This series, the Sabres PK has been called on to be rock solid, and they've done that. 4 different 5 on 3's (though the last was only 9 seconds) and a litany of penalty calls as long as my arm. In fact, being on the PP often turns the crowd against the Flyers when they can't seem to muster any zone time.

I've noticed Stafford getting a lot of time on the PK, and he seems to be doing rather well. Also, the PK seems to be the only bright spot for Tim Connolly. He's been a beast 2 men down and terrible everywhere else.

Now Pommers is gone, probably for the series, maybe for the season. Will the PK falter, or will the guys pick up the slack? I'd like to see Vanek get some time there. He's done it for short stints in the past, and I'm not really sure why Ruff took that away from him, as he seemed to be doing well enough (including two shorties a couple years ago in back to back games paired with Kaleta).

Ham

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Do you believe yet?

I'll pass on Vanek on the PK.

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

Yes, Vanek has done it before, but just because we thought he was OK at it doesn't mean Ruff did.

I know I can't say what Ruff thought, but Vanek has been the team's leader this year. We've all seen how he's become more defensively responsible. There have been comments that certain (offensive) players can't stay in the flow of the game when the team is constantly killing penalties, thereby limiting their even strength effectiveness. And now one of your top penalty killers is gone, probably long term. So who would you put in?

Me, I'd say Vanek, but if you've got someone else in mind, let's hear it!

Ham

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Do you believe yet?

Your top 4 PK forwards , with Pominville out, are :

Connolly
Gaustad
Grier
Stafford

You could take Special Nieds and Kaleta and split up the 5th forward time, and probably be ok. Not as good as with Pominville, but I would think they'll get it done. I'm guessing the only reason Nieds hasn't is to try and save his legs.

You could also throw in McCormick so that's 7 guys who could play the PK.

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

McCormick only played 12 PK minutes in the regular season, so that might be a stretch for him to do it in a playoff series, although I bet he could in a pinch.

Kaleta actually had more PK time than Stafford in the regular season, even though Staffy-Poo has done it more in the playoffs.

I think they'll be fine no matter what.

They killled a penalty in the last 2 minutes of the third period against the Flyers without Pominville.

I think they'll be okay. Guys are stepping up all over the ice. The only Sabre that didn't register a blocked shot last night was Patrick Kaleta.

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Wheelhouse

Somebody else is going to have to continue to step it up if The Pom is out, but it's been great.

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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've actually enjoyed watching staff on the PK if you watch him, he seems to be a little more agressive pressuring the other team and catching them on surprise

Ellis was called up, so there's your 5th PK forward.

And there's your 4th line center, moving Boyes back to a top six RW role.

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mechaphil

Um Vanek has one blocked shot and 2 hits in the entire playoffs. Not sure he's the pk type...

Hits are not something to judge a pker by. How often do you see shut on the pk? And blocked shots are iffy too. You can go through an entire powerplay without getting a shot off because the lanes aren't open

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You're not going to get a lot of blocked shots as a forward unless you're on the PK, but you can't be on the PK if you don't block enough shots? That's a pretty poor argument.

Oh look, Mike Grier, the master of the PK, only has 4 blocked shots. And he actually kills penalties!! Their PK must suck....except that it doesn't.

I'm not even going to address the hits, because that's just plain dumb.

No I guess I was trying to say Vanek would be less willing to block a shot than some other players on the squad.

I would just expect him to leave the zone early compared to other players.