Shutdown Pair

Tag: Hockey

  • Lovable…Winners?

    It was a great (FANTASTIC) weekend for the Sabres, with them winning both games, including another shutout for Miller, and the Canes losing to push them 5 points back.  New York and Montreal are both within reach, 2 points ahead.  I don’t even want to talk about 5th place, with Tampa Bay going 1-2-2 in their last 5.  Pittsburgh is the team I’d want the least to do with in the first round, what with them about to get Crosby back and all.

    What’s great to see is how much love the Sabres players are starting to get as a result of their performance.  The Pegula effect kick-started it, building excitement with the fanbase, but the team held up their end, winning games.  Not just winning games, but beating the teams they need to beat.  The ones they ‘should’ beat, and the ones near them in the standings.  They are getting shutouts (PLURAL) for Ryan Miller, who is making the saves he needs to make in close games.  Nathan Gerbe has gone from a guy that people thought should be back in the AHL to a big-time producer.  Of his 14 goals, 3 are game-winners.  He has 6 goals in his last 7 games.  Tyler Ennis has 19 goals is rolling along at a point per game pace over the past 9 games.

    The player that’s probably gained the most appreciation is Thomas Vanek.  He was a lightning rod for criticism after the huge offer sheet he signed in the wake of the Drury/Briere exits.  Over the past few years he earned his nickname “Atlas” when he’s tried to carry a less-talented team into the playoffs.  Now?  He has a cast around him, guys playing roles and chipping in, so that if he goes four or five games without a goal, who cares?  They’ve got his back, and he’s got theirs.  He’s got a letter on his sweater, and his quiet, earnest determination each and every night is rubbing off on his younger teammates.  Thomas cares deeply about the success of the Sabres, and it shows on the ice, whether it’s talking to himself after hitting the post or shooting wide, or the obvious relief and understated celebration after finally breaking through.  The fans are behind Vanek as well, starting a Vanek for Captain hashtag on Twitter, and I can’t remember the last time someone brought up his contract immediately after mentioning his goal total.

    It’s probably the best time to be a Sabres player since 05/06.  The future is bright, with the playoffs looking more and more certain, a new owner with a commitment to winning, who is already trying to improve both the fan and player experiences here, and a talent pipeline that looks to be stacked.  Everyone is having loads of fun right now, so let’s enjoy it and hope it lasts deep into the spring.  Let’s go BUFFALO!

  • 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.

  • Bruins and Canadiens: Appointment TV?

    The Bruins and the Canadiens play their sixth and final game of the regular season tonight, and the last two games have been quite memorable.  You have Chara ramming/guiding/elbowing/brushing Max Pacioretty into a stanchion between the benches (with the word used to describe it differing based on your rooting interest) in the last game.  The game before that was an 8-6 penalty fest that saw multiple line brawls, a half-hearted goalie fight, and numerous ejections.  What does that mean for tonight?

    Nothing.  IF any crazy shenanigans happen, it will be due to actions that happen tonight.  Both teams know full well this game will be watched VERY closely by NHL hockey ops, and the playoffs are too close to have someone important sent off for message-sending.  There will be fights, I wager, between the usual combatants, but unless someone elbows somebody in the face or Chara goes full Wookiee on a guy again, this game will be a tame one.  Even though we may want these two teams to beat each other up.

  • Gameday 2010-2011 – Sabres at Canadiens

    The Buffalo Sabres play their final regular season game against the Montreal Canadiens tonight at 7:30 PM.  Buffalo wants to ‘channel their anger‘ from the somewhat embarrassing collapse against the Preds the other night, so hopefully that leads to a beatdown of the Habs.  Said Gaustad:

    I’ll say this: Guys on this team care. They do show emotion and don’t think they don’t. It’s just that you don’t see it. It’s not something we normally reveal to you guys but we care. You just happened to see some of it [Sunday].

    I think it’s good for fans to see a bit of it like that (and to hear about Jerry Sullivan’s logo gaffe too) as it’s been a concern for some in the past, whether the Sabres players ‘care’ enough.  Sort of like the ‘Vanek is lazy’ meme.  Anyway, here’s hoping the team’s energy is well-focused tonight, as the Canes play Ottawa, which is not exactly an automatic loss for Carolina to say the least.

  • Leads

    The Sabres still have a 3 point lead as far as staying in the playoffs, right?  Just checking.

    I won’t be able to blog too much for the next week or so, but will be on Twitter a bit.  Just FYI.

  • Random Sabres Thoughts

    There’s a lull in the schedule, following the loss on Tuesday, so here are some random thoughts.

