GAME DISCUSSION THREAD

[rickshaw]

Apparently, it is the last game for Frazier. If this winds up costing the Sabres the NHL has a huge problem with officiating quality control.

 

The fact of the matter is that he waived the goal thinking that the posts were lifted however when he consults with his ilk they circle the wagons and make the phantom call 5 minutes after the fact!!!

 

Frazier retires today and the NHL could have another issue of integrity in officiating on their hands!!!

I am sure Toronto, Vancouver and wherever Bettman is hanging out tonight are looking at the feed and all angles.

Too bad for them Frazier is a wuss (I wonder what his pension is like?) and video does NOT lie!!!

 

 

It's Fraser's last game IN VANCOUVER. He's not on the schedule to referee in Vancouver again.

[SwampD]

It's Fraser's last game IN VANCOUVER. He's not on the schedule to referee in Vancouver again.

Frasier can't retire (or die) soon enough for me. When he refs a game it's always about him, not the teams. I honestly don't know how he's been able to ref this long.

 

Good riddance rug head.

[spndnchz]

I hate waking up mad. :ph34r:

[LabattBlue]

Game thoughts...

 

- Within 6 minutes of the drop of the puck, the pairing of Rivet-Butler had allowed a breakaway and a 2 on 1. I can understand Rivet not coming out of the lineup(even though I am not happy about it), but Butler is a whole different story.

 

- The Lindy Ruff pussification of Kaleta continues. Lindy puts him on a scoring line and therefore he can't hit anyone? Just wait until Lindy gets a hold of Kassian and McNabb. <_<

 

- You know your team is soft when guys like Wellwood and Demitra are taking your players out along the boards(Hartsburg was right. See my sig).

 

- Fraser blew the call on the Gaustad goal and then gave the Sabres a makeup call at the start of the 3rd, which the Sabres then scored on. The refs didn't cost the Sabres the game, their play did.

 

- Roy is starting to really piss me off. I have always been a fan of his, but he is just stinking up the ice(No points in the last 4 games and a -5).

 

- AWFUL end to the road trip. 0-3-1 is completely unacceptable.

 

- Mair-Ellis-Kennedy were good...now if the 4th line could only play that way 4 out of every 5 games instead of 1 out of 5.

[North Buffalo]

Kerry Frazier should lose his paycheck for the game and be fined for not showing up to work. That was one of the worst officiated game I have ever seen. Lots of tripping no calls on both sides and the Canucks got away with more clutch and grab than I have seen since before the Lock Out. Pathetic, Kerry Frazier should give some of his retirement to Charity.

[Realist]

Game thoughts...

 

- Within 6 minutes of the drop of the puck, the pairing of Rivet-Butler had allowed a breakaway and a 2 on 1. I can understand Rivet not coming out of the lineup(even though I am not happy about it), but Butler is a whole different story.

 

- The Lindy Ruff pussification of Kaleta continues. Lindy puts him on a scoring line and therefore he can't hit anyone? Just wait until Lindy gets a hold of Kassian and McNabb. <_<

 

- You know your team is soft when guys like Wellwood and Demitra are taking your players out along the boards(Hartsburg was right. See my sig).

 

- Fraser blew the call on the Gaustad goal and then gave the Sabres a makeup call at the start of the 3rd, which the Sabres then scored on. The refs didn't cost the Sabres the game, their play did.

 

- Roy is starting to really piss me off. I have always been a fan of his, but he is just stinking up the ice(No points in the last 4 games and a -5).

 

- AWFUL end to the road trip. 0-3-1 is completely unacceptable.

 

- Mair-Ellis-Kennedy were good...now if the 4th line could only play that way 4 out of every 5 games instead of 1 out of 5.

 

 

Couldn't disagree more on Fraser not costing Buffalo the game. To score short-handed at the end of the second would have been a huge emotional lift for the Sabres. The entire third period could have been different, make up call or not, that particular goal could have been the difference.

[spndnchz]

Couldn't disagree more on Fraser not costing Buffalo the game. To score short-handed at the end of the second would have been a huge emotional lift for the Sabres. The entire third period could have been different, make up call or not, that particular goal could have been the difference.

 

I agree.

 

So, did anyone miss Stafford?

[SwampD]

Game thoughts...

