GAME DISCUSSION THREAD

[ROC Sabres]

Are you kidding me

Apparently a 3 on 0 is easier to save than a 2 on 1

[North Buffalo]

And Miller gets burned under the cross bar glove side once again. Seen quite a bit of that lately.

[SwampD]

I don't care how it happened, we're only down by one. Ruff's gotta find a way to lift these guys.

[notwoz]

I don't care how it happened, we're only down by one. Ruff's gotta find a way to lift these guys.

At some point, the player have to find a way to lift themselves. That's what good teams do.

[PromoTheRobot]

And Miller gets burned under the cross bar glove side once again. Seen quite a bit of that lately.

Miller is golden brown on his way to being toast. Way to go, Lindy. Nice goalie management. If you didn't trust Lalime then get a goalie you like, don't burn out your #1. The Sabres are back to where they were last year, losing to the bottom-dwellers and playing our way out of the playoffs.

 

PTR

[PromoTheRobot]

We're only 9 points away from 9th place.

 

PTR

[notwoz]

The team's on a bad course, right now, that's for sure. Whether it's attitude or fatigue or just plain slump, they need to right the ship.

 

But what's with this revisionist history where they were terrible all year and just got lucky/great goaltending? I'm sorry, but teams that play like that won't be in the top-5 in the league for 40-50 games. You could claim they stole games from the likes of Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Washington...but to throw out the rest is ridiculous and defeatist just because they're playing terribly now.

Nobody said they were terrible, just lucky. Maybe they're not a top-5 team and it's starting to show. Maybe they were playing over their heads and now they' starting to feel the pressure. Who knows. But they've been in a funk for a month now (including the west coast trip) and that's a long time to be in a funk. And if they are going to prove that they deserve to be considered a contender and not a pretender, then they have to come into games like tonight or the last game and beat the living crap out of the opponent.

[North Buffalo]

Sabres wouldn't have this problem if they had a number 1 center.... Roy, I don't think so, Connolly, not bad, but not number one at this point. Needs to be able to bring it every night.

[North Buffalo]

Bench Roy, bring up some of the young guns from Portland.

[North Buffalo]

Get Hecht off the ice, he isn't skating... Stop the puck or at least the man... wTF

[notwoz]

Sens and Caps are tied at 4. Let's hope the Caps buy us time for one night

[North Buffalo]

Jeez Tyler and Hank look like the only two offensive guys the Sabres have out there right now. Kennedy, Goose and Grier are skating but not much else.

[notwoz]

Miller is golden brown on his way to being toast. Way to go, Lindy. Nice goalie management. If you didn't trust Lalime then get a goalie you like, don't burn out your #1. The Sabres are back to where they were last year, losing to the bottom-dwellers and playing our way out of the playoffs.

 

PTR

I'm not among the Lindy bashers on this board, but he really has a hard time with backup goalies. It seems that he doesn't trust anyone who is the backup regardless of who the backup is. That really is a blind spot.

[iamdannytanner]

how is that int. call not made on corvo? anyone?

[theend]

Nobody said they were terrible, just lucky. Maybe they're not a top-5 team and it's starting to show. Maybe they were playing over their heads and now they' starting to feel the pressure. Who knows. But they've been in a funk for a month now (including the west coast trip) and that's a long time to be in a funk. And if they are going to prove that they deserve to be considered a contender and not a pretender, then they have to come into games like tonight or the last game and beat the living crap out of the opponent.

 

True, the term 'terrible' wasn't used...but a few are pretending like this is the same team from earlier this season and that reality's finally catching up. I wholeheartedly disagree with that. If they were playing the way they played in the first half of the season, they wouldn't have this slump - there is a distinct difference on the ice.

 

But I do agree that this is a long time to be in a funk, and they're not showing that they're capable of getting out of it...

[TheChimp]

I'm not among the Lindy bashers on this board, but he really has a hard time with backup goalies. It seems that he doesn't trust anyone who is the backup regardless of who the backup is. That really is a blind spot.

Lindy is having a hard time with a whole BUNCH of his players the last few years, not just backup goaltenders.

