Sabre Rattling

Melrose - Sabres Hottest Team in NHL

Link: ESPN.com - Sabres are the hottest team in hockey.

While not the best written endorsement of all time (I'm sure Barry doesn't remember much from high school English classes), it is nice to see some love being thrown Lindy Ruff's boys way.

One of the hottest teams in the NHL is the Buffalo Sabres. The team has won four straight and has just one loss in its last eight games.

One of the big reasons for the Sabres' success is their power play -- they have the fourth-best in the league (21.7 percent). Another reason is their high level of skating, a big plus in the new NHL. Daniel Briere, Chris Drury, Ales Kotalik and Tim Connolly are just some of the great skaters.

The team is also stable. It has a good mix of veterans and youngsters. The Sabres also are winning without a 100-percent lineup (Briere and J.P. Dumont are battling injuries), so there is the potential for them to be even better. Scary thought.

An even scarier thought is the return to television of Barry's brown pin-stripe suit... ow!

Later in the article I find the following two paragraphs nigh-prescient considering this evening's news:

We'll find out a lot about Joe Thornton in the coming weeks.

{yeah.. just not in Boston - TL}

As for San Jose ... the Sharks had so many great, young players after the 2003-04 season, I think they thought they didn't have to do much this offseason.

My opinion?  San Jose wins.... I'll channel Barry Melrose here, "Whoever gets the best player wins the trade."  Now the Sharks have the #1 and #2 overall picks from the 1997 draft coming 1-2 down the middle.  That should help solve some of their goal-scoring issues.  Of couse, they'll have even more problems keeping the puck out of their net.

Ta,

Update: Chris at Hockey Country has nailed the essence of this trade in the title of this post. 

Player Over/Under: the Golbez Love/Hate List

Link: Hockey Rants.

Jes Golbez wants to know who our favorite/least favorite players are team by team across the NHL.  This one's an easy one so, I'll indulge in being a little opinionated:

Anaheim: Keith Carney / Sandis Ozolinch
Atlanta: Peter Bondra / Slava Kozlov
Boston: Per Axelsson / Joe Thornton
Buffalo: Paul Gaustad / J. P. Dumont
Calgary: Rhett Warrener / Bryan Marchment
Carolina: Rod Brind'Amour / Mike Commodore
Chicago: Curtis Brown (CuBRo!) / Martin LaPointe
Colorado: Ian LaPerriere / Rob Blake
Columbus: Bryan Berard / Adam Foote
Dallas: Jere Lehtinen and Stu Barnes (Stuuuuuuuu!) / Marty Turco
Detroit: Manny Legace / Chris Chelios/Kirk Maltby/Tomas Holmstrom et. al.
Edmonton:  Ryan Symth / Mike Peca
Florida: Roberto Luongo / Joe Neiwendyck and Gary Roberts
Los Angeles: Mattias Norstrom / Jeremy Roenick
Minnesota: Dwayne Roloson / Marion Gaborik
Montreal: Matheiu Dandenault / Saku Koivu
Nashville: Tomas Vokoun / Darcy Hordichuk
New Jersey: Sergei Brylin / Grant Marshall
New York Isles: Alexei Zhitnik / Alexei Yashin
New York Rangers: Kevin Weekes / Darius Kasparitis
Ottawa: Zdeno Chara / Dominik Hasek
Philadelphia: Michael Handzus / Derian Hatcher
Pittsburgh: Marc-Andre Fleury / Mark Recchi
Phoenix: CuJo / Mike Comrie
San Jose: Alyn McCauley /  Scott Thornton
St. Louis: Mike Sillinger (??) / Doug Weight
Tampa Bay: Martin St. Louis / Darryl Sydor
Toronto: Wade Belak (teeheehee!) / Darcy Tucker (Sideshow Bob himself!)
Vancouver: Ed Jovanavski / Trevor Linden
Washington: Olie Kolzig / Brendan Witt

Some of these picks are old hatreds from when certain players played for Dallas (*cough* Scott Thornton *cough* Grant Marshall *cough*), and others are, at best, lukewarm good/bad feelings for, like Mike Sillinger or Marian Gaborik, because I had to pick somone.

