game discussion thread GDT: Sabres at Canucks 3/03/12 10:00PM

[kishoph]

 

 

I figure the Sabres need to go 13-4 to get into the playoffs. Any thoughts?

 

Unfortunately 10 of those games are on the road, including games against the Senators, Panthers, Rangers, Flyers and 2 against against the Bruins. One thing is for sure, if they do get into the play-offs, they will have earned it.. Although they have won the last 3 on the road.

[deluca67]

The real question is - what happens if they lose Winnipeg? Throw in the towel? The mental toughness of this team worries me. They're so bipolar.

The Jets are not a real concern at this point. they have 9 of their final 16 games on the road where they are 11-21 so far this season. Even if the Sabres lose they can easily get those points back.

 

Looking at the schedule, the Sabres playoff chances may hinge on Tampa's 7 game home stand this month, where they are 20-11. If Tampa goes 6-1 or 5-2 during that stretch it may take the Sabres going 13-4 as previously stated by North Buffalo.

 

Keeping an eye on Toronto, they have Boston, Pittsburgh and Philly coming followed by a 5 game road trip that takes them to Tampa and four teams currently holding on to playoff positions.

 

Unfortunately 10 of those games are on the road, including games against the Senators, Panthers, Rangers, Flyers and 2 against against the Bruins. One thing is for sure, if they do get into the play-offs, they will have earned it.. Although they have won the last 3 on the road.

Right now, on paper, the final four games of the season look tough. It is possible by that time the Leafs will be out of it and Boston & Philly may already be locked into playoff positions trying to stay healthy. Even if the Sabres hit a bad patch they have slump buster games sprinkled throughout their schedule. A couple against Montreal, Minnesota and Washington.

[Redemption City]

Just looked at that Tampa homestand, only two teams that would be in the playoffs if the season ended today - Boston and St. Louis. You're right, that could be troublesome.

[Gramps]

I don't think 13-4 is needed at this point. The Sabres and Lighting are the only two teams battling for that eight spot that are winning more than they are losing. Buffalo is 6-4 and Tampa is 7-3 in their last ten. I doubt the Lightning will go 13-4 over that time. Unless one of the other teams get hot it may only take 10 wins. If the Sabres go 13-4 they may actually clinch eight early.

 

Think you're right with all of the games between the competing teams. 88 points gets it done, just like 2009-10. I do think Tronna will step it up with Carlyle though and Washington could get hot if their goaltending improves ...

[Zamboni Driver]

Great game gay, congrats on the win! :flirt:

 

Zamboni Driver,

Does your team always get 3+ undeserved power plays every game? This is ridiculous.

 

Sometimes. Definately not when we play Boston. :P

Powerplays are like a crapshoot, there are usually 2 - 5 for each side, and often a couple of crap calls.

You gotta just connect on them when you get them

 

Regardless of the score, this is the perfect example of a power team owning a finesse team. I'm rooting for the Sabres to gain 2 points and become something like the Canucks in the near future.

You really need both, enough skill player AND some toughness

 

What deadline trades did VAN make that did this? Kassian?

We got Pahlsson from the Jets as a #3 center and Kassian.

Trading for Booth earlier helped too.

 

Where have 26-9-29 been? Need to mix up the 1st and 4th line

 

Is that your top line? I was trying to figure out which line was the top.

I know Vanek makes $7 mil or something, I was expecting to see little more than that.... :huh:

[TheChimp]

I realize that, which is why I don't pay attention to them too much, but I really can't remember the Sabres pickers selecting 2 stars in a losing effort unless 1 was the Goalie, then again, like I said I don't pay attention to them that often so I could be wrong. Also both of these recent games that it happened, the Sabres won by 2 goals in regulation.

Yeah you know you're right, I've never seen that kind of homerism here....Maybe Buffalo's integrity is just that much higher than other places. And I am not saying that sarcastically.

[rickshaw]

My thoughts

 

Great seat we had. The goals were at our end!

