GAME DISCUSSION THREAD

[Team Strike Force]

Buffalo forward takes pass at Boston blue line. Skates just behind the goal. Flips a no-look backhand pass in front. Nothing but Bruins there to clean up and rush back into the neutral zone, or it goes to an empty wing. Anyone else notice this? I'm just a fan- not exactly savvy when it comes to x's and o's.

 

Ugh.

[Assquatch]

Rask was giving up huge rebounds all night (all series really) and there was never anyone in friendly colors to shovel them in behind him.

[SabresRepublic]

I really wish I could say this wa a fair played game but the refs really dictated the outcome.

 

 

I agree the refs definitely deferred the game to Boston's favor overall and especially in the third to get Boston back into it!

 

I knew when we got into OT a mistake was going to win it!

 

Stafford made the first - lazy dog!

Miller unnecessarily out of position, the second - what was he thinking? I'm awaiting his comments!

He was world class despite the final foible!

 

However, despite the officiating tilt these guys played a great game and B's have to know that if we win in Buffalo Friday - things could unravel for them rather quickly - officiating mediocrity or not!

 

GO BUFFALO SABRES!!!

[SDS]

What game were you watching? 3 blown leads in this series by a team that NEVER blew 3rd period leads. What do you want to call it? Choke? Fold? Dump their drawers?

 

PTR

 

Make up your mind - this is the game day thread. We are talking about the game that just played. The team went all out in the 3rd and in OT. To say they curled up in this game is laughable.

[biodork]

Only after he made a half-hearted attempt to spike the puck away as Ryder entered the zone. Shameful. And I love Mike Grier.

 

I know, me too -- I was happy to see him back in the Blue and Gold this year. Where is the will to compete?? It's game 4, double OT, in a series you NEED to tie up, and he's coasting. Completely inexcusable from a guy who was specifically brought back for leadership and hard work.

[Crestwood]

In a perfect world, we'd never see him in a Sabres uniform again. But knowing the Sabres, he's playing here until his contract expires at the end of next season.

 

Connolly is all about cashing a fat paycheck and not getting hurt again. If anything else happens, that's just a bonus for him.

Just remember — two inches lower on that shot in the first overtime and we'd all be giving him a tongue bath. He's been awful for most of this series, but it's all relative.

[deluca67]

BS. It's how they respond. Didn't we get a PP in the 1st OT? Were there not too many men on the ice?

Amen brother.

 

This team is a group of "fragile little children" as Miller said. The Bruins didn't beat the Sabres tonight and the refs didn't beat the Sabres. They beat themselves. Too many men on the ice? Really? Way to have the team prepared Lindy. :thumbdown:

 

The most frustrating thing about this series is that Vanek and Hecht are out and that's all the excuse Quinn and Regier will need to spend another off-season doing nothing.

[apuszczalowski]

Game set match.....get out the golf clubs Sabres.

And time to dump Quinn, Darcy and Ruff.....clean house.

Why get rid of Ruff? he is oe of the better coaches out there, who do you get to replace him thats an improvement? He can only do so much with the mediocre crap he's given by Regier, who is the most overrated, useless GM in the league. Every year its the same crap from them, they have a young team with a good core that will only get better with time. Roy, Pomminstein, Connolly, all are not 1st line players that will carry a team. A major overhaul infront of Miller is needed, or else just do the guy a favor and thank him for his time here and move him to a team that actually tries to win.

 

Seriously, every year even at the deadline its the same thing, bring in some mediocre piece that won't do anything and walk in the end of the year (Torres, Moore, Bernier, etc....)

 

What I really want to know is, WHAT DID THE CITY OF BOSTON/STATE OS MASSACHUSITS DO TO DESERVE ALL THIS? Seriously, The Pats, Red Sox, Celtics. The Bruins deal Raycroft to the Leafs for some prospects, and the end up with Rask. They trade away Kessell and in a year they make the playoffs they also get the second overall pick in the draft, plus another 1st and 2nd. Buffalo gets rid of Briere, Drury and Campbell and the only thing they have to show for it is Tyler Ennis, Brayden McNabb, and a 2nd this year

[deluca67]

Make up your mind - this is the game day thread. We are talking about the game that just played. The team went all out in the 3rd and in OT. To say they curled up in this game is laughable.

