This is a disturbing statistic to me....especially considering there have been a few games where we have scored a bunch of goals like last night against the leafs....plus we have been shut out like 3x i think???

At this point i have no problem with our defense or starting goaltender....However, i just don't see a team that is 22nd in scoring being a serious contender...we're almost half way through the season and still waiting for Vanek and the other top scorers to do something....

ALL IS NOT WELL ON THE SABRES FRONT DARCY !!!

I hope Darcy still isn't sitting comfy in his office playing NHL09....

I'm not a GM but i do think something has to be done here....maybe Gerbe will step up when he comes back from being injured? Will that be enough ? What's going on with Pominville ?
Thoughts ?

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"It is more about them than it is about the team...Cannot play with them, cannot win with them, cannot coach with them. Can't do it. I want winners. I want people that want to win." - Mike Singletary

Tyler Myers - Future captain of the Buffalo Sabres, and future Norris Trophy Winner

Manning the machine gun on the Tyler Myers Bandwagon - just in case any teams have an idea of prying him away from us (3 GM's shot already)

Connolly/Roy - 2 goals in the last 47 playoff games

I think that, when a team wins games, I don't care how they do it. As long as they win.

Look at our top six. These guys aren't going to light the lamp the way the superstars in the NHL do. But they play both sides of the rink so well, that it doesn't matter.

If we want to improve our goals for, we should be working on making the power play better. That's a big reason why our goals for count is relatively low.

I think the top 6 have started to make better decisions on offense too, and they continue to improve.

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Wheelhouse

Butterfly league...what works? TOP SHELF.

Best shot for "Top Shelf"? WRIST SHOT.

What shot do the girls use least? WRIST SHOT.

Abandon the fucking slapshot...gives too much time for goalie-adjustment. Too inaccurate. Too uncontrollable. Too easily blocked. Too easily "transmitted". Too much opportunity for breaking a stick or whiffing.

Wrist shot you stubborn bitches. Wrist shot. And practice. Practice. Practice!

Back to fundamentals. I'm coach, and I start counting slapshots - Every failed one in a game situation earns the entire team 50 lengths in practice; double-time.

They'll cut that silly shit out, pretty fast.

Pommers has a strong wrist shot, but continues to slap it, and continues to slap his skill set in the face.

I feel like the only time a slapper should ever be taken is on the point, one the PP, with a wide open lane.

Never been a huge fan of the slapper, especially from forwards who have a tendency of shooting the puck high.

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"She's like plan C after an 18 pack"

Squanto 7/27/2010

That's because one has to take the slapshot while leaning forward - Body mechanics. One releases from the back skate and the puck rises to hit the glass or mesh, because one's stick is already lifting by the time the blade contacts the puck. The puck should be almost behind the shooter for the blade to contact correctly. He must be turned sideways at an extreme angle; almost showing his back and shoulder, to the goalie. A very "closed stance".

Slapshots should break ankles, not find the plexiglas.

...but, I agree with you. Pommers is not playing to his strengths.

Look at all these little things that they're doing wrong that they could easily improve on.

And yet we're still one of the most winningest teams in the league.

Keep... it... up!

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Wheelhouse

Vanek needs an actual play-maker on his line(and then both of them need to be given the go ahead to be offensive minded sometimes), and Hecht needs to go cod fishing in Iceland(or be relegated to the 3rd line on some other shitty team). I'm fine with a defensive system, but you need versatility in ANY sport. You have to be able to at least make the opposition think you may go offensive SOMETIMES, plus it's nice to have offense when you go down by 2.

Should have brought in Tanguay to play with Vanek(if he would do RW). Other available options for top 6 were Michalek, O'Sullivan, and maybe Sharp presently. It ain't often when guys like this become available, so you have to pay up(better to pay up with picks and prospects than over pay free agents). Darcy hates paying up. He's the guy who folds every time you raise the pot. Eventually you'd just want to ask him if he came to play poker, or just get ya mad enough to punch him in the head.

/"We told him we'd match it." LOL, It's no wonder Lowe tried it. Darcy HATES playing hardball negotiator, and Lowe knew it.

Hows this look:

Vanek-Roy-Tanguay
Michalek-Connolly-Pominville
Mac-Kennedy-Grier
Kaleta-Goose-Stafford

Ellis and Mair on the bench.

who cares

we're 9-1-3 (80.7%) in games decided by one goal. That's the only stat I care about, the team is finally starting to show some clutch.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

It's a very subjective stat and I agree it shows that the team is clutch probably pretty much more than anything, but it is nonetheless, a scary stat. If it were close to 60(and it isn't, but what if), where would we be. It also connotates that you are very often in very close games. You could take this stat either way. In any event, I don't think more scoring would bother anyone.

