They're really fucking pissed, and I like it. Make them play angry and with more determination. I like that they have a fire lit underneath their ass. Next: Time to bench fucking Butler and his -117 ass. He's become the definition of complacency.
http://blogs.buffalonews.com/sabres/Quote:
Toni Lydman sat at his locker and waited for the media to come to him after practice today. He's one of the more chatty guys in the Sabres' dressing room but not today. A few words here or there. All you had to do was watch the eyes and check out the stare.
He's upset -- no, he's furious -- that he was a healthy scratch Wednesday against New Jersey. It's the first time Lindy Ruff has ever done that to Lydman for poor play (Lydman has been healthy scratched a couple of times to get an extra game of injury rehab in).
Lydman and Steve Montador were sacked as a pair. Montador's seat was no surprise, given his struggles against San Jose and Vancouver. Lydman was burned on a pinch by Henrik Sedin's breakaway goal Monday in Vancouver and that was it for Ruff.
"I don't know where to start," Lydman said. "It's a lot of things. Too many mistakes."
Told by a questioner it goes without saying we could assume he was unhappy about the benching, Lydman said, "Yes. It does go without saying but I'll say it anyway."
(OK, and I know the headline should probably say "snit" but I wanted for force the pun. I can take that liberty on a blog once in a while).
Ruff, meanwhile, said he's made no lineup decisions for Friday's game against Boston and is OK with Lydman's anger. Montador isn't happy either.
"I think the message was loud and clear: We need better play," Ruff said. "We could have won in San Jose and Vancouver with that pair playing better. It's a good thing [they're angry]. If you're happy when you're sitting out, you're in a bad place. You can only be angry with your play though."