GAME DISCUSSION THREAD

[BuffalOhio]

I don't think it was a dirty hit, from what I saw, it looked like a shoulder to the head... Given how tall Sutton is and Stafford had his head down...

 

The Slash on Vanek now that should have also been a major penalty too....

 

Absolutely. +1

[notwoz]

Lindy also said the two hander on Vanek was intent to injure and not a hockey play and he didn't like it and he held his breath to see if Tom was OK and he also did some needlepoint after that to work out his frustration.

It's up to Darcy to sign some hard-nosed players. Lindy has to play the hand he's dealt.

[BuffalOhio]

Exactly! No different than the hit by Cooke that felled Savard - and he is still hurting!

 

NHL must review and suspend this particular member of the Ottawa maim society!

 

No way that's a dirty hit. That's a defenseman coming over to cut the player off at the boards. Stafford saw it and pulled up. He pulled his head up into Sutton's shoulder, if indeed, his head was the first point of contact. Within Stafford's line of vision, head not targeted.

 

 

Now that was one entertaining game.Props to Vanek for making every shot count.If ever there was an instance of intent to injure it was Suttons chop to the foot of Vanek.I thought Suttons hit on Stafford was a little late as well but thats water under the bridge at this point.Hopefully Drews not badly injured because we will need all the depth we can get in the playoffs.Every healthy body counts even if they are'nt producing.Good game boys.

 

I like your posts, but man, your punctuation make's them hard to read.

 

 

as far as I am concerned, I would rather have Ennis in the lineup than Stafford...that guy has been invisible for 90% of the season...

 

+1. We finally have Briere's replacement, and his name is Ennis. Kid's awesome with the puck.

[Scotty]

"Ding ###### the witch (streak) is dead! The mean ol' witch (streak)! The wicked witch (streak)!"

 

As for "the hit" and "the leg chop" did any of you expect anything less from the Crapawa Senators?

 

Way go asshats chanting Miller when your down 4-1! No wonder Leaf and Hab fans laugh at you!

 

Actually I think the Senators liked like the "wimpy" team in 3rd, no Sabre beheadings, no running Miller? I expected more!

 

I am glad they won tonight but I hope I don't see this team I hate more than Carolina until late Fall.

 

-night y'all

[inkman]

Vanek wants 30!!!

Not taking anything away from sir Thomas but I'm curious if he has a 30 goal bonus in his contract.

[Claude_Verret]

Oh come on, you know what it means. It means that winning a game is the most important thing, and that is done on the scoreboard, not in the minds or perceptions of message board posters...

 

I have no idea what "truth" you claim to possess. You are certainly entitled to see every glass as at least partly empty, but there is no objective truth in such relentless negativity. Of course there are things to complain about, but really... the Sabres, who have not beaten the Sens since January 2009 went into Ottawa on Daniel Alfredsson night and beat the Senators soundly, and on top of that got a bunch of goals from someone that they need to heat up in time for the playoffs. There is a lot to like about that.

 

Like I said previously, PA would find something to gripe about even during the unlikely event that the Stanley Cup is paraded through Niagara square. I'm convinced that PA is either completely incapable of deriving any satisfaction from watching a team that he clearly devotes a good amount of time to following or he is an absolutely brilliant troll.

[repster]

Not taking anything away from sir Thomas but I'm curious if he has a 30 goal bonus in his contract.

 

I'd be surprised if that was in Edmonton's offer sheet, but it was an interesting thought.

[bunomatic]

I agree completely,no game is meaningless.As a player to think otherwise is to accept defeat before the first puckdrop.I would'nt want my team mates to think or play like that nor the Sabres.

[bunomatic]

Aw come on,my punctuations not that bad.I try and put a period after every sentence. :unsure:

[carpandean]

Not taking anything away from sir Thomas but I'm curious if he has a 30 goal bonus in his contract.

I used to know for sure, but I'm fairly certain that performance bonuses are only allowed in limited case. If I remember correctly, it's rookies, post-big injury (missed a certain number of games), and really old players (maybe 36 or older.) Not sure about that last one. Either way, I'm almost certain that his offer sheet couldn't include a 30-goal bonus.

[bbb]

Concussion for Stafford, Lalime in net tomorrow - per Ruff post-game comments.

 

 

This has probably been discussed, but I would have liked Miller to play tomorrow. Everybody seems to be talking about who our first round matchup will be with. But, I think it would be very nice to get the #2 seed, and guarantee home ice in the 2nd round.

[FearTheReaper]

Hopefully that was the real Vanek tonight. He was just chaotic tonight. If he gets on his game like this regularly, it might be a pretty deep run boys! Now factor in a healthy, hungry Kaleta. And a healthy Connolly with a point to prove. Theres alot to get rallied up about around here.

 

I was actually very excited tonight, i haven't been this amped up in awhile. I had a good feeling about beating the sens tonight. So it was just euphoric.

 

I hope Stafford is alive. I feel for the kid, i thought he was playing well up until tonights head hunt check. He was damn good against the Rags.

[SabresRepublic]

What does that mean?

 

Listen, I'm sorry if this offends the gentle sensibilities of some of you, but the Sabres beat Ottawa in a meaningless game for Ottawa, with Ottawa's backup in goal -- and Ottawa emerged still in clear possession of our ######. We are their ######, plain and simple. And Lindy won't do anything about it.

 

Why do I feel like Simon Cowell? The truth isn't popular, I guess.

 

OR, perhaps the beginning of the end to Ottawa's lucky streak against us despite their traditional play to maim style of hockey!

