 

I say Miller again tonight and Lalime tomorrow.

 

1-0 or 8-2, Just win baby.

 

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7... Duds wanted 8!

[LabattBlue]

Game thoughts...

 

- Nice to see them start the roadie with 5 out of 6 points with the tougher part still to come.

 

- Myers could have easily had 3 goals tonight.

 

- To be filed under "can't get a break"...on a night when the Sabres score 7 goals, their 3 worst +/- players(Rivet, Butler & MacArthur) are all minus players.

 

- This was one of those games where it was hard to tell whether the Sabres were that good, Phoenix was that bad or a combination of both. I'll go with the latter.

 

- The Sabres fans in the crowd were AWESOME!!

 

- Is Hecht pissed about being left off the German Olympic team? He has been on fire.

 

- Vanek with two really nice passes for assists and a goal to boot. Nice to see Lindy talking to him after the goal.

 

- Hope they saved a few for tomorrow! :)

 

GO SABRES!!!!

[NowDoYouBelieve]

What a thrilling game! 7-2 dominance over a surprisingly good team...we ran one of hockey's hottest goalies early in the 2nd period, then scored 4 more against the backup!

 

Take a look at the top of the Eastern Conference standings, and you'll see B-U-F-F-A-L-O!!!!!!

 

Are we on par with or better than the Devils or the Caps? Who knows...but I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts. :beer:

[Stoner]

This is all I ask for. Everything they got. :) See, I believe enough in this team to not ###### them with faint praise. I won't "yay Sabres" them after wins like some of the recent cheapies. We won't see this kind of show every night, but we should expect it and demand it. They are fully capable.

 

What an incredible performance.

 

Yay Sabres!

[NowDoYouBelieve]

A couple of great streaks...

 

- Tim Connolly has points in 12 straight games. I'm too lazy to lookup the last time a Sabre had a 12 game point streak, but I'd hazard to guess it's been a long time.

 

- Sabres haven't had a zero-point game since December 23 against Washington, a streak that spans 11 games. If we can gather at least a point against the Ducks and the Kings, we'll have gone a full month without filling the dastardly middle column

[matter2003]

Sabres haven't had a zero-point game since December 23 against Washington, a streak that spans 11 games. If we can gather at least a point against the Ducks and the Kings, we'll have gone a full month without filling the dastardly middle column

 

Shhh....Sabres suck dude...They lead the Eastern Conference(same points as Washington in 1 less game), but they just aren't good enough. Here comes a naysayer in 3...2...1...

[SabresFan526]

A couple of great streaks...

 

- Tim Connolly has points in 12 straight games. I'm too lazy to lookup the last time a Sabre had a 12 game point streak, but I'd hazard to guess it's been a long time.

 

- Sabres haven't had a zero-point game since December 23 against Washington, a streak that spans 11 games. If we can gather at least a point against the Ducks and the Kings, we'll have gone a full month without filling the dastardly middle column

So, here's something interesting, when you combine both of those streaks together, what does that mean? So, if Connolly gets a point, do the Sabres get a point in the game? Clearly, there seems to be a correlation between Connolly getting a point and the Sabres getting a point over the last 11 games, but does that lead to causation? While causation is generally very difficult to prove, I think this might be a case you could make for causation showing that Connolly's consistent scoring has led to a hot streak for the Sabres. Connolly and more importantly his linemates, Hecht and Pominville, have been extremely hot during this Sabres streak and they've been huge as the Sabres have continued to collect points over the last 11 games. Correlation or causation, doesn't really matter, but I'll take both. Connolly's playing games and consistently scoring and the Sabres continue to collect point during the same stretch. I'll take it.

[PromoTheRobot]

Tonight is the night I started contemplating getting playoff tickets for the first two rounds. I couldn't remember what I would have to pay but I still had the paperwork from last year and the package price was $516 a ticket at the cheapest in the upper bowl and $996 a ticket was the cheapest in the lower bowl. I wonder what they will set the bar at this year.

I spoke to the Sabres ticket office recently with that very question. They don't know when or how much the playoff packages will be, but they did say that they are doing two rounds at a time. That means 8 games max per package. When you say $516 I assume you mean for non-season ticket holders?

 

PTR

[NowDoYouBelieve]

So, here's something interesting, when you combine both of those streaks together, what does that mean? So, if Connolly gets a point, do the Sabres get a point in the game? Clearly, there seems to be a correlation between Connolly getting a point and the Sabres getting a point over the last 11 games, but does that lead to causation? While causation is generally very difficult to prove, I think this might be a case you could make for causation showing that Connolly's consistent scoring has led to a hot streak for the Sabres. Connolly and more importantly his linemates, Hecht and Pominville, have been extremely hot during this Sabres streak and they've been huge as the Sabres have continued to collect points over the last 11 games. Correlation or causation, doesn't really matter, but I'll take both. Connolly's playing games and consistently scoring and the Sabres continue to collect point during the same stretch. I'll take it.

