Shutdown Pair

Tag: Florida

  • Gameday 2011-2012 – Panthers at Sabres

    These guys again.  I was in the pressbox for the last home game against Florida, and that didn’t go so well.  It will be hard to say what the game will look like tonight, as the Sabres’ lineup is a disjointed mess of guys getting injured (Gerbe), guys returning (Commander Cody, maybe some others this weekend) and guys suspended (Leino).  Will we see the world-beating team that seemed to cruise through period one of the last game?  Probably, but for how long?  20 minutes ain’t enough.  Dineen has the Panthers leading the Southeast division by a wide margin, they’ve won three in a row including a 2-0 shutout of the defending champs by Jose Theodore of all people last night.  I’d say at least the Sabres are rested since Florida just played but somehow I doubt it will matter.

    We’ll know more about the potential lineup soon as the morning skate should be underway soon.  I’m thinking Enroth tonight as I’d rather have Miller in the marquee matchup with the Rangers, but then, I don’t have The Schedule in front of me.  It’s a 7:30pm start.  Need to start piling up those home wins.

  • Panthers VS Sabres Game Notes

    First period thoughts:  Passing is squirrelly at best.  Miller made some solid saves.  McCormick/Ellis/Boyes did some good work out there but they can’t be the best line.  Sekera had some good plays, Gragnani needs to learn how to receive a pass.  Myers is still having a rough go, with the penalty and some tough plays around his own net.  I’m fine with the goal not counting, could’ve gone either way but when the foot moves forward, and the refs started discussing it right off.  Personal note:  I almost cheered in the pressbox.  Bad Tick.

    Second period thoughts:  Vanek went Atlas on his goal, but the D is still just slinging pucks all over the pace and hoping the right guys get them.  They are lucky this is the Panthers and not the Capitals.  The Sabres seemed to pick up their play and operate a bit more coherently after Vanek’s goal, so hopefully that can continue on into the third.  Theodore has looked beatable, but they’ve gotta get more shots – only 14 after 2 periods.  Not enough.  Personal note:  I like the hot dogs up here better than the ones they sell at the concession stands.  Which isn’t saying much.

    Third period thoughts:  Silent J fizzled on a breakaway.  Gragnani is still a wreck.  Just when you thought it was safe to plan for a win, the wheels fell off.  Perhaps the retaliation penalty by Stafford was a sign of things to come.  Gerbe getting the extra 2 was deadly.  There were still too many passes that were sent on their way with no thought to destination.  While they got a few more shots in, it was in no way enough.  Miller definitely could’ve been better but you can’t lay it at his door, not totally.  Seemed like no one was on the same page, except maybe McCormick/Ellis/Boyes.  A tough loss to swallow.  Personal note:  Not sure I want my first post-game press conference to be with Angry Lindy.

    Post-game presser thoughts:  Lindy was ticked with their effort, using words like pathetic, disjointed and the like.  Didn’t want to say too much about the calls.  On a personal note, Vogl works blue and I had a difficult time not throwing down a #feces reference.  It’s interesting to see the regulars operate there, there’s a hierarchy in place for questioning, though I don’t think too many wanted to gamble on getting an earful back for a dumb question tonight.

    Anyway, it was a great experience.  I want to thank Ian Ott, Kevin Snow and the Buffalo Sabres for the opportunity.  I think I will do this again, though it’ll be easier once my wife is off work again.  Philly comes to town on Wednesday, a 7:30pm start game on Versus, so plan accordingly.

  • Gameday 2011-2012 – Panthers at Sabres

    I’m in the pressbox for this one, as the Sabres host the Panthers this lovely evening.  Florida is in the building at 5-4-0 having just lost to the Senators (ugh).  They might have something in young goalie Jacob Markstrom, who has a 2.11 GAA and a .945 save percentage so far.  Positively Enrothian numbers, that.  I’m going to focus in on Tyler Myers and Luke Adam as much as I can, I’m really curious to see how much of the top line’s performance is due to the youngster and how much is just him being in the right place at the right time.  Myers, well, I just want to see what he’s doing wrong to maybe figure out how hard it will be for him to change it up.

    I’ll be active on twitter tonight, though I might save my best stuff for my game recap.

  • Back to Back

    Another weekend, another pair of back to back games for the Sabres.  Tonight they host the Florida Panthers (7:30pm start, take note) and tomorrow it’s the New Jersey Devils.  Steve Montador and Jochen Hecht practiced and may return, though lineup changes may be tough to justify.  Unless the Sabres burn one of the few remaining non-emergency callups they have, Mancari would have to go back if someone gets back in.  He’s played well (Lindy said Mancari/Gerbe/Gaustad might be their best line right now) so it’ll be interesting to see what is done.

    For Florida’s part, they’ve been shut out the past two games, by Chicago and the Rangers.  If I’m Ruff, and Enroth is in the plans for this weekend, I’d be tempted to put him in tonight.  Don’t think it happens though, with Miller fresh off a shutout.  Speaking of, it was GREAT to see Miller finally out-duel another good goalie.  If that can continue on into the playoffs, there’s no team they’d face in the first round that would intimidate me.

    New Jersey’s run is over, as they’ve fallen 9 points back of the Sabres and 8th place.  They’ve lost 3 of four, managing just 4 goals, and will also be on the downslope of a back to back.  I hesitate to ‘expect’ 4 points out of these games, but if I’m Buffalo, I’d be disappointed with anything less.

  • Ty-Bomber!

    A pinpoint blast from Tyler Myers with 4.5 seconds left in overtime gave the Sabres their first 3 game win streak of the season, beating Florida 3-2.  Thomas Vanek and Mike Weber had the other goals.  That puts Buffalo 2 points out of 8th with 2 games in hand, and puts 6th and 7th in reach also.  This next week is tough, with 4 games in 6 days, starting with an afternoon game against the Islanders on Sunday.  I’ll be curious to see if that means Lalime (or Enroth) gets a start either Tuesday (in Montreal) or Wednesday (home for the Leafs).  Miller HAS to get some rest at some point, and you have to like Buffalo’s ability to score on whoever the Leafs put in net.  I’d go with that game for a backup appearance.  By the way, nobody’s talking about the Sabres facing backup goalies any more, are they?

  • Games That Don’t Matter

    There were feeds to watch the non-televised game against the ducks on Tuesday, but the game didn’t matter for some very good reasons.  The Sabres faced yet another backup goalie, and the Ducks were on game 5 in 7 days of a cross-country trip, so there was probably no way the starter was going back in.  They got gift-wrapped power plays to start the game, including a 5 minute one for Jason Blake running Kaleta head-first into the boards.  I mean, the only way Craig Rivet is scoring is against a team that has mailed it in.  All I hope to gather from that and carry forward into tonight’s game against the Panthers is getting little Gerbe scoring.

  • Beachcombers

    It’s one of the yearly Florida road trips for the Sabres, facing the Florida Panthers tonight and the Tampa Bay Lightning tomorrow.  The Panthers, thanks to injuries and also being the Panthers, have a cast of characters you mostly haven’t heard of, save only their goalie (Vokoun).  Tampa Bay, on the other hand, has Steven Stamkos and other stars up front, but horrible goaltending in the form of Dan Ellis and Mike Smith (matching .880 save percentages).

    The Sabres, of course, come in off a win against the Bruins, where Drew ‘Angry Eyebrows’ Stafford provided all 3 goals.  It might help if someone else scores, especially against Tampa.  I feel kind of bad not having more to say about these teams, especially Tampa, but they just don’t come up except when we’re playing them.  A playoff run by one of them would help.