As I suspected since the start of the season, scoring was to be an issue with these same core players.
Now we all agree they have the ability to score, that much I have noticed from all of you.
The real question would be do they have it within them to be consistent. Watch this team in the next 5 games. Its a tell tale sign for them. Toronto is up first, then, as this schedule progresses through these 5 games I would like to see which team show up. The reason I point to these next games is due to the success of scoring in the last 2 games. Did this team learn anything from 3 losses to 2 victories? If they did it should show in the next 5 games.

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

Ultimately, I think our scoring issue lies with Miller. (Read on...)

The forwards that we have are certainly capable of scoring consistently, but they don't consistently follow the rules of the system.

Miller is the ultimate professional. He has single handedly won us games due to his commitment to making himself a better player in order to help the team.

He committed to this organization because he said he believed in the players he has around him. Eventually, he's going to have to start getting more vocal and telling those guys like it is; that he's done his part to help them be a playoff team, and that now they have to do theirs.

The second that Miller goes nuts on those guys is the second this team becomes a dependable, consistent team.

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Wheelhouse

Doesn't scoring equal victory for basically every team, in almost every sport?

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"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid." ~ Han Solo


We truly are not worthy of Miller!

No, not necessarily, now, scoring more than your opponent in a game does equal victory

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

Not even Alex Ovechkin can score in every game. Even if you are winning with a one goal lead or a 1-0 lead you still can win if you just play your game. Sometimes teams run into hot goalies and even if they scored 10 goals the night before, they may only be able to pop in one goal.

Take the Pens against the Rags the other night. The put up 8 goals but I bet tonight they won't score more than 3 or maybe only two. Even though they are playing the exact team they played the other night and beat them 8-3.

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damnit miller!

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Check out my website: http://www.artistzero.com

"That wasn't very nice...I do believe you killed my hat."

Driver of the FIRE LINDY RUFF Bandwagon since 2008.

I think if the Sabres score more goals than the opposing team then they will be just fine.


Miller can't babysit the players and make them score the goals... He's our goalie, it isn't his job to be the vocal player in the locker room telling the players that he needs help. His job is to keep the puck out of the net. He also said that during the 07-08 season he thought he worried too much about stepping up and playing a bigger leadership role on the team and he think it took a toll on his performance. He doesn't need any distractions like having to lecture the players in order to make them more consistent.

I think his goaltending speaks for itself.

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"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hockey Night in Buffalo

Indeed. Thank you for correcting my statement.

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"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid." ~ Han Solo


We truly are not worthy of Miller!

I want to see how consistent they can maintain the scoring in the next 5 games, even if they don't win them all, I am looking for further contributions from the top 2 lines. Especially Vanek and Connolly. I want to see 1 of these 2 lead the team onto the ice and on the offense at the very least 6 out of every 10 games. If its Connolly and a 5 game point streak, great. If its Vanek and a 5 game goal streak, great.

But either way, I want these 2 guys to lead the way. Connolly did a fabulous job in Philly.
It was surprising to see Myers lead the way in Carolina, with his passing and breakout rushes and point play.

Vanek did have some points in those 2 games, but I really want to see him control the flow of action while he is on the ice. He can do it, he is that good. Its up to him to put forth that effort. I am counting on him to do so.

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

good post slesh...we defintely should pay attention to the scoring...at least 5 games....i say maybe ten....if it doesn't look like they are improving, then darcy has to do something....i don't care what position we are in right now in the standings....we need MORE offense....i'll give it up to 10 games and see what happens....

personally i don't think we do have the firepower to be a contender, and that we need to acquire two legitimate goal scorers to do any damage in the playoffs (IF we can even make it there)

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"It is more about them than it is about the team...Cannot play with them, cannot win with them, cannot coach with them. Can't do it. I want winners. I want people that want to win." - Mike Singletary

Tyler Myers - Future captain of the Buffalo Sabres, and future Norris Trophy Winner

Manning the machine gun on the Tyler Myers Bandwagon - just in case any teams have an idea of prying him away from us (3 GM's shot already)

Connolly/Roy - 2 goals in the last 47 playoff games

Scoring is obviously an issue, we are 12-1 while scoring 3 or more goals in a game, so obviously we should be emphasizing scoring. I personally don't think we need to make any changes in players. I think we just need to get our current players to step up their game, they have the potential, they just need to tap into it.

Well, I would love to agree with you, but our core players have mostly passed the virgin age of 25 , the last 2 seasons, whether or not they would have made the playoffs, hell even this season I just don't see them riding Miller to a cup. Please, don't get me wrong, Ryan is doing one hell of a spectular job, I just don't put him even near the same catagory as Hasek.

With that said, offensive zone pressure combined with consistent scoring or capatilizing on scoring chances will get us there. Like I said, I cannot see this group doing much better than making the playoffs and maybe getting through the 1st round. I don't know about you hakutaku, but I want to see Lord Stanley's Cup lifted by a Buffalo Sabres Team in Triumph.

As I state over and over again, I have no alleigance to any player, no favorite player, no single player I put above the rest. I love the team as a whole, the hometown thing. I have not rooted for an individual player since Gilbert Perreault, good old number 11, the very first Sabre and the embodiement of what this team, what this town stood for and still stands for to this day.

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

QUE BILL CLEMENT!

"If you put the puck in the net, you're gonna score."

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The Board Drunk.

Uhhh...oh yeah

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"...they came down into the stands and asked if I knew how to do play by play. I said...No. But. I'll take a shot at it if you want".- Rick Jeanneret

Score goals, win games.

The Vanek, Kennedy, Grier line is absolutely BEAST!!!

Kennedy is a great match for Vanek and Grier.
Roy and Pommers hookin up, this team may have found what they needed, I know this much, I am much, much happier seeing this team take it to the opponent.

Just a great complete effort from these guys.

LETS GO BUFFALO!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

Is it just me, or has vanek been working on this line? (like actually putting forth a tough effort?)

Yay lindy! "How can you call them the third line if they are performing the best?" that's what I like to hear, even if I might not have quoted the actual statement correctly... It was the gist of the sentence though.

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"Call a cop he robbed Delmore blind!!!"
Rick Jeanerette after Marty Biron's diving save back in 2000.

"I'm going to go to the spa and have a hot tub and massage and relax," Miller said. "That's it, and it's back to work tomorrow." Ryan Miller after clinching the North East division.

And remember that Vanek piled up a lot of those points when he was on a 3rd line.

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"...they came down into the stands and asked if I knew how to do play by play. I said...No. But. I'll take a shot at it if you want".- Rick Jeanneret

Well hell yes, he should! He's playing against other teams thirds! If it ain't broke; leave him there!

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"I'll rap you with my cane; you pencil necked geek!!"

-Bowler, imitating Freddy Blassie, at the very first M & G.

Why, what a novel concept!

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"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hockey Night in Buffalo

You guys crack me up. I remember a Finnish coach saying once; "If we can hold them to fewer goals than we score, we should win this match." This was a professional coach, and a successful one, mind you...

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"I'll rap you with my cane; you pencil necked geek!!"

-Bowler, imitating Freddy Blassie, at the very first M & G.