GAME DISCUSSION THREAD GDT: Buffalo at Washington 1-12-14 at 3:00 PM EST

[Jsixspd]

Wilson got exactly what he deserved. Good job Weber.

 

That was one of the highlights of the game. Mike Weber seems to be playing a lot smarter/better defense of late. Even in regards to this payback, he bides his time, and struck in such a way as to avoid a penalty while keeping the "message' loud and clear.

 

Caps seem to bring out the best in the Sabres this season. Miller played off the hook for this game, just like the previous Caps game. And the team put out a solid near even effort to match a much more talented team. Kudos!

[nfreeman]

Anyone happen to catch Steve Ott on the ceremonial faceoff before the game with Ovi? An 8 year old kid through Make-a-wish drops the puck, but throws Ott out of the faceoff with some flair, and Ott falls back WWE style letting Ovi get the faceoff. One of the neatest things I've seen in a while....

 

That was great.

 

My game notes:

 

- I don't see how anyone could not have been entertained by that game. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

- The Sabres kept Ovechkin bottled up pretty well.

 

- that's one of the best games I can remember Sulzer playing.

 

- another good game from Weber.

 

- didn't really like Foligno's game. Pretty passive.

 

- Omark is really good on the PP and on the half-wall in general. I forgot to mention this in the last GDT, but at one point in the last game he lacrosse-scooped the puck to win a battle in the corner. Very sweet. He must've done something wrong tonight though because I don't think he got a shift in OT.

 

- If Miller won't sign an extension before the deadline, I suppose I can live with trading him IF they get a first-rounder. But if not I want to keep him in a Sabres uniform as long as possible. He's starting to approach number-retirement territory.

 

- what's the record for most 1-1 games at the end of regulation?

 

Go Sabres.

[carpandean]

Hartnell and Briere in his prime would make Stafford a playoff force.

 

Wasn't that their third line, too?

[Darryl Shannon's +/-]

That was great.

 

My game notes:

 

- I don't see how anyone could not have been entertained by that game. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

- The Sabres kept Ovechkin bottled up pretty well.

 

- that's one of the best games I can remember Sulzer playing.

 

- another good game from Weber.

 

- didn't really like Foligno's game. Pretty passive.

 

- Omark is really good on the PP and on the half-wall in general. I forgot to mention this in the last GDT, but at one point in the last game he lacrosse-scooped the puck to win a battle in the corner. Very sweet. He must've done something wrong tonight though because I don't think he got a shift in OT.

 

- If Miller won't sign an extension before the deadline, I suppose I can live with trading him IF they get a first-rounder. But if not I want to keep him in a Sabres uniform as long as possible. He's starting to approach number-retirement territory.

 

- what's the record for most 1-1 games at the end of regulation?

 

Go Sabres.

 

I also saw this and was blown away by it.....the guy definitely has creativity and hands.

[JJFIVEOH]

Damn, a not so flattering write-up by ESPN.

 

http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=400484928

 

'NHL rules require that every game have a winner, which seemed a generous gesture in a game in which both teams played as if they were already on the Olympic break. The mascots and youngsters who played a mini-game during the first intermission generated more riveting scoring chances than the Capitals and Sabres did for long stretches of the second and third periods.'

[Hoss]

What a disaster. Both the Sabres and the Islanders can't stop gaining points. So much for that plan.

[Campy]

 

He was the beneficiary of superb linemates

 

No longer walking around DC and posting now, so hopefully a lot fewer typos in this post...

 

No doubt, but I don't know if I've ever seen a player in the National league with so little awareness. It was only one game, but man, he was always out of the play, didnt put himself in position to make plays, and seems to lack any hockey awareness whatsoever. I dont think it shows up on tv, but it was painfully obvious in person.

 

Leino needs to go. Shoot, let Grigs fill his roster spot. It wouldnt/couldnt be any worse!

[inkman]

Wasn't that their third line, too?

At times. Carter, Richards, Giroux, Van Reimsdyk with Nodl, Zherdev and Versteeg sprinkled in.