The best line was the Boyes line then the Hodgson line.

The top line was awful.

Keta played great. In control. Awful call on him.

The refs were terrible.

Hodgson was good. He'll get his pts. 3-0 with him in lineup. Kassian may have scored but they're 1-1-1 with him.

Luongo had a rare off night. He's been the best Canuck for 3 months.

Most fans were great and loving my vintage Sabres jacket that I bought in England. That's the UK England.

Some drunk punks lipped me and my 13 yr old boy at the end but it was liquid courage and testosterone doing it's thing.

Well worth the $430 for the tix.

And now the drive home begins. Kelowna here we come.

[TheChimp]

Koziol had a guy call in after the Sharks game complaining about the 3 stars. Koziol said that he's one of the people who casts his votes for the 3 stars at the Sabres games. He agreed that many of the 3 stars in different arenas are influenced by their PR group but Koziol tries to vote with an unbiased viewpoint. I have to agree that for the most part the 3 stars in BFLO are usually pretty legit; other cities not so much.

Well see, there ya go!

[Zamboni Driver]

KASSIAN FIRST STAR- why did it seem like he was almost being "campaigned" by HNIC as the next superstar that was given away by Buffalo?

what is with the losing team getting 2 stars against the Sabres lately. I think Kaleta earned a star over 2 guys that were on the losing team.

 

The 3 stars in some buildings are just stupid. Sometimes they ONLY pick the home team, which makes it a joke when the home team just got bombed 7 - 1 or something. :rolleyes:

I have no idea who does HNIC 3 stars.

 

I figure the Sabres need to go 13-4 to get into the playoffs. Any thoughts?

I don't think 13-4 is needed at this point. The Sabres and Lighting are the only two teams battling for that eight spot that are winning more than they are losing. Buffalo is 6-4 and Tampa is 7-3 in their last ten. I doubt the Lightning will go 13-4 over that time. Unless one of the other teams get hot it may only take 10 wins. If the Sabres go 13-4 they may actually clinch eight early.

 

Well you really only need to beat WPG to get into 8th, and hope that Philly beats the Caps.

From then on you just have to stay ahead and win your games against the Caps, Bolts & Leafs. ;)

Considering how bad. disinterested and/or pathetic those three have played at times this year, it's not impossible. :unsure:

[TheChimp]

The 3 stars in some buildings are just stupid. Sometimes they ONLY pick the home team, which makes it a joke when the home team just got bombed 7 - 1 or something. :rolleyes:

I have no idea who does HNIC 3 stars.

 

 

 

 

Well you really only need to beat WPG to get into 8th, and hope that Philly beats the Caps.

From then on you just have to stay ahead and win your games against the Caps, Bolts & Leafs. ;)

Considering how bad. disinterested and/or pathetic those three have played at times this year, it's not impossible. :unsure:

You haven't seen the Sabres/Tampa games lately, have you? :lol:

[cdexchange]

Managed to stay up til the end even though I had to get up early this morning. Man, what a fun game. I sure hope we play the Nucks again this year... B-)

[Randall Flagg]

Leino now has as many points as Luke Adam.

[LGR4GM]

this is from the associated press post game write-up and posted on yahoo sports nhl:

"Leino had gone 14 games without a goal. The 31-year-old forward was one of Buffalo’s prized free-agent acquisitions, inking a six-year, $27 million deal, but has struggled mightily with 20 points in 60 games."

 

Poor Leino, not only is he not scoring the way he could he also apparently aged 2 and half years overnight! He's like a reverse Benjamin Button!

 

http://sports.yahoo....?gid=2012030322

 

the canadian press (which obviously used pretty much the same write-up) said he was 31 as well... fail

 

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=389449

[deluca67]

this is from the associated press post game write-up and posted on yahoo sports nhl:

"Leino had gone 14 games without a goal. The 31-year-old forward was one of Buffalo’s prized free-agent acquisitions, inking a six-year, $27 million deal, but has struggled mightily with 20 points in 60 games."

