A division team comes to town after missing the morning skate due to travel issues. They are missing their two best players, and they still walk all over the home team en-route to an overdue SO win? Buffalo was lucky to make it to OT, they looked almost completely inept in their own rink against a short handed roster playing a dumbed down game, and failed to show up for the 1st period for the second straight game.

This is not an, "OMG WE LOST SO IT'S ALL OVER" post. The inexplicable no-shows have been pretty typical so far, and the inability to produce scoring chances continues. They just might hang on to win the division, but I doubt it. Either way, we cannot with a straight face call this team a Cup contender. The top six will not "come around", they simply cannot produce the way they used to (the way they're used to) with the commitment to team defense. What we've seen so far is what we're going to get. This is a playoff contender, and not much else.

That doesn't mean I hate the team, or I'm some cranky pessimist. I'm happy with a playoff seed, and anything can happen once you're in. Really though...there's is no reason at all for me to expect anything more than a 1st round series. Anything after that should be considered a big bonus for fans. So enjoy that one series as much as possible right up until the bitter end, because that's about as good as it gets for a Sabres fan.

Yup, pretty much.

I've been thinking: of the myriad reasons there were to get rid of Jaroslav Spacek {overpaid, undersized, not physical, not a point producer, etc.}, perhaps the biggest one was where he stated, in print, after the Sens had beaten the Sabres [again], that "perhaps they [OTT] are in our heads . . ."

I thought to myself: how fucking STOOOPID can you be?? You don't EVER ADMIT such a thing out loud, even if it happens to be true {which, sadly, it appears to be.} Because, as long as that statement's out there, not only will your team be thinking it, the other team will, too . . .

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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}

Other than the obvious fact that the SOG's were 19-1, in the Sens' favor, during the first period...(what's the movie quote about lollygagging?)

Buffalo managed only 2 SOG's over the course of 4 powerplay opportunities (scoring once.) Ottawa managed 9 shots on 4 PP opportunities (Miller was 9 of 9.) Buffalo's PP is now 4 for 54, over the last 14 games (7.6% efficiency.)

The ONLY Ottawa Senator without at least one shot was Filip Kuba - Neither Lydman, Tallinder, Stafford, Rivet, Hecht or Myers had a single shot, for the Sabres. Stafford was a minus-2, with 7:50 TOI...

Chris Neil (CHRIS NEIL!) with 16:14 TOI and 4 PIM had a goal on 4 shots - Connolly with 22:23 TOI had an assist, with 3 SOG's.

If the Sabres cannot manage approximately the league-average 30 SOG per game (give or take) they are not giving themselves the opportunity to win.

It has been an ongoing frustration for fans, over the last two/three seasons. Too many players seem to take a "soccer" mind-set and consciously look for the "sure thing", rather than throw the puck on the goal and position themselves to take advantage of rebounds.

This team also can't seem to use the wrist-shot effectively; preferring to use the slapshot - Which (according to last night's NHL Play-By-Play record) is regularly blocked by opponents.

Frustrating. Because this team seems to regress/retreat to the same bad habits, every time they start to show a winning record. They seem to willfully neglect the very qualities which allowed them to accumulate wins.

A highly undisciplined team. With a core of players who persist with a "Look Ma, no hands" mentality.

...And no feet, no heart and no passion.

You hit the nail right on the head, Ice.

From what I seen last night, this group of guys were being outworked, sluggish, uninspired.... you name it, that’s what they were.

Now, I'm not saying this is the end, but it very well could be the beginning of the end for this group unless they fix the problems now. The talent is there, we just need to drag it out of these guys. We've seen it in them before, so obviously they've gotten soft/Lazy. I honestly think Lindy has run out of ideas on how to get this group motivated. He's tried the hard ass tactics. He's tried the give a boot in the pants approach; he's even tried the, "Give'em a hug" approach with almost the same effect. It works for the first little bit, then they get stagnant. Miller looks tired out there on some plays from being over worked. When you're facing 40+ shots/night (on average) you tend to wear down.

Make it right boys. This business of win one/lose two, win one/lose one has gatta stop.

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If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

...It's simply a waste of great goaltending. Miller stands on his head, and these guys manage 2 goals on 22 shots...perhaps, had they managed 30 shots, the game would not have gone to OT and SO.

Purely speculative, but an extra 8-10 shots and one would have found the mesh. We see that tendency too often - And we see the opposite, when the Sabres "shoot away" as they had done earlier in the season. They beat the Wings convincingly, by shelling the goal.

"Good things happen when you shoot the puck and go hard to the net." It's just the truth.

The Sabres have gotten away from that, once more. Who allows that to happen? Who's idea, to revert to the fanciness? Who's responsibility to get these guys on track? How can one justify the number of shots that go wide? Or get blocked?

Doesn't anyone watch the videos and address these issues, once and for all?

You see the problem, identify its' cause, adjust the play (or practice required) to address it, and move on. No backsliding. Ever.

Is that so brilliant? So difficult to achieve? It is. If your team lacks discipline, and just do whatever they want, whenever they want to...

Remember that first month?
It was that month where we almost always doubled our opponents shots on goal. There weren't too many pretty plays. When it could go on net, it basically went on net. What happened to that team?

...They watched too many highlights of goals and pretty plays on Sports Center and all thought they all of a sudden could stick handle in a phone booth? I dunno...

As Ice said, you can never go wrong with a shot on net. If not a goal, a rebound, tip in, heavy pressure, it all adds to building team confidence. You don't have to be able to deke the entire opposing team out of their jocks' and try to make pretty plays. You just need to move the puck smart, and when you get it at the blue line or anywhere that you don't have a good passing lane, drive the damn thing as hard as you can towards the twine.

These guys are using $300+ sticks. They might as well get the team’s money worth out of them.

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If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

i think its obvious this team isnt elite in any way, except its starting goaltender.

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Shut Up! This team has "Stanley Cup" written all over them! Infidel dog!



...cheers, Mike.

1st, an apology , I get just as frustrated as any one of you. It has been years man, years. I am waiting for the cup. Alot of fans are.
Miller is ready, The defence is playing fairly sound hockey. Its the offense, and not just scoring goals, or playing within the system or individual effort.
Its the inability of clutch performers, the total lack of chemistry with the top 6 players, its the piss poor passing, the laziness, no one skating hard and positioning themselves for a shot. Alot of f-ing round and sending it back to the point.
New players, plain and simple, this isn't an "I told you so" statement. I am merely stating what I have held firm to for the past 3 seasons now. It is not impossible to trade in this league today. The art of the deal is alive and well. Whether or not teams will wait until the deadline is a very real possibility. Also, there are players out there that can be had. We have discussed some of them.

Its all up to Darcy now, the ball is in his court. What is going to happen? I don't know, but I completely agree it would be a waste of Miller's talents and quite frankly, an insult to him personally if Darcy & Lindy do nothing.

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

its fun having a good club to cheer for, where a playoff berth is in sight. but unless they bring home the cup, its for naught, kinda. this team isnt cup worthy.. but a few moves?

ps: is kaleta back? ive been out of the loop.

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Going into the year, most folks just wanted the team to take a step in the right direction and make the playoffs.

Now the team with a decent line on a playoff berth is terrible because they're not built to win a championship right now.

It's amazing how things change.

not fair, is it?

i think its maddening because this team has shown flashes of what its truly capable of. almost like owning a ferrari, but only able to drive it in city gridlock.

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