 

 

- The Lindy Ruff pussification of Kaleta continues. Lindy puts him on a scoring line and therefore he can't hit anyone? Just wait until Lindy gets a hold of Kassian and McNabb. <_<

 

Let's not forget turning a 40 goal scorer into a defenseman.

 

- You know your team is soft when guys like Wellwood and Demitra are taking your players out along the boards(Hartsburg was right. See my sig).

 

- Fraser blew the call on the Gaustad goal and then gave the Sabres a makeup call at the start of the 3rd, which the Sabres then scored on. The refs didn't cost the Sabres the game, their play did.

Momentum is HUGE in hockey. The difference in scoring a shortie and being allowed the chance to score on a PP isn't even close. Not to mention that not only was the goal taken away, but you have to kill a 5 on 3. Frazier sucks, he's always sucked, and I'm glad he's retiring. As soon as I saw that he was the ref I knew we were going to lose. I just didn't know he was going to be as bad as he was.

 

- Roy is starting to really piss me off. I have always been a fan of his, but he is just stinking up the ice(No points in the last 4 games and a -5).

 

- AWFUL end to the road trip. 0-3-1 is completely unacceptable.

 

- Mair-Ellis-Kennedy were good...now if the 4th line could only play that way 4 out of every 5 games instead of 1 out of 5.

 

Defensmen playing forward and our forwards back on D. I really wish Lindy would let our forwards be forwards and our D be D.

 

 

I gotta say though, that Canucks team is pretty fun to watch. They even made the Sabres seem exciting.

[Stoner]

LOL, funny thread to read the morning after. The rants were so good, especially against Big Brother, I don't have to add anything. Yeah, right.

 

I love Lindy's board. We're down a goal with a faceoff in the offensive zone with a minute left or whatever, and you know the board is coming out. The Offensive Genius is going to draw up a goal! Funny last night how the players seemed to not even be paying attention. Sure, 29 was nodding a few times. Nice guy.

 

Seriously, can hockey be drawn up on a board? Think about all of the things that had to happen before Drury tied Game 5. "Druuu!" "Yeah coach?" "OK, after Zubrus bangs a body in the corner, you go behind the net and come out from and wait for a long rebound, then slip it -- RIGHT HERE -- between Vanek's legs." "Thanks coach."

 

Bulldog on WGR said it best about this road trip. The games were fun, the Sabres played hard and pretty well -- they have two wins to show for it. Pick your poison, I guess. Be entertained and lose. Win and be bored.

 

After a taste of entertaining hockey, and great broadcasting, it's back to Buffalo. New Jersey. MSG. Back to reality.

[nobody]

 

- Mair-Ellis-Kennedy were good...now if the 4th line could only play that way 4 out of every 5 games instead of 1 out of 5.

 

 

Ellis gets back in the lineup and the 4th line has a good night. Just saying. :)

[Rox11]

They are?

 

Besides the first 10 minutes vs. the Ducks they totally out played them, just couldn't get through their ultra defensive trap defense they played for the final 30 minutes.

 

They outplayed San Jose. When SJ scored the goal-ahead goal, shots were 34-14 Sabres. They controlled the play, they out skated them and had more chances. They just couldn't finish.

 

And they played head to head against Vancouver, got robbed of a goal and were scored on a absolute world class play by Daniel Sedin.

 

They got 0 points from games they played great in. They play like they did vs. SJ, Van and in the final 50 min vs. Ducks, they would beat 90% of the league.

 

Lindy wanted 9 points. They got 6. They know they have work to do. Maybe in the long run it's better for them instead of thinking they are the best team in the world...

Great post!

[nobody]

I agree.

 

So, did anyone miss Stafford?

 

 

I was hoping he was scratched because a trade was coming.

[nobody]

Bulldog on WGR said it best about this road trip. The games were fun, the Sabres played hard and pretty well -- they have two wins to show for it. Pick your poison, I guess. Be entertained and lose. Win and be bored.

 

After a taste of entertaining hockey, and great broadcasting, it's back to Buffalo. New Jersey. MSG. Back to reality.

 

 

If reality is winning then I'll take it.

[R_Dudley]

LOL, funny thread to read the morning after. The rants were so good, especially against Big Brother, I don't have to add anything. Yeah, right.

