Looks like Torres out tonight, Gerbe in

[Kristian]

Stafford has pictures of Lindy with Hull's foot in his crease.

 

Now that one actually made me laugh.

[Kristian]

I agree in prinicpal based on what we've seen and if it wasn't the 5th game of the series I would agree 100%. But there is one thing to consider here. This series has been one of the more physical series. Both teams cannot keep up that physical pace and Boston is the older team. I wanted Buffalo to counter Bostons system earlier in the series with their speed to get behind the defensive wall Boston has thrown up at the blue line.

 

I know that can lead to some breakdowns going back the other way but that has been the game they played all year and Miller has been very successful in that style and those breakaway saves seem to ignite his team more than what the other players are providing.

 

One game left to test that theory and if it works it could be the momentum breaker this team has needed. Besides if we fail might as well make it an epic failure where we throw everything at them including the kitchen sink and go down in blaze of glory or failure. Enough of this "Katie bar the door". Kick it in or get kicked out.

 

Hey, I'll buy that.

 

It's not like we've had much success trying to bang with them, why not try skating with them instead? What's the worst that can happen?

[spndnchz]

I agree in prinicpal based on what we've seen and if it wasn't the 5th game of the series I would agree 100%. But there is one thing to consider here. This series has been one of the more physical series. Both teams cannot keep up that physical pace and Boston is the older team. I wanted Buffalo to counter Bostons system earlier in the series with their speed to get behind the defensive wall Boston has thrown up at the blue line.

 

I know that can lead to some breakdowns going back the other way but that has been the game they played all year and Miller has been very successful in that style and those breakaway saves seem to ignite his team more than what the other players are providing.

 

One game left to test that theory and if it works it could be the momentum breaker this team has needed. Besides if we fail might as well make it an epic failure where we throw everything at them including the kitchen sink and go down in blaze of glory or failure. Enough of this "Katie bar the door". Kick it in or get kicked out.

 

So what ur saying is we don't need to play physical, just skate around them. Works for me. Seems we gained the blueline pretty easy when we just skated straight up the gut of the B's defense.

[Stoner]

I agree in prinicpal based on what we've seen and if it wasn't the 5th game of the series I would agree 100%. But there is one thing to consider here. This series has been one of the more physical series. Both teams cannot keep up that physical pace and Boston is the older team. I wanted Buffalo to counter Bostons system earlier in the series with their speed to get behind the defensive wall Boston has thrown up at the blue line.

 

I know that can lead to some breakdowns going back the other way but that has been the game they played all year and Miller has been very successful in that style and those breakaway saves seem to ignite his team more than what the other players are providing.

 

One game left to test that theory and if it works it could be the momentum breaker this team has needed. Besides if we fail might as well make it an epic failure where we throw everything at them including the kitchen sink and go down in blaze of glory or failure. Enough of this "Katie bar the door". Kick it in or get kicked out.

 

What a concept. Coach to your team's strengths. Talk them up. Be proud. Give em the green light. Go for it. Don't poor mouth your top 10 offensive team and tell them that every game is going to be low scoring and tight (and that your power play will never click). Against the 30th offensive team in the league, with Ryan Fricken Miller in goal. Clinical depression is infectious, apparently.

 

I have grown to loathe Lindy.

[carpandean]

You really have to wonder why the last 3 deadline pickups were all very productive players with their old team, but came here and did absolutely nothing. How can they produce with lesser teams and then add nothing here? I think I'm siding with old man PA on the reason for that one.

Well, to be fair, Moore was a third-line forward playing on the top line in Toronto. He wasn't brought in here to be a top-line forward, but a versatile player who could win faceoffs and provide depth on either a checking or scoring line. We didn't have a scoring-line player go out with injury, so he wasn't needed/used up there (like an unused insurance policy.) On top of that, he was injured, which affected his ability to score even on the third line. He wasn't bad here for the role that they ended up using him in - he was good on faceoffs, strong on the PK and even infused some energy into the lineup - but his injury prevented him from producing more.

 

I don't think Lindy has given Torres a real shot, but the guy also admitted to playing his best when he doesn't have to think. Obviously, that's a bad fit.

[nfreeman]

Stafford will be MVP tonight.

I've been thinking that it's reasonably likely that he plays tonight like he was shot out of a cannon. He's got to want redemption after that effing penalty last game.

 

Well, to be fair, Moore was a third-line forward playing on the top line in Toronto. He wasn't brought in here to be a top-line forward, but a versatile player who could win faceoffs and provide depth on either a checking or scoring line. We didn't have a scoring-line player go out with injury, so he wasn't needed/used up there (like an unused insurance policy.) On top of that, he was injured, which affected his ability to score even on the third line. He wasn't bad here for the role that they ended up using him in - he was good on faceoffs, strong on the PK and even infused some energy into the lineup - but his injury prevented him from producing more.

 

I don't think Lindy has given Torres a real shot, but the guy also admitted to playing his best when he doesn't have to think. Obviously, that's a bad fit.

Also worth noting that Zubrus was pretty solid for the Sabres before getting hurt and had a grand total of 27 points this year for NJ.