When it counted most they killed themselves.

[Guest]

Done like dinner. I was thinking Boston in 6 but now I'm thinking they'll just finish it off Friday. How can you blow a lead in 3 consecutive games? I would also consider trying to re-sign Grier. But, I'm not sure if he'll want to come back again.

Grier? Nah, he didn't impress me at all this season. Not the same player he once was by a long shot. He was not physical when he needed to be, but that goes for every other spineless turd on this built for the regular season, not the playoffs type of team. But year after year Darcy keeps bringing in the tiny little flashy speed guys. THEY DO NOT WORK IN THE PLAYOFFS. Wtf does he watch every year when the Sabres are playing golf early. The playoffs are 10 times more physical then the regular season.

 

The Bills try to win with mediocre talent, and the Sabres try to win with miniature talent.

[LabattBlue]

Yes he has a very bright future but...

 

I said before the playoffs that Myers is a liability in his own end when he does not have the puck and that was true on the GWG goal. I won't even begin to try and explain what he was doing on the play. :blink: :blink: :blink:

[SDS]

I know, me too -- I was happy to see him back in the Blue and Gold this year. Where is the will to compete?? It's game 4, double OT, in a series you NEED to tie up, and he's coasting. Completely inexcusable from a guy who was specifically brought back for leadership and hard work.

 

In double OT - that is what happens. People get tired. It's not an excuse - it's reality.

[Robviously]

Just remember — two inches lower on that shot in the first overtime and we'd all be giving him a tongue bath. He's been awful for most of this series, but it's all relative.

If you're being paid $4.5 million and are recognized as the no.1 center, we shouldn't have to come up with theoretical reasons for liking you.

 

Connolly is a joke. And it doesn't matter that he almost made a good play here or there.

[SDS]

When it counted most they killed themselves.

 

I can't argue there. But what PTR said is absurd.

[CallawaySabres]

If there was ever a time to call BS on the Refs, the 3rd period was it

I hate Connolly

2 games giving up a 2 goal lead against BOSTON!!##$$%!!

Mental lapse for the game winning PPG - inexcusable

Don't ever play Torres again for 1 second

 

Kennedy is BY FAR my favorite player on this team

[deluca67]

Why get rid of Ruff? he is oe of the better coaches out there, who do you get to replace him thats an improvement? He can only do so much with the mediocre crap he's given by Regier, who is the most overrated, useless GM in the league. Every year its the same crap from them, they have a young team with a good core that will only get better with time. Roy, Pomminstein, Connolly, all are not 1st line players that will carry a team. A major overhaul infront of Miller is needed, or else just do the guy a favor and thank him for his time here and move him to a team that actually tries to win.

 

Seriously, every year even at the deadline its the same thing, bring in some mediocre piece that won't do anything and walk in the end of the year (Torres, Moore, Bernier, etc....)

 

What I really want to know is, WHAT DID THE CITY OF BOSTON/STATE OS MASSACHUSITS DO TO DESERVE ALL THIS? Seriously, The Pats, Red Sox, Celtics. The Bruins deal Raycroft to the Leafs for some prospects, and the end up with Rask. They trade away Kessell and in a year they make the playoffs they also get the second overall pick in the draft, plus another 1st and 2nd. Buffalo gets rid of Briere, Drury and Campbell and the only thing they have to show for it is Tyler Ennis, Brayden McNabb, and a 2nd this year

Their fans don't bend over and take it like Sabres and Bills fans do? Bruins fans don't applaud their GM for doing nothing like so many here do. Pats fans wouldn't accept Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey. When you accept mediocrity you should expect nothing else in return.

[ThePebble19]

I am completely drained of emotion right now. I'm not even really mad, just disappointed. The bogus penalties in the third swung the emotion, and I think there is a lot to say about that. However, it still doesn't change the fact that we still can't solve Rask, even when we get sustained offensive zone pressure like we did in OT1.

 

These guys, with the exception of a couple, played their balls off tonight, and I really think they did all they could do. We just don't have ANY front line scoring. It's almost laughable at this point, because the guys that we do have, while they mostly play hard, they just can't finish.

