Game Discussion Thread Rangers at Sabres 12/10/11 7:00PM

[Captainkirk001]

Players in my dog house (and hopefully Lindy's):

- Ennis. Basically Maxim Afinogenov with a 1/4 of the scoring ability (and that is saying a lot). VERY trade-able.

- MAG. Bottom line: he should never play an NHL game again when Weber/Myers come back.

- Enroth. Don't need to explain myself. 2 weeks of rest equals that???

- Erhoff/ Leino. Yeah, way to earn your money boys.

 

I agree with you. I just dont see any fire on this team at all...Most of the time when the camera pans to Lindy on the bench, he is just staring off into the distance. Look at Tortorella tonight, the guy is always pissed off!

[Captainkirk001]

Frequently. As do most forwards on the team. They just aren't bulls in a china shopesque. Goose is a good player, just not the player everyone wishes he would be. Not really his fault, although his initial impressions left us salivating.

 

Kassian will be this player. Luke Adam has shown flashes as well. I say it's time to move some of the old guard and get the kids in the lineup. (when fully healthy, if that ever happens)

I'd love to see Adam, Kassian, Tropp, McNabb in the lineup full-time. Move guys like Stafford, Ennis, Gerbe, and MAG to make room.

 

I love Gerbe's heart, but I just dont see him being a difference maker on this team. Ennis and Mag are the two that drive me nuts, they need to be watching from the press box..

[carpandean]

That Callahan shorty really sucked. Enroth actually did the right thing, putting both pads down, but the left pad caught on the right pad, holding the edge off the ice just enough for the puck to slide under. Unfortunate, but he should have stopped at least on of the other two.

 

Either way, though, their finish, or lack thereof, was what killed them again. They created plenty of good scoring chances, but either missed the net, fanned the shot, made an extra pass, or found some other way to just not bury it. They had energy, they hit, they weren't outplayed, but Enroth was a little leaky, while the Sabres made Marty's job easy.

[Wyldnwoody44]

I just want to know what happened to the offensive sabres? We have nearly zero puck pressure and are often in for a blocked/wide shot, either that or we cycle for a minute and miss a pass and allow an easy exit for the opposing D.

 

Vanek is decent, but he is not a superstar by any means, he floats around quite a bit, is non physical. And not a very strong skater.

 

Someone teach our team about a one timer, I mean shoot the damn puck guys, that's one big reason our PP is ineffective, too much playing around.

 

Lastly, when you are slumping, it makes sense to throw EVERYTHING on net, What happened to the sabres that averaged 30+ shots a game. I mean the rags scored a couple times on just routine shots (enroth helped) but still, somethings gotta give.

 

Im very discouraged, haven't given up yet, and there have been a ton of injuries, which makes it a little tougher, but the heart shown by our rookies blows the heart outta our core game in and game out!! Idk what this team needs....leadership, a shakeup, new players.....or just more time. But adjustments need to be assessed and made soon if we want to be the real hockey heaven.

[waldo]

The expression on my Grandson's face says it all.

 

 

CAN HE SKATE? PLAY CENTER? I am ready to call Darcy.

[waldo]

Not a bad game. It turns on the Captains pitty patty move for the puck on the PP at the blue line. Cal just nudges him out of the way a bit and moves on. Then Hoff does not put a body on him and Roth gives him a soft goal. 2-1 Divine intervention. Pee Wee hockey all around.

 

The Rangers were not the better team for most of the game and they were playing the Sabres AHL team.

 

Still no one line, thus not enough time in the O zone and touches for Vanek, who seems to be the only guy that can score against any team, On the whole , beyond Kassian , Vanek, and Pom this is a shoot first team and the quality and accuracy of the shots they put up is woefull. The book on opposing goaltenders means nothing to most of this team because where the puck ends up after they shoot appears to be random. Luke Adam had six primo scoring chances, and never hit the goaltender. He wiffed on two in the low slot and Kassian got surprised by a perfect Vanek pass and caught with his stick off the ice.

 

Not a bad effort..