I'm sure that everyone would like more scoring, but, if you're winning with what you've got, I don't think that should be discounted.

Ah yes, the preplexing question of the current record of this team. That has been brought up in countless discussions, countless points of view. But in contrast to what is good about the current record of the team, the original OP brings up the 1 true valid point.
The final analysis of what is debated with points and counter points has yet to be played out, so it is fair to say that anything can happen come playoff time. It is also note worthy to consider the realities of the current situation on the team. No one appears to dispense the fact that scoring is an issue. Alas, this team, with its short comings does find the ways to win, for now.
But come playoff time, your not playing an 82 game schedule just to make it to the tournament which is proportioned so different from the regular season itself. The team plays 7 game series. Other teams play with an additional bounce in its step both offensively as well as defensively. That is when I believe this team will falter, it will not be undone by a lack of effort, but by the lack of existing scoring skill which is already prevalent now.
Like a chess game, a series of moves must be made to enhance the chances of overall success. What moves should be made are always open for debate, but be made they must be if our beloved team is truly make a concerted run for Lord Stanleys Cup.
Darcy is aware of this, something is going to happen, an over abundance of Defensive talent, a fresh make over of the top 6, these things must come to pass if we are to seek the glory of lifting the Cup in Buffalo.

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

Just seems like eternal pessimism to me.

When the team is winning 1 goal games, and has a good record, they're destined to fail in the playoffs because they can't score enough.

When the team is winning games 6-4, and has a good record, they're destined to fail in the playoffs because they can't play enough defense.

Seems like they can't win.

When a team is winning 6-1 games by one goal, they're destined to fail because that is impossible and will destroy the universe.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Statistically, winning the one-goal games is very desirable - It can be taken as the trait of a winner; a team with depth and character.

However - We've all seen the lapses in effort, by key players...if we can continue to win without relying on them, then so be it.

...at that point, they cease to be "key players" and become utterly expendable.

Can't have it both ways.

I haven't seen a lapse of effort by key players. Maybe a lapse in statistics.

But they're also going up against the top 2 lines from other teams and limiting them to very few goals against us.

And they aren't playoff tested. I have a hard time believing that they won't show up to a playoff game.

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Wheelhouse

yes...this is what i am thinking also....i think the effort will be there....but we are just going to come up short in the skill/scoring dept....the teams we will meet in the playoffs are , well, playoff teams...they got there for a reason - good goaltending, defense, special teams, and offense...we are not going to see teams that are like the leafs, etc. come playoff time.....we have a decent defense, and great goaltending....offense is bad...pp is bad....pk was good last time i checked.....

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"It is more about them than it is about the team...Cannot play with them, cannot win with them, cannot coach with them. Can't do it. I want winners. I want people that want to win." - Mike Singletary

Tyler Myers - Future captain of the Buffalo Sabres, and future Norris Trophy Winner

Manning the machine gun on the Tyler Myers Bandwagon - just in case any teams have an idea of prying him away from us (3 GM's shot already)

Connolly/Roy - 2 goals in the last 47 playoff games

Scores of last year's Cup Final

Game 1: 3-1 DET
Game 2: 3-1 DET
Game 3: 4-2 PIT
Game 4: 4-2 PIT
Game 5: 5-0 DET
Game 6: 2-1 PIT
Game 7: 2-1 PIT

As you can see, game 5 was the only one that was won by more than 2 goals. Game 7 was decided by one goal. Seems like the more important game

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Rest in Peace Nani. 10/3/10

Gerbacity



"Grier coming in over the line. He leaves it to Gaustad. The shot. THEY SCOOOREE!! RING UP ANOTHER ONE FOR THE GOOSE!!! HONK IF YA HEAR THE GOOSE!! 3-0 BUFFALO!"

How many of the 3-1 and 4-2 decisions were empty net goals as well?

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Wheelhouse

Plus, Buffalo has played the best teams very tough this season so far. (Barring the NJ game). To say that the playoff teams have good goaltending, defense, offense and special teams... no, that would make them a powerhouse and Cup favorite. Only the top tier teams are great in all aspects. The rest have some areas that are mediocre to below average. It's the whole package together that makes them better than the non-playoff contenders who have fewer areas in which they excel and more areas in which they're deficient.

Ham

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Do you believe yet?

What's our ranking for GA? Oh, right, 2nd.

Can't have it both ways...unless you're Detroit pre-'09/'10.

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mechaphil