Well, as disheartening as this 4th game at home is, there are some positives to point out. Lets go over the ever so prevelant negatives first.

Once again, Connolly is a no show and was actually a detrement to the defensive game, especially in the 3rd. Time for this guy to go.

Squanto, I stand corrected on Vanek, this was only the 3rd game this season I've watched in its entirety and I have to tell you, the frustration is plain to see on his face. Roy and Vanek are decent together, but, in true to form fashion from the previous 2 seasons, they need a RWer to complete that line. Its plain to see.

Also, I forget who brought it up, but Lindy does change the lines way to often. Keep players together to find that chemistry, this I agree with.

Fly, this is for all of us, but I know you'll appreciate it, Miller was stellar tonight. Poor guy, reminds me of the Hasek facial expressions after he put in a "GREAT" enough to win performance. I have to wonder if this season will be the straw that breaks the Camels back for Millsie and he'll want out. Thats a conversation for the end of the season, but its games like these that I am sure get under his skin.

Now to the Meat and Potatoes of the problem. Defensive zone play wasn't god awful, yet, once again the transition and breakout game was down right ugly for the first 45 minutes of this game. I hadn't pointed it out before, but that leads to poor offensive zone play. I mean, really, was this team coached this pre-season at all on dump in and recovery?
This is a coaching problem, plain and simple. 15 players just cannot be this bad, can they?

The Power Play, only a couple tonight, but after viewing that performance of "NO" puck control what-so-ever, need I say more?

The last 2 minutes of the game was a complete joke. Won't even speak beyond this of it.

I don't know ladies and gentlemen, but, after a mere 5 games into the season, 4 of them home games, 1 of them an important date in team history, I have to make an early season observation: This Team Sucks!

Maybe they will turn it around, but I highly doubt it. A trade or 2? Who knows.
Maybe a sign that Regier is finally gone? God, I can only dream of it.

It doesn't look good. And the sad thing is it may actually hinder the younger guys development.

Gerbe I liked this game, especially his defensive play. Ennis needs to get off of the Nieds/Grier line. Which brings me to my next point. Nieds/Grier should not be resigned by this team. Niether has shown leadership early on nor have they been a positive factor up until now.

Of course, this is an early season game and opinion, but to date, I have seen nothing promising from this squad in the way of improvement from last season, once again, that falls on managements shoulders.

All of this can change in the next 15 games, but as of now, I have seen nothing to show me it will.
And yet again, I must point out, these last 8 points were home games. Minimum of 4 points is what I expected. These games "WILL" come back to bite them in the ass in April, make no mistake about that.

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

no stop don't say that I worry about that all the time.

_________________
"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

Me too Fly, we need him here. We need him to retire here. But I can't get over that look on his face these last 2 games. He looks so frustrated, it reminded me of Hasek.

Lets cross our fingers that he'll hang in there.

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

I know it gets to him, and that's why I worry about that.

_________________
"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

I could see Miller chewing out a lot of guys in the room because of having no drive. Tonight, I'll say only a few guys showed up to play, Miller being one of them. I liked what I saw out of ‘Neids, Roy, Grier but those who need to have a better showing just aren't there either mentally or physically or both.

I'm not going to jump to conclusions and write off the season. What I am doing and hoping for is that the anger of losing from taking time off these last few games is carried over into this next game with Chicago. I think if we come out of the gates meaning business and take this game it could really turn things around for us.

I'll be watching.

_________________
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

Yes ma'am, I know.

Now you know why I was screaming at the top of my lungs on multiple message boards, WGR and so on, to bring in Kaberle (an excellent PPQB) and Clowe on LW for Connolly and Pommers and a RWer worth a shit.

I want the Cup, just as much as Ryan does. Sad actually, because if a trade is necessary now, it may cost the team more now than in the off season when teams were looking to dump salary (Versteeg from Chicago and some others come to mind).

Now you can see why I scream it Fly. I keep saying Miller is in his prime, now is the time, but alas, Regier is our GM

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

mmmmm...........me to AudSabres. I am very concerned over the lost points though, especially given they were home games. It is a great deal of concern to me in any event. Every point counts, and we all know this.

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

It's annoying because it shouldn't take a 4 game losing streak for the team to get angry enough to go out and win.

_________________
"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

So while I was at the game I approached a ref when he was exiting. Kind of a childish moment, told him to go to lens crafters you blind bastard.

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

Agreed, but if the talent isn't there, whats the logical next step? To bring it in of course.
I don't necessarily blame the players this season (minus Connolly of course, because we all know he can be much better than he has shown so far) but management is a different story, specifically Regier.

I am hoping Ryan steps up and tells Regier, "player A, B and C need to be brought in, I don't give shit how you do it, but GET IT DONE MY BITCH".

Its not to late, and Ryan is the franchise as of right now.

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

Oh I agree completely, Slesh. I'm concerned as well with the play of some of the role players and a lot of the guys just "Mailing" in their effort. Instead of keeping their legs moving on a lot of plays, they toss the puck to the corners and glide in waiting for the opposition to take the game to them. They seem to be more reactive as opposed to being proactive when it comes to getting involved in the play. These last few games at home have been some big points which we've dropped. Thankfully, only 2 games have been divisional points, one in which we won (Ottawa).
They need to start pressing the play instead of leaning back on their heels and waiting to react to how the opposition is attacking them. Too many plays have we seen the Sabres draw back and anticipate the opposition turning the puck over in their favor and losing an opportunity at the point. I saw at least 3 or 4 tonight itself.
This next game may not be a divisional game, but it is a big one, none the less. They need a swagger, and this is JUST the game to get that swagger back.

_________________
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'm as worried as all of you guys, but we havent even played 10 games yet. Lets hope they turn it around saturday and theyll just go from there.

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

_________________
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

When we reach ten games we will say let's wait till 20. Then going on until NEXT SEASON.

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

I think it's just that after seeing the Bills suck SO bad this year and getting really excited about the Sabres, it's been easy to get all worried and worked up about it (for me at least). It's becoming a shitty sports year for me, the Mets sucked, the Bills suck, and I don't want to add the Sabres to that list.

_________________
Check out Fast Super Cars, Car Tuning, and WNY Sports

Twitter - @Ryan911T - @MotoExposure

For the record, I am the one who made the "Lindy switches lines way too God damn much" comment.

Also, I think it's completely obvious that Derek Roy is the best forward on the team right now. He's the only one who knows how to find the net, and the only one that seems to be trying much of anything and at least breaking through. Everyone else just kind of seems lost, and I don't know if that's everyone getting used to Nieds and Leopold, but you'd that's what the preseason is for.

I don't know, but I don't want to make any harsh assessments about this team until about 12-15 games in.

_________________
Girgensons for captain. Team Keep Nick DesLauriers forever.

@TJLuckman550

at the end of the game, i just stood there dumb struck. i still don't get why there was no delay of game called and why the 4 seconds wasn't added back onto the clock. too many men called when miller was pulled outta the net?

sure these stupid calls probably wouldn't have made a difference at all, but its just the point. why do we get the short stick on officiating ? so many times were penalties not called on Montreal.

like i said, i don't think any of them would have mattered, but what the eff, refs?



also i swear if weber is not in the game tomorrow instead of butler, i just won't get what lindy is thinking. i don't even know.

HAHAHAHA who cares if it was childish, that's classic.

_________________

The reffing was freaking absurd, it was like a really important playoff game where the chickenshit refs are too scared to affect the game by, oh, doing their freaking jobs.

Although, with the atrocious powerplay I dont suppose it would have mattered all that much, they probably play better at even strength anyways.

Ugh, that game was absolute shit. I'm pissed I spent money on it.