First, I realize how important it is to win and get 2 points. However you get those points doesn't matter. I'm with you so far.

Second, given the rough start to the season, any win, no less a string of wins (no matter how they are achieved) is critical in building confidence. No doubt this team has had a confidence shortage very early on and snapping out of that will potentially be the difference in the season come April. Makes a lot of sense. I'm still with you.

Now here's where you may think I'm going off the reservation:

You have to ask yourself whether you just want to make it into the playoffs or whether you actually want to be a legitimate contender?

It concerns me that there is an image being created now that the Sabres are knocking off these top teams, when in reality, they are simply not getting these teams at their best. The Sabres are facing too many subs in net (11 out of 21 games now)---and don't even tell me that doesn't matter because it sure-as-shit does, especially when the PLAYOFFS roll around. Maybe it's because of opposing teams back-to-backs or maybe opposing coaches haven't been worried about the Sabres offense & PP, who knows. One thing I do know, when Miller isn't starting, you KNOW the other team ISN'T getting the real deal.

I DO NOT, repeat, DO NOT want to see this team approaching the playoffs in it's current state. My fear is that the stage WAS being set for some substantive changes after this rough start, but now things are coming up roses (thanks backups) and that's all DARCY needs to see to sit mon his hands again.

ALMOST good enough ISN'T good enough.

While the confidence building IS important, are YOU at all worried that an artificial sense of security is being built and/or needed changes will be again postponed?

well, in the past we have had a record of making backups seem like vezina winners, so maybe we're turning a new leaf

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FIGHTER OF THE NIGHTMAN

"on the ice now for buffalo, looking for the pass, and gets it, afinogenov, couldnt get the shot away, now HE DOES, HE SCORES!!!! HOLY MACKEREL ROLE THE HIGH LIGHT FILM, MAXIM AFINOGENOV, WHAT A MOVE!!!!.... thats not fair... that was unbelievable"
-R.J. and Lorenz

Interesting point.

I was really looking forward to seeing Miller face down Quick. Instead they throw a guy with a losing record in net.

Great win, but not as great a test.

Darcy does not need excuses to do nothing, and now he's getting them.

I totally agree with this post. This team is still not capable of competing in the playoffs like it was last year. They are still missing key pieces to being a legitimate contender and all this winning against back ups will give Darcy even more reason to preach that they are coming around, when we still know that a lot of work and some changes do indeed need to be done

So hanging with Washington the previous game wasn't a test? And Vancouver either, even when they played a backup? Holtby for Washington has been pretty good also for them so it's not like they were facing anyone weak. And Biron, come on, you're going to tell me he still couldn't be a legit starter in this league, plus he's always played us tough.

I didn't watch last night's game, but LA is a powerhouse of a team and we soundly beat them. I hate these what if cards because our team is playing good hockey right now. It can always use fixes, but 2 points is 2 points and we need to right the ship and get over .500 is all, against backups or not, the team has won 5 of it's last 7. Compared to our terrible start.

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I don't think its a big deal. A lot of the so-called backups aren't that much different from their starter skillwise (Leclaire/Elliot, Mason/Pavelec). Also some of the backups we've played actually have better stats than the starter (Thomas, Schneider) so we've actually seen the better guy in those instances.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

I AGREE!...quit bitching, we are doing much better, sure they still have work to do, but they beat L.A soundly, and all of the goals were a result of hard work, no weak goals, especially that laser by hecht

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Buffalo born, Buffalo Bred, Ill love my hockey, till im Buffalo dead!

Why does this topic keep coming back up?

Yes, they've played against a string of backups. However, aside from Vancouver, they've haven't won because of cupcake goals. Their overall level of play has improved.

To address the second doom and gloom point, do I think they're a contender right now? Not really. They might be good enough to recover from their suck ass start and make the playoffs, and once you're there anything can happen.

I don't understand the desire for a team to 'be a contender' on November. The Sabres kicked the league's ass after the lockout, and got unlucky in the playoffs. Last year, the Canadians and Flyers finished 7th and 8th on the last day of the season, and made it to the conference finals.

Championships are won in the spring, not the fall.

As I said, it's important for the team's psyche to get wins. I know.

Still, they keep facing backups and IMHO aren't really being tested. Darcy was being put in a situation where he HAd to act sooner or later. That's going up in smoke now.

If you're happy with another ho-hum mediocre one-and-done-playoff-round kinda season, then ok.

It's NOT doom & gloom to say they will probably get into the playoffs, but not last very long. It's not that at all. It's just reality.

Do you want a legit contender, or just a team that can land in the playoffs? And I know the whole, "gee, if you just get in--anything can happen" routine. I'd prefer to stack the deck than hope and cross my fingers---which seems to be Darcy's approach year after year.

yes timmy still needs to be moved.... and yes i dont want staff back in ...or if he is in, i want him no where near the top 6... i like this team with out staff.... and timmy has been screwing the pooch all year... and i like timmy, but come on man.....

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How come every topic you start, it's always you bitching or it's negative? come on man, we're doing good right now, don't put me in a bad mood.

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Sophomore Bitches! Class of 2014!
R.I.P. Molly B. 5/28/96-5/23/11

On what do you base that opinion?

IMO maybe 1 of those games was won on soft goals, the rest were legitimate wins.

What goals went in last night that Quick would have definitely stopped???

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Hold my beer and watch this...

but they can be lost in the fall. gotta string some wins together, which thankfully, theyve begun doing.

and why are some things such a taboo to discuss? someone makes a thread, and then everyones all, "WHY IS THIS A THREAD? WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THIS?!" because its a message board and thats what they are for.

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Seriously.

And what the fuck is the point of this thread, it's not like the team is making some choice to face backup goalies, or that they will face backups throughout the season, what are you even proposing? This thread has zero purpose.

Someitmes it's IMPOSSIBLE to have a grown-up discussion on this board.

I have had interesting discussions with some people about this very topic in person, yet nobody I talked to poo-pooed the concept that this team has had an easier versoion of these so-called top teams and division leaders. Geez, how can you guys not see that?

Here's an experiment: Let's put Lalime in and see how the team does! What's that? You don't think they'll do as well? Why not, goalies are interchangeable. If the fucking Islanders beat the Sabres with Lalime in net, that's still a victory over the Sabres, right? Yay! The Isles can skate with and beat the Sabres now! Yup.

Exercize some critical thoguht and stop attacking the messenger.

And for anybody who thinks thigns are peachy because April is sooooo far away, you need to recognize that playoff or cup contention is BUILT throughout the season, not in April.

Yeah, I'm quite aware of that.

My point is that writing off a team in November as having zero chance at a championship run is silly. As poorly as they started, they're currently tied for 8th place in the conference. They have been able to turn it around and not play themselves out of contention.

And this subject is not taboo. It's just been beaten to death over the last few weeks.

We haven't peaked.

This team can play even better hockey. Pominville and Connolly finally got themselves on the board last night.

The D is still coming together game by game.

I see the backup situation as an opportunity to build some confidence and start playing better hockey.

So far, so good.

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Wheelhouse

People are exercising 'critical thought'. They just don't agree with you.

they havnt played themselves out of contention no. almost, but they are back in. the devils were talking about the golden 20/20 rule. 20 points by the 20 game mark. and how few teams who have failed to get 20 points by 20 games have made the playoffs in the history of the league. its happened, but its rare.

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