[theend]

I'm not among the Lindy bashers on this board, but he really has a hard time with backup goalies. It seems that he doesn't trust anyone who is the backup regardless of who the backup is. That really is a blind spot.

 

He was fine when Marty was here...I think it's just the past couple of 'tenders don't inspire him with confidence. But Lalime (save for Anaheim) hasn't earned that reputation this year.

[Dave Dryden]

True, the term 'terrible' wasn't used...but a few are pretending like this is the same team from earlier this season and that reality's finally catching up. I wholeheartedly disagree with that. If they were playing the way they played in the first half of the season, they wouldn't have this slump - there is a distinct difference on the ice.

 

But I do agree that this is a long time to be in a funk, and they're not showing that they're capable of getting out of it...

They are just awful in most every phase of the game. I am really disliking game day, this is just depressing. Starting to wonder if they will win another game. They truly suck.

[R_Dudley]

I watch virtually all of them and for the first 30 games or so, but they always seemed to finish strong, especially compared to the last two years.

Regardless, I wholeheartedly agree with you on the bad habits. What is most troubling is Miller. I don't know if it is the Olympics and all the attention he's been getting for being the "Vezina" guy. We've got to hope he has a good Olympics and comes back like Miller from before that road trip.

 

Yeah don't get me wrong they have played some strong games although they were much stronger in the first 30 games for more of the game with less breakdowns and yes a much better Miller then they have been over the last 20 something.

 

PA nailed it earlier when he mentioned Miller on his knee's again. Miller defintely is not the same Goalie position wise, anticipation wise, staying up on his feet or in So's. He has played so much that he hasn't been practicing and I would say his game has suffered or he's burned out. Neither good when you need the timely save. We haven't seen too many of them lately.

[SwampD]

It's the system.

 

Carolina had two odd man opportunities ON TWO CONSECUTIVE RUSHES.

 

When is the last time the Sabres had an odd man rush?

 

It's the system.

[Stoner]

Miller's value has never been higher, or more out of proportion with reality. I'm just sayin'.

[rickshaw]

Many of us said earlier in the year, that Miller cannot play them all. He can stand beside Roberto Luongo, with equipment on, and look identical in size. Get them down to their undies and you'll see Luongo is a much bigger man, more capable of carrying the load for 70 games. Miller is not that guy and never will be IMO. And now we see him letting in goals that he wasn't earlier. He is getting burned out and this team is in trouble. Obviously he's been elite this year but he can't keep up the pace. And now he is playing in the Olympics??

 

We need a capable backup or a coach who will trust one. Lalime was playing very well and then boom, no games for forever. It's a vicious cycle. We are in serious jeopardy of missing the dance again.

[notwoz]

True, the term 'terrible' wasn't used...but a few are pretending like this is the same team from earlier this season and that reality's finally catching up. I wholeheartedly disagree with that. If they were playing the way they played in the first half of the season, they wouldn't have this slump - there is a distinct difference on the ice.

 

But I do agree that this is a long time to be in a funk, and they're not showing that they're capable of getting out of it...

That's the scary part, that they're not showing any signs that they're capable of pulling out of this slump. Nobody wants to step up and drag the team back into its first-half form. Could it be that Kaleta's the sparkplug that makes this team go? Not that I'm buying that argument, but jeez, why has this team lost whatever it had in the first half?

[Dave Dryden]

Many of us said earlier in the year, that Miller cannot play them all. He can stand beside Roberto Luongo, with equipment on, and look identical in size. Get them down to their undies and you'll see Luongo is a much bigger man, more capable of carrying the load for 70 games. Miller is not that guy and never will be IMO. And now we see him letting in goals that he wasn't earlier. He is getting burned out and this team is in trouble. Obviously he's been elite this year but he can't keep up the pace. And now he is playing in the Olympics??

 

We need a capable backup or a coach who will trust one. Lalime was playing very well and then boom, no games for forever. It's a vicious cycle. We are in serious jeopardy of missing the dance again.

Right now, the problems are far greater than playing Miller too much.

[SwampD]

They are just awful in most every phase of the game. I am really disliking game day, this is just depressing. Starting to wonder if they will win another game. They truly suck.

Just relax. It's only February. ;)