Corp000085 Posted January 6, 2006 Report Posted January 6, 2006 3-1 buffalo with 6 or so minutes left in the 3rd. pretty much domination by the sabres at this point.
hopeleslyobvious Posted January 6, 2006 Report Posted January 6, 2006 3-1 buffalo with 6 or so minutes left in the 3rd. pretty much domination by the sabres at this point. Great game! Always nice to be 3-0 against the defending Stanley Cup Champions!
pwner Posted January 6, 2006 Report Posted January 6, 2006 Is it just me or does it seem like Miller is 10 times as good as Biron on breakaways? And every other facet of goaltending.
PTS Posted January 6, 2006 Author Report Posted January 6, 2006 Any word on what's wrong Chris Drury? Hopefully nothing serious. We can afford to lose him especially while Briere is out.
mphs mike Posted January 6, 2006 Report Posted January 6, 2006 Any word on what's wrong Chris Drury? Hopefully nothing serious. We can afford to lose him especially while Briere is out. I missed the first period - now I know why I never saw him. The Tampa announcers couldn't be bothered to let us know he was out. They were too busy complaining about penalties called on the Lightning! I thought Khalinin looked like a good defenseman tonight. Haven't seen that from him since '03-'04. It sure would help if he was healthy and playing solid D! Nice win Swordsmen. A 2 goal win in REGULATION so a conference foe gets NO points out of the game.
Knightrider Posted January 6, 2006 Report Posted January 6, 2006 Nice effort by everyone tonight... I don't know how anyone could complain about anything, whether it be they play, the attendance, or the chants... Was the wave going the right direction? ;) Seriously, I don't know if it is the recent incompetence of the Bills and the Sabres but I am enjoying this run more than I've enjoyed any sport in a very long time...
PTS Posted January 6, 2006 Author Report Posted January 6, 2006 Final in Beantown: Boston 4, Ottawa 2
shrader Posted January 6, 2006 Report Posted January 6, 2006 The fact that a guy we didn't even bother to offer a qualifying offer to is now playing for the defending Stanley Cup champions says a lot about the Sabres depth. Yeah, we may not have players like Lecavalier or St Louis, but we have a hell of a lot of NHL calibre skaters.
PTS Posted January 6, 2006 Author Report Posted January 6, 2006 Drury has a mild groin strain. Lindy said he hopes the strain is short term at worst. Briere had successful surgery to repair two small tears in his abdomen. He is reportedly doing well.
Sabresince70 Posted January 6, 2006 Report Posted January 6, 2006 I know he had his problem legally this past year, but Tallinder is clearly much better than Fitzpatrick. Should we be fortunate enought to get a top 4 D, I could see Tallinder and Campbell fighting for a spot.
pwner Posted January 6, 2006 Report Posted January 6, 2006 I know he had his problem legally this past year, but Tallinder is clearly much better than Fitzpatrick. Should we be fortunate enought to get a top 4 D, I could see Tallinder and Campbell fighting for a spot. I think Tallinder is quickly and quietly becoming that top 4 D-man we were previously missing. I don't see a need to displace any of the current 6 (now that Kalinin is back) unless it is for one of the top 20 D-men in the league.
Taro T Posted January 6, 2006 Report Posted January 6, 2006 I think Tallinder is quickly and quietly becoming that top 4 D-man we were previously missing. I don't see a need to displace any of the current 6 (now that Kalinin is back) unless it is for one of the top 20 D-men in the league. If he keeps playing like he has the last 3 or so weeks, he is a top 4 quality guy. I'd like to see him keep up the solid play for a couple of more weeks before I say he is there, but he definitely is playing much better than he was in October. IF he continues to play to this level (with or without the goal scoring, that right now is a very pleasant bonus but doesn't fully factor into my opinion (I'd still say he is playing top 4 level even if he had far fewer goals)), AND Kalinin plays the way he did tonight (it was his best game of the season in my opinion); then the Sabres have some additional options in what they get for in the Biron package. I would really like to see the D have 6 top 4 guys with Campbell as the spare and Rory the emergency D man (or out of the picture due to salary considerations of a potential trade), but if the right forward were out there for the right price, I would consider bringing someone in if in fact Drury's injury ends up keeping him out for more than 2-3 games. I now would really like to watch Henrik and Dmitri play over the next couple of weeks, especially against the Western teams to see where they are at. IF they have stepped up and Dmitri is healthy, it definitely alters what the team's needs are.