 

Poor Leino, not only is he not scoring the way he could he also apparently aged 2 and half years overnight! He's like a reverse Benjamin Button!

 

http://sports.yahoo....?gid=2012030322

Well, his birth name is Roberto Hernandez Heredia. ;)

[nfreeman]

just never say that in the UK

 

Good call.

 

For those wondering what this is about: "fanny" in the UK refers to the female private parts.

 

Didn't think about this until just now, Vanek was 100% invisible (as well as his whole lime)

That line is just bad. I genuinely think it's only a matter of time before Hodgson centers it, or the flip Vanek to RW to have him play with Ennis and Hodgson. RVP does not function in anything close to a positive fashion.

Vanek with just 12:09 of TOI last night.. One of the lowest totals on the team..

 

Roy must go. And if it will get Nash here, Vanek can go too. 3 goals in his last 22 games and 5 goals in the last 30? And he can't be bothered to move his feet or earn any ice time last night? When his team is making a desperation run for the playoffs? For $7-freaking-MM a year? Give me a break.

 

The 2 of them embody everything that is wrong with the Sabres' forwards.

 

I think that not thoroughly folding and battling back to have a shot at the last playoff spot after all the ###### that's happened this year is already-existing evidence that the team IS pretty resilient.

 

You have got to be kidding. This is a nice little winning streak they've put together on Ryan Miller's back and Luongo's off night. That's it.

 

This group has run away and hidden every single time they've been faced with adversity since Black Sunday. I'm rooting for them but they have a really, really long way to go before they can be fairly described as "resilient."

 

I was amazed and pleased at the number of times Vancouver looked like they were going to get a good scoring chance, only to have a Buffalo player disrupt the play with a stick on the puck. They're finally playing with the desperation they need.

 

I know the last three games, the Sabres were just hanging on in the latter stages of the game, but I much prefer that to trying to catch up at the end of the game. The big thing in all three games has been their ability to protect a lead. The first two games they did it with some great saves by Miller. Tonight, Miller did his part, but the Sabres answered Vancouver goals with goals of their own. That was key.

 

The Ennis goal at the end once again demonstrated his skill level. That wasn't a slam-dunk pass. He was able to flag it down and catch up to it. It's so noticeable that Ennis, and also Gerbe, never give up on a play. Pursue, pursue, pursue. Love it. Ellis also had a great game.

 

I was ready for the let down game, but they continued to hustle. When they skate hard, they win, it's that simple.

 

I agree with the rest of the crowd: Time to break up the so-called first line.

 

Good post.

 

Ok the next game will be huge and i bet the arena in Winnipeg will not be as silent as the arena in Vancouver.

 

This will be interesting how our team will react to play against a contender in the playoff race which, will fight to win this game at home with everything it got.

The real question is - what happens if they lose Winnipeg? Throw in the towel? The mental toughness of this team worries me. They're so bipolar.

 

The Winnipeg game in many ways is a bigger test than the other games on this roadie. They've put themselves into position where they more or less can win their way into the playoffs. Now they're playing a critical game against a lesser opponent (relative to the last 2 teams they just played). Are they going to come out, as they have so many times before, acting like all they need to do is show up and someone will hand them a win? Or are they going to play with desperation and go out and take it?

 

I wish I were confident.

 

Kaleta earned a reputation as a faker. That's why the refs cut him no slack. The yipping, the turtles, the head tosses. I think the majority of refs appreciate a clean physical game. i agree he almost got Ennis and Tropp up high.

 

I think this is right. There is no other way to explain him being penalized for getting crosschecked into Vancouver's goalie.

 

It looked like Roy was back to his old tricks of turning the puck over and Vanek and Pommenville just looked tired and frustrated with Roy. That being said, the other two lines looked great... Now if the Sabres could only get another center and let go of... er trade Roy.

