GAME DISCUSSION THREAD

[Calvin]

Does EVERYONE really hate watching the Devils play? I was lovin' this game. (not that we didn't play some exciting games out west!) Back and forth, tough to score, really interesting to see how plays develop.... At the end of OT I started to get really psyched for the playoffs in awhile, wishing that we could see the rest of the game out in OT instead of a SO.

 

Other than that, all I want to say is that I love when our fourth line gets 40-60 seconds of attack on a shift, looks like Ellis and Kaleta (and Paetsch!) are workin' their butts off and having a lot of fun out there.

 

:beer:

It was as interesting as watching a chess match.

 

I found it a pretty interesting game too, but I like chess.

[Eleven]

1. To a certain downtown restaurant that I will not visit again real soon: When a couple of guys ask for bar menus at 6pm and say they have tickets to the game, try to get the food out before 715. (Missed the entire first period. They weren't even busy. Not happy.)

 

2. I can't stand the way the announcer pronounces "Jochen Hecht."

 

3. Speaking of whom, he made Martin Brodeur spin like a turtle on its back during that shootout. Nice. I think Brodeur was so humiliated by that, that he couldn't really focus on Pominville's shot. Double nice.

 

4. Butler looked good for the two-thirds of a game that I got to see.

 

5. Connolly floated during the third period and OT. I'm so sick of watching that.

 

6. I'm not sure why Drew Stafford dresses for games anymore.

 

7. Disciplined, clean hockey--by both sides. The Sabres didn't take any stupid penalties, at least not that I saw.

 

8. Damn, those Devils can put you to sleep quicker than a Thanksgiving dinner preceded by a quart of red wine.

[carpandean]

I am now totally and 100% sure that if Pommer gave up his slap-shooting ways in regulation for precision-guided wristers, he'd be a 30-goal scorer again in no time. He has been the most consistent of the Sabres in the shootout over the last three years (obviously, excluding Kotalik) and every one of them has been a well place wrister.

 

Oh, and is it time to start the who's SO goal really won the game debate, again?

[Two or less]

Not sure if this was mentioned in the thread, but what did you guys think of Steve Kouleas? I thought he did an excellent job.

[wjag]

Not sure if this was mentioned in the thread, but what did you guys think of Steve Kouleas? I thought he did an excellent job.

I liked him. He sure had his detractors in here though.

 

I think last night's game should end the debate about the quality of the ice at Hot Sauce Blue Cheese. The Devils put on an absolute clinic of long range, tape-to-tape passing. I don't think I've ever seen one team connect on as many long range passes as I did last night.

 

Give NJ credit, they might be struggling to score, but their O looked fine to me.

[billsrcursed]

I was doing what I have dubbed "The Quiet Scream/Celebration" during the shootout. You still run around, celebrate, and scream like an idiot, but make very little noise by using a screaming whisper.

 

Anyone with sleeping little kids knows what I'm talkin' bout. :thumbsup:

 

I must look like one of those "Jersey Shore" D-Bags running around my living room/kitchen fist-pumping as fast and as quiet as I can. It actually is more difficult to do when you cannot make any noise...

 

*has a 4 year old in the house*

[inkman]

Anybody want to take a guess at what Vladimir Zharkov's nickname might be?

Spanks? Imagine my delight, hearing Jhherrkoff with the puck... :beer:

[ThePebble19]

I must look like one of those "Jersey Shore" D-Bags running around my living room/kitchen fist-pumping as fast and as quiet as I can. It actually is more difficult to do when you cannot make any noise...

 

*has a 4 year old in the house*

 

Yep, I'm right there with you. That is a pretty good analogy as to how it looks. I have perfected the Michael Jordan jump and fist pump without even making a peep.

 

 

My 4 month old still isn't sleeping through the night. I've totally internalized my celebrations. I can get up to the full 10 out of 10 "we won" excitement without even blinking... literally. Hopefully by the playoffs, i'll be able to have one of your celebrations!

 

Don't worry, it gets better. My son didn't start sleeping through the night until after 6 mos. Now that he does though, it makes it so much easier to do things after I put him down for bed. I used to have to not talk for about 90 minutes after he was upstairs, because if I said one word, he would wake up and I'd have to go back up there. Even now, I don't clean up his mess of toys until I am sure he is down for the count. The last thing I need is him being ready to fall asleep and I accidentally press a button on a toy and the ABC song wakes him up.

[CallawaySabres]

Awesome two points however they got it. I actually turned the shootout off after Stafford because my wife is heading to Cali today and I didn't want to be in a bad mad all night. Of course as soon as she went to bed, I checked and was totally shocked to see the win. Love it and yes, I get worse with these games as I get older. I am already dreading (and loving) the OT playoff games!

[cdexchange]

Dear Sabres,

 

I'm going tonight. I don't go to many games, so all I want is an honest effort. Please don't take the night off because you're weary from the trip and you don't feel like putting in the hard work necessary to beat Jersey's trap. Don't mail it in, that's all I ask.

 

Thank you in advance.

 

Thank you Sabres, nicely done! B-)

[LabattBlue]

1. To a certain downtown restaurant that I will not visit again real soon: When a couple of guys ask for bar menus at 6pm and say they have tickets to the game, try to get the food out before 715. (Missed the entire first period. They weren't even busy. Not happy.)