If you find it surprising that I had two picks for the Dallas Stars, you should be, but to explain... I think Jere Lehtinen is one of the best all-around players in the NHL, and the only member of the '99 Cup-awarded team I could ever stand to wear an AGH sweater.  I nearly cried when Stu Barnes was traded to Dallas... hell, Stu did.  They both deserve to be mentioned.  I would have picked half of the roster for the Maple Queefs but I tried to stick to the original intent of the list... Most/Least favorite... While I have a pretty good hate going for Brian McCabe, Tie Domi, Ed Belfour and Eric Lindros... Darcy Tucker holds a special place in the pit of my liver.

Ta,

30% Report Card: A two-month Security Deposit on the Playoffs

I promised the other day I would get around to doing an approximately 1st quarter Team Report Card.  Frankly, I was a little daunted by this as I wasn't sure I'd really have the time to do it.  But, my usual lunch-mate cancelled and I found myself with an entire hour to ponder the play of the entire roster and make some notes.

After 25 Games the Sabres are 15-9-1 for 31 points and in a 3-way tie with Toronto (Hiss!) and Philly (Boo!) for 5th place in the Eastern Conference.  That puts them on pace for a 49-29-5 record and 104 points, significantly ahead of my pre-season prediction of 40-30-12, 92 pts.  They're going to have a lot of proverbial 4-point games coming up as they've yet to play Philly at all, Tampa only once and the Leafs just twice.  They've done good work against the Isles taking all 3 games so far, and those points represent the difference between being in the playoffs as of right now and not.

All in all it's been a solid first quarter (and a bit) with the squad having to play through injuries to key personel (Miller, Briere, McKee, Lydman) and sub-par play from others (Kalinin, Hecht).

Onto the individual grades, in no particular order except by position:

Forwards:

Daniel Briere: Grade A:  He's on pace for 39 goals and could easily get 50 if his groin injury heals rapidly.  He's become our go-to guy offensively and his leadership and desire make everyone who plays with him better.  Rapidly becoming a feared player around the league.

Chris Drury: Grade B-:  He had a slow start offensively, but has picked it up recently, quietly picking up points (6g,9a).  Has had the checking assignment most nights.  A monstrous face-off guy, but we're paying him $3+million to do more than win draws and he knows it. 

Thomas Vanek: Grade C: 17 points, is on pace for 14g/47a/61pts, which for a rookie is a lot, but those numbers would be better if the effort was more consistent.  He's battled a flu and opposition goal posts for sure, but more snarl more consistently will elevate his game.

Tim Connolly: Grade A+: Timmah! is no longer a joke on us.  The prize of the Peca deal is beginning to grow up.  He's stronger, meaner, faster and just plain better than he's been before.  If he's not careful he could wind up Team MVP... he's improving every game.

Paul Gaustad: Grade A: Chainshot's favorite prospect has me wondering where this team would be without him, that's how valuable he's become to this organization.  He's got Captain written all over his face.  Works hard, wins crucial draws, chips in goals, can drop the gloves... See Ian Laperriere for a comparison as to where he's headed.  Makes whoever's on his wing better.
 
Jochen Hecht: Grade D+:  Disappointing to say the least.  Not the same player who ended 03-04 so strongly.  More hustle.  Take less for granted, there are people who want your job.

Mike Grier: Grade B: Next to Goose the hardest worker shift in/shift out.  Too bad he's got hands of granite.  He's exactly as advertised.  Strong forechecker/PK'er.  Would be better paired with Goose and Mair/Pyatt

Maxim Afinogenov: Grade B-: Has added both sand and vision to his game, but not enough of either.  I gave up a while ago thinking he would ever be a finisher.  On pace for 12-39-51.  Rarely puts himself in a position to be set up by his linemates, if he adds that to his game the goals will come.