 

All in all, I am pretty confident we will win game 5, just because I think the Hockey Gods want to make us suffer for another few days. But I don't see any way that we come back and win in Boston.

 

Either way, there shouldn't be a chance in ###### that Stafford plays again this season. Play Gerbe, Mancari, ######, dress JP Lamoreaux and start him on the wing...At least he knows when to go and when to sit on the bench.

[Guest]

Rask was giving up huge rebounds all night (all series really) and there was never anyone in friendly colors to shovel them in behind him.

Exactly! The puck was bouncing off him like a trampoline but all I saw out front of the Boston net were Bruin players. Terrible play in front of the Boston net. These guys are too chicken ###### to play in the war zone.

[G-Daddy]

Why get rid of Ruff? he is oe of the better coaches out there, who do you get to replace him thats an improvement? He can only do so much with the mediocre crap he's given by Regier, who is the most overrated, useless GM in the league. Every year its the same crap from them, they have a young team with a good core that will only get better with time. Roy, Pomminstein, Connolly, all are not 1st line players that will carry a team. A major overhaul infront of Miller is needed, or else just do the guy a favor and thank him for his time here and move him to a team that actually tries to win.

 

Seriously, every year even at the deadline its the same thing, bring in some mediocre piece that won't do anything and walk in the end of the year (Torres, Moore, Bernier, etc....)

 

What I really want to know is, WHAT DID THE CITY OF BOSTON/STATE OS MASSACHUSITS DO TO DESERVE ALL THIS? Seriously, The Pats, Red Sox, Celtics. The Bruins deal Raycroft to the Leafs for some prospects, and the end up with Rask. They trade away Kessell and in a year they make the playoffs they also get the second overall pick in the draft, plus another 1st and 2nd. Buffalo gets rid of Briere, Drury and Campbell and the only thing they have to show for it is Tyler Ennis, Brayden McNabb, and a 2nd this year

 

I think it's Ruff's defense-first system that squashes individual player creativity.....Afinigenov leaves and had a pretty good season in Atlanta and Paille looks better in Boston.

[biodork]

In double OT - that is what happens. People get tired. It's not an excuse - it's reality.

 

I totally understand them being tired, but good grief this is the playoffs and these are professional athletes -- they are supposed to be short-shifting to stay fresh (and maybe some of that falls on Ruff), and there needs to be desperation to break up the play. Boston is playing that way and that's why they are leading the series.

[mrm33064]

Rask was giving up huge rebounds all night (all series really) and there was never anyone in friendly colors to shovel them in behind him.

 

Spot on. Less dipsy-doodle, more garbage collecting.

[darksabre]

thank god, I can go to bed now.

[Crestwood]

I feel like tonight gave us one of those Herm Edwards "WE CAN BUILD ON THIS!" games. Home-barn advantage for the final three, maybe (BIG maybe) Vanek back, pretty decent effort tonight despite the outcome …

 

Find that silver lining. (It's the only thing that makes being a Buffalo sports fan bearable.)

[apuszczalowski]

In a perfect world, we'd never see him in a Sabres uniform again. But knowing the Sabres, he's playing here until his contract expires at the end of next season.

Connolly is all about cashing a fat paycheck and not getting hurt again. If anything else happens, that's just a bonus for him.

And then he will be re-signed by Regier for a nice raise

 

Cut Grier some Slack, he played hard all game, along with Ennis. He was logging over 30 minutes in the game. Lets direct the blame where it belongs, the great "top 6" disappearing act known in parts as Roy, Pomminstein, Connolly, Stafford, and the useless (as usual) trade deadline signing of Torres.

 

Blame Miller all you want on that second goal, but you can't expect a goalie to save everything, which is what the rest of this team needs in order to win. Even the greats Hasek, Brodeur, Roy, etc make mistakes in a game.

[Panic Prone]

I dont get it. I really only got to see the beginning and end of the game but what I saw everyone played hard. What the heck is wrong with them! They cant hold on to leads and just cant get the goal when they need it. That has been missing since Drury left. MAJOR changes must be made in the offseason. Stafford must go! They need to bring in players who want to win, they have a few but not enough that really make a difference, they are more role players. (e.g. Kaleta, Kennedy, Mair, Grier) This team is just lacking in so many areas. The only players that should be safe are Miller and Myers.