It appears that that vacation, the one the Sabres went on after they stomped the Habs, is continuing.

They looked sluggish losing to the Rangers, and tonite, they appeared to have 1 or two good shifts at the beginning of the game -- then, they spent all but the last half of the third chasing the puck.

I've noticed something about the Sabres: just as they sometimes go into relaxation mode after scoring in a game, they seem to go into relaxation mode after a big win.

Part of the problem is not having Goose and Grier -- anyone doubting his importance to the team now? -- in the lineup . . . without them, Buffalo seems to go into "2008 mode."

The mode where Hecht and Stafford play smaller than their size.

The mode where Roy, Poms, and Connolly go off on individual flights of fancy.

The mode where Miller has you scratching your head -- as he did me, and probably Lindy, when he gave up Zajac's goal.

Two things summarized this game for me: (1) MacArthur's holding penalty at the start of the second; any momentum the Sabres hoped to get evaporated on Bergfors' PP goal, and (2) Tim Kennedy getting popped by somebody {I think it was Oduya} late in the third; the crowd booed, but when you stand around in the corner with the puck as long as Kennedy did without moving or passing, you kinda deserve to get rocked, IMHO.


All I know is, I hope the "vacation" ends before Wednesday, when the Caps come to town . . .

.

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“This is a good building to play in,” Roy said. “It’s kind of quiet.”

-- forward Derek Roy, following the Sabres' 2-1 OT win over the Atlanta Thrashers on Jan. 14, 2010, a game where the home team drew just over 11,000 fans {the ninth time in 22 home games they failed to draw 12,000}

Why a troll? Seems like a serious post to me.

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

Vacation is a good word to use. I prefer to call it as I sees it, they are "inconsistent" offensively.
Opinions vary from person to person, but the underlying theme I gather from this team is pretty much that word. Winners are consistent in many different ways. Not the least of which is scoring goals.

What does this team need personnell or talent wise to over come that word? I don't know, but Lindy and Darcy have to see some room for improvement here, both from the players on the current roster as well as possible talent that could be brought in.

I'm not unhappy though, the record is good and they show up enough now anyways.

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

Well, most first posts are: Hi!! I'm new here!!!

I wonder what their West Coast road trip will be like!

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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

...another set of excuses.

I'm a jerk. I know.

I was skeptical at first myself. But we'll see.

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Wheelhouse

If it's the same 1crozier1 - they're a migration from the old WBoD.

Just guessing.

This team needs scoring. We have been foiled by the anemic offensive play of our Top Six and Hecht. Pathetic.

Great defense, goaltending and strong 3rd/4th lines may get you into the playoffs, but not to elite levels. I look at the failure of our skill players to produce any scoring as the cancer that is infecting our team.

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

Sorry ETC, it's what I've been screaming for a long, long time now. Glad to see someone else sees it

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

I believe that calls for another shot, yes?

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

Ok, Ok, out of Beam, I'll have to break out the Crown
SHOTS!!!!!!

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

Quick, over to the pub!

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

He's not new. He's the same Crozier(1?) from the old boards. Probably one of the longest members to boot.
People are finally figuring out how to read their mail (invites) over there


Anyway. Welcome to the Sabres Junkie forums Crozier.

I for one need to say one thing, it involves two numbers.

2-4, the number we are WITHOUT Grier.

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Yep, it does boil down to leadership. Grier gets them motivated, how I don't know, but he does.
The players have the ability to put the puck in the net, but, without a veteran leader out there they look like a monkey fuckin a football.

Well, they are in the playoff hunt and a couple of losses here and there right now aren't hurting them seriously, however, these losses will come back to bite them in the ass if it gets tight down the last quarter of the season. I am praying Darcy makes a trade in an effort to better the top 2 lines.

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

It doesn't get tight if you're at the top of the conference.

So far with 27 games played, we are at 16-9-2 for 34 points, if projected out a full 82 games it will look like this 49-27-6 for 104 points. we are in fifth right now, one point behind Boston, but Boston has played 2 more games than the Sabres so far. There are no teams ahead of Buffalo who has played less games than them in the standings right now.

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It does get tight if its the last Quarter of the season and teams are battling for a playoff spot.
Every season the last quarter tightens up, hell, Buffalo missed the playoffs by 2 points 2 seasons in a row. 1 of those seasons they started off great as well.
I have said I like the current record the team holds, but the post I put in was to point out that these current losses where they have offensive breakdowns "could" come back to bite them in the ass. And Buffalo is by no means at the top of the conference, they are battling for top of their division, with no assurance they will even maintain one of the top 2 spots in their own division.

Like I said, I would like them to win a couple more of these games to garner that wiggle room and get that seperation from the pack.

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

Besides the hapless Flyers, the Sabres are clearly the coldest team in the conference. If you're not worried, you haven't been following the standings very closely. We're like 7 points out of 13th place. Drop a couple more home games, and see where we stand then.

I'm also concerned about being 20th in goals/game. To be fair, we're 4th in GA/game, but I think that's almost all Miller.

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.