Ales Kotalik: Grade A:  Becoming a more complete player every game.  Playing with real confidence right now.  On pace for 42!-16-58.  The goals he's scoring are big goals.  Instrumental in the resurgance of the PP (3rd in the League right now), with a huge shot from the point.  Wants to be The Man(tm), and has followed through so far.

Adam Mair: Grade C: Not bringing enough of his role every night.  When he does he and Goose are hard to handle.  Been hampered by injuries which hasn't helped at all.

J.P. Dumont: Grade B-: He's played through a serious abdominal injury that looked like a lack of committment on the ice.  For the most part he has performed well on Briere's wing.  May be out for a long time.

Derek Roy: Grade B-: Was trying too hard in the first few games after his call up from Roch.  Is playing with tenacity and fire with his increased ice time since Dumont and Briere went down.  Excellent on the PK and seems to have found a way to control Max.

Andrew Peters: Grade Incomplete:  Has dressed 5 times.  Goose and Mair can fill his role and he should be waived.... especially with Huselius et. al. available.

 

Adding to the Blogroll

Link: FlyersFanCentral.

The Best Blog about Buffalo.

Just wanted to throw up a quick post noting recent additions to the Blogrolls at the right.

Mike over at FlyersFanCentral has got a bunch of good info about the (hated) Philadelphia Flyers... he was good enough to stop by and give me what for for my Floppa commentary this morning.

Kevin over at The Buffalo Blog has gathered a ton of resources on the area, and does a great job following the happenings in and around the city, along with covering the (beloved) Buffalo Sabres.

Do them a favor and stop on by.

Ta,

Earth to Floppa... Oh, wait I Got that Backwards

Link: ESPN.com - NHL - Frei: Trash talk taking a dive.

I'm not Terry Frei's biggest fan but his calling BS on Peter (Floppa) Forsberg for accusing anyone of diving is really good stuff.  There was a time when Forsberg was the guy I respected most in the NHL, as the perfect combination of all the things that make hockey great.... until I realized that he was also a worse diver than I am... and I have the scar on my arm (From hitting the board) to prove it!

I've lost that respect for Forsberg and others who are obviously trying to job the rules to their advantage.  Frei is absolutely right in saying that there is no reason to dive anymore, just skate through it.  If the guys' hooking you, it'll only be made more obvious as you pull away from him. 

Frei calls out Max (Afinogenov) in his article and he's justified to do so.  Worse than his lame attempts to draw penalties (which if he would just skate through people he would do anyways) is his lazy back-checking, which results in even lazier penalties.  A guy like Max should never have to water-ski, period.  Like Floppa, he's got the skills to make up for being out of position. 

Honestly, though, it comes as no surprise that there's as much diving and whining as there is in the game.  It's a function of the environment the players are brought up in now... they are a reflection of our own society, one obsessed with jobbing the system and finding ways around stupid and arbitrary rules.  So, as opposed to being honorable men who put their head down and work their tails off they take the easier road, give in to temptation and try to win without honor.

I'm not the biggest Michael Jordan fan for similar reasons.  I always thought he used the rulebook and his stature to his advantage to much.  Similar to Floppa, he didn't need to do that, but winning at any price has it's costs.   When Peter retires, I won't remember his greatness, all I'll remember is him trying to coax blood out of his lip to get the extra two minutes, and throwing a temper tantrum when he doesn't get it.

Update: For further reading on the subject I point you to the most excellent site www.divealanche.com.  (thanks to KJB for the reminder)

Ta,

Giving Thanks for 3 Soild Victories

Link: Buffalo News - Sabres rewrite shootout script.

I'll start this post with the flash back to Wedensday evening when the Buffalo Sabres took on the New York Islanders and got a little karmic payback for the Shootout loss to the Rangers the night before.  I'll then go through the other two games over the weekend and will try and follow up with a post about the state of the team near the 1/4 mark of the season.