 

Since you mention Hecht, here's another interesting one...The Sabres are 15-0-1 in the 16 games that Jochen has recorded at least 1 point. Now, that seems like more coincidence than anything (and it probably is), but it's another stat that points to the importance of the Hecht-Connolly-Pominville line. With Vanek on a 20 goal instead of a 40 goal pace, the play of the top line is that much more important. Recently, they've come through.

 

By the way, Hecht this season, just past the halfway point: 11 G, 13 A, 24 points, +9

 

The entirety of last season? 12 G, 15 A, 27 points, -9

[matter2003]

Since you mention Hecht, here's another interesting one...The Sabres are 15-0-1 in the 16 games that Jochen has recorded at least 1 point. Now, that seems like more coincidence than anything (and it probably is), but it's another stat that points to the importance of the Hecht-Connolly-Pominville line. With Vanek on a 20 goal instead of a 40 goal pace, the play of the top line is that much more important. Recently, they've come through.

 

By the way, Hecht this season, just past the halfway point: 11 G, 13 A, 24 points, +9

 

The entirety of last season? 12 G, 15 A, 27 points, -9

 

considering the Sabres have only lost 11 regulation games total, not that surprising...

[BetweenThePipes00]

This is all I ask for. Everything they got. See, I believe enough in this team to not ###### them with faint praise. I won't "yay Sabres" them after wins like some of the recent cheapies. We won't see this kind of show every night, but we should expect it and demand it. They are fully capable.

 

What an incredible performance.

 

Yay Sabres!

 

I missed you PA ... but how, in the same sentence no less, can you acknowledge that they can't play like that that every night and yet also say that we should DEMAND it? Expect it, maybe ... especially in the effort department ... but if you demand that performance every night you will be miserable even in victory most of the time.

[matter2003]

I missed you PA ... but how, in the same sentence no less, can you acknowledge that they can't play like that that every night and yet also say that we should DEMAND it? Expect it, maybe ... especially in the effort department ... but if you demand that performance every night you will be miserable even in victory most of the time.

 

no team can give efforts like that every night...its just not possible. They aren't robots. They will inevitably be tired at some point after playing 3 in 4 or 6 in 8 or whatever their crazy schedule has them playing. To expect or "demand" efforts like that each night just isn't realistic.

[Stoner]

I missed you PA ... but how, in the same sentence no less, can you acknowledge that they can't play like that that every night and yet also say that we should DEMAND it? Expect it, maybe ... especially in the effort department ... but if you demand that performance every night you will be miserable even in victory most of the time.

 

Fair enough. I like to put words under the microscope too. What I am trying to say is that this is how good this team really is. This performance was not an aberration by any means. I don't see what's wrong with expecting it every night and being disappointed when you don't see it. And I'm talking about the quality of the play, not necessarily the quantity (winning by five). I think ripping them after they take the first 30 minutes off and fall behind 3-0, only to come roaring back to win in a shootout, makes me a bigger believer than those who don't, but, hey, I might also be crazy. Something about the soft bigotry of low expectations comes to mind...

[repster]

I spoke to the Sabres ticket office recently with that very question. They don't know when or how much the playoff packages will be, but they did say that they are doing two rounds at a time. That means 8 games max per package. When you say $516 I assume you mean for non-season ticket holders?

 

PTR

 

 

Sorry, I should have qualified my comments with the fact that I'm a mini-pack holder. The notice I was sent was specifically for mini-pak holders and I remember that there was some sort of deal that was offered to season ticket holders if they renewed their tickets for this year. I can't remember the specifics but you're right what I quoted was for the full 8 games. I believe the mini-pack holder would pay the same price as the general public, we just get priority access.

[Eleven]

Fair enough. I like to put words under the microscope too. What I am trying to say is that this is how good this team really is. This performance was not an aberration by any means. I don't see what's wrong with expecting it every night and being disappointed when you don't see it. And I'm talking about the quality of the play, not necessarily the quantity (winning by five). I think ripping them after they take the first 30 minutes off and fall behind 3-0, only to come roaring back to win in a shootout, makes me a bigger believer than those who don't, but, hey, I might also be crazy. Something about the soft bigotry of low expectations comes to mind...

 

I am promising myself that if I awaken Wednesday to find that on Tuesday, the Sabres had a tired game with Lalime and lost, I'm not going to be too disappointed. Just going to enjoy what I saw tonight. It's definitely the last game I will see until at least Saturday, so I'm glad it was such an enjoyable one.

[BetweenThePipes00]

Fair enough. I like to put words under the microscope too. What I am trying to say is that this is how good this team really is. This performance was not an aberration by any means. I don't see what's wrong with expecting it every night and being disappointed when you don't see it. And I'm talking about the quality of the play, not necessarily the quantity (winning by five). I think ripping them after they take the first 30 minutes off and fall behind 3-0, only to come roaring back to win in a shootout, makes me a bigger believer than those who don't, but, hey, I might also be crazy. Something about the soft bigotry of low expectations comes to mind...

I hear ya, and falling behind 3-0 in half a game is the other extreme ... of course they deserve to be ripped for that.

Tomorrow will be interesting ... Anaheim's been pretty good and sitting there waiting ...

