Shutdown Pair

Tag: sabres

  • Gameday 2010-2011 – Sabres at Flyers

    Buffalo is visiting Flyers for the first time tonight, with a 7:30pm game on everyone’s favorite channel, Versus.  Buffalo is flying high after a resounding win on Saturday against the Kovy-less Devils.  The boys are on the mend, with Shaone Morrisonn and Craig Rivet both practicing and Pominville steadily improving.  Only Rivet *might* play tonight, as there’s no need to rush anyone back with the way Butler, Sekerea and Weber played in their absence.

    Philly lost last night to the Blue Jackets, with an effort that made their coach angry.

    “The first 40 minutes there was nothing there,” Laviolette continued. “There was no jam to our game. We played mindless hockey without any energy, without any passion.”

    ‘Mindless’, ouch.  It’s possible that Philly (being who they are) come in with bodies (and elbows) flying.  Just noticed that there was some rough stuff at the end of the CBJ game, as noted by Broad Street Hockey:

    Something to look out for, though: Scott Hartnell received a ten-minute misconduct at the end of the game, possibly for hitting a ref with his stick.

    Yeah, sounds about right for him.  For the rest of the team, it appears that Pronger is still feeling the effects of knee surgery and is not at full speed, and Danny Briere was a penalty machine against the Jackets.  Also, wondering if we’ll see any fisticuffs from Jody Shelley, assuming he doesn’t end up in the press box.

    Just found out Luke Adam is called up for tonight, but not sure for who.  Stay tuned.

    edit:  Rob Niedermayer is out, didn’t travel with the team as per WGR550.  Well there you go.  Good chance for Adam to shine with the goalie sinkhole of Philly on tap.

    edit again:  The Niedermayers had a baby!  Congratulations, guys.

  • The Road Warriors

    That’s what the Sabres are lacking, a dog (sorry Sabretooth)

    It’s kind of ridiculous, really.  We’ve seen plenty of ‘good signs’ for the Sabres at home, but they still haven’t gotten it done.  Then we see them blast the Devils, without Kovalchuk (seriously what the heck?) and Brodeur on the road, and it doesn’t tell us anything.  Tim Connolly, Tyler Myers, and Thomas Vanek are all scoring now, which is good, right?  But will it last?  Again, good signs abound, but these guys have to get it through their heads that they can do that to any team in the league, any given night.  We can see that they are capable of it, they have great passers, solid finishers, guys with great point shots, and a dominant goalie.  They just need to get things done.

    ***

    Okay, what the heck is up with Kovalchuk?  I’m not sure what the Devils and John MacLean hope to accomplish by sitting him – goal scorers don’t score/break slumps wearing a suit.  I can appreciate the desire to sit an underperforming player, but I feel that scorers just need to play out of it.  It’s also a PR NIGHTMARE for a team that also had tons of negative press over his contract to begin with.  Look at it this way:  before the bizarre Kovy benching, I would’ve shrugged off an NJ slump and assumed they’d get back in the mix by Christmas.  Now, I have a few more doubts, wondering about locker room issues and MacLean losing the team/getting fired.  Wouldn’t be the first time Lou has dumped a coach and taken over…

  • Gameday 2010-2011 – Senators at Sabres

    The Senators are in town tonight, sitting last in the NHL with 3 points.  Brian Elliott will be facing Ryan Miller.  I will be juggling (figuratively I assure you) the three kids tonight by myself so don’t expect a lot of tweets, but I will if I can manage it.

    Let’s go Buffalo!

  • On Traditional Markets

    This seems to be a topic right now, and I have a confession to make:  I am probably only a hockey fan because of Gary Bettman.  I don’t like saying, because I dislike many of his policies and changes, but his big push on ‘non-traditional’ markets was definitely a part of why I’m here now.

    When I was a kid, I wanted something different, sports-wise.  I grew up watching the Atlanta Braves with my parents, mostly because they were always on TV, a rarity for a single franchise back then.  But I wanted to be different, and hockey was on TV a lot thanks to ESPN2 getting added to our cable service.  I remember a young Buccigross, and ‘Fire on Ice’…Jim Schoenfeld, Gary Thorne, Bill Clement.  I went and saw Hampton Roads Admirals games with my dad (ECHL team back then, with players I saw in Roller Hockey International in the offseason).  I even went to an NHL exhibition at Norfolk Scope, between the Washington Capitals…and the Buffalo Sabres.  Here’s the game story from one of the newspapers.  I remember being disappointed that Mogilny didn’t play that game, but I saw LaFontaine, Hasek, Byron Dafoe, and Matthew Barnaby scored, even.  It was great.

