Game Discussion Thread

[JJFIVEOH]

I think they have been playing pretty well the last few games. Certainly a hell of a lot better than I expected after Roy went out. I could not believe the number of callers on the post-game blaming Ennis for twice blowing the game. That goal that went off his stick was a fluke, for all we know he had it there to deflect in a pass. His penalty may have cost them a point, but lets not forget he did get us an extra point against Boston.

 

On a side note, Miller just needs to keep his mouth shut. I'm really sick of hearing the excuses. What makes him think he is so special that he can call out the rest of the team for not converting PP's? Does he have a point? Sure he does. But I don't see the rest of the team calling him out when they lose because he doesn't step up to the plate. His book of excuses is running out, he needs to take the blame for his average play this year. If he thinks he's special enough where he can publicly analyze the team then he needs to lead by example before he has the authority to do so.

[Stoner]

I think they have been playing pretty well the last few games. Certainly a hell of a lot better than I expected after Roy went out. I could not believe the number of callers on the post-game blaming Ennis for twice blowing the game. That goal that went off his stick was a fluke, for all we know he had it there to deflect in a pass. His penalty may have cost them a point, but lets not forget he did get us an extra point against Boston.

 

On a side note, Miller just needs to keep his mouth shut. I'm really sick of hearing the excuses. What makes him think he is so special that he can call out the rest of the team for not converting PP's? Does he have a point? Sure he does. But I don't see the rest of the team calling him out when they lose because he doesn't step up to the plate. His book of excuses is running out, he needs to take the blame for his average play this year. If he thinks he's special enough where he can publicly analyze the team then he needs to lead by example before he has the authority to do so.

 

Outstanding.

 

Was it near the beginning of 2008-2009 that Ryan was also running his mouth about the team, then announced he wasn't going to do that anymore, just concentrate on tending goal?

[Stoner]

If my life depended on it and we could know for sure, I'd say that puck was all the way over the line for an instant. But from that replay, there was no way they could call it a goal. If we asked Adam and Ennis to re-create that play again in practice, I doubt they could do it again if we gave them 10 hours. Unreal. What would you even tell them as a coach? "Don't do that thing that no one else has ever managed to do again."?

 

I was thinking in bed -- where is the best place to put that overhead camera? Would you even want it directly over the goal line? I know it can't be there anyway because of the crossbar. But I was thinking the camera should be slightly to the right of the goal line anyway, maybe centered over the spot where the puck first has to be to be considered over the goal line?

[nfreeman]

Considering the team took the game over in the 3rd period and came from behind to take the lead, and then had the game won except for the flukiest non-goal I have ever seen (Adam-Ennis), it's really tough to pin this one on the team's "lack of heart."

 

Bottom line is that the team isn't good enough. The veterans aren't that great and the young players are still learning.

Heart may have not been the right word. Mental toughness and focus -- the ability to finish games and get wins -- is what I was thinking of. When the Sabres were ahead of Boston, was there any doubt that Boston was going to tie it up? And last night, was there any doubt that Colorado was going to tie it up? When Colorado got its PP in OT, was there any doubt they were going to score? This is after not losing a game ALL SEASON last year when they took a lead into the 3rd period.

 

It's all between the ears. This team is as mentally weak as the 2007-08 team. They got steadily better in the two seasons after that, then they got exposed in the playoffs last year, then the FO didn't do anything to improve the team, which made them think winning didn't really matter anyway, then their captain fell off the table and their 2 best players took a step back this year.

 

There is NFW this team is going anywhere this year. What an effing waste.

[Robviously]

Heart may have not been the right word. Mental toughness and focus -- the ability to finish games and get wins -- is what I was thinking of.

I definitely agree with this. They need to learn how to win. The 2006-07 team knew how to finish games and how to steal 2 points even when they didn't play a good game. This team is the opposite; they can get a lead and dominate a game and still come away with less than 2 points.

 

No team is exactly the sum of its parts. For whatever reason, this group of players can't get it done. Maybe everyone is in roles that they just aren't suited for.

 

This franchise is all about the future (both Pegula as owner and the prospects set to join the team this fall). I don't have much faith/interest in most of the veteran players on the team and the good news is that they're going to be cleared out after this season. I'd like to see Regier make some trades for draft picks and focus on the future.

[Weave]

This franchise is all about the future (both Pegula as owner and the prospects set to join the team this fall). I don't have much faith/interest in most of the veteran players on the team and the good news is that they're going to be cleared out after this season. I'd like to see Regier make some trades for draft picks and focus on the future.