[grinreaper]

This won'tbe news flash to many of you, but this is first game I've been to zince we aquired Leiono. And holy crap, he isvl not a good hockey player. His game must look a lot better on TV, because man, the guy has no hockey sense whatsover. How he lit us in the playoffs is beyond me. He's not good...

 

 

 

 

Now, this is one f'd up post.

[LaLaLaFontaine]

I liked the game of the Sabres. Good old hardnosed hockey. They were playing on the same level like the Caps. The amazing safe of Miller saved us of course, but I believe they earned it

[sicknfla]

What a disaster. Both the Sabres and the Islanders can't stop gaining points. So much for that plan.

 

If the Islanders had a top 5 pick we weren't getting it anyhow. As for us - I predict finishing 4th from last and not winning lottery. We then trade our pick, a d man, and a 2nd to get the Oilers first overall pick. Then pick Reinhart. All these meaningless points are going to cost us big-time.

[26CornerBlitz]

POSTGAME LINKS

 

01/12 – SABRES WIN FIRST ROAD GAME UNDER NOLAN (Chris Ryndak – Sabres.com)

 

01/12 – Brian Duff and Dan Dunleavy recap the Sabres 2-1 shootout win against the Capitals <3:22>

 

01/12 – Ted Nolan speaks with the media following the Sabres 2-1 shootout win against the Capitals <3:03>

 

01/12 – Tyler Ennis speaks with the media following the Sabres 2-1 shootout win against the Capitals <1:57>

 

01/12 – Cody Hodgson speaks with the media following the Sabres 2-1 shootout win against the Capitals <1:46>

 

01/12 – Ryan Miller speaks with the media following the Sabres 2-1 shootout win against the Capitals <2:15>

[Campy]

 

 

Now, this is one f'd up post.

 

Haha! It didnt seem that bad as i was dodging traffic. And for sone reason my phone's autocorrect doesnt activate when I type a post on it. Add a few beers on top of that and viola, a pretty effed up post!

[Hoss]

 

 

If the Islanders had a top 5 pick we weren't getting it anyhow. As for us - I predict finishing 4th from last and not winning lottery. We then trade our pick, a d man, and a 2nd to get the Oilers first overall pick. Then pick Reinhart. All these meaningless points are going to cost us big-time.

 

The Isles not deferring was part of my point, but them being good hurts us either way. Either we get a worse pick this year and don't get next year's or it's more likely we get a bad pick next year.

[sicknfla]

 

 

The Isles not deferring was part of my point, but them being good hurts us either way. Either we get a worse pick this year and don't get next year's or it's more likely we get a bad pick next year.

 

When they trade Vanek whatever year the 1st round pick will be in will determine if they defer or not.

[qwksndmonster]

If the Islanders had a top 5 pick we weren't getting it anyhow. As for us - I predict finishing 4th from last and not winning lottery. We then trade our pick, a d man, and a 2nd to get the Oilers first overall pick. Then pick Reinhart. All these meaningless points are going to cost us big-time.

It would take way more than a second and a d man to get up to 1st overall from 4th.

When they trade Vanek whatever year the 1st round pick will be in will determine if they defer or not.

Vanek is only signed for this year.

[FolignosJock]

It would take way more than a second and a d man to get up to 1st overall from 4th.

 

Vanek is only signed for this year.

 

 

Not if it is Pysyk. This draft is very good but no one elite. I am sure if we had the fourth it wouldnt take much to get up to first.

[qwksndmonster]

Not if it is Pysyk. This draft is very good but no one elite. I am sure if we had the fourth it wouldnt take much to get up to first.

We'll see. I think by June there will be a bigger perceived gulf between the 1st and 4th picks, at least it always seems that way.

[apuszczalowski]

I can't believe that there isn't a huge market for Miller out there. I can name 5 teams of the top of my head that are battling for a playoff spot where adding Miller would pretty much guarantee a spot.

Of those 5 teams, how many are on his "no-trade list"?

How many have the space to take him and his contract on?

How many have assets they want to give up in order to get him from the Sabres?

