Results are results.

They're winning games. How have they done it?

- With offense.
- With defense.
- Relying on GoalieBot9000.
- Relying on GoalieBot8000.
- With shootouts.
- In Overtime.
- Coming from behind.
- Holding onto a slim lead.

Think about it. What other ways are left? Since they game out of the gate 8-1-1, people have been waiting for them to falter, yet they haven't.

After a relatively easy November, they had a tough December schedule. Yet they STILL managed to go 9-4-2 in the month. Still haven't faltered.

They could be playing better, sure. Individuals have underperformed.

BUT THEY'RE WINNING.

I just can't get on the 'This is Buffalo, this is the Sabres. They'll find a way to fuck it up.' bandwagon.Past performance is not an indicator of future results.

I don't in any way subscribe to the ultra negative mind set of Buffalo sports fandom. Again, at least for me, I'm still happy with a 5th seed and a 2nd round exit if they end up falling that way. Even still, there could be more from the top six. If they were doing what was expected they never would have been broken up like they are now. Whether it's playing unselfishly to the system or being more willing to get physical, they can do more. If they do the team will be a true Cup contender.

Posters like PSP can't manage to focus on an issue without getting so ultra defensive. I say, "the top six can be better". He hears, "OMG the team SUCKS they will lose like always". I mean gimme a break...an f-ing break.

How awesome would it be if there isn't a single forward that is in the top 20 in scoring at the end of the season and the Sabres win the Presidents Trophy?

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"...they came down into the stands and asked if I knew how to do play by play. I said...No. But. I'll take a shot at it if you want".- Rick Jeanneret

The top twenty? How about the top fifty? They may be able to pull it off, but it's not a likely indicator of a Cup winner. After all, nobody really cares about the President's Trophy.

True, but are they getting the same defensive contributions from their top 6?

Obviously not. Otherwise, they'd be just as high in the standings as the Sabres are.

If their goal scoring is limited in number, then their ability to shut teams down has to be strong, and including the game against Montreal yesterday, this team has showed that they're capable of making the best of the best look snake bitten.

And don't say it's all Miller, because in the game that they shut out the Capitals, I saw Vanek, Stafford, Roy, and Connolly all strip the puck right off Ovechkin's stick on the back check.

They play like this on a regular basis.



Stafford has been the only benching. And as far as criticisms go, there have been times where they deserve it, but all players take heat at some point throughout a season. Even the best of the best.

The top 6 may have not done anything that seems overly flashy, but what makes them so great are the little plays that everyone here seems to take for granted that other teams just don't make.

Kovalchuk might score 40 goals a season, but find me footage of him lifting a stick on the backcheck, or blocking a shot.



I could care less whether or not you hate the players. But when people suggest that we have no chance with these guys heading into the playoffs, or they credit all the hard work this team has put in this year to Miller, I get irked.

Give credit where credit is due. These guys have earned the record they have.

I haven't said they can't be better. I've said multiple times that I think they're going to improve upon what's already been done. But don't make it sound like they haven't been pulling their weight.

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Wheelhouse

Nothing flashy, and the backchecking is what we expect from all forwards anyway. It's what's been missing for at least two seasons.

Of course Miller is not the only reason for their success, but he is the prime reason. All he needed was a reasonable effort from the team in order to put up top stats, and he's finally getting it this season. BUT, don't exaggerate a reasonable team effort and diminish the fact that Miller is pretty awesome, and kept their asses in MANY if not most of these games so far. With an average goalie, or even a top 8-12 goalie, this team would be stuck around 6-10th place.

As it stands though, they do "have a chance", but that doesn't mean they are a legit Cup contender just yet. Points and standings are good for the regular season, having all parts of the team working together properly is what brings a Cup. There is a enough of a difference, and the team is still closing that divide.

Well yeah, but I was merely referencing about the regular season and the stats and placing our our top forwards.

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"...they came down into the stands and asked if I knew how to do play by play. I said...No. But. I'll take a shot at it if you want".- Rick Jeanneret

Isn't that a GOALIES JOB? Isn't he suppose to keep his team in games they have no business of winning sometimes? Are you sure Nabakov isn't keeping San Jose in some games this year? How about Broduer, doesn't he keep his team in every game? Fluery has kept Pittsburgh in games, Luongo also?

It's the job of a goalie and we are blessed to have a really great goalie, he is doing his job, stopping the puck, but it's a team effort here, and if we didn't have Miller, an average goalie could do the job, not as good but the way the team is playing a more defensive role, it helps average goalies and makes the real stars shine.