Buffalo vs. New York Islanders, Wednesday 11/23

After outplaying the Rangers the evening before but losing in a shootout, the boys in the AGH sweaters came back with a gritty performance to eek out a shootout victory of their own against the Sabres East, er, NY Islanders.  For the most part the Sabres were outworked and out-hustled by a much more determined Islanders squad than had been on the ice for the previous two games between these two clubs.  Both Yashin and Satan were sharp, as was Mark Parrish and most of the defense corps (Brent Sopel notwithstanding).  The Isles were far more disciplined that night, taking only 3 minor penalties and keeping the Sabres 4th ranked power play (1 for 3) off the ice.  The game had flow and speed. 

Points of Interest:

• Martin Biron has finally adjusted to the new NHL.  He's playing more aggressively and is more confident than he was earlier in the season.  He has great patience in the shootout, forcing Yashin to hit the post when he tried to stuff it in the short-side.  Great stuff. 
• Tim Connolly is slowly becoming a really fearful player for the opposition to contain.  He has great vision and puck-handling skills.  This we've always known, but now he's stronger on the puck and making people pay for trying to check him, dishing off to the open man or spot and creating offense with all of that talent.  This, in turn, is beginning to get him more respect at the blue line which is creating even more room for him to set things up.  Oh, all of that and he's the best back-checker on the team. 
• Gaustad/Pyatt/Mair is a monster of a checking/energy line.  Boy are those guys fun to watch.  It's truly a shame that Pyatt broke his wrist in the Friday night game against the Habs.  He was finally beginning to play the kind of game that we knew he had in him.
• Ales Kotalik is playing with a ton more confidence than he ever has before.  The difference with him now, 5 on 5, is that he's constantly moving his legs.  He's shooting from everywhere, which he should, and is having a blast playing on Connolly's left wing.  The game-tying goal late in the third period was all Big Al.  I've never seen him skate that hard around a defender (Sopel) before.  I think he's finally beginning to realize that he's 6'2" 228lbs, and a faster skater than many blueliners in the league. 
• Chris Drury is quietly putting together a solid run of points here.  Now that Al's bomb from the point is being guarded against, it's opening things up down low, and Drury has benefitted from this.
• Kalinin continues to struggle.  He looks completely out of synch with the rest of the team. 

All in all, though, this was a savvy road game played by Buffalo.  They kept the game close until the opportunity presented itself to catch a break.  They did.  Then they poured it on in the OT, playing the best 5 minutes of hockey I've seen them play this year!  This is a game they would have lost in 03-04.

Buffalo vs. Montreal, Friday 11/25

The first two meetings between these two clubs could have easily gone the other way.  The Habs eeked out two wins though they were generally out-played by the Sabres.  This night we would be without both J.P. Dumont (abdominal... on IR for at least two weeks as of this writing) and co-captain Daniel Briere, breaking a 231 Iron Man streak for him.  The injuries have been piling up for Buffalo with those two out, along with Ryan Miller, Taylor Pyatt (wrist, 3-6 weeks) and Mika Noronen (slight groin).  The AGH would be without Dmitri Kalinin as well as Lindy Ruff made him a healthy scratch for the first time in a long time.  Ruff finally decided to go with just 6 defensemen in this game for the first time this year, I think. 

Points of Interest:

• The Habs don't look like an elite team against the Sabres.  It may be that we match up well against them... speed on speed.  I don't know.  But, in this game they never looked like a team the Sabres are trailing in the standings.
• Biron was enormous in this game.  Simply outstanding.  He loves to play the Canadiens, and it shows.  While the Habs had 41 SoG, a great number of them were not of the highest quality, but, of course, a few were, and Marty was there for the team.  This was something that Biron was going to need to go through.  In no way was this game safely played (like the game against NYI).  It was pedal to the metal, fire-wagon hockey and the better goalie won.
• Brian Campbell is playing like a different guy than the one that has inhabited #51 for the past few seasons.  Confident, fast and shooting with authority.  His Power Play goal was a beaut.  I still don't like him being paired with Fitzie as they get hemmed in their own end too much.  But, his offensive game has never looked better... well, except for when he played for the Ottawa 67's.
• Speaking of playing better.  Both Thomas Vanek and Chris Drury have been sharper in the o-zone.  Drury is burying more of the opportunities his hard work creates and Vanek has been dishing the puck well.
• Connolly had another strong game with 1 and 1.  His back-checking has made the the defensemen's job a lot easier.  His goal late in the third had me seeing flashes of Mike Modano out there.  If he keeps this up we'll have two extremely dangerous and mature lines for the playoffs.
• The defense pair of Tallinder and Lydman were extremely efficient as well.  They look very comfortable together.  Henrik's stick has been especially quick in recent games.  Angling his man off along the boards and stripping him of the puck. 