    • Tim Connolly played…well?  Has had a few games.  This would be huge if it continues, so Buffalo can keep Boyes on the wing.
    • Where is Jordan Leopold?  Might be better on D but we could use his scoring.
    • Does Kaleta have a spot in the lineup when he gets back?  In the playoffs?
    • Does Patrick Lalime still wear that hat in the press box?
    • Love the tribute painted on the ice for Rick Martin.  I never saw him play, but I can see how big he was here, on and off the ice.

    The next few nights are nerve-wracking, as Toronto and New Jersey both play tonight, with NJ and Carolina in play tomorrow.  The Sabres need to have a good weekend against Atlanta and Nashville (who really need points too).

  • Jinx!

    It’s that time of year again, where the little jinxes and superstitions you have about watching hockey intensify right along with the importance of the games.  You saw it last night with Jeremy White’s successful petition to get the Sabres to at least try a different goal song…and then not score at all.  Maybe you concern yourself more with where you are stting during the game, and maybe re-wearing that shirt you had on when they won the other night.  You’re dressing your kid in the ‘lucky’ onesie.  You consider turning the game off when your bad-luck spouse walks in the room.  Don’t act like it’s not happening.  You know who you are.

    If you’ll excuse me, I need to go find that classic logo hat I wore during Stafford’s hat tricks…

  • Character Wins and Subsequent Losses

    A come from behind win against the East-leading Philadelphia Flyers is an event to be celebrated.  Some even declared the weekend a success just by getting these 2 points.  While that’s true enough from a certain point of view, I’d like to see Buffalo take the playoff spot by the throat and not let go.  Win tomorrow, behind Enroth (who they have won for before), and show the league they are not an easy out.  Take that 7th spot, gain points against a couple of good teams in Pittsburgh and Boston, then roll the Leafs in front of their own fans.  I want waffles on the ice, guys.  Too many times this team has impressed and regressed.  The move needs to be made now.  Make it so.

    As far as the game goes, you have Pominville, Ennis, Stafford and Sekera scoring, with Nathan Gerbe getting the empty netter that many of us missed (see below).  Brad Boyes and Thomas Vanek both had 2 assists, and Vanek played more than 20 minutes.  Tim Connolly, by the way, 17 min, -1, ‘winning’ just over a quarter of the draws he took.  So valuable.  Montador, +3.

    By the way, Time Warner Cable and MSG combined for a horrible series of gaffes in the broadcast today, twice causing those of us on the SD feed to lose the game, including with 2 minutes to go when MSG switched back to…halftime of a Women’s College Basketball game.  You just can’t be that asleep at the switch on such an important game.  I’m smart enough to have my DVR record 30 minutes past the normal end time, you’d think they could have a guy you know, watching the game to make sure the right broadcast stays on.  Terrible.

  • Miller and Myers

    You’re still smiling about last night’s game, admit it.  Nerves to start, especially after Atlanta tied it, but Terry Pegula got his first win.  The Thrashers are a team the Sabres should beat, one that was struggling as much if not moreso than Buffalo the past few games, and they took care of business.

    It’s interesting to see the names popping up on the scoresheet now, such as Gaustad and Pominville.  We’ve kind of been waiting for these guys to chip in regularly all year, and now would be a great time for them to do so.  Most important, though, is the play of the two guys in the title, Ryan Miller and Tyler Myers.  Miller, after having a couple of rough games, has been very good in the past several, despit some of them being losses.  His save percentage in the last four is .947 and he’s been bailing the team out with some sick saves when needed.  Tyler Myers scoring on a booming shot on a rush down the right wing is becoming a thing, basically daring goalies to stop it.  So far, only the post has been successful.  It was also a Myers shot that lead to Pominville’s goal as he cleaned up the rebound.  A run that involves actual playoff wins is going to need these two guys on their game, along with the scoring Buffalo has been getting from Vanek and Stafford.

    The Sabres play two games this weekend, which I will be tracking by phone as I’m headed to Virginia for the week.  I’ll pop in on Twitter, especially to follow potential deadline deals that pop up, but won’t be blogging (or even able to see the games).  Have fun, guys.

  • Back to Work

    Yesterday was fun, probably the most fun being a Sabres fan has been in a few years.  But there’s a game tonight, an important one since Carolina gained a point last night.  The Thrashers should be an easier target to rebound against, being 1-6-1 and also losers of three straight.  The energy the team gets from the buzz in the building (heck, the whole WNY area) will send them out flying, I bet, but the finish has to be there.  I can barely contain my excitement for tonight.  And they haven’t even traded away all the players we hate yet!