Miller is just doing his job and keeping games close, what are we to expect from him? A shutout every game he plays in, because what he is doing and what the team is doing and how they are winning is because of a team effort. Defensive teams aren't suppose to score 400 goals a year, but we are currently third in goals allowed on the season. So much better than being 14-20th the past two years.

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Would any of us really be happy with a 2nd round playoff exit, in all honesty? No, I think that, come april, should the Sabres be in the playoffs; be it as President's Trophy winner or 8th-place-sneak-into-the-playoffs-team; we'll all be full of hope and be shouting "THIS IS THE YEAR! LORD STANLEY'S CUP IS COMING TO BUFFALO!" and not a single soul would be thinking "well, the cup would be great, but a second round exit will be ok with me." Its just totally against our nature to think that way once we get caught up in the emotion of the moment.

And just remember, arguments of the top 6 not performing aside, it will be damn near impossible to defeat Ryan Miller in a best of 7 series (well, unless we have to face the sens). I think we could, if we keep playing like this, get to the 3rd round, and lose in 7 to NJ, the Pens, or the Caps. The top 6 get more explosive scoring and production?

The sky's the limit.

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Bye Bye Dick Jauron!

Some of you people need to get a grip... Take a look at the standings. We're 2nd in the conference, 4th in the league. Obviously we're doing something right, and who cares if most of that success is because of Ryan Miller? Why is that a bad thing? Having strong goaltending is essential, and we've got that. Enjoy it.

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"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

I won't say its been all Miller. But, Buffalo has a great record now as other teams falter. That is a great reason to celebrate. I will say however, Miller is directly responsible for 8 of these victories. Take away those 8 and thats 16 points, all of sudden Buffalo no looky so good.

It is more than a fair assesment to say Miller got this team where it is with regards to the standings. Hands down, anyone who says otherwise just have not been watching the games. Is this a bad thing? Absolutely not, it shows us our goalie is ready. But he can't do it alone.
Its nice to see the team come back from 2 games while down 3 goals in each. I see some talent on the team, but I'll stick with the group of fans that see the top 6 as a real liability. Until I see consistency from this group I cannot give them any supporting statements.

With that said, I hope they continue their winning ways. Maybe, just maybe they'll win us fans over with consistency.

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

Everyone just need's to get over this bs pessimistic attitude towards the Sabres. Look at the bright side we could the Toronto fan base and be stuck at the bottom of the league year in and year out. We have a good team with good talent and prospects, were are one of the top teams in the league right now, just be happy and enjoy the ride. IMO the top six don't produce as much as they should is because of thier system, they could easily put up more numbers by being an all out attack team, but then we would give up more goals and may not win as many as we do.

All great teams start with a hot goaltender or at least a great one.

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this is a very reasonable, realistic and fair assessment. Well put sir They are playing Lindy's system which in my eyes is the type of system that wins games which seems to be working. How many times did we hear in the last two years "We lost because so and so and the other guy and his buddy's cousin and his cousin's buddy didnt play the system" They are playing as a unit. Its not the Crosby show or the Ovechkin show, it is the Sabres show with just about EVERYONE contributing offensively and defensively (despite our PP) in one way or another.

Oh and by the way I'm foaming at the mouth for Kaleta's return! GO SABRES!!!

Maybe true, but why do you believe that Miller would give up more goals than we can score on some other team's inferior goalies? Miller makes show stopping saves, we all know that, so why shouldn't we try to put up more numbers?? It's really not logical to not try to.

Play to your strengths.

If you're offensively gifted, try to outscore your opponent. If you can't, try to shut em down.

The Sabres aren't going to outscore many. The league has gone back to allowing clutching/grabbing/obstruction, and guys like Pommers, Connolly, and Roy that excelled when they had time and space just aren't going to put up the same numbers as they did in the past. So, you play defense, and make em pay for mistakes with your offensive talent.

here here

I totally agree, it's just that it seems like when we need goals, we can get them. I would just like to see a team that was less predictable. Continue the system we have, but sometimes surprise your opponent by being more offensive than they expected. I say so, because I believe the team CAN actually be good offensively. I'd just like to see us try it a bit before the playoffs, so if we find ourselves having scoring problems in the playoffs, we'll feel we can turn it up a notch. Maybe after the road trip, if we do well enough(staying 12 points out of 9th) Ruff will open it up some. I'd just like to see it anyways.

Because if you notice when the team does not play the "system" Miller is left out to dry, but when we do he gets all the credit. This is a TEAM not a one man show, you change the system and you change the whole complection of this team.

Hockey is a TEAM sport??

Miller deserves all the credit, because he has earned it. You could argue he IS a one man show many nights.