Pretty straightforward question I have for you all. How do you think the Sabres will do on Friday after their longest layoff of the season? (Maybe the longest since the Olympics within a season?)

What do you think? Will they come out rusty and ill-prepared? Or will they come out on top of their game and raring to go?

I know I'll probably watch the game will more emotional intensity. I'm hoping they play it that way too.

All new lines. And I like them.

I'm very interested in seeing how they play out. If we lose, I don't think it'll stem from a lack of intensity.

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Wheelhouse

Downside is the opponent. If they have a lapse and give up and early goal, the Jackets will fall back to trappy-trappy time, and frustrate the hell out of the Sabres. We all see what happens when they get frustrated....

the time is NOW. its not october anymore. its not november anymore. if this team is gonna swim, it has to start now. january and beyond should be for jockeying for playoff spots, in reality. the playoff picture begins to slowly emerge at this point. they need to get to .500 and begin to climb. if they keep screwing the pooch, the climb becomes too steep and it wont happen. the time is NOW. you cant make it up all at once.

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We've seen this before...they come out flat, fall behind two goals, battle like hell in the 3rd, but only score 1 goal.

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mechaphil

The upside of the 5 days off is obvious:
They'll be well rested and (sale rumors aside) have their heads clear.

The downside is slipping out of that game groove.

To remain in top form, I don't think any team should have more than 2 full days between games. If you played last on Wednesday, you better be back on the ice by Saturday, etc. Otherwise, as I've said, you lose that all-important high-intensity focus.

This applies to all the major sports except football, but even in football terms, having two weeks instead of one before the Super Bowl is often said to be a bad idea---for the reason I stated above.

Yeah, I think it's too much time off too. I'm hoping they can get back in the groove quickly, but I'm worried.

They haven't had a groove. I hope Lindy woked them hard for the first 3 days and gave em hell in the film room the next two. Maybe that would help. Their window is closing though... If they don't make the playoffs and the new guy with the P name I can't spell inherits this team, heads will roll.

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"Call a cop he robbed Delmore blind!!!"
Rick Jeanerette after Marty Biron's diving save back in 2000.

"I'm going to go to the spa and have a hot tub and massage and relax," Miller said. "That's it, and it's back to work tomorrow." Ryan Miller after clinching the North East division.

There never was a groove to lose. I hope they start over and come out energized. In reality I think it will turn out like phil said.

On the other hand it's 5:30am and I'm drunk, so Vanek will score 6 goals and the sabres will win 5:4 (something to think about )

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Gerbe - Roy - Vanek ..... What happened to Ennis here?

Stafford - Adam - Pomminville ..... Staff at left wing? Lets roll the dice, couldn't hurt any.

Ennis - Hecht - Kaleta ..... Ennis sent to hell? Sad really, that lack of 3rd line center is killing us.

McCormick - Gaustad - Grier ..... Poor McCormick, he's not the fastest, but will look like it with these linemates.

I don't like these lines at all. Outside of the Staff to LW and Adam as 2nd line center (is he ready is the question) I see no significant improvement on the roster.

Well, heres to hoping I am wrong and that these combinations bare fruit.

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

This.

On a related note, this seems like something that just shouldn't happen. WTF is up with the league's scheduling? Shouldn't they have some kind of program for this to create the league's schedule?

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I think Ruff is trying to push Ennis to be better. He has very high expectations of him.

Meanwhile, throwing Gerbe on that first line adds some speed and snarl.

I really like Pominville and Stafford on a line together, and as long as Adam keeps his game simple, he should benefit greatly from this chance to center those two guys.

Ennis, Hecht, and Kaleta I can deal with. Get the puck to Ennis and let him turn the opposition's third line inside out the way Vanek and Roy used to when Briere and Drury were our top two centers.

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Wheelhouse

Isn't Staff out?

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No. Tonight will be his first game back. He's been skating with Pominville and Adam all week.

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Wheelhouse

Ohh. That's too bad.

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I'm not so sure about that. I have some faith in Stafford.

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Wheelhouse

Me too, once every 5 games.

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im thinking stafford (8 points in 14 games) will be a welcome asset to this team.

by the way, BEST DAMN GIF EVER. in your avatar.

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I hate Gerbe on the 1st line.

How? You haven't seen them play together yet. And Gerbe's played good hockey the past 4-5 games.

And thanks Mike. I think people are forgetting how well Stafford played before he went down.

He adds some grit and skill to our scoring units.

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Wheelhouse