 

I love Lindy's board. We're down a goal with a faceoff in the offensive zone with a minute left or whatever, and you know the board is coming out. The Offensive Genius is going to draw up a goal! Funny last night how the players seemed to not even be paying attention. Sure, 29 was nodding a few times. Nice guy.

 

Seriously, can hockey be drawn up on a board? Think about all of the things that had to happen before Drury tied Game 5. "Druuu!" "Yeah coach?" "OK, after Zubrus bangs a body in the corner, you go behind the net and come out from and wait for a long rebound, then slip it -- RIGHT HERE -- between Vanek's legs." "Thanks coach."

 

Bulldog on WGR said it best about this road trip. The games were fun, the Sabres played hard and pretty well -- they have two wins to show for it. Pick your poison, I guess. Be entertained and lose. Win and be bored.

After a taste of entertaining hockey, and great broadcasting, it's back to Buffalo. New Jersey. MSG. Back to reality.

 

I guess I can just ditch the DVR from this game then not sure I want to piss my self off watching as I would probably match some of the vigor I already have read here.

 

Well it was a good litmus test and I agree with some other's that this team as presently constitiuted could win a round or two in the playoff's but it would have to be considered a upset for this team to make it too and through the SC finals.

 

Interesting things to watch/look for from here through the end of the season;

1.) How does Lindy handle the goaltending, can Lalime regain his form or is Lindy going to run Miller into the ground.

2.) How does Lindy handle his D-men that are sucking, does he practice what he preaches and let some sit and/or give the youth some time to grow. In my opinion it couldn't hurt, the younger player's can get better but it's doubtful the older ones will e.g,, Montador, Rivet, ..

3.) Can Lindy make the offense any more offensive that it already is. Take it literally or figuratively really both apply.

4.) Does Management know that a one or two player change/trade/shakeup at this point in the season could be the tonic for a struggling offense and more importantly will they do something about it.

5.) Some real important conference/division games coming up, can we snap the funk and will the 2 week layoff be a blessing or could this team lose its edge even more.....

[SDS]

I was shocked to see the Full Monty out on the ice for two of those goals! Shocked I tell you! There he was working hard with no idea of who was behind him and then later on there he was working hard, backing up into Miller as fast as he could.

 

This guy has all the defensive talent as Brian Campbell with 1/2 of his puck handling and skating skills.

 

With that said, I thought they played really hard last night. The forecheck was tenacious. Kennedy's ass was on fire! I take no shame in losing that game last night.

[SabresFan526]

My game thoughts:

 

Kerry Fraser totally blew the call at the end of the second. There is no way there is a penalty on Gaustad, and there is no way that the Sabres didn't score a shorthanded goal. Even the Canucks broadcasters questioned this. I don't care if he gave the Sabres a makeup call on that really questionable "elbow" by Kesler, but two wrongs do not make a right. It doesn't matter that the Sabres scored on the ensuing PP either. The emotional lift and momentum gained from scoring a shorthanded goal makes a world of difference compared to scoring a PP goal.

 

I can't even fault Miller tonight. He had no chance on the Sedin goal and the Lukowich goal. He really should have made the save on Samuelsson's though. But, you can't fault him for the others. Vancouver is ridiculously talented. I just don't get how Sedin is that wide open hanging out at the Sabres blue line with nobody near him. Was there a quick line change that brought him and no defenseman saw him? I know Lydman pinched to put the hit on Burrows, which he totally whiffed on and created the breakout pass, but how is Sedin that wide open?

 

Not a great road trip, but I think the Sabres showed that they can play with some of the top teams in the Western Conference. I like the Sabres efforts in almost all of the games, just not the results. The Sabres really controlled play against teams for much of this trip, but the lack of finishers and scorers clearly is what hurt this team in putting their opponents away. I'm glad the Sabres are coming home and back to the Eastern Conference. I'm looking forward to the SJ rematch because I think the Sabres can beat the Sharks if they play them again.

 

Also, not sure if anyone noticed, but the Sabres 0-3-1 result was after the Sabres production crew went back home to Buffalo. Up until that point, the Sabres were 2-0-1 on the road trip when they had their own production crew broadcasting the games. Coincidence? I think not.