[SabresRepublic]

We'll agree to disagree, my friend.

 

You forgot one last part of that statement!

 

We'll agree to disagree civilly!

 

Regardless, isn't our common law heritage tremendous?

[SabresRepublic]

It's up to Darcy to sign some hard-nosed players. Lindy has to play the hand he's dealt.

 

NO WAY DARCY!

 

The NHL needs to continue its assault on goon hockey. We are aptitude and skill and most of the teams are that way as well! In the meantime, we need to petition the NHL to mandate an official quality control regimen regarding contact of the kind against Vanek and Stafford tonight - to name a few but the Ottawa games this season alone are replete with all the examples one would need to make a substantial case for overhaul BIG TIME!!!

 

Aptitude and skill BUFFALO SABRES!!!

[SabresRepublic]

No way that's a dirty hit. That's a defenseman coming over to cut the player off at the boards. Stafford saw it and pulled up. He pulled his head up into Sutton's shoulder, if indeed, his head was the first point of contact. Within Stafford's line of vision, head not targeted.

 

 

 

 

I like your posts, but man, your punctuation make's them hard to read.

 

 

 

 

+1. We finally have Briere's replacement, and his name is Ennis. Kid's awesome with the puck.

 

 

I'll agree with you that Ennis is Briere's replacement only he has much greater upside than Briere ever had!

 

Also, I totally disagree with you about Sutton's check on Stafford. Does anyone have a video replay link?

 

Bottom line: HIT TO THE HEAD!

 

Dejavu, that was a rule change just about ten days ago. And so much fanfare about it!

 

To be sure, this is an embarrasment for Ottawa and Canadian hockey.

 

Daniel Alfredsson and his beautiful family deserved much better than to be associated with goon hockey, especially on this day commemorating their committment to the sport. I feel for them!

[JohnRobertEichel]

Sabres are now 30-0-0 this season when leading after two periods....the only NHL team this year that has yet to blow a lead in the third period. For all the grief we give this team, that stat certainly says something about their character.

[FearTheReaper]

Nice point.

[shrader]

Sabres are now 30-0-0 this season when leading after two periods....the only NHL team this year that has yet to blow a lead in the third period. For all the grief we give this team, that stat certainly says something about their character.

 

They've blown a lead in the 3rd, just not one that they entered the period with. I remember specifically a game against the Kings where they scored to take the lead in the 3rd, then later lost in a shootout.

[VansTheMans]

Vanek was no doubt impressive tonight. All over the ice, moving the feet. He looked hungry and motivated.

 

It was a BLAST watching the game tonight. Sabres played very well.

[carpandean]

It was a BLAST watching the game tonight.

I was too busy cringing every time that Miller came out of the net, especially when Ruutu and Neil were on the forecheck.

[Kristian]

FINALLY!

 

Spezza and Alfredsson get shut down, and our big guns show up = Buffalo win.

[eball]

What does that mean?

 

Listen, I'm sorry if this offends the gentle sensibilities of some of you, but the Sabres beat Ottawa in a meaningless game for Ottawa, with Ottawa's backup in goal -- and Ottawa emerged still in clear possession of our ######. We are their ######, plain and simple. And Lindy won't do anything about it.

 

Why do I feel like Simon Cowell? The truth isn't popular, I guess.

You do realize that injuries occur during fights, right? Isn't that how Kaleta got hurt? In a "meaningless" game days before the playoffs start, I'm pretty ok with the Sabres not retaliating in response to the goonish behavior of the Nikons. The best revenge is a scoreboard blowout.

 

And FWIW, I don't think the Nikons were viewing this game as meaningless -- they wanted a win for Alfy. I also don't think they're necessarily pleased that their aura of invincibility against the Sabres took a punch to the groin.

 

At least you can be happy about Vanek's re-emergence, no? You did cite him as your "breakout" player for the postseason.

[eball]

They've blown a lead in the 3rd, just not one that they entered the period with. I remember specifically a game against the Kings where they scored to take the lead in the 3rd, then later lost in a shootout.

That makes me feel better. I hate stats like the 30-0-0 one -- just begging to be broken.

[Dave Dryden]

I know what it means, I just don't see how it applies to such a meaningless game. You think if they wheeled out Stafford after the game and had someone point his hand at the scoreboard, the Senators wouldn't laugh?

 

They would point at Buffalo's balls, which they still have in a jar.

 

Ottawa took liberties all night and the Sabres had little to say about it as usual. That will be far more important if the teams meet in the playoffs than this hollow win. I'm surprised there isn't more outcry about it, but then again I'm not. Maybe DeLuca will come in and inject some sanity into this madness.

Lola, now that I have a moment, let me explain calmly why your take is just wrong from a hockey player's perspective.

 

Buffalo and Ottawa are fierce rivals, and they are both fighting for a divison title. At the Olympic break, Ottawa was ahead, but in the end Buffalo emerged victorious. Ottawa lost. Then, to add to that, last night, on Daniel A. night, the Sabres came into Ottawa's house and smoked them 5-2, just to remind them who was the winner of the division.

 

To analogize, I just beat out my bitter rival for a job we both wanted. Then, just because I could, I went over to his house and f'd his wife on their anniversary. And his Barney Fife response was to vomit on my shoes. That's what you saw last night, and if you think that makes Ottawa/Barney the tough guy, I don't think you understand how hockey works from a "sack" perspective. It's kind of a Sean Connery thing--so maybe your hermaphroditic self does not get that.