    But what REALLY cemented me as a hockey fan, was expansion MADNESS.  The Hampton Roads area tried for several years after that to get in the league, but the cities that made up the area never could cooperate well enough.  But that didn’t stop me from obsessing over my hometown getting a real pro sports franchise.  So I guess, thanks Gary, for keeping my interest in hockey energized long enough for it to become a lifelong passion.

  • 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 – Sabres at Thrashers

    Well, Lindy did the expected, and bag-skated the team, along with a line shuffle.  Here’s what they will look like according to Vogl at the Buffalo News:

    Vanek – Roy – Stafford
    Hecht – Connolly – McCormick
    Gerbe – Gaustad – Kaleta
    Ennis – Niedermayer – Grier

    Reuniting Vanek and Roy is good, and Stafford isn’t terrible so far.  McCormick might give the Connolly line a spark with some hard work and hits.  That third line could be sneaky good, as Kaleta has some offensive upside, combine that with Gerbe’s speed and Goose’s size in front of the net and you might have something.  On the whole, it’s a good balance, every line should be able to contribute at both ends.

    On D, Morrisonn is doing the lonely ‘skating on his own’ and will be out tonight.  Miller should get the start in net.

    While the Atlanta games are never easy for Buffalo, even without Kovalchuk in the mix, it’s winnable.  It could even be a get-right game, with Chris Mason and a 3.0 GAA in net.  Ondrej Pavelec is still out after collapsing on the ice, though he should be back soon, which is great.  I probably won’t get to watch the beginning of the game with family commitments, but I’ll try and get in by the second period.

  • Buffalo Sabres: The Week Ahead

    The Sabres currently have a dismal 1-4-1 record, 5th in the NE, and the panic button is being mashed by some people.  It’s still way too early to do it, though.  Their schedule is busy, some of the parts have changed, so there are some expected hiccups.  This lull from Sunday to Wednesday is the first time they’ll really have some practices where they can work on their issues.  And they do have issues, no doubt.

    Things to try:

    • Play Vanek on the PK.  He’s responded well for stretches with the extra responsibility in the past, and his defense hasn’t been bad.  Might keep his spirits up a bit to feel like more of a contributor.  Worth a shot.
    • Myers needs to just stop thinking and shoot.  I don’t know what the coaches said the to kid, but he’s falling into the ‘look for a play’ trap.  Half of his goals last year came from just saying “screw it” and shooting when he got the puck.  He needs to get back to it.
    • Sit Tim Connolly for a game.  I call this move the Stafford.  Timmy has been rough out there at times, and it’s time to make an example of him.  Roll seven d-men if you have to, or just put Pominville back in once he’s back.

    You can go ahead and add in all the stuff the coaches say duringa slump, like ‘simplify their game’, ‘crash the net’, ‘get shots through’, ‘play the system’ (Lindy approved).  You guys know all that already, though.  Anything else you think they should try?

  • Gameday 2010-2011 – Canadiens at Sabres

    Buffalo is hosting their 40th anniversary celebration tonight, as 40 years ago they opened the season against the Montreal Canadiens.  Members of the Knox family are in, Buffalo is wearing their whites at home, and more.  Should be a fun time.

    Shaone Morissonn is out with a groin injury, so either Weber or Butler will be in tonight (will update if I see which one).  Pominville is still out so expect the same forwards in play.  Montreal is currently 1-1-1, even with the Sabres points-wise.

    I will be watching this game, either in the building or at home depending on the situation.  Wife and kids had a rough day yesterday so hopefully things are better tonight.

    edit:  Butler is in, Miller starts (have to imagine Lalime tomorrow night, does follow the ‘play him against his former teams’ thing they have going with him).

  • On Kaleta

    I know Kaleta has been getting slagged to various degrees for his antics in the last game.  I was in and out of the room for part of all that so I didn’t see it but it’s a bad game for Patty, no question.  I do want to give him credit, as games like this, where you maybe wince and shake your head at a play he makes, are few and far between.  On the whole, that’s pretty good for an ‘agitator’ who throws as many hits as he does.  Hopefully this won’t be a pattern, as Kaleta had reduced his recklessness a bit last year, and increased his offensive prowess in limited time.

  • Calm Down

    Just a friendly reminder that Buffalo lost (regulation and OT/SO) 37 games last year en route to winning their division.  They 3 times lost 4 or more games in a row, including a stretch of 6 in a row.  I get the feeling they are still adjusting to new linemates/defense partners, and that certainly isn’t helped by Pominville being out.  There are definitely fixes that need to be made, but they sure do have plenty of time to make them.  Let it play out.

    Speaking of Pominville/Hjalmarsson, the suspension made Woot’s news aggregation/humor post.

    CHICAGO (UPI) — Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson has been suspended for two games following a questionable hit, ESPNChicago.com reported Tuesday.

    Hjalmarsson says that his hit, a techno cover of “Free Bird”, totally has precedent and is not even slightly questionable.

    Sounds like something a Swede would do.