[nobody]

Also, not sure if anyone noticed, but the Sabres 0-3-1 result was after the Sabres production crew went back home to Buffalo. Up until that point, the Sabres were 2-0-1 on the road trip when they had their own production crew broadcasting the games. Coincidence? I think not.

 

 

So what you're saying is that they lost because they couldn't put on a show for their fans for those games? Just going with the reverse excuse they love to give when they lose at home where they say they tried to put on a show for the fans rather then playing their game. (Which of course never makes sense to me since winning is really what the fans want to see.)

 

Maybe they lost those games because they didn't get the advanced scouting that the production crew gives them?

[LabattBlue]

Momentum is HUGE in hockey. The difference in scoring a shortie and being allowed the chance to score on a PP isn't even close. Not to mention that not only was the goal taken away, but you have to kill a 5 on 3. Frazier sucks, he's always sucked, and I'm glad he's retiring. As soon as I saw that he was the ref I knew we were going to lose. I just didn't know he was going to be as bad as he was.

The net result was a 2-2 tie near the beginning of the 3rd period thanks to the makeup call. Fraser was terrible, but his suckiness wasn't the reason the Sabres lost the game. 3 HORRIBLE defensive breakdowns were the reason they lost.

[Stoner]

Terrible call, extremely annoying ref, but, again, I can't let myself believe that Fraser waived off the goal because he thought the net had been dislodged before the puck entered, then covered his ass and made up a penalty. I can't be that person who thinks professional wrestling is real. Then my world collapses, and we can't have that.

[SabresFan526]

So what you're saying is that they lost because they couldn't put on a show for their fans for those games? Just going with the reverse excuse they love to give when they lose at home where they say they tried to put on a show for the fans rather then playing their game. (Which of course never makes sense to me since winning is really what the fans want to see.)

 

Maybe they lost those games because they didn't get the advanced scouting that the production crew gives them?

I was totally kidding. It just happens to be a weird coincidence. I don't think the players know or care whether Rick and Harry are broadcasting the games on MSG or not.

[Stoner]

I was shocked to see the Full Monty out on the ice for two of those goals! Shocked I tell you! There he was working hard with no idea of who was behind him and then later on there he was working hard, backing up into Miller as fast as he could.

 

This guy has all the defensive talent as Brian Campbell with 1/2 of his puck handling and skating skills.

 

With that said, I thought they played really hard last night. The forecheck was tenacious. Kennedy's ass was on fire! I take no shame in losing that game last night.

There's nothing wrong with Montador's skating. When he's going forward. Seriously, if you're going to make Montador your whipping boy, I have a problem with it. He's been very solid all season.

 

Nice potty mouth, BTW.

[SDS]

There's nothing wrong with Montador's skating. When he's going forward. Seriously, if you're going to make Montador your whipping boy, I have a problem with it. He's been very solid all season.

 

Nice potty mouth, BTW.

 

Montador is my whipping boy. You got something to say about that punk?

 

He's a turn-over machine with marginal defensive skills. We are finally getting burned by it as Miller comes has come down to earth this road trip. Nearly every time I see a massive defensive breakdown, I just scan the ice for #4 and he's usually there hustling away... sucking the whole time while doing it.

[SwampD]

The net result was a 2-2 tie near the beginning of the 3rd period thanks to the makeup call. Fraser was terrible, but his suckiness wasn't the reason the Sabres lost the game. 3 HORRIBLE defensive breakdowns were the reason they lost.

I thought we lost because they scored 3 and we only scored 2. This team can score in bunches and we don't know what that lift could have done. We also don't know how much NOT getting the goal a(e?)ffected. Fraser wasn't the only reason they lost but IMO it was a big one.

[LabattBlue]

Montador is my whipping boy.

Everybody has to have a whipping boy. :)

[Stoner]

Montador is my whipping boy. You got something to say about that punk?

 

He's a turn-over machine with marginal defensive skills. We are finally getting burned by it as Miller comes has come down to earth this road trip. Nearly every time I see a massive defensive breakdown, I just scan the ice for #4 and he's usually there hustling away... sucking the whole time while doing it.

 

You are being unfair. My God, if I ever unfairly crucify one of our beloved Sabres like this, someone, please, tell me. I want to know.