Say Hello to Our 4th Line Brent Johnson

Link: Buffalo News - Taylor Pyatt cap night dooms Caps.

Buffalo vs. Washington, Thursday 11/17

Well, this was certainly different then the game these two teams played in Rochchacha a few weeks ago.  Taylor Pyatt did his best Todd Bertuzzi impression (minus the head-banging and the snarl) finishing off his 2nd career hat trick with a beauty to finally put a fork in a scrappy, if outmatched, Washington Capitals team.  I don't think I've ever witnessed a game where the Buffalo Sabres scored 8, count 'em 8, goals in a single game.  And while it doesn't quite wash away the bile from the 10-4 drubbing the Sens laid on us, it's certainly better than if they had lost.

Who would have ever thought that our 3rd and 4th lines would be the ones to be so dominant in all three zones?  As if on cue Tim Connolly and Brian Campbell turned in strong performances last night, the former getting a goal and assisting on 2 others and the latter with 2 goals, including the opener 37 seconds in.  Another nice surprise was the amount of jump Adam Mair had.  Someone is getting a seat in the press box when Jay McKee returns and if history is any guide Lindy Ruff will dress an extra defenseman over a 12th forward.  Up until last night it was a toss-up between Mair and Pyatt.  But both played with an intensity that hadn't been there in recent games.  Good to see that fear of not playing can be used to motivate them.... let's hope the same thing can be used on Jochen Hecht and Chris Drury.

Believe it or not, despite giving up 8 goals, Brent Johnson can't be blamed all that much, though he does need to work on his covering his short-side better.  Most of the goals went in short-side.  But, if he didn't stand on his head at times the score could have easily been much worse.  In short, the 8-5 score didn't do justice to the number of good-quality scoring chances the Sabres had last night. 

So, all that said... to the Salient Points of the Tilt:

• Chris Drury seems to have switched bodies with Alexei Zhitnik.... his shot selection is terrible and he's developed a bad habit of missing the net. 
• Ovechkin is The Complete Monster.... how I wish we would have truly tanked things in 2002-03 now.  I like Vanek a lot... but I love Alex O.
• Speaking of Vanek, it's a shame he rang that one shot off the post last night.  It would have been a highlight reeler had it went in.  His overall play has improved mightily in the past couple of weeks.  He's started backchecking, and made a couple of very nice defensive plays.
• I shudder to think what the score would have been had we skated hard for 60 minutes last night.  Putting up 8 playing only 30 minutes of hockey is great... let's do that for 60. Lesson for the evening: Never, ever, give any team the opportunity to feel good about themselves. 
• Martin Biron was excellent in the 3rd period.  If he hadn't been I would have shut down this blog in shame.
• Derek Roy is going to be very hard to send back to Rochester. 
• I didn't think Brendan Witt sucked that bad.... I really didn't.  Wow can he not compete in the new NHL(tm).  It's a good thing he blew a gasket in the 2nd period and picked a fight with every Sabre on the ice at the time, getting himself thrown out... I don't think he could have redeemed himself in any other way.
• A 7-minute power play is not an opportunity to give your goalie breakaway practice.
• Gaustad vs. Morrison.  Goose was unreal.  First he clocks Morrison sending him off-balance and falling to the ice... then he picks him back up by his jersey to continue the abuse.  Morrison for his part did much better after that, finally getting Goose off his skates and ending his impression of Gerry Cooney.
• Good to see the guys stick up for Biron after Ovechkin ran him along the boards.  This was a sequence I really have no problem with.  I hate it when goalies wander around playing the puck out around the faceoff circles (especially Marty... Holy Lack of Puck Skills, Batman!) and think they should get a little love from the forecheckers for their trouble.  I hate jobbing the rulebook like that.  Goalies are protected and they use that to help themselves way too much.  Hasek has raised the wander/set-a-pick/flop like a scocer player routine to an art-form.  I hated it when he was in Buffalo, and I despise it now.  Good scrum, nonetheless.
• Boy Howdy, is Tim Connolly a changed man!  Slowly, but surely, as this season progresses he's becoming more and more a mature, smart hockey player.  I've always liked Timmah! and wanted to see him thrive in the NHL, so it's great to finally see him take his raw talent and apply it in a way that is successful at this level. Last night it was a few little plays that caught my eye; short passes to open people up in the offensive zone (something Chainshot calls Hockey 101) and a little bit of a swagger in his demeanor.  Good stuff.
• Teppo Numminen is still the Repo Man.  He can break up a rush with a poke check like no one else.  Toni Lydman is really good with his stick as well.  The next time the Sabres play, watch the sticks of these two guys, it's a reat thing.

