game discussion thread GDT: Buffalo at Pittsburgh, 12/17/11 at 7pm

[inkman]

Okay, partly. But hard to make any big beneficial trades.

I'm sure there are teams with bad contracts they wouldn't mind unloading even if they meant they would have to part with something they didn't want to, see Regehr & Kotalik. Daddy Pegulabucks allows for these types of moves. Not to mention, I'd like to see another player like Morrisson on the Amerks :D.

 

Just to piss everyone off, Ehrhoff make $1 million more than which Penguin? Ouch...

[Sabel79]

Just to piss everyone off, Ehrhoff make $1 million more than which Penguin? Ouch...

 

Cap hit...just look at the cap hit, and not behind the curtain...

[Dannepanne]

I'm sure there are teams with bad contracts they wouldn't mind unloading even if they meant they would have to part with something they didn't want to, see Regehr & Kotalik. Daddy Pegulabucks allows for these types of moves. Not to mention, I'd like to see another player like Morrisson on the Amerks :D.

 

Just to piss everyone off, Ehrhoff make $1 million more than which Penguin? Ouch...

That trade wasn't that great for Calgary.. They lost a key defenseman in Regehr, someone who can lock it down and make people know thier place + 2nd round pick. Butler and Byron sucks, definitely not beneficial for the team unloading (calgary).

Yeah Morrisson is alright, wouldn't mind seeing him up here actually. Really thinks he should get another crack with buffalo if another defensman goes down (Everone seems to get hurt, so why not another defenseman?).

[LaFontaineToMogilny]

Does it seem like the Sabres are backing off too much when defending their own zone?

 

In the last 5 or 6 games, there is a gap a mile wide between the puck carrier and the D.

 

It seems like the D are at the top of the circle while the offensive player is coming over the blue line.

 

I don't know if this is a system thing; are the D is counting on their forwards to back check?

 

Mcnabb seems to have it right sometimes; line them up as they come across the red line, and hammer them at the blue line.

 

It looks like the D are over compensating when trying to deal with speedy forwards coming into their end of the rink.

 

This is a big problem for the Sabres, but not just the last 5 - 6 games, it's been an issue since last year at least.

 

It seems to be part of Ruff's system that the forwards collapse down low when the other team has control of the puck, and it leads to the Sabres doing a lot of puck chasing and difficulty in clearing the zone. I suppose the idea is to keep shots to the outside and in fairness I've noticed that they don't give up too many goals as a result of dropping down this way. The big problem with this system the way the Sabres play it in my opinion is that it basically hands over momentum to the opposition. We end up spending a lot of time in our own end, especially since the Sabres are basically incapable of establishing a consistent fore check or keep the puck in the offensive zone for any prolonged time.

[Kristian]

This is a big problem for the Sabres, but not just the last 5 - 6 games, it's been an issue since last year at least.

 

It seems to be part of Ruff's system that the forwards collapse down low when the other team has control of the puck, and it leads to the Sabres doing a lot of puck chasing and difficulty in clearing the zone. I suppose the idea is to keep shots to the outside and in fairness I've noticed that they don't give up too many goals as a result of dropping down this way. The big problem with this system the way the Sabres play it in my opinion is that it basically hands over momentum to the opposition. We end up spending a lot of time in our own end, especially since the Sabres are basically incapable of establishing a consistent fore check or keep the puck in the offensive zone for any prolonged time.

 

Also, it usually means our forwards are gassed once they gain control of the puck, leaving them no other option than the dump and change once they actually DO clear the zone, giving away possesion. Again.

[hockeyhound]

This is a big problem for the Sabres, but not just the last 5 - 6 games, it's been an issue since last year at least.

 

It seems to be part of Ruff's system that the forwards collapse down low when the other team has control of the puck, and it leads to the Sabres doing a lot of puck chasing and difficulty in clearing the zone. I suppose the idea is to keep shots to the outside and in fairness I've noticed that they don't give up too many goals as a result of dropping down this way. The big problem with this system the way the Sabres play it in my opinion is that it basically hands over momentum to the opposition. We end up spending a lot of time in our own end, especially since the Sabres are basically incapable of establishing a consistent fore check or keep the puck in the offensive zone for any prolonged time.

 

I see what your talking about game after game; however, it's what happens prior to the collapse that is frustrating.