[Marvelo]

“The hardest thing for me in all situations is not to look down the bench and have him go over the boards [every shift]. That’s why he wears the ‘C.’” John Tortorella on Ryan Callahan, NY Post

 

 

I wish Pegula would've started fresh and wiped the slate clean when he got here. This is a bad old brew we got here.

[nfreeman]

This team spent a lot of money under Golisano. It's not the amount it's how you spend it.

 

Correct.

 

Wasn't that Callahan who schooled Pominville about the middle of the third - turned the Captain right around.

 

Also correct. That was a terrible effort by Pommer, compounded by terrible goaltending.

 

I think Ennis was the best Offensive player on the ice for the Sabres tonight, that line looks like it is starting to click, 14 SOG's tonight, Ennis had 7 of them and has been playing a lot smarter the last 3 games. Don't forget that he's just getting back from over a month off, the goals will start coming, especially if Lindy keeps that line intact and let's them get used to playing with each other.

 

I agree with this -- I've liked Ennis' game since he returned.

 

Amen!

 

The Sabres have nothing close to a Callahan on this team.

 

Also correct. This is why I wish DR would've overpaid for Mike Richards when he became available last summer.

 

He may be overcompensating which is leaving the high glove side open. He is still a young goalie and is going to take his lumps. I would still trade Miller in a heart beat if a true #1 center came back in return.

 

Perhaps, but there are only about half a dozen centers in the NHL worth trading Miller for, and none of them is going to be traded for a goalie.

 

Also, the bloom is well off Enroth's rose. If Miller were traded the Sabres would need to find a new #1 goalie.

 

Frequently. As do most forwards on the team. They just aren't bulls in a china shopesque. Goose is a good player, just not the player everyone wishes he would be. Not really his fault, although his initial impressions left us salivating.

 

Kassian will be this player. Luke Adam has shown flashes as well. I say it's time to move some of the old guard and get the kids in the lineup. (when fully healthy, if that ever happens)

I'd love to see Adam, Kassian, Tropp, McNabb in the lineup full-time. Move guys like Stafford, Ennis, Gerbe, and MAG to make room.

 

Good post, but I don't want to trade Gerbe. I would also only trade Ennis if good value came back in return.

 

That Callahan shorty really sucked. Enroth actually did the right thing, putting both pads down, but the left pad caught on the right pad, holding the edge off the ice just enough for the puck to slide under. Unfortunate, but he should have stopped at least on of the other two.

 

Either way, though, their finish, or lack thereof, was what killed them again. They created plenty of good scoring chances, but either missed the net, fanned the shot, made an extra pass, or found some other way to just not bury it. They had energy, they hit, they weren't outplayed, but Enroth was a little leaky, while the Sabres made Marty's job easy.

 

Good post.

[Robviously]

Frequently. As do most forwards on the team. They just aren't bulls in a china shopesque. Goose is a good player, just not the player everyone wishes he would be. Not really his fault, although his initial impressions left us salivating.

 

Kassian will be this player. Luke Adam has shown flashes as well. I say it's time to move some of the old guard and get the kids in the lineup. (when fully healthy, if that ever happens)

I'd love to see Adam, Kassian, Tropp, McNabb in the lineup full-time. Move guys like Stafford, Ennis, Gerbe, and MAG to make room.

Eh, if you say so. If someone asked me to describe Paul Gaustad's game, I think all I could come up with is: "Um......he's tall?" There are entire games where I forget he's on the team.

 

I'm with you on Adam, Kassian, etc. I'm not ready to give up on Ennis yet (he was drafted the same year at Adam!) but I wouldn't hesitate to trade him for the right guy. I think he's out of rhythm right now after missing so much time.

 

I do think we missed a big opportunity to unload Stafford last year when his value was at an all time high. Not sure I'm ever going to forgive him for his "We have other guys for that" quote last year when they asked him about fighting. I'd prefer players a little (a lot) more intense than that on the team, especially if we're paying them a lot of money and depending on them for production.

