As we limp towards the Olympic break in a sad funk, the question of what's the primary weakness with the Sabres must be addressed. Let's look at the possibilities.

Lack of scoring

Lack of scoring? Think again, they rank 11th in the NHL in goals per game. Not amazing, but being ranked in the top 3rd in the NHL is certainly nothing to bitch about. Clearly, the problem lies elsewhere.

Power Play

Power play? Nope, not bad at all. The Sabres rank 13th in the league in PP%. Not fantastic, but still in the top half of the NHL, and certainly not a substantive reason to doubt the team's chances to go deep in the playoffs.

So, what could it be, you ask? Where is this team's weakness? You want the truth? YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!

Soft, Passive, Gutless Pussies

Wow. Soft, passive, gutless pussies? That's one strong accusation, ETC. You better be able to back it up.

I can.

The Sabres have been among the most passive teams in the NHL for years now, and this season they're softer than ever and the stats bear that out. Let's look at the Sabers' numbers in the four categories that best reflect a team's toughness and heart.

The Big Four

The four categories that reflect a team's guts, heart and toughness are fighting majors, hits, giveaways and blocked shots. Let's break down the numbers.

1. Fighting Majors: League rank - 28th/30.

The Sabres simply do not drop the gloves, and it shows when we see our players getting killed without retribution night in and night out. This was never more evident than against Ottawa, when Vanek, Pominville and Miller, our top two scorers and Vezina caliber goalie, all were run with predatory cheap shots without any substantive response from their teammates.

Having only 16 fighting majors, when the league average is 32.4, exposes this team as a passive group of gutless pussies who don't have each others' backs, and other teams are taking advantage of that reality.

2. Hits: League rank - 30th/30

Last. Dead last.

That's where the Sabres rank in the NHL in hits. Want to know if you have a soft, gutless team of pussies? Look no further. A team that refuses to hit is a team that cannot win battles that win big games. They get outhit virtually every night, and that's just fucking unacceptable. It shows a lack of will, a lack of courage, and a lack of desire, and certainly is a recipe for disaster come playoff time.

3. Giveaways: League rank - 3rd/30

This is one stat you certainly don't want to be among the league's top three, and is indicative of their unwillingness to hit or fight. In short, they lose more battles than almost any team in the league, and as a result turn the puck over with alarming regularity. Why shouldn't teams impose their will on the Sabres? It's like bullies stealing the class wimp's lunch money on a regular basis, and because they are soft, gutless pussies the Sabres don't even put up a fight when they take it.

4. Blocked Shots: League rank - 27th/30

Gutless is as gutless does. While the rest of the league's players are willing to sell out their bodies to block shots for their team, the Sabres primadonnas can't be bothered to put themselves in harms way. Want to know if they have heart? Look no further, because only a player who really wants to win will be willing to sell out his body in front of a wicked slap shot.

The stats don't lie, people. I can't really see any valid argument to the conclusion that the Sabres are SOFT, GUTLESS PUSSIES. We were supposed to be tougher this year after free agency, but most of those tough guys are in the AHL. Meanwhile, Rivet has turned into a marshmallow, Mair and Gaustad have apparently quit fighting, too, and Kaleta is the only guy on the team who will consistently hit people.

There is no honor here, there is no sense of "team", there is no courage to go to battle as a unit and have each others backs. Same old shit, different year.

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

There is so much wrong with this post I'm dizzy.

They win puck battles ALL THE TIME.

The Sabres are a puck possession team.

ANY TEAM THAT HAS THE PUCK ON THE BLADE OF THEIR STICKS MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, WILL BE OUT HIT EVERY GAME NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!!

I've never seen any of our players unwilling to block shots. Any time they have the opportunity, they go for it.

I saw Butler go after Neil last night. I saw Vanek punch Ruutu in the face. I saw Sekera and MacArthur throw hits.

Get a grip.

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Wheelhouse

PSP, with all do respect, you have nothing to back up your opinions. Try again. The stats don't lie, and I know this personally hurts you more than perhaps anyone else on this board since you are the one fan whose rose colored lenses sees only sunshine and rainbows for the Sabres.

I appreciate your good intentions, but you are simply not objective enough to handle the truth.

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

does whining like a bitch all the time help? because it sure doesn't help us having to read it

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FIGHTER OF THE NIGHTMAN

"on the ice now for buffalo, looking for the pass, and gets it, afinogenov, couldnt get the shot away, now HE DOES, HE SCORES!!!! HOLY MACKEREL ROLE THE HIGH LIGHT FILM, MAXIM AFINOGENOV, WHAT A MOVE!!!!.... thats not fair... that was unbelievable"
-R.J. and Lorenz

As with most things, I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

Not true ETC. It makes perfect sense.

If anything you posted was reality, there would be no possible way for us to be in the position we are now.

This team TAKES hits all game to make plays. They purposely hold the puck to draw people out of the play and then dish the puck.

Now explain to me how that is "gutless."

Of course a puck possession team gets outhit. Why does that surprise you?

Have you ever seen ANY of our players move out of the way of a shot? (I'm very curious to see your answer to this.)

The stats are real, but use your eyes.

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Wheelhouse

PSP, argue all you want that the stats aren't valid, but clearly your eyes are blinded by the rose colored lenses you're wearing. Counter with all the emotion you can muster, but I'll stand by the numbers. I'll let the court of public opinion make up their minds, and firmly and confidently believe my case is iron clad.

ETC rests his case.

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

it's not like we're controlling the puck for 40 minutes a game. the other team still have control of the puck for a MINIMUM of 25 minutes a game. we get outhit because the team is pretty soft.


oh and if taking hits to dish out passes was so awesome, we shouldn't be 12th in the league in scoring. only 16 teams make the playoffs. as far as i'm concerned, that puts us in the bottom 25% of teams that matter. if you're going to take the hit and not back it up, you should be scoring off it.

PSP, I've been in doubt of people calling you out before, but you really are kind of an eternal optomist... Admit SOMETHING; ANYTHING is wrong with this team. If you don't, you're blind.

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you can't get out of the way if you're never in the way, dude

Toni Lydman is 11th in the league in blocked shots.

Tyler Myers is 1st amongst rookies in the category, by a huge margin.

They were very good at this early, but it's tailed off in the last 10-15 games, but that also coincides with their overall worse play.

I'm not saying that the physicality can't improve folks.

But this thread is taking it way too far. A lot of it is bull shit. Soft and gutless are hardly words that I'd use to describe this club.

But I guess my opinion is tainted because I'm an eternal optimist.

It's one thing to say we could be more physical. It's another to suggest that this team is a bunch of pussies.

Get a fucking grip, folks.

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Wheelhouse

Why don't you get a grip, and realize that this team, right now, does NOT have what it takes to contend for the Conference championship, let alone the fucking stanley cup.

TAKE OFF YOUR BLINDERS

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Ok, what we have seen from the Sabres LOOKS fine... On paper not so much... so what? It just means that other teams are clearly doing a better job. Could we do better? Hell yes... there is always room for improvement... there is no doubt about that...

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LETS GO BUFFALO!

Maybe it's fair to say that they're pretty soft and gutless against Ottawa. That seems to bear out in the results.

Find a post where I said this team is cup ready without changes.

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Wheelhouse

I'm actually looking for a post where you recommend a change, and don't just coddle the boys in blue.

Next thing we'll see is that you're a fan of Tim Peel, and that he does a great job as a ref, and just has a bad rep.

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Here you go:

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Wheelhouse

And where do YOU criticize or recommend anything? You stir the fucking pot in the opposite direction...get a fucking opinion, other than the opinion that everyone here is "overreacting".

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Poll up.

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.