 

Interesting comment. It seems like there has been at least one player on the Sabres that I've really enjoyed watching every season going back as far as I can remember, even on some of those lousy 80's teams there was always at least one or two guys that I enjoyed watching and wanted kept around. I don't feel that way about anyone on the current squad. There are a handful of guys currently on the team that I think deserve to be kept around when the regime changes but I can't really say that I am a fan of anyone in particular on this team anymore.

[rickshaw]

The call on Ennis was well sold. The ref standing right there didn't call it - the stripe 70 feet away did.

 

That being said we beat ourselves tonight - plain and simple.

 

 

What I don't get is this. In the NFL sometimes a call is made by one ref, but the other guys come over and tell him he got it wrong. No big deal, let's get it right.

So on calls where I a guy gets dumped, that call is made and so be it. But on the Ennis penalty, if the ref 10 feet away clearly sees that it wasn't a high stick, and I mean he's 100% sure of it, why can't he go over to the idiot at center ice and explain that he got it wrong?? No big deal, just get it right.

 

As for Ennis, I have a bad feeling that Lindy's coaching is not helping this kid out at all. It's time for change behind the bench. This kid is a heckuva player and he needs to be brought along properly. Hopefully this season won't ruin him.

[shrader]

I was thinking in bed -- where is the best place to put that overhead camera? Would you even want it directly over the goal line? I know it can't be there anyway because of the crossbar. But I was thinking the camera should be slightly to the right of the goal line anyway, maybe centered over the spot where the puck first has to be to be considered over the goal line?

 

There are always going to be limitations, but they must have the technology now to put some kind of micro-camera in the pipes themselves. That is the only way you will ever get a true overhead view. I bet they think that would change the way the puck bounces if it hits just the right spot though. Another interesting option might be putting something in at the base of the post. That part of the net already has the pegs inside it, so the bounce is already slightly different down there. Obviously any of these cameras could be blocked at any point if someone is partially inside the net, but you have that issue anywhere you put a camera. So maybe you combine one inside the crossbar with one at the base looking across the goaline.

 

But we all know what gets in the way of this kind of idea...

$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Eleven]

I missed the second and third periods--had an early out of town meeting today. What the hell happened? The guys on GR were bashing Connolly and Myers to bits.

[Stoner]

I missed the second and third periods--had an early out of town meeting today. What the hell happened? The guys on GR were bashing Connolly and Myers to bits.

 

Myers was throwing the puck away constantly on the power play and was caught flat footed a couple of times in his own zone as Avs went blowing past.

 

Does there have to be a reason to bash Connolly? The narrative is written. Give the audience what they want.

[Stoner]

There are always going to be limitations, but they must have the technology now to put some kind of micro-camera in the pipes themselves. That is the only way you will ever get a true overhead view. I bet they think that would change the way the puck bounces if it hits just the right spot though. Another interesting option might be putting something in at the base of the post. That part of the net already has the pegs inside it, so the bounce is already slightly different down there. Obviously any of these cameras could be blocked at any point if someone is partially inside the net, but you have that issue anywhere you put a camera. So maybe you combine one inside the crossbar with one at the base looking across the goaline.

 

But we all know what gets in the way of this kind of idea...

$$$$$$$

 

But would you want it in the crossbar looking straight down? That's what is warping my mind. Wouldn't you want it slightly to the right, say centered over a puck placed so that it is a tiny bit over the goal line?

[Stoner]

What I don't get is this. In the NFL sometimes a call is made by one ref, but the other guys come over and tell him he got it wrong. No big deal, let's get it right.

So on calls where I a guy gets dumped, that call is made and so be it. But on the Ennis penalty, if the ref 10 feet away clearly sees that it wasn't a high stick, and I mean he's 100% sure of it, why can't he go over to the idiot at center ice and explain that he got it wrong?? No big deal, just get it right.

 

As for Ennis, I have a bad feeling that Lindy's coaching is not helping this kid out at all. It's time for change behind the bench. This kid is a heckuva player and he needs to be brought along properly. Hopefully this season won't ruin him.

 

This is the first time I've heard anyone say it was a bad call.

[darksabre]

This is the first time I've heard anyone say it was a bad call.

 

The guy was bleeding. Seems like it was a pretty obvious call to me. It's not like he hit is head on the glass or something. He caught a stick in the face. It was a good call.

[Eleven]

Myers was throwing the puck away constantly on the power play and was caught flat footed a couple of times in his own zone as Avs went blowing past.

 

Does there have to be a reason to bash Connolly? The narrative is written. Give the audience what they want.

 

 

I meant on the GWG--what happened?

[Wraith]

The guy was bleeding. Seems like it was a pretty obvious call to me. It's not like he hit is head on the glass or something. He caught a stick in the face. It was a good call.

It was only a two minute penalty so I don't think there was any blood...

