Game 6

[hopeleslyobvious]

I think it's pretty disappointing to see so many people here give up on this team already. Sure, the situation doesn't look great, but throughout the season the team has found a way to come back and win games where the situation doesn't look great. Additionally, Miller is due to steal a game for us. Tuesday is going to be a great game no matter what.

 

If we win, it is just going to bring a lot more excitement to a season that has already been exciting.

 

If we lose, yeah I am going to be disappointed. But honestly, if you have been seriously watching the team this season since October 5, can you be anything but proud of this team? It's been a great year, and this team has been a lot of fun to watch through all the ups and downs (even if the ups were a lot better than the downs). So why don't we leave the whining and complaining to those who started following the team in April.

 

So I am going to do my best to enjoy Tuesday, no matter how it turns out.

[Rabbit151]

I've seen a few glass-is-half-full types feel like it's been a good year, and they seem satisfied. A lot of folks believe the Sabres will be right back here contending for the next few years.

 

I don't know if I agree. How many times have you seen, in any sport, a surprise team rise up out of the ashes and almost win it all, and then disappear without a trace next year. Other GM's are making adjustments right now, there will be several personnel changes on most teams involving getting rid of the slow and bringing in the speed.

 

The Sabres won't be a surprise team, and they won't be underdogs. This has been a magical year, but magic runs out. The regular season will be just a little less exciting for these Sabres, so many of whom spent every minute of every game this year proving they belonged in the NHL.

 

I feel bad for this team and your city. With only 3 teams standing, they are potentially the one to finally win your city a title. But it seems a tired goalie, a depleted defense and an injured Connolly are too much for the Sabres to overcome. And yet, they probably should have won last night.

[hopeleslyobvious]

I've seen a few glass-is-half-full types feel like it's been a good year, and they seem satisfied. A lot of folks believe the Sabres will be right back here contending for the next few years.

 

I don't know if I agree. How many times have you seen, in any sport, a surprise team rise up out of the ashes and almost win it all, and then disappear without a trace next year. Other GM's are making adjustments right now, there will be several personnel changes on most teams involving getting rid of the slow and bringing in the speed.

 

The Sabres won't be a surprise team, and they won't be underdogs. This has been a magical year, but magic runs out. The regular season will be just a little less exciting for these Sabres, so many of whom spent every minute of every game this year proving they belonged in the NHL.

 

I feel bad for this team and your city. With only 3 teams standing, they are potentially the one to finally win your city a title. But it seems a tired goalie, a depleted defense and an injured Connolly are too much for the Sabres to overcome. And yet, they probably should have won last night.

 

I have to disagree with you big time. Sure, if the Sabres were in a position like Edmonton, where they just pulled off the 8th seed, and made it this far, you might be on to something. However, they got 52 wins and 110 points playing in the toughest division in the East, arguably the toughest in the league. In addition to that, this team is young. Next year, they will all be a year further along developmentally. Since most of the team are RFA's, most of them will be back. I also anticipate bringing back most of the UFA's (McKee will be signed before July 1).

 

I think your reasoning reflects that of most of the press. That this team was a fluke, and are lucky to be where they are. Instead of looking at it from the perspective that this team was built for the new NHL, and while not a lot of big name free agents were added, each came here on the reccomendation of someone on this team, because it was known exactly how they would fit into the team.

 

You don't get 110 points, AND go to the Eastern Conference Finals by accident.

 

And as for your analysis on their motivation next year, maybe falling just short this year will motivate them even further for a strong year next year.

[Rabbit151]

You may be right. I just hope the young guys realize that even though they have gotten close this year, it may be years, it may be never, that they do it again.

 

I watched a young Jeremy Roenick with the Hawks on NHL Classic not so long ago as they lost out when they got close. The announcers were talking about how he'd be an instrumental part of the promising and probably championship future of that team. We all know what happened there.

 

The point is, all that potential is nice to talk about, but when you get so close, it'd sure be nice to close the deal, win the whole thing and kill that big, bad Buffalo-monkey that's been riding your backs for so long.