..and the name of the place would be???

[BuffalOhio]

I'll say it again.

 

That announcer sucked.

[SwampD]

I am now totally and 100% sure that if Pommer gave up his slap-shooting ways in regulation for precision-guided wristers, he'd be a 30-goal scorer again in no time. He has been the most consistent of the Sabres in the shootout over the last three years (obviously, excluding Kotalik) and every one of them has been a well place wrister.

 

Oh, and is it time to start the who's SO goal really won the game debate, again?

I absolutely, 100% agree with this and someone should really tell him this. If you watch Vancouver's 2nd goal last night [i don't know] scored exactly this way. He feigned a slapper, just like Pommer's stock play from the top of the circle, but pulled up and wristed it instead. He's got the shot.

[spndnchz]

I'll say it again.

 

That announcer sucked.

 

Did you know that one of our players is Swedish? and Lydman played 3 shifts last night?

[BetweenThePipes00]

Not sure if this was mentioned in the thread, but what did you guys think of Steve Kouleas? I thought he did an excellent job.

 

I liked him. He sure had his detractors in here though.

 

I'll say it again.

 

That announcer sucked.

 

Did you know that one of our players is Swedish? and Lydman played 3 shifts last night?

 

I am one of the detractors, although I admit after the first 10 minutes of the game I turned the sound off and did my own PxP in my head ... so I didn't give him much of a chance. But I was just too annoyed because of the stuff like spndnchz mentioned ... just call the game. By the time you tell me where a guy was born and who his Olympic teammates are on the other team, the puck has been passed 3 times and you are WAY behind. I was annoyed watching on TV and I could see what was happening ... if I was in my car I would have had some serious road rage going on wondering where the hell the puck was. He also called the Devils the Sabres more than once early on, which again would be confusing as hell if you are not watching.

 

All that said, he was not the worst guy ever ... we are spoiled and also conditioned to RJ's old-school, more geared for radio, true play-by-play ... Ted Darling was the same way back in the day ... to me, it is how it should be, but times change and people like different things. If I had my way the PA guy at the arena would still be bare bones like Milt Ellis, too.

[end the curse]

Not sure if this was mentioned in the thread, but what did you guys think of Steve Kouleas? I thought he did an excellent job.

 

Worst ever. ###### up names and the action on the ice constantly, and has a lispy, annoying voice more suited to fashion shows than hockey. Towards the end of the game I switched over to Chico and the Man, one of the best broadcast teams in the business.

[shrader]

Did you know that one of our players is Swedish? and Lydman played 3 shifts last night?

 

The background stuff on players is fine for a national broadcast. When you're calling a team's broadcast, you have to assume your talking to regular viewers who should know all this stuff already. Then again, I can get past it right now since it is a new audience to him. The name screwups are a bit rough though. The font on our numbers does lead to some trouble, but there's no way a 10 looks like a 5.

[nfreeman]

Oh, and is it time to start the who's SO goal really won the game debate, again?

Based on the fact that the Sabres had lost FIVE shootouts in a row before last night, and the feeling of absolute certainty I had that if Pommer had missed, the next NJD would've scored, I'll give the GWSOG to Pommer.

 

But how about Hecht turning into the SO terminator? Where did that come from?

[SarasotaSabre]

glad someone else agrees with me on this observation...if I was Hecht I'd be totally embarrassed

 

1. To a certain downtown restaurant that I will not visit again real soon: When a couple of guys ask for bar menus at 6pm and say they have tickets to the game, try to get the food out before 715. (Missed the entire first period. They weren't even busy. Not happy.)

 

2. I can't stand the way the announcer pronounces "Jochen Hecht."

 

3. Speaking of whom, he made Martin Brodeur spin like a turtle on its back during that shootout. Nice. I think Brodeur was so humiliated by that, that he couldn't really focus on Pominville's shot. Double nice.

 

4. Butler looked good for the two-thirds of a game that I got to see.

 

5. Connolly floated during the third period and OT. I'm so sick of watching that.

 

6. I'm not sure why Drew Stafford dresses for games anymore.

 

7. Disciplined, clean hockey--by both sides. The Sabres didn't take any stupid penalties, at least not that I saw.

 

8. Damn, those Devils can put you to sleep quicker than a Thanksgiving dinner preceded by a quart of red wine.

[Figster]

Does EVERYONE really hate watching the Devils play? I was lovin' this game. (not that we didn't play some exciting games out west!) Back and forth, tough to score, really interesting to see how plays develop.... At the end of OT I started to get really psyched for the playoffs in awhile, wishing that we could see the rest of the game out in OT instead of a SO.

 

Other than that, all I want to say is that I love when our fourth line gets 40-60 seconds of attack on a shift, looks like Ellis and Kaleta (and Paetsch!) are workin' their butts off and having a lot of fun out there.

 

:beer:

 

When compared to the Sharks no other team comes close. Playing in the Shark Tank was like going on a roller coaster ride. If we want to go all the way this year the Sabres will probably have to swim through Shark infested waters...

[BuffalOhio]

Did you know that one of our players is Swedish? and Lydman played 3 shifts last night?

 

If I didn't think you'd enjoy it, Ms. Sexy, I'd slap you!