[Stoner]

I am promising myself that if I awaken Wednesday to find that on Tuesday, the Sabres had a tired game with Lalime and lost, I'm not going to be too disappointed. Just going to enjoy what I saw tonight. It's definitely the last game I will see until at least Saturday, so I'm glad it was such an enjoyable one.

 

Well yeah, you gotta pick your spots.

[deluca67]

Don't worry...Deluca will be along shortly to tell you how they still suck because they got outshot in the 3rd period and how they are only winning because Miller is in net. Apparently Miller is the reason they score 7 goals as well. Sabres are now tied for 10th in the NHL in goals per game at 2.81, so he will have to find something new to hang his hat on, other than "our offense sucks"...

You don't have a clue how to follow along. The Sabres defense sucks and the offense is inconsistent. They are on a pretty good roll as they tend to go on only to follow with a equally dry run.

 

Keep clutching on to the regular season standings. Boston was #1 in the East last season. Montreal prior to that. The Sabres themselves led the East three seasons ago. What did all those regular season wins mean? Nothing! Boston and Montreal were riding hot goaltenders. The Sabres just weren't tough enough when it mattered. Does all that sound familiar?

 

7-2 always looks nice on the score board. They should send the Coyote's goaltenders a gift to return the favor. I can't remember the last time the Sabres got so many gift goals in one game. I'm sure Lindy will keep the video of this game next time he needs to hammer home the "just throw it to the net" point.

[Eleven]

Well yeah, you gotta pick your spots.

 

Exactly. And I think that's what Ruff did tonight--he started Miller and had the boys flying to ensure the 2 points at the risk of tomorrow's game. Even though Phoenix is ahead in the standings (that was a 61-point team that we saw the Sabres cream tonight!), I think Anaheim matches up better against Buffalo.

[SwampD]

You don't have a clue how to follow along. The Sabres defense sucks and the offense is inconsistent. They are on a pretty good roll as they tend to go on only to follow with a equally dry run.

 

Keep clutching on to the regular season standings. Boston was #1 in the East last season. Montreal prior to that. The Sabres themselves led the East three seasons ago. What did all those regular season wins mean? Nothing! Boston and Montreal were riding hot goaltenders. The Sabres just weren't tough enough when it mattered. Does all that sound familiar?

 

7-2 always looks nice on the score board. They should send the Coyote's goaltenders a gift to return the favor. I can't remember the last time the Sabres got so many gift goals in one game. I'm sure Lindy will keep the video of this game next time he needs to hammer home the "just throw it to the net" point.

I actually think THIS is the dry run. What gives me hope is that, before tonight, they haven't been playing well at all, yet they are winning anyway.

 

 

 

I love reading this board after games like this. We have one game where they actually score some goals (in which a few were gifts) and all of a sudden we're Washington.

[wonderbread]

Well I can say one things for sure.

 

The mood over here is remarkably different than over at TSW!! :pirate:, Its like your uncle died over there. Except everybody knew it was coming cause he drank and smoked like a fiend.

 

Anyways the boys were a force tonight. Gotta love seeing Kaleta score again.

 

BTW did anyone notice if K-slice said "The Butler did it?" When he scored. I missed it as I was changing a poopy diaper. :sick:

[matter2003]

You don't have a clue how to follow along. The Sabres defense sucks and the offense is inconsistent. They are on a pretty good roll as they tend to go on only to follow with a equally dry run.

 

Keep clutching on to the regular season standings. Boston was #1 in the East last season. Montreal prior to that. The Sabres themselves led the East three seasons ago. What did all those regular season wins mean? Nothing! Boston and Montreal were riding hot goaltenders. The Sabres just weren't tough enough when it mattered. Does all that sound familiar?

 

7-2 always looks nice on the score board. They should send the Coyote's goaltenders a gift to return the favor. I can't remember the last time the Sabres got so many gift goals in one game. I'm sure Lindy will keep the video of this game next time he needs to hammer home the "just throw it to the net" point.

 

As the Sabres move into first place in the Eastern Conference tonight, Deluca keeps it real as always...real negative...

 

You are the type of person that wins $100 million lottery and the first thing they do is complain about all the taxes they are going to have to pay...

 

You might be the only poster I have seen that thinks its a crime to have an all-world goaltender, as if the Sabres have done something wrong by having Ryan Miller play as well as he has. Perhaps other teams should be worried about themselves matching up in goal with Miller rather than the Sabres matching them at forward...Sabres can score 2 or 3 goals a night against most goalies, not so true with other teams against us...

 

 

Again, the defense sucks, yet the Sabres rank 2nd in the NHL allowing 2.21 goals per game...the fact teams rarely get any rebounds after Miller stops the first shot and the majority of these shots are from bad angles or from far away and Miller has a clear line of sight doesn't matter I guess...

[ThePebble19]

Regardless of what is or has been happening, the Sabres have gotten at least one point in 22 of their last 26 games. That is strong.

[BetweenThePipes00]

I actually think THIS is the dry run. What gives me hope is that, before tonight, they haven't been playing well at all, yet they are winning anyway.

 

 

 

I agree that I have been pretty disappointed with the way they have been playing before tonight ... I don't know if I would call it "the dry run," but they were not very good for the last week or two ... tonight was a really good effort.