[apuszczalowski]

The only reason I see Rabbit151's point is that now that most teams and their GM's have seen what it takes to be a winner, its going to make it that much harder to stay at the top. Teams now know to be a winner, you need speed, and not over the hill aging hard hitters. This will put the speedy players at a premium driving their prices up high in Free Agency and making them more in demand. A team like Buffalo, with a cap on their overall payroll is going to have a problem bringing in these guys when they can make so much more somewhere else.

 

This was a transition year for the league and no one knew what to expect, now that teams had a chance to see what it takes, they are going to be building towards that.

[Buffalo Wings]

This was a transition year for the league and no one knew what to expect, now that teams had a chance to see what it takes, they are going to be building towards that.

Agreed...and the Sabres will have to adjust again, though I'm not sure how much more they need to do (outside of better defense depth). The winning teams adjust to the other teams adjustments to them. Next year will be very telling for the Sabres' near future beyond 2007.

 

No matter what happens, I'm more than proud to be a fan of this team. So far, it's been the most fun and exciting season for as long as I can remember. What makes me optimistic about tomorrow night is that this team has never quit on anything all year long and I don't see why they would start quitting now. We've seen them battle back from 2 and 3-goal deficits all year long, so I know they've got it in them.

[Fronz1103]

hold it!!!!!! WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PLAY-OFF SERIES RIGHT NOW!!!!

It's not over!!!! It's not over, there is no off season talk right now is there/?? this is my imagination isn't it?! what three months isn't enough time to talk about off-season moves??

But when our team that we have rooted for ALL SEASON LONG faces adversity it's like ohh no, we're done...All teams face adversity in the play-offs and those teams who over-come adversity move on, and those who don't go home.

Even with our backs against the wall(in this series) and some of our top d-men down i have to ask, can i see this team going home this week? The answer i conclude is; it only makes for an even better story-line that will allow this team to rank amongst the best in recent years...if they over come.

IT's been a great season,yes!!! But guess what IT;s Not over!!!!

[mrjsbu96]

I've seen a few glass-is-half-full types feel like it's been a good year, and they seem satisfied. A lot of folks believe the Sabres will be right back here contending for the next few years.

 

I don't know if I agree. How many times have you seen, in any sport, a surprise team rise up out of the ashes and almost win it all, and then disappear without a trace next year. Other GM's are making adjustments right now, there will be several personnel changes on most teams involving getting rid of the slow and bringing in the speed.

 

The Sabres won't be a surprise team, and they won't be underdogs. This has been a magical year, but magic runs out. The regular season will be just a little less exciting for these Sabres, so many of whom spent every minute of every game this year proving they belonged in the NHL.

 

I feel bad for this team and your city. With only 3 teams standing, they are potentially the one to finally win your city a title. But it seems a tired goalie, a depleted defense and an injured Connolly are too much for the Sabres to overcome. And yet, they probably should have won last night.

 

 

one other thought that crossed my mind last night and again today is how much the majority of us wanted to avoid the Devils. I mean, don't get me wrong, we were glad to make the playoffs, but when given the choice we wanted to avoid NJ. And I"m sure given the choice in the second round many people though NJ or OTT - we almost though we had a better chance against OTT. So now here were are playing the team that destroyed the team that wiped out the Devils and too many people are getting pissed b/c we aren't playing well enough or the goaltending is too weak.....my point is that most of us didn't give as much credit to this Canes team as we did almost any other team in this conference. This is a good hockey team and we are still in a position to bring it back to CAR for a game 7...

 

Yeah, sure i was mad last night, kicked the dog and threw my beer (empty, of course) but we are playing one helluva team and we are fighting it to the end. I still think there is a little magic left in the team but even if there is not, these guys played this team EXTREMELY tough...

[Raelity]

I am proud of this team, win or lose. They've shown incredible character and resiliency, despite all the injuries. I would love them to reap the benefits of all their hard work and move on to the finals. I hope they at least get to game 7 - where anything can happen.

 

An Eagles tune comes to mind - to a raucous beat: "I will not go quietly.. I will not lie down. I will not go quietly - no I will not lie down, no!" I hope this team can go on. If not - do not go down quietly! Give em Hell Sabres!!!