 

I get it, on most nights when they are on their game, it does not seem to me that having the puck in your own zone is a problem if they are playing positionally sound hockey.

 

However, it's what happens when the opposing team is coming over the red line that bothers me.

 

Forwards don't seem to be back checking, which leaves the opposing player a lot of room to pick up speed and create chances between the top of the circle and the blue line.

 

I miss Gerbe being on the ice; in my opinion, he is one of the best back checking offensive player we have.

 

I am o.k. with the collapse; however, when you collapse to early...

 

Same with Miller; when he drops down into the butterfly to early, over the shoulder, and in the net it goes.

 

Stand up right a little longer Ryan, and Enroth your not Miller, stay up right. Just having fun with it.

[bunomatic]

The sad fact is, not a damn thing has changed since Pegula took over, except the roster got more expensive, so we're down to 2 possibilities :

 

a. Either Darcy donesn't know how to put together a good hockey team.

 

or

 

b. Lindy doesn't know how to coach a good hockey team.

 

Either way, it's time for both of these guys to go, as they're seemingly joined at the hip by choice.

 

Or option C. this just isn't a good hockey team.

[LaFontaineToMogilny]

I see what your talking about game after game; however, it's what happens prior to the collapse that is frustrating.

 

I get it, on most nights when they are on their game, it does not seem to me that having the puck in your own zone is a problem if they are playing positionally sound hockey.

 

However, it's what happens when the opposing team is coming over the red line that bothers me.

 

Forwards don't seem to be back checking, which leaves the opposing player a lot of room to pick up speed and create chances between the top of the circle and the blue line.

 

I miss Gerbe being on the ice; in my opinion, he is one of the best back checking offensive player we have.

 

I am o.k. with the collapse; however, when you collapse to early...

 

Same with Miller; when he drops down into the butterfly to early, over the shoulder, and in the net it goes.

 

Stand up right a little longer Ryan, and Enroth your not Miller, stay up right. Just having fun with it.

 

I am not fine with collapsing down as low as the Sabres do. Of course, sometimes you have to or are forced down low, but it looks like the Sabres play a system where they draw the forwards down to the circles even at even strength and without any exceptional pressure from the opponent. My only guess is that the system is supposed to play into our 'strengths' by forcing shots from the outside and have our goaltending eat that up. If that is the case, it is a complete failure.

 

One thing is that we're not getting the goaltending we can expect and probably need to rely on, an other thing are the things you point out. Teams have had absolutely no problems gaining our zone this year. The get in and set up game after game after game. It's almost a trademark of a Sabres game now to see Buffalo chasing pucks in their own zone. And yes, it is extremely frustrating.

 

I'm not sure if you saw the disaster last night, but for a period in the 3rd, I believe it was when it was 1-6, the Sabres actually stood the Penguins up at the blue line. It could of course be a result of the Pens taking their foot off the gas, but none the less it was like a revelation. As soon as they did that they looked like a completely different team. The saying goes that the game is won at the blue lines, but I'm not sure Ruff's system agrees with that.

[Kristian]

Or option C. this just isn't a good hockey team.

 

Pretty much covered in option a, seeing as Darcy built it.

[Ross Rhea]

I see what your talking about game after game; however, it's what happens prior to the collapse that is frustrating.

 

I get it, on most nights when they are on their game, it does not seem to me that having the puck in your own zone is a problem if they are playing positionally sound hockey.

 

However, it's what happens when the opposing team is coming over the red line that bothers me.

 

Forwards don't seem to be back checking, which leaves the opposing player a lot of room to pick up speed and create chances between the top of the circle and the blue line.

 

I miss Gerbe being on the ice; in my opinion, he is one of the best back checking offensive player we have.

 

I am o.k. with the collapse; however, when you collapse to early...

 

Same with Miller; when he drops down into the butterfly to early, over the shoulder, and in the net it goes.

 

Stand up right a little longer Ryan, and Enroth your not Miller, stay up right. Just having fun with it.

 

I have noticed this too. Enroth more and more seems to be mimicking Miller in that he drops to the butterfly too much. That has got to be Corsi telling him to do that. That's not Enroth and that is not what made him successful to this point in his career. He's not a butterfly goalie and if Corsi is having that much influence on him he needs to stop and see that it is hampering his game not helping his game.