[Wraith]

But would you want it in the crossbar looking straight down? That's what is warping my mind. Wouldn't you want it slightly to the right, say centered over a puck placed so that it is a tiny bit over the goal line?

Are you saying you'd want the camera positioned so it is looking ever so slightly out the goal mouth? If you did that, the thickness of the puck could cause the goal line to be obscured even when the puck is completely over the line.

 

You'd really need the opposite, position the camera so it's looking slight in to the goal mouth. If the puck is over the line, that angle would tell you. Of course that angle is slightly more likely to be blocked by a body, I suppose.

[darksabre]

It was only a two minute penalty so I don't think there was any blood...

 

TV guys said it was a 4. I guess I shouldn't have believed them. Box score does say 2.

[kishoph]

TV guys said it was a 4. I guess I shouldn't have believed them. Box score does say 2.

 

It was a 2 minute, My guess what some people believe (myself included) is that the stick didn't really go much higher than waist high, the way the player was crouched down while digging for the puck contributed more to the stick in the face than ENNIS raising his stick. I wish the refs would discuss calls, in this case obviously 2 of them had different opinions.

[Stoner]

Are you saying you'd want the camera positioned so it is looking ever so slightly out the goal mouth? If you did that, the thickness of the puck could cause the goal line to be obscured even when the puck is completely over the line.

 

You'd really need the opposite, position the camera so it's looking slight in to the goal mouth. If the puck is over the line, that angle would tell you. Of course that angle is slightly more likely to be blocked by a body, I suppose.

 

No, I wouldn't want it looking at an angle. I was just wondering -- theoretically speaking -- where the camera should be placed. If you were standing above Tyler Ennis last night, how would you have positioned your eyes? Over the goal line and look slightly to the right, over the puck and look slightly to the left, or over the inside edge of the goal line?

 

Anyone know for sure how they position the camera?

[Stoner]

I meant on the GWG--what happened?

 

4 on 3 for the Avs. Connolly was roving around at center and challenged the Av whose pass from the red line set up the two on one. Lindy said on Howard Simon this morning he liked Connolly's play in that situation. Myers was caught in no man's land semi-challenging the same passer from the Sabres line. Connolly skated as hard as he could to get back into the play.

 

P.S. We finally found someone with a worse goal voice than MJ.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW1tAVCQDfI

[spndnchz]

No, I wouldn't want it looking at an angle. I was just wondering -- theoretically speaking -- where the camera should be placed. If you were standing above Tyler Ennis last night, how would you have positioned your eyes? Over the goal line and look slightly to the right, over the puck and look slightly to the left, or over the inside edge of the goal line?

 

Anyone know for sure how they position the camera?

 

Usually on top of the TV, angled toward the bottom of the headboard.

[shrader]

But would you want it in the crossbar looking straight down? That's what is warping my mind. Wouldn't you want it slightly to the right, say centered over a puck placed so that it is a tiny bit over the goal line?

 

Any time you're not looking directly down at the goal line, you get the trick with angles where you can see white ice even if the puck has not completely cleared the line. So yes, I want it looking straight down. Our point of interest is actually the back of the redline and inside the crossbar would probably be the closest they could ever get to that. Like I said, nothing will ever be perfect, but I think this is the best they could have.

 

I think that's what you're looking for in the positioning you mentioned. I always bring up putting it inside the net because if you hang the goalcam overhead like that, there will still be netting obscuring part of the view.

[Wraith]

Any time you're not looking directly down at the goal line, you get the trick with angles where you can see white ice even if the puck has not completely cleared the line.

 

How coud you see ever see white ice if the puck hasn't cleared the line? What angle could make that possible? Unless we're talking about icy build up on the puck...

 

EDIT: Never mind, I was only thinking of instances when the puck is lying on the ice. Puck in the air could cause this problem.

[shrader]

How coud you see ever see white ice if the puck hasn't cleared the line? What angle could make that possible? Unless we're talking about icy build up on the puck...

 

EDIT: Never mind, I was only thinking of instances when the puck is lying on the ice. Puck in the air could cause this problem.

 

Yeah, and it's the problem we always see the rare times these issues pop up. A puck tilted off axis is essentially unreviewable.

[Eleven]

4 on 3 for the Avs. Connolly was roving around at center and challenged the Av whose pass from the red line set up the two on one. Lindy said on Howard Simon this morning he liked Connolly's play in that situation. Myers was caught in no man's land semi-challenging the same passer from the Sabres line. Connolly skated as hard as he could to get back into the play.

 

They were complaining that both Connolly and Myers were marking the same man, after reviewing that video, of course, that's the case. But for once, I can find no fault with Connolly. It was his man, and he was doing the right thing. Myers should have been back in the zone. And you're right, Connolly did skate like hell to get back into the play.