 

Still a really nice game and I love the Kaleta, Gerbe line with the addition of Leino. Kaleta and Gerbe are really good passers that can score. Both skate hard all day long and Leino seems to be infected by their work ethics. The Hodgson line didn't seem to suffer too much from Stafford going to sleep for part of the game and Stafford at least seemed to play responsibly defensively during the game. Ennis is just all over the game and despite some mistakes, nice hustle.

 

Regher was missed with his physicality, especially against Stafford, but it was nice to see Sulzer wasn't out of place and seemed to play more physical as the game went on. The D was not as polished as previous with the pairing shuffled, but still it worked. The Sabres still ran out of gas at times during the 3rd period.

 

Finally, WTF since when does Grags play physical??? Is that Ruff or the frustration of a young player playing on a team struggling early on? Kassian looked about as expected and played well, still wonder about his consistency.

 

Good post.

[SarasotaSabre]

just revisiting the Boyes goal, given the fact that a full 2:08 elapsed before play stopped a video review awarded the goal as good..... can you imagine if the Canucks had scored during the 2:08 played after Boyes' goal ? Since the 2:08 was put back on the clock, I'm sure a hypothetical Canucks' goal would have been nullified - oh, THE HORROR...... :doh:

[Punch]

Per the Buffalo Sabres official twitter account:

 

"Marcus Foligno has been returned to the AHL's Rochester Americans.--^ks"

[spndnchz]

Per the Buffalo Sabres official twitter account:

 

"Marcus Foligno has been returned to the AHL's Rochester Americans.--^ks"

 

I think this was more about someone possibly being sick yesterday. Vanek?

[dudacek]

just revisiting the Boyes goal, given the fact that a full 2:08 elapsed before play stopped a video review awarded the goal as good..... can you imagine if the Canucks had scored during the 2:08 played after Boyes' goal ? Since the 2:08 was put back on the clock, I'm sure a hypothetical Canucks' goal would have been nullified - oh, THE HORROR...... :doh:

 

I saw this happen in a game once. Details are sketchy, but I want to say Mike Foligno was playing.

Which seems too long ago to have replay, maybe someone else remembers this?

[Bmwolf21]

Roy must go. And if it will get Nash here, Vanek can go too. 3 goals in his last 22 games and 5 goals in the last 30? And he can't be bothered to move his feet or earn any ice time last night? When his team is making a desperation run for the playoffs? For $7-freaking-MM a year? Give me a break.

 

The 2 of them embody everything that is wrong with the Sabres' forwards.

 

Agree 100%.

[nfreeman]

just revisiting the Boyes goal, given the fact that a full 2:08 elapsed before play stopped a video review awarded the goal as good..... can you imagine if the Canucks had scored during the 2:08 played after Boyes' goal ? Since the 2:08 was put back on the clock, I'm sure a hypothetical Canucks' goal would have been nullified - oh, THE HORROR...... :doh:

 

The horror indeed, but I think it would have been our collective horror. I am pretty sure the rule is that if the Canucks had scored during that 2:08, the Canucks' goal would have counted, and NOT the Sabres' goal. And Henrik Sedin had a breakaway during that 2:08 that Miller stuffed, but it could easily have gone the other way.

[carpandean]

I am pretty sure the rule is that if the Canucks had scored during that 2:08, the Canucks' goal would have counted, and NOT the Sabres' goal.

 

I am almost 100% sure that is not correct. The review goes back to see if play should have been stopped due to a goal scored by the Sabres. Everything after that is negated if the goal is deemed to have occurred.

[ROC Sabres]

I think this was more about someone possibly being sick yesterday. Vanek?

Sick of Ruff benching him probably.

[nfreeman]

I am almost 100% sure that is not correct. The review goes back to see if play should have been stopped due to a goal scored by the Sabres. Everything after that is negated if the goal is deemed to have occurred.

 

I think we've reached the point where someone needs to do some google and nail this one down.

[DumbPuck]

I think we've reached the point where someone needs to do some google and nail this one down.

 

It would appear we have reached an impasse ::pees on nfreeman's leg ::