Team play looked much better.
Players that deserve mentioning: Montador, Butler, Stafford, Gerbe, Ennis, Hecht and obviously Miller.

Butler played a particularly good game defensively.
Vanek finally scored, but other than that instance was virtually invisible.
Connolly (sigh) what more is there to say.
Montador is a trooper, no doubt, even during the losing streak.
Ennis scored, good for him.
Gerbe did some very good work back checking and isn't afraid to throw the puck to the net.
Hecht played decent.
Stafford has really turned it up a notch this season, good for us and him.

Buffalo played a flat-footed Atlanta team. For anyone who caught Atlanta's opener like I did, you know Atlanta is much faster and more physical than we saw this evening. But, give our team credit, they clogged the passing lanes, suffocated the transition game of Atlanta and layed it out there in the shot lanes in our zone tonight (Montador and Butler come to mind).
Rivet does not need to be resigned after the season in my opinion, but Montador I would keep as the #4 D man.

Overall, a decent effort, the Power Play still sucks donkey dick and it is only 1 game. My view is well known by all of you, I still hold firm to my beliefs that a couple of trades are needed, and now.

Other wise, not a terrible outing by the team, a win is a win.
My hats off to Butler, I rode his ass hard for months, but if he can clog passing lanes, stay in position and block critical shots as he did tonight, then there is hope for the kid. He's still trade bait to me though.

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

Myers scored on the PP

_________________
mechaphil

I disagree with your statements on Vanek. He was always standing in the crease and had a few more scoring chances then just the one he scored.

Connolly, honestly had a decent game, took some good shots and really didn't do anything stupid. The entire team played well.

But yes, Montador did great and so did Butler. Rivet, well lets say he wasn't sucking, he played an overall good game.

The entire team played a good game, and it showed on the scoreboard tonight. Ennis should have had four goals, and Vanek could have easily gotten three tonight.

_________________

Ya, I know phil, Its a goal.
I didn't mention though (and thank you for pointing it out to me) that Myers seemed much more confident in the 2nd half of this game. He carried the puck like a PMD and showed confidence and smart decisions on the offensive rush in the 2nd half of this game.

The reason I didn't mention the power play goal was because the team is at 9.7% success, including Myers goal.
They went 1 for 7 with 11:20 minutes with the man advantage. Thats not good Phil, needs much improvement.

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

SabresJunkie fans who heard me on WGR the other night will tell you, I'm not down on Vanek, a majority of it isn't his own doing.
Squanto and I talk on this from time to time in random threads we post.
I feel the problem isn't Vanek, its the lack of Roy and him remaining together consistently and a RWer worth a dam.
Just my thoughts on it is all Sky.

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

Just a dominating performance, a lot of players brought their skates to this one. The whole team played like they were interested in skating hard for 60 minutes, and less interested in the score. I think that with a hard working attitude like that, good things have a better chance of happening. Connolly played a smart game, got to the right spots at the right time. He'll get a few more goals if he keeps that up.

Just a great, positive effort.

"The legs feed the wolf."
-Herb Brooks

_________________
"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

That they scored a PP goal is growth. If they go back to sucking, I'll get angry again. If they continue to produce, I'll be happy.

_________________
mechaphil

I agree Slesh, Vanek looked good with Stafford and Roy tonight and that line should not be broken up again. I really haven't seen many other games so I can only comment on how he looked in this game.

Also I would like to say Ennis is a beast. So many chances for that kid tonight and glad he got a goal tonight.

_________________

I agree with everything Slesh said. Especially the case of Rivet and Montador. Rivet is invisible, but Montador, while not flashy, is way better offensively and a much better skater. He has been our most consistent defenseman this year(just like he has been during the playoffs last year). Hell, in 7 games: he has 4 assists and is +5. PLUS 5 on a team that sucked pretty much all the time. Anyway, my point is: Montador > Rivet.

And I feel the confidence will be back in the players' game. Especially for Vanek and Myers.

_________________
LET'S GO BUFFALO!

So do you keep Staff-Roy-Van together for a game or two?

What do you do when Pommers comes back? How far away is he?

Who was sitting or hurt for Butler being in? Im drawing a blank... I saw Sekra, Myers, Monte, Rivet.... Leopold... who am i missing? Butler didn't start the season, did he? Why is my head not working.... i just do not remember seeing him recently...

_________________

Yea, the goal for Vanek and Myers were huge for both of them.

_________________

I'm watching the game now on my DVR.

Besides his goal, Tyler Ennis was all over the ice looking goooooood during this game. Could have had three or four goals.

_________________
mechaphil

Ehh, one powerplay goal this game isn't enough to sway me yet on the PP.

Glad they won, though.

lol at Mason being chosen as the 3rd star of the game. He sucked, hard.

_________________
"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

Agreed Beth, but it's a step in the right direction. If they take another step in the right direction on Friday, I'd start to get swayed. If they crap out on the PP again, then I'll look at tonight's goal as a fluke.

_________________
mechaphil

Morrisonn is out, thats why Butler is in I'm guessing. Can anyone confirm?
Also, I liked the Hecht-Connolly-Pommers line in the regular season last year, not LOVED, but liked it in the second half of the season.
Unfortunately, they were a no show in the Boston series.
I want CONNOLLY gone, and NOW!!!!
I want Ennis on the LW and, when Pommers returns, on the RW.
All I am looking for is a Center worth a shit for them.

As for Stafford, yes, he looks different this season. I like Roy and Vanek together, but I'm not sold on Stafford as the RWer yet.
Sorry, but three seasons prior this guy wasn't even streaky, he was invisible for much of the time.
That may have changed. I don't know, only time will tell, and right now, I don't have the patience for it.
If it does work for Staff with Van and Roy, then fine, I'm all in.

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

Morrisonn

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut.

I mean they're bound to score every once in a while on the PP, I don't think they could ever be to the point of being shut out on the PP all the time. Although, for once I wish I could watch a string of successful powerplays that would not result in me wanting the NHL to allow a team to decline penalties and stay 5-on-5 unlike the usual Sabres PP.

Again I agree, but I look at it more along the lines of scoring PP goals in consecutive games rather than consecutive power plays. Baby steps, homegirl, baby steps lol

_________________
mechaphil

Ya, let's save the judgment until say game 20. By 40, we will see our trends.