How many of those teams still think they have a chance making a move from one of the other goalies possibly available that may come cheaper?

How many of those teams feel like giving up big assets for a rental?

 

Theres many variables that will keep the market down, or make the return on Miller much less then everyone would hope he would get in a trade

[sicknfla]

 

It would take way more than a second and a d man to get up to 1st overall from 4th.

 

Vanek is only signed for this year.

 

I understand he is only signed for this year. I think NYI trade him at the deadline.

[LTS]

Good game. Shut them down and limit chances. The Caps are near the bottom with the Sabres and Leafs in Shots Allowed/ game so it wasn't surprising to see a few more chances. After two games now I can definitely say that Myers makes a big difference on the back end. They certainly struggled at times to move the puck up where I feel Myers has really improved in breaking up plays and getting the play moving since Nolan took over.

 

Girgensons.. what I don't get at this point is why he is not on the power play and why he was barely used in OT. He continues to impress, there's just no quit in him and he has a lot of creativity/intelligence that lead to scoring chances.

 

Anyone happen to catch Steve Ott on the ceremonial faceoff before the game with Ovi? An 8 year old kid through Make-a-wish drops the puck, but throws Ott out of the faceoff with some flair, and Ott falls back WWE style letting Ovi get the faceoff. One of the neatest things I've seen in a while....

 

Loved this... Ott is all kinds of good.

 

:flirt: I do what I can.. This team just bores me to tears watching them.

 

The logic here baffles me. Is there some redeeming value that you are not mentioning that would justify spending your time on something that bores you to tears?

 

 

Hardly, Ryan is not half as good as Dom.

 

Not half as good? Based on this and your prior comment about not stopping a deflection made by his own player it would seem as though you have an agenda. I'm on record for hating on Miller the past few years but this year he has looked the best I can remember. Only a few times he seems to slide a little too far and leave himself a bit out of position but it hasn't really burned him yet.

[LGR4GM]

It would take way more than a second and a d man to get up to 1st overall from 4th.

 

Vanek is only signed for this year.

I'll give you Zadorov, 4th overall and 34th overall pics for your 1st overall... This year without McDavid in the running I would say yes.

 

I understand your point though. Honestly this year if we finish 4th overall than I think we should pick at 4th overall. We could still get Draisaitl or Dal Colle there so why not?

 

We'll see. I think by June there will be a bigger perceived gulf between the 1st and 4th picks, at least it always seems that way.

Not to pick on you but in this past draft 1st was MacKinnon and 4th was Jones... not really a ton of seperation there considering how their seasons have gone. Hell 6th was Monahan. I think in this draft 1-5 will be very fluid come draft day with Ekblad and Reinhart being gone 1-3 and than that 5th spot being another big drop off. If I had to make a wild prediciton...

 

1st Reinhart

2nd Ekblad

3rd Draisaitl

4th Bennett

5th Kapanen

[spndnchz]

Anyone happen to catch Steve Ott on the ceremonial faceoff before the game with Ovi? An 8 year old kid through Make-a-wish drops the puck, but throws Ott out of the faceoff with some flair, and Ott falls back WWE style letting Ovi get the faceoff. One of the neatest things I've seen in a while....

 

 

http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2014/1/13/5303866/adorable-kid-throws-out-hockey-player-before-puck-drop#comments

[qwksndmonster]

I understand he is only signed for this year. I think NYI trade him at the deadline.

Gotcha. I misunderstood your original post.

 

Girgensons.. what I don't get at this point is why he is not on the power play and why he was barely used in OT. He continues to impress, there's just no quit in him and he has a lot of creativity/intelligence that lead to scoring chances.

I just looked over the TOI charts for the last ten games or so, and Zemgus is usually between 18-20 mins a night. In the two times we played Boston he was around 12-15 mins and there was one game that he only played 10 mins but was not benched at any moment in the game. I definitely agree that he should be seeing more PP time, but otherwise I can't complain.

[spndnchz]

The kid that did the puck drop has Langerhans cell histiocytosis, a disease similar to cancer, if you're curious.

 

It was something similar to Make a Wish in Canada.