[LaLaLaFontaine]

Only 4 pages in a game day thread?

 

This says it all.

 

Many seem to lost interest in the Sabres.

 

I watched the games on game center this afternoon.

 

This game wasn' t boring but our PP, which dumbness reminds me of the PP of last year, and Enroth give the game away.

 

The Rangers were not better, but they won the game.

 

I hope, when our injured player come back, that we can turn the trend around and build up some momentum.

 

Currently it is not easy to be an Sabres fan.

[spndnchz]

I'll blame Enroth for that loss plus too many players that didn't know what to do (mostly Amerks).

 

Anyone realize that after last night Enroth's lost 6 of the past seven starts?

[biodork]

I'll blame Enroth for that loss plus too many players that didn't know what to do (mostly Amerks).

 

Anyone realize that after last night Enroth's lost 6 of the past seven starts?

 

Yikes... guess the law of averages caught up to him.

[spndnchz]

Yikes... guess the law of averages caught up to him.

 

Yup. From 7-1 with a 1.95 GAA and .935 save percentage to 1-5-1 with a 3.10 GAA and .905 SV%.

 

He's now 8-6-1 with a 2.43 GAA and .922 save percentage

[DumbPuck]

I haven't lost interest in the Sabres. I'm still watching or attending every game. However, I am tired of discussing the issues (for the most part) as they have been the same so far this season. I have not been getting excited for Sabres games either like I usually do as many of the players I like to watch are either injured ... or in a daze.

[sabres1970]

I just want answers. It's easy if a team losses consistently the same way. But it seems to be different for the Sabres night in and night out.

 

Something is just off. Where are the Sabres of last march? This is the same team, if not much better talent wise, than the they were down the stretch last year.

 

That's when you need to start thinking is this a chemistry issue? And I'm pretty sure everyone associated with the team will agree with that. So what do you do? Trade a guy? Fire Lindy? I think anything is reasonable from here on out.

[Marvelo]

I just want answers. It's easy if a team losses consistently the same way. But it seems to be different for the Sabres night in and night out.

 

Something is just off. Where are the Sabres of last march? This is the same team, if not much better talent wise, than the they were down the stretch last year.

 

That's when you need to start thinking is this a chemistry issue? And I'm pretty sure everyone associated with the team will agree with that. So what do you do? Trade a guy? Fire Lindy? I think anything is reasonable from here on out.

 

They did fine without Roy down the stretch. Why not start with trading him?

[spndnchz]

And by the way the crowd sucked last night. As well as the whole media/game/music presentation. Who plays Christopher Cross during a Sabres game? WHO?

[inkman]

Good post, but I don't want to trade Gerbe. I would also only trade Ennis if good value came back in return.

 

Gerbe is tragically flawed. He may have all the heart that everybody is clamoring for but at 5' tall he's a kid amongst men. His size will ultimately limit his ceiling. He's just not skilled enough to overcome it. There is spot for him in the NHL, just not sure it's on this Sabres team.

 

Eh, if you say so. If someone asked me to describe Paul Gaustad's game, I think all I could come up with is: "Um......he's tall?" There are entire games where I forget he's on the team.

 

Gaustad certainly has his detractors but he's a very solid NHL player. Maybe he doesn't hit, fight or score as much as we would like but he's a great 4th line center.

[Bmwolf21]

CAN HE SKATE? PLAY CENTER? I am ready to call Darcy.

 

Offer him 5 X $25M.

[biodork]

Offer him 5 X $25M.

 

That offer would have been fine in September, but you waited too long and now he's going to test free agency.

[qwksndmonster]

Stick a fork in this team, they are done.

I doubt they make the playoffs and even if they do it's another 1st round exit for them.

It's early December. It's frustrating now but it'll get better.

 

Only 4 pages in a game day thread?

 

This says it all.

 

Many seem to lost interest in the Sabres.

 

I watched the games on game center this afternoon.

 

This game wasn' t boring but our PP, which dumbness reminds me of the PP of last year, and Enroth give the game away.