That's all for now.  2 wins in a row for the first time this month and 3 of their last 4.  Better.

Ta,

To Rayzor: From Don K. with Love

Link: Dallas Stars Blog:: GOAL JUDGES ARE USELESS.

For a good time, visit Darryl Reaugh's blog... he friggin' kicks!

In this entry he takes a swipe at Don Koharski... and well, I feel compelled to help out a blogger in need:

Koharski is _______ (You fill it in) May I suggest either; Extremely Confident in his Arbiting Abilities, or, a Gasbag…Remember Don, it's "enforcement of the rules" not "enhancement"

Or, to paraphrase Jim Schoenfeld... "... a donut-eatin' Motha-F@#ka!"

To this day we can't get a decent game called at the Holy Shit Buffalo's Cold Arena.

Ta,

Carnie #13: The Slow Road to Recovery

Link: Behind the Jersey.

This week's Carnie of the NHL is being hosted by Christie over at Behind The Jersey and a special thanks to her for reminding me that I needed to put something together for it and get it submitted. 

Another Shameless Plug, btw... I just submitted my latest Monthly report to Fantasyhockey.com which should be up in the next couple of days.  Be sure to check it out. 

I've been away from Sabre Rattling for the past few days as I had Best Man Duties to perform over the weekend for a good friend, which, thankfully went really well.  Props to Geof and Kathy on a great ceremony and even better reception.  I realized at one point on Saturday that I'd drank more bourbon (Knob Creek... yuumy) than water so you can only imagine why I didn't come up with a game report for either contest against Toronto or Ottawa.  Also, I'm in the process of relocating for a new job and will be kinda frazzled for the next couple of weeks and will do my level best to provide at least entertainment (if not insight) into the Sabres recent woes...

Suffice it to say that like the team this blog covers there hasn't been enough good work ethic shown recently to warrant continued enthusiasm.  For the 3 of you who check in regularly, my apologies.

Okay then, let's get to it, shall we.

Buffalo vs. New Jersey, Tuesday November 15th

I'm beginning to see a return of hitting to the NHL and this is bringing a smile to my face.  Last night against New Jersey actual, honest-to-God hits were thrown... emotions were raised, and a bit of a snarl creased the lips of the guys who are supposed to wear one permanently.  As opposed to the last contest against the Devils, this time we were treated to the great Rick Jeanerret and Jim Lorentz.   For those who don't watch the Buffalo Sabres regularly (and if you aren't a fan, why would you) the 15:00 minute mark of the 3rd period will always contain the call, "Make the Right Decision.... Insist on Carruba Collision!"   Last night Goose's hit on Rafalski from the 1st period was the hit highlighted, and a beauty thing it was.