shrader Posted January 6, 2006 Report Posted January 6, 2006 I would really like to see the D have 6 top 4 guys with Campbell as the spare and Rory the emergency D man (or out of the picture due to salary considerations of a potential trade), but if the right forward were out there for the right price, I would consider bringing someone in if in fact Drury's injury ends up keeping him out for more than 2-3 games. Its obvious what the powerplay means to this team. I wonder if Campbell as the 7th defenseman on this team (ie. not playing every night) would have a negative effect on there.
letsgobuffalo45 Posted January 6, 2006 Report Posted January 6, 2006 Myself and a few buds went to the game tonight, and boy, did we pick a good game to go to. Other than a few moments in the 2nd period when Tampa was really putting on the heat, it was total domination from Buffalo. The score could have easily been 6-1, but Burke made some key saves for the 'Ning to keep it close. 18,032 in attendance if I remember correctly. So a bit short of the sellout, but the atmosphere was amazing. Buffalo, and Western NY for that matter [i'm from Rochester] are really into this team. Too bad the NJD and PHX games are sold out, otherwise I'd certainly be making the drive for those too.
topshelfcookies Posted January 6, 2006 Report Posted January 6, 2006 18,032 in attendance if I remember correctly. So a bit short of the sellout, but the atmosphere was amazing. I also was at the game with my brother and father, sat up in 319. The attendance figure was about that...a little over 18,000. Some empty seats in the 200's, but the 100's and 300's were absolutely packed. GREAT game. There was a definite buzz in the arena and the crowd was pretty into it for the most part. No wave tonight, but Let's Go Buffalo got started 4-5 times without the help of the ribbon boards/organ. All in all, good game. The Lightning just couldn't skate with the Sabres for the majority of the game - TB had hardly any forecheck going, other than some moments during the first 12 mins of the 2nd period. Otherwise, it was just all Sabres. They pretty much just kept the action in the Tampa zone. As we were walking out of the arena, we all turned to each other and commented that the team is just so much fun to watch, yet it's hard to really put a finger on why. They seem to just never take a night off, the power play is almost always clicking and they don't take too many penalties. Yet, it seems as if it should be a more complicated explanation as to why they're so good, or at least there should be a couple guys that are really carrying this team, but it's just not the case. Anyways, it's nights like these that get you psyched for May and June.
LabattBlue Posted January 6, 2006 Report Posted January 6, 2006 I thought the Sabres effort was great last night. Gaustad seemed to be hitting more than usual, Miler was stellar in goal and the defense did a good job of shutting down Tampa. Keep in mind TB just played two road games in New York and won them both allowing only one goal in each game.
Taro T Posted January 6, 2006 Report Posted January 6, 2006 I thought the Sabres effort was great last night. Gaustad seemed to be hitting more than usual, Miler was stellar in goal and the defense did a good job of shutting down Tampa. Keep in mind TB just played two road games in New York and won them both allowing only one goal in each game. Close, they shut out the Rangers and won that in OT on a goal by Prospal.
Taro T Posted January 6, 2006 Report Posted January 6, 2006 Its obvious what the powerplay means to this team. I wonder if Campbell as the 7th defenseman on this team (ie. not playing every night) would have a negative effect on there. That is an excellent question. I don't think it would but don't know that for certain. Part of that is we don't know who the additional defenseman would be, for all we know he may be a strong pp pointman. Also, IF Tallinder and Kalinin are both playing the way we hope they would (and that was the premise for my comment) one or both could very likely fill Campbell's role on the pp as both have good shots, are mobile when healthy, and seem to have a knack for knowing when to pinch. (Granted, neither is as fancy as Campbell, but I don't know that that is necessarily required of the pointman.) If the answer to the question is the pp does suffer without Campbell, then there are 2 options. Either Tallinder or another D man gets moved to the 7th (press box) slot or Campbell dresses as the 7th D man taking the odd shift on wing and playing as a pp specialist.