[thesportsbuff]

Is this a ###### joke? WHAT is going on?? The Sabres are getting DOMINATED physically and Lindy brings in Gerbe instead of a big body like Mancari (WHO BTW PLAYED GOOD AND SCORED A GOAL OR TWO IN A SHORT STINT EARLIER ON THE CLUB) i just do not understand

 

they are screwing the pooch

[shrader]

Well, to be fair, Moore was a third-line forward playing on the top line in Toronto. He wasn't brought in here to be a top-line forward, but a versatile player who could win faceoffs and provide depth on either a checking or scoring line. We didn't have a scoring-line player go out with injury, so he wasn't needed/used up there (like an unused insurance policy.) On top of that, he was injured, which affected his ability to score even on the third line. He wasn't bad here for the role that they ended up using him in - he was good on faceoffs, strong on the PK and even infused some energy into the lineup - but his injury prevented him from producing more.

 

I don't think Lindy has given Torres a real shot, but the guy also admitted to playing his best when he doesn't have to think. Obviously, that's a bad fit.

 

The injury is a good point that I overlooked at first. Still, I can't help but wonder how Ruff has gotten absolutely nothing out of these guys. And as for Torres comment about playing better when he doesn't have to think, don't they all? I think that's digging a bit too deeply into a comment that was made very early in his stay here.

[Stoner]

I've been thinking that it's reasonably likely that he plays tonight like he was shot out of a cannon. He's got to want redemption after that effing penalty last game.

 

 

Also worth noting that Zubrus was pretty solid for the Sabres before getting hurt and had a grand total of 27 points this year for NJ.

 

Didn't Stafford score the game after the last time he got a too many men penalty? Am I imagining that? It shouldn't be that hard to keep track of all of his goals.

[Buffalo Fan]

Stafford needs to sit too.

 

 

Amen

[waldo]

gerbe,,,hmmmmmmmmmm Looks like Lindy is trying to get even smaller and less physical. i did not think that was possible until i read about nathan today......how about gerbe kennedy ennis..we could call them the tiny tots and dress them in egg shell white so they blend in with the ice ....Boy Chuck the brain could become disoriented and confused. who knows, maybe it will work :wallbash: :wallbash: :wallbash: :blink: :blink: now that i siad it.. gerbe kennedy and ennis will all score.

 

 

Post game five comment: Every time i say somehting like the above the time line seems to change to surprise me. Did the tiny tots play one ###### of a game or not. For the first time all year i witnessed a buffalo power play with the quickness and passing necessary to beat the trap, maintain possession, put pucks actually on net and recover them after a shot,. They did not score but if Vanek was added to that line down low they would do it often.On another note, Ennis, Gerbe, Kennedy and Mcormick have all been wonderful surprises. They play with abandon and heart and i think it infected the rest of the team in game five.I have been waiting for this team to play that 60 min for four games now and they finally did.

[TheChimp]

1. The Sabres, at least right before last game, were leading all playoff teams in hits. Physicality isn't a problem, even with the little guys.

 

2. After four games, the COMBINATION of Connolly, Roy, Pominville, and Stafford has THREE points, two of them assists.

 

Gerbe being called up was a great idea. The fact that he's replacing a guy with two points while those four dunderheads get to stay in the lineup is ludicrous.

[waldo]

1. The Sabres, at least right before last game, were leading all playoff teams in hits. Physicality isn't a problem, even with the little guys.

 

2. After four games, the COMBINATION of Connolly, Roy, Pominville, and Stafford has THREE points, two of them assists.

 

Gerbe being called up was a great idea. The fact that he's replacing a guy with two points while those four dunderheads get to stay in the lineup is ludicrous.

 

game two through four hits were casual inadvertent contact by a team of wimps (excluding kaleta and Mcormicks work of course) compared to the hits in game five.

 

He had to replace Torres , he has been hurt all year and it showed. (Lindy waited three games too long to do it)

[inkman]

Theoren Fleury sucked too.... :bag:

Argh! Where to start...

 

I think little theo towers over Nate. Dude is 5'4". I think Fluery was 2-4 inches taller. Not to mention the overall size of players has dramatically increased the last 30 years. Lastly, Gerbe has a loooooooooong way to go to be a NHL regular let alone be compared to a HOFer.

[bob_sauve28]

Argh! Where to start...

 

I think little theo towers over Nate. Dude is 5'4". I think Fluery was 2-4 inches taller. Not to mention the overall size of players has dramatically increased the last 30 years. Lastly, Gerbe has a loooooooooong way to go to be a NHL regular let alone be compared to a HOFer.

He did have a good game last night though. You don't have to be big to play well along the boards

[Stoner]

He did have a good game last night though. You don't have to be big to play well along the boards

It's all about the inches with guys like ink and SDS.

[bunomatic]

Torres is the first guy to admit he's been bad.This is a game thats about being rewarded for effort and results not for past glory.Its the right move to pull his sorry a$$ out of there.It seemed to have positive results for the team.Good coaching move on Lindys part.

[Bmwolf21]

He had to replace Torres , he has been hurt all year and it showed. (Lindy waited three games too long to do it)

Torres is the first guy to admit he's been bad.This is a game thats about being rewarded for effort and results not for past glory.Its the right move to pull his sorry a$$ out of there.It seemed to have positive results for the team.Good coaching move on Lindys part.

I admit I haven't been around as much this year, especially down the stretch run (damn work) so apologies if this was already discussed, but I thought this in Bill's piece (on the front page) was interesting:

 

Ruff awarded Torres a terrific opportunity on the left wing beside Derek Roy and Jason Pominville in his first Sabres game. It lasted about two periods. Torres’ conditioning was so poor in March, Ruff said he couldn’t keep up with his linemates. The 28-year-old’s mostly skated on the third and fourth lines since.