This issue has come up as an aside, but has not been discussed specifically.

Also, I have not heard anybody writing the team off at ZERO chance for a run---ASSUMING Darcy makes some moves to solve some serious issues.

You look at the standings and say they're tied for 8th! I look at the standings and recognize that they are in 11th because they have more games played then the teams they're tied with, yet the same point total. Not to mention, Toronto & Florida are 2 and 3 points behind respectively, but have THREE & FOUR games-in-hand on the Sabres. That's a lot of potential points, even if they only get half of them!

I am looking at the situation for what it is, not as what I want it to be.

does someone piss in your cheerios every damn morning or what?

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Hold my beer and watch this...

Frank discussions regarding certain concerns are clearly not welcome here.

That's a fucking shame.

Unrealistic optimism makes me nauseous.

Not cheerios, XC...

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If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

So let me get this straight, the entire point of this thread is you trying to convince everyone that the sabres have had an easier time against some teams because their backup was in net instead of the starter.

I guess 'grown up discussions' dont involve responding to what the person said. Like I mentioned in my original post, the sabres dont have a say in who they see in net, so what is the point of this thread? Are you trying to convince us all that the sabres are not as good as their record? I'm literally asking wtf the point is, because there really does not seem to be one.

Isn't it simple really... the team is winning, but to your point needs a lil tweak... Stafford shouldn't be back or if back not in the top six. the team has come on without him. i like what ellis has brought. i think bringing staff back into the top six will crush what chemistry the team has put together... The other issue is Timmy and what you do with him... yes he tallied last night. but he really has not looked good this season...

I'd leave the D. they are coming together. Sekera was everywhere last night. Meyers is putting it together and working it out. I like Morrison, Monte and Leopold.... leaves Butler and Rivet to fight for a spot on the ice or on the bench... i like the depth there currently

Miller is getting back to form which is great....

So yes, the team is doing well compared to where they began, but still need a tweak...

Mainly what do you do with Staff and Timmy? and how do you tweak those spots with out killing what the team has put together? Who plays 2nd line C? Gerbe? Adam (i dont think he is ready yet)? And I don't like the idea of Goose or Neids as the 2nd line C... And I like Ennis with Roy and Vanek... unless you bring in a winger for Roy and TV, but who? Then how would Ennis play with Hecht and Pommers? Could they keep up with him? OR how would Ennis, Gerbe, Pommers offer up enough size to pull 2nd line duty?

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I'm sorry. I didn't realize you could see the future. If I had known that, I would have believed everything you've said about the Sabres and wouldn't have been so optimistic.

What's that? Oh... you can't see into the future? So it's just your OPINION that the optimism is unrealistic?

Well that makes so much more sense. I should have known.

If you think the wins are bull shit, go ahead and think that way. But don't tell others that they're being unrealistic because they don't agree with you.

I used my eyes to watch these past few games, and I saw the Sabres play very good hockey, even with their 2nd line not clicking.

And what about special teams? Can you attribute the improvement there to the other teams playing their backups?

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Wheelhouse

First of all, you're not responding to the issue, you're just attacking me and the thread itself.

Attacking the creation of a thread because your feathers are ruffled over it's content DOES NOT mean it is baseless. The point of this thread is to spur discussion between those who are capable of taking off the rose-colored glasses for just a second and discussing the reality of the situation and where this team fits in.

Seriously, read the posts of people who understand the "point" of the thread. They're the ones discussing what needs to change for this team to be more legit.

And what IS your point in criticizing this thread? If you don't like it, why do you bother participating in it?

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If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

Translation: Only negative opinions that agree with me are welcome. If you don't share my views, you're wrong, and you shouldn't post in my threads.

This is really getting old. You're more than entitled to have a negative outlook on the team, but don't get all self-righteous when people have a different viewpoint.

Have you noticed that that only threads that cause problems lately are yours? Something to think about.

You cant be in the playoffs in november, but you can lose enough games to count you out of them at this point in the season.

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LETS GO BUFFALO!

I agree 100%, seriously man, you really need to stop.

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

You're absolutely right. I need to learn to like the taste of the kool-aid here or I will certainly not be welcome.

I get it.

And PSP, I never said the wins were BS, I am just putting them in context. You wanna believe those great teams were at their best with great backups, well then hey, it's your party.

Unlike the Sabres, some teams step UP their games when they have a backup between the pipes.

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Wheelhouse

Why hasn't anybody pointed out the fact that Bernier was supposed to challenge for the starting position this year? This guy is good enough to be LA's starter, but Quick is just having a sick year. IMO, a win against Bernier is just as good as facing a starter.

Basically I'm agreeing with everybody in this thread when I say that a win is a win.

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I am, you know I am. I am Canadian.
#1 Hockey Nation.

Yeah, a win is a win. I don't care who is in net personally, but if we need something to argue I will gadly stand aside and laugh at the Starter vs Backup beatdown.

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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.

That's not it, and you know it.

Just stop telling people they have 'rose colored glasses' on if they happen to take a more optimistic position that you do. That's your problem. You can't seem to handle the fact that not everyone shares your opinions.

I don't think you should waste time belittling the teams success by nitpicking about who's in net, who's in a slump, and who's healthy. It could be said that they only beat the Caps because they were SH for 10 minutes due to High Sticking infractions, but it could also be suggested that if the SABRES brought their "A" game from the start in Washington, they would have won that game.

I think the Vancouver game might have gone the other way with Luongo in net, but who knows for sure? The Caps have shaky goal-tending, Luongo is not a proven Cup winner, the Kings have plenty of holes in their play, and on and on. The Sabres aren't perfect and they have not yet earned the right to be a unanimous choice as one of the leagues "elite" teams, but there is absolutely no doubt that they have skated with teams with better records without embarrassing themselves. And there is no doubt in my mind that they can compete with any team in the league in a best of seven series.

Right now they have to continue to improve on special teams, and pay attention to the details with the desired effect being a well oiled machine that is playoff ready. And of course a possible roster move here or there to bolster their chances even more.

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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

Egh I didn't think this thread was that bad.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Vancouver had Schneider in net - He stopped 93% of the shots prior to the game and was just incredible in his previous starts and not a bit worse than Luongo (who is overrated anyways)

Kings had Bernier in net - I don't think Bernier is any worse than Quick. Quick just had a great season start.

The only win against a subpar goalie was against Washington. Before that we had Enroth or Lalime in net and those two are worse than Hedberg, Giguere or Biron.

Please don't take one fact and make a headline out of it like a cheap newspaper. We faced a lot of backups, but Miller only played 2/3 of the games and most of them without being his awesome self.

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