How many teams get outshot 20-1 or 20-2 or 20-4 regularly, in any given period? The Sabres do this regularly.

I'm not suggesting that they put forth a "bionic" effort and each and all of them skate, "balls-to-the-wall", for 60 minutes. Not at all - That would be an impossibility.

But, when the shot-differential is 20 to a handful, regularly?

Take Miller out of the equation, and this team's effort reflects a team that isn't even in the playoffs. Sure, the Sabres are second in the conference and first in the division, but if you think it's a non-issue - That this is what has allowed them to get there. That, with any other goalie we wouldn't be breaking out the torches and pitchforks?

Then, you're mistaken. It's a very grave issue that they been allowed to ignore, precisely because he's allowed them to get away with it, yawn, stretch their arms, and wake up in time to play for one period, and win.

With any other goalie, right now, this team would be in 9th place. This is a team that has actually lost games 1-0, 2-0, 2-1 behind 40-stop performances by Miller.

This is a nightmare waiting to happen. It really needs to be addressed.

It's nice to have a goalie stand on his head, and give you a chance to compete and possibly win - It's another, to come out every night and expect it; to take it for granted and just play with your cock for two-thirds of the game.

Where is our "C" Craig Rivet in all of this?

Something to ponder...

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"She's like plan C after an 18 pack"

Squanto 7/27/2010

Seems like an awful lot of negativity going around for a team that's in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference.

I know the team fell behind against Pittsburgh (although that was, in all honesty, Miller's fault) and they were toe-to-toe against St. Louis, and I know he scored the winning goal last night against Atlanta (assists to wacky end glass and Tyler Myers), but Roy is the source of this fancy-pants shenanigans, IMO.

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mechaphil

Regularly?

I'd be willing to bet that you couldn't find more than 8 games this season by which this team has had a shot differential of more than 10 in any one period.

Many of those situations I recall being circumstances by which we've spent most of the period in the penalty box, and that has contributed.

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Wheelhouse

obviously Miller is seeing something that has him very concerned. Hopefully a tongue lashing from him will be enough to make these guys see the error of their ways...

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Sending anyone down to Portland would be a terrible idea. Put Roy and Connolly in a place where they regularly CAN skate through three guys on their own won't dissuade them from that behavior, it will reinforce it.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Awesome. Glad Miller is finally letting them know that he won't bail them out every single game.

I would think the embarrassment of getting sent to the minors would make them realize that Lindy was serious. Obviously they think they're shit don't stink so they can do whatever they want since there is no real consequences.

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He will keep bailing them out because that's what an elite goalie does. He's just tired of doing it when he is one of the only ones that show up in the first period lately

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We won the game. We need to play better D. We will play better D. Connolly, Roy, and Pommers are playing fine.. yell at Vanek. Watch us win the next game and then bitch again.

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The Board Drunk.

Hey PSP, our top "six" fucking suck. Our highest goal scorer has 11 goals... Lowest for top goal scorer on a team in the league...

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

They play a much more controlled defensive system now...if they continued to play a wide-open system, then they'd score more. Jesus, how hard is it to realize that.

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mechaphil

So what. Would you rather have one guy teams can key on and shut down, or everyone scoring?

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

After so many things said here I decided to respond to this.

Neither you or I know why Rivet got the 'C' but what we do know is he never got it for his offensive leadership or anything like that. Therefore, I'm suggesting that Rivet has the 'C' for his dressing room abilities.

We can't shit on Rivet because we have no idea what happens behind closed doors.

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I am, you know I am. I am Canadian.
#1 Hockey Nation.

I do know that I'm sick and damn tired that Rivet keeps taking dumb penalties, can't keep up with offending players, is consistently caught flat-footed, and can't skate to save his life any more. If it is his locker room ability that has him wearing the C, then he isn't very good at it if Miller is the one who has to snap on the club to get them to wake up.

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mechaphil

I think that rah-rah speeches in the locker room - whether inspirational or ass-chewing - only last for so long (about a period or two). If these guys haven't found the motivation to win the Stanley Cup within, then no speeches by Ryan Miller are going to give them that motivation over the course of a season.

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"Go out and run 'em."
- Lindy Ruff, 23 Feb. 2007

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"Go out and run 'em."
- Lindy Ruff, 23 Feb. 2007

We won three straight games, and in two of them came back from 3 goals down.

Our goalies are suppose to keep teams in the game, it's their job. The team just needs to buckle down a bit more to not leave them out to dry and not fall into holes.

We have one of the best goalies in the league, the team knows this but their attitude needs to change a bit with him instead of relying on him as much.

We're second in the conference because of Miller, and our multiple guys scoring goals. We're in the middle of the league in scoring, and 5th in goals against.

The team is winning, even if winning in bad ways, it shows signs of a mature team and one who won't give up in the end and keep pushing to win.

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