For a span of about 15 minutes last night bodies were flying around the ice as neither team could establish a forecheck.  Good, solid hitting designed to separate a man from the puck dominated entire stretches of this game and boy was it fun to watch.  This was the game the Sabres needed to play against New Jersey the last time they played.  After giving up 11 shots in the 1st period, they gave up just 3 in the 2nd and 22 overall.  The Sabres competed for sixty minutes and eventually took away New Jersey's will to compete.  The Devils were a beaten team halfway through the 3rd period with the exception of Gionta and Gomez.  The only time they looked like they might score after the first one went in was on one or two of their 2nd period power plays. 

The long road to recovery grinds on... and on...  Jay McKee actually put a skate on for the first time in a week yesterday, expect him back against the Caps on thursday.  Max is sidelined with a pulled rib muscle and will probably miss that game. 

The More Names Change, the More they Sound Really Weird:

Last night's broadcast also featured some new twists, at first I thought R.J. had started on the beer earlier than normal when I kept hearing him use the name "Loodman" but, as it turns out, I just hadn't been keeping up with current events.

Here's the full story from TBN on all of the pronunciation changes including a great bit about R.J.'s partner in hockey excellence, Jim Lorentz:

"It's actually pronounced "Lawrence,' " color commentator Jim Lorentz said with a laugh.

And how did it become "lore-ENTS" all those years ago? "Rick changed it," Lorentz said, referring to the days he played for the Niagara Falls Flyers and Jeanneret was the team's radio voice. "He said, "Well, this would sound a lot better.' I said "Well, go ahead.' "

Said Jeanneret: "That's a fib. I think that story just fits the theme. Of course, that's going back too many years. Maybe I did do that."

It came up during the broadcast last night as they explained why things sounded a little different to the audience.  They have such a good working relationship that the comedy may be free, but at times, it's pretty good as well.

UPDATE:  According to one devoted Sabres fans there has been another round of pronunciation changes... see this link.  Thanks  to S/N for the laugh.  To make myself more attractive to potential hockey groupies, I've decided that my first name should be pronounced Ro-BERT-to.  :)

Ta,

 

TBN -- A Scanner Ruffly

Link: Buffalo News - Ruff vents on what's ailing team.

I was wondering how long it would take for LIndy Ruff to finally go public with his obvious dissatisfaction with how things have been going of late. Calling out both Kalinin and Vanek, in particular, is something that is long overdue. Neither have played with the kind of intensity or decisiveness needed to be successful at this level.

For Vanek he had it earlier in the season, but it's been plain to anyone watching that his confidence is shot. There was a play in Saturday's game against the Habs that underscored this. On a clear 2 on 1 that he created by breaking up a pass at the blueline he elected to pass as opposed to shoot, when there was no pass to make.

Tri, on the other hand, has just not shown any confidence in pushing the play up the ice. He seems scared to make a mistake, and inevitably he does. Ruff's comments about/to him address this directly and yet he hasn't made the leap yet:

"I think it's mental," Ruff said. "I don't want him playing cautious, and part of his game has been cautious.

"Part of our system for Dmitri is he's one of the guys that was a tremendous skater and an offensive talent that I thought sat back on a lot of occasions. Is it indecision? Is it tentativeness? I've told him, "I want you going forward. Make the mistakes going forward, not sitting back.'

It's good as well for Ruff to mention guys like Drury and Grier, as well as the general lack of scoring 5 on 5. Since the power play got resurrected with the Washington game, the Sabres haven't played with the same intensity 5 on 5. It was something I noted to myself after the first couple of games and dismissed it as a phase, but we're now 6 games down the road and still the even strength play is not sharp or dangerous. A usual criticism of the Power Play. Oh the delicious irony of that statement.

This team is not good enough to take nights off, or just beat people 5 on 4. The injuries are beginning to mount, the losses are piling up and if they aren't careful they could go another week without a win. Getting points out of these next three games are now necessary, as opposed to just a hig priority.

I'm glad that Marty Biron has played well enough to give them a chance to win, too bad the forwards haven't done the same for him.

Ta,