 

The Rangers were not better, but they won the game.

 

I hope, when our injured player come back, that we can turn the trend around and build up some momentum.

 

Currently it is not easy to be an Sabres fan.

Don't read too much into that, as there are many more posts per page (I am pretty sure double) since the upgrade.

 

I only got to watch a bit of the first period. Sabres had some good chances but were just missing the net. Now I hear about two shorties? Teams that give up two shorties don't win. It's as true now as it was after the Canes game (and will continue to be true until it's not anymore).

[Eleven]

And by the way the crowd sucked last night. As well as the whole media/game/music presentation. Who plays Christopher Cross during a Sabres game? WHO?

 

Sat in a friend's seats in the 200 level for a while last night. About 80% of the section didn't get up when the Sabres scored. No one but me got into the subsequent "let's go, Buffalo!" chant. I looked at the guy on my right and said, "hey, we can do this even if it's the 200 level, right?" He nodded but didn't get into it.

 

What's the point of even going to the game if you're going to be that joyless about it? And this wasn't with the game out of hand; this was when the Sabres scored to tie it at 1. Nor were there a lot of "suits" in the mix; it was a Saturday night, after all.

 

I hope never to sit in the 200 level again.

[inkman]

Sat in a friend's seats in the 200 level for a while last night. About 80% of the section didn't get up when the Sabres scored. No one but me got into the subsequent "let's go, Buffalo!" chant. I looked at the guy on my right and said, "hey, we can do this even if it's the 200 level, right?" He nodded but didn't get into it.

 

What's the point of even going to the game if you're going to be that joyless about it? And this wasn't with the game out of hand; this was when the Sabres scored to tie it at 1. Nor were there a lot of "suits" in the mix; it was a Saturday night, after all.

 

I hope never to sit in the 200 level again.

I guess I would be one of the "joyless" schlubs that you may be referrring to, although my attendance Sabres games is infrequent. I don't jump for joy or participate in group cheers (if I'm feeling the moment maybe). It's just my schtick, I'm subdued. Not sure what everyone elses deal is.

[Samson's Flow]

Sat in a friend's seats in the 200 level for a while last night. About 80% of the section didn't get up when the Sabres scored. No one but me got into the subsequent "let's go, Buffalo!" chant. I looked at the guy on my right and said, "hey, we can do this even if it's the 200 level, right?" He nodded but didn't get into it.

 

What's the point of even going to the game if you're going to be that joyless about it? And this wasn't with the game out of hand; this was when the Sabres scored to tie it at 1. Nor were there a lot of "suits" in the mix; it was a Saturday night, after all.

 

I hope never to sit in the 200 level again.

I'll agree with this sentiment. I went to the game on Friday against the Panthers and sat in the second row of the 100's right next to the penalty box. There seem to be pockets of fans that will start cheers/be loud/stay involved in the game, but at the same time the whole 200 level as well as much of the 100's in the cushy seats seem to have come straight from a librarians convention.

 

I don't know what it is, but after going to the playoff games, it is kind of disheartening to be the only one cheering in the entire section. Been the same way for a couple seasons now. :bag:

[Eleven]

I guess I would be one of the "joyless" schlubs that you may be referrring to, although my attendance Sabres games is infrequent. I don't jump for joy or participate in group cheers (if I'm feeling the moment maybe). It's just my schtick, I'm subdued. Not sure what everyone elses deal is.

 

I'm sure there are outliers, but this was a whole section.

 

 

I'll agree with this sentiment. I went to the game on Friday against the Panthers and sat in the second row of the 100's right next to the penalty box. There seem to be pockets of fans that will start cheers/be loud/stay involved in the game, but at the same time the whole 200 level as well as much of the 100's in the cushy seats seem to have come straight from a librarians convention.

 

I don't know what it is, but after going to the playoff games, it is kind of disheartening to be the only one cheering in the entire section. Been the same way for a couple seasons now. :bag:

 

Not in my usual 100-level section. And maybe it was just an off crowd where I was sitting last night.