The Sabres are ranked 30th in Hits. Of the 10 teams ranked at the bottom of the league in Hits, 6 are not currently in the playoffs.

The Sabres are ranked 21st in Blocked Shots. Of the 10 teams ranked at the bottom of the league in BkS, 7 are not currently in the playoffs.

The Sabres are ranked 27th in Faceoff Percentage. Of the 10 teams ranked at the bottom of the league in FO%, 6 are not currently in the playoffs.


These are a few areas that reflect a troubled defensive zone, and it would be nice if the team improved in these areas while on their way to a position in the playoffs.

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"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

Lydman is third in the league in blocked shots, btw he is leading in +/- with +26.
His departure couldn't be compensated.

I think if 40% of the bottom 10 are still in a playoff spot the stat is not really important, but sucking in all 3 means trouble. Blocked shots is the key here and the main reason why our PK is worse than last year.

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I'm sure we've all seen this stat coming. I've been saying it for awhile. It's ok to be a scorer, but you have to do other teams. Besides our defensemen and our grinders, no one will care to finish an easy check.

Players are not scared to dangle around you or move the puck along the boards if you're not going to threaten to hit them.

Not surprising. There are a lot of former Sabres who are now doing much better with other teams. There was absolutely no reason to get rid of Lydman or Tallinder except for the bottom line and our defense was damaged because of it.

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I remember when I said Lydman's checking and shot blocking will be gravely missed in our own end.

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Peg-u-la!

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Wheelhouse

Except that defense isn't the Sabre's problem this year, so it doesn't matter.

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

...

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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.

Yup...We's gots da best Dafents in da leege
I don't need stats to prove that we suck....just watching them play is proof enough for me.

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The only one I miss is Lydman. I don't miss Tallinder because of Leopold and I disagree that there are a lot of former Sabres doing much better. I can't think of anyone in particular. Lydman was already a shot blocking monster when he played here.

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You mean to tell me we're scoring goals left and right?

Our OFFENSE is the problem. Having Lydman wouldn't change shit.

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

Just because we our offense sucks more does not mean our defense doesn't suck too. Does the offense suck more? Yup. Does the D not suck? Nope. Wait...what?

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Everything we do right now sucks.

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Wheelhouse

Our Offense wasn't much better last year and without any big additions nobody expected that to change much. The big difference is that last year our defense was better and Miller played awesome.

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It's like the NHL pulled a Jedi mind trick and convinced us that we're playing cricket. Yes....it is that bad.

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The offense is just as bad as last season, in fact they are right around the exact amount of goals scored that they had at this point during last season.

I always had a high opinion of Lydman even when I didn't root for the Sabres, and I think it's obvious that he is missed. But having said that I still maintain that he isn't Lidstrom, it's not a loss that should have been catastrophic. It would appear to me that the entire team needs to chip in on those three statistical areas, no single player-not even Lord Lydman of the Ducks-can change it all.

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"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

I miss my Loods. I was so upset when he signed with LA.

Selling to Terry P doesn't suck! 3rd best thing to happen to this team!!! .... I really hope it doesn't fall apart!

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Anaheim.

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