 

I think Corsi is a huge problem in with why the goaltenders are struggling. JMHO tho!

[That Aud Smell]

as a long-time defender of miller, i find this sort of stuff intolerable:

 

 

"It was like I was up against Justin Verlander on that one," said Miller, referring to the Detroit pitcher and American League MVP. "I was expecting fastball. He threw a curve. Jordan [Leopold] said it ticked him on the skate, put some drop spin on it, but still it's not a good goal to have. I was standing at the plate frozen."

 

JFC, ryan: it was a bad goal. period. end story.

[R_Dudley]

The shame of it all. Back at work today and taking a ton of Shaught about my Bflo hockey team. All the pens fans asking me what's up with that pitiful showing, all the outsiders thought Bflo was better than that performance, heck we were only 3 pts behind Pgh before that game they say. I can only answer shaught rises to the top just like cream for this team and say I'm embarassed they would play a regular season hockey game that poorly. I will be spending more of more holiday time away from this team till they decide to play some real hockey unfortunately with Lindy running the show and all apperances of not having a clue how to get this team playing good sound hockey I do not see that happening any time soon.

[hockeyhound]

I am not fine with collapsing down as low as the Sabres do. Of course, sometimes you have to or are forced down low, but it looks like the Sabres play a system where they draw the forwards down to the circles even at even strength and without any exceptional pressure from the opponent. My only guess is that the system is supposed to play into our 'strengths' by forcing shots from the outside and have our goaltending eat that up. If that is the case, it is a complete failure.

 

One thing is that we're not getting the goaltending we can expect and probably need to rely on, an other thing are the things you point out. Teams have had absolutely no problems gaining our zone this year. The get in and set up game after game after game. It's almost a trademark of a Sabres game now to see Buffalo chasing pucks in their own zone. And yes, it is extremely frustrating.

 

I'm not sure if you saw the disaster last night, but for a period in the 3rd, I believe it was when it was 1-6, the Sabres actually stood the Penguins up at the blue line. It could of course be a result of the Pens taking their foot off the gas, but none the less it was like a revelation. As soon as they did that they looked like a completely different team. The saying goes that the game is won at the blue lines, but I'm not sure Ruff's system agrees with that.

 

I have to agree with you about the Sabres looking like a different team when they attack teams early and get on them and stand them up on the blue line.

 

It seems the philosophy centers around the idea that the opponent is going to get into the zone at some point so why not control when and where the shot are going to come from; however, this rarely is the case.

 

You give them an inch and they are going to take a mile.

 

The way I see it is that the forwards cannot get trapped over pursuing the puck carrier and they have to do better playing inside the dots.

 

To many times I see the opposing team gain the middle of the ice because a reckless over exuberant fore checker.

 

Don't get me wrong, I like the effort; however, sometimes you have to know when to turn it back up ice and get in position to squeeze the play out to the boards.

 

The game is one at the blue line; the opponents blue line, everything from there on back makes a difference.

[darksabre]

as a long-time defender of miller, i find this sort of stuff intolerable:

 

 

"It was like I was up against Justin Verlander on that one," said Miller, referring to the Detroit pitcher and American League MVP. "I was expecting fastball. He threw a curve. Jordan [Leopold] said it ticked him on the skate, put some drop spin on it, but still it's not a good goal to have. I was standing at the plate frozen."

 

JFC, ryan: it was a bad goal. period. end story.

 

Give the guy credit, he would be really good at posting on this board.

[hockeyhound]

I have noticed this too. Enroth more and more seems to be mimicking Miller in that he drops to the butterfly too much. That has got to be Corsi telling him to do that. That's not Enroth and that is not what made him successful to this point in his career. He's not a butterfly goalie and if Corsi is having that much influence on him he needs to stop and see that it is hampering his game not helping his game.

 

I think Corsi is a huge problem in with why the goaltenders are struggling. JMHO tho!

 

I am not sure how much influence Corsi has with either of them; however, I do know if they keep it up teams are going to go high and over the shoulder early and often.

 

A shoulder shrug is not going to get it Ryan; ask Luongo.

 

Putting on larger shoulder pads is not going to help either.

 

We need to bring in Vladislav Tretiak to give a few pointers.

 

Up down, Up down, Up down, again, again, again!