shrader Posted January 6, 2006 Report Posted January 6, 2006 That is an excellent question. I don't think it would but don't know that for certain. Part of that is we don't know who the additional defenseman would be, for all we know he may be a strong pp pointman. Also, IF Tallinder and Kalinin are both playing the way we hope they would (and that was the premise for my comment) one or both could very likely fill Campbell's role on the pp as both have good shots, are mobile when healthy, and seem to have a knack for knowing when to pinch. (Granted, neither is as fancy as Campbell, but I don't know that that is necessarily required of the pointman.) If the answer to the question is the pp does suffer without Campbell, then there are 2 options. Either Tallinder or another D man gets moved to the 7th (press box) slot or Campbell dresses as the 7th D man taking the odd shift on wing and playing as a pp specialist. During last night's game, I was trying to figure out how many players on this team have scored goals, or at least been productive (Numminen) from the point on the powerplay. I'm sure it's not a complete list, but here's a few: Kotalik, Campbell, Pominville, Numminen, Connolly, Lydman. Basically, we've got a lot of players who seem to make a postive impact from the point. Obviously it depends on who would be brought in with a trade, but I don't think losing Campbell on the point will be too big of a loss, but it is definitely something worth thinking about.
inkman Posted January 6, 2006 Report Posted January 6, 2006 Everyone you metioned has played the point, and as improved as Campbell has beeb this season, if he was the teams 7th D-man, the Sabres would be in a position of strength.
LabattBlue Posted January 6, 2006 Report Posted January 6, 2006 Close, they shut out the Rangers and won that in OT on a goal by Prospal. Thanks for the correction. I was too lazy to look it up! :)
nfreeman Posted January 7, 2006 Report Posted January 7, 2006 Gentlemen -- Tallinder is nowhere near the bottom of our D corps. He and Lydman get the most ice time EVERY game. There is simply no way that Tallinder gets marginalized if we bring in another defenseman. I don't think Campbell will either. I didn't like him at all before this year, but I have to give him credit. He's played very well and while not a big hitter, he is an excellent skater and puckhandler and has by far the best point shot out of any of the defensemen. I agree that we get good production out of a number of guys at the point on the PP, but Campbell is the best of the lot. Clearly, Fitzie is #7 right now (assuming Kalinin continues to hustle and stays out of the doghouse). If we bring in another defenseman, I see Numminen becoming the next healthy scratch, although still playing frequently -- much like James Patrick the past few years. Unless Kalinin really steps it up, he will probably alternate scratches with Numminen. We should also remember that McKee isn't terribly durable and he or someone else will likely miss some time at some point, so an extra NHL-quality defenseman is a good thing to have. The other thing is that if we make a big trade involving Marty for a really good defenseman, it's quite possible we'll have to give up someone like Campbell or Kalinin as part of the deal. A few other notes from last night's excellent effort: 1. I'll say it again: Miller is better. In fact, I'm pretty close to declaring him a top 5 goalie. 2. That begs the question: who are the other elite goalies right now? The best goalie I can think of us facing this year is Luongo, but I am likely forgetting a few. I'm not ready to put Dominik in that category yet b/c that GD team is so GD good on offense and defense -- I need to see Dominik win a game for them before I put him there. But he probably is anyway. 3. Kotalik can't shoot it in the ocean right now. Max has also been pretty quiet for the past few games. I'd really like these 2 to get going again. 4. On the other hand, Vanek and Drury have really stepped it up and Connelly continues to be very solid. 5. Lydman is coughing it up in our zone more than I'd like. I notice it more with him than anyone else. 6. I like McKee, but he has by far the slowest feet of any of our defensemen. 7. We should beat NJ, but they have won both games since getting Elias back (I just read that he has led them in scoring 5 times -- didn't realize that). We need to take them seriously and come out strong just like last night. Go Sabres.
JujuFish Posted January 7, 2006 Report Posted January 7, 2006 1. I'll say it again: Miller is better. In fact, I'm pretty close to declaring him a top 5 goalie. Currently, Miller is 5th in GAA and 4th in SV%. Pretty impressive stats for one's rookie season. If this wasn't the year of Ovechkin and Crosby, and Miller wasn't injured, wouldn't he be in the running for the Calder Trophy?
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