Shutdown Pair

Tag: Cody McCormick

  • Should the Sabres play for next year?

    No, this is not a panic button post, but more the other team in town getting me thinking:  Should Buffalo target next year as the year to make a cup run?  There are some good reasons why they should:

    • Connolly, Niedermayer, Grier, and McCormick off the books – should open some top 6 minutes for Gerbe and Ennis, and possibly an FA center who is more consistent.
    • Next year could mean Luke Adam or Zack Kassian (or both) making the team, upping the size and tenacity of the team.
    • Seriously, read this about Kassian (h/t to Sabres Prospects):

    At the Memorial Cup (in Brandon), neither one of the western teams wanted any part of him. They wouldn’t look him in the eyes.

    • I can’t imagine Jhonas Enroth not being the backup here next year.  Either that or trade the guy.  Tomorrow’s game might be a big factor in that.  If he starts again, I’m seeing the writing on the wall for Lalime, no matter how much Miller and the rest of the guys love him.
    • The biggest question for me is what to do with the defense.  Hopefully a partner for Myers is settled by the end of the year, so whoever that is has to be kept (if it’s not Morrisonn).  Montador and Rivet are UFAs, while Weber, Sekera and Butler are all RFAs.  Someone (or preferably two of them) need to take the next step this year.

    So there you have it.  What does that change about this year?  I’d be hesitant to trade for a ‘rental’ player at the deadline, especially if there is a prospect moving out.  I like our prospects a lot more than I do most of the guys Darcy has brought in at the deadline recently (though a lot of that is hindsight).  I might change my view on that as the season wears on, though.  I do think this team can still make the playoffs, but I can’t imagine a true cup run.

  • Mauled by Bears

    I intentionally did not write this game up last night, in hopes that some distance would be good for the analysis, but honestly I’m just as angry now as I was after the first period.  How you can play with so little passion, especially after giving up TWO short-handed goals?  You can’t just keep doing the same things, making the same plays when they are NOT WORKING so spectacularly.  The team didn’t even get shaken out of the ‘funk’ or whatever you want to call it until midway through the second, when Cody McCormick fought.

    I’ve been fairly non-commital on Tim Connolly this year, but if he’s going to turnover the puck  repeatedly, there is absolutely no reason for him to be here.  Newsflash, your power play won’t improve if you keep giving up breakaways and odd-man rushes the other way!  Not even getting into Lalime/Enroth, weird decisions abound there.

    There are a few guys worthy of praise, but I’m not going to do it (beyond McCormick).  The whole team needs to be accountable.  If I’m Lindy, I bag-skate these lame-o’s until the whole lot of ’em are curled up in the fetal position.  Ruff has nothing to lose at this point.  He’s going to be the scapegoat so he needs to pull out all the stops, all his tricks.

  • Sabres Overrun the Thrashers 4-1

    The hockey gods lobbed a hanging curveball over the Buffalo Sabres’ plate (if you’ll pardon the mixed sports metaphors) and they made solid contact, winning 4-1 in a mostly-empty Phillips Arena.  Atlanta was returning from a west coast trip, missing several key players (such as Bogosian and Pavelec) and Buffalo took advantage.  Tyler Ennis opened the scoring by getting behind the D and sniped one in off the post.  Great play by Montador on the outlet pass.  Ennis very nearly scored again after the faceoff at center ice, and was definitely working well with Rob Niedermayer and Mike Grier.  You got a little worried as the period went on, as the Sabres continued to pour on the shots but didn’t get any more goals.

    That changed in the second period, though.  Just one minute in, Tyler Myers gets his first of the year while on the power play, as he took a one-time shot off a Chris Butler pass and buried it.  Thomas Vanek was in his office providing the screen.  Butler had a great game to my eyes, including some solid defensive plays where he didn’t get panicky.  Cody McCormick got his second goal of the year soon after, cleaning up a rebound, of which there were many.

    The shutout was not to be, however, as Tobias Enstrom got one past Miller on the power play early in the third.  There was a screen in front, couldn’t make out who it was, but not a bad goal to allow.  By the way, love the Thrashers’ broadcasters getting excited for Ron Hainsey (6’3″, 210lbs) knocking someone down, when it was Tyler Ennis (5’9″, 163lbs)…yeah, he should be able to do that.  Thomas Vanek got it back, though, blistering one home after he got behind the Atlanta defense.

    The theme throughout the night was shots – Buffalo had a ton, didn’t give up many, and the guys that NEEDED to shoot did (Myers, Vanek).  There was very little to complain about.  Let’s see, though, if they keep it up back at home.  Friday, Ottawa, be there.

  • Gameday 2010-2011 – Blackhawks at Sabres

    Patrick Kane and the defending Stanley Cup champs, here in Buffalo, TONIGHT.  This could be a good measuring stick for the Sabres, after an uneven first two games.  I’m still waffling about going tonight, as there are some good deals on tickets out there, and I would very much like to see Chicago.  I used to follow them pretty close back in the days of Roenick, Belfour, Amonte and so on.

    As for changes tonight, Gerbe out, McCormick in.  Didn’t see anything about the goalie but I imagine Miller, since he had one whole night off.  Be interesting if Lalime got in there, he seems to hold his own (sometimes) against his former teams.

  • McCormick Back; All is Quiet

    As most of you know, the Buffalo Sabres signed Cody McCormick to a one year (one way!) deal, basically to replace Adam Mair as 4th line center.  He came up from Portland in the playoffs to inject some energy, and indeed he did, getting 2 assists and 14 PIM.  He had 168 PIM with the Pirates.  Hopefully he can bring that as an every day player.

    Happy 4th everybody!