It might be a bit of an exaggeration, but there’s no denying the impact the diminutive winger is having on the Sabres right now. He had a goal against the Islanders yesterday, and had the only 2 scored against the Isles in the previous 5-2 smack down the Sabres endured. In that game, it seemed only Ennis, Gerbe, Gragnani and Vanek even played. Gerbe has 5 of his 6 goals in the past 6 games, is on a 3 game goal scoring streak, and has no problem mucking with guys who double his weight. Nathan registered 18 shots in the past 3 games. He’s playing like a kid that wants to stick, and they’ll need his scoring while Roy is out if the Sabres still think they can make the playoffs.
Tag: Thomas Vanek
-
Standing Still
Just one of those Buffalo things, people will say. The Sabres have put together a solid run here, going 4-1-1 in the last 6. Vanek (3G 5A) and Stafford (5G 3A) each have 8 points during that time, and Gaustad/Gerbe/McCormick have been playing well for some secondary scoring. And yet, they are still 8 points out of a playoff spot. That’s the problem with being on the outside looking in – you need help. Like I mentioned in a previous post, the Sabres can help themselves later this month with games against Boston and Montreal. They have to keep winning other games for that to matter, though.
Other random thoughts:
- Wasn’t it nice hearing RJ on TV last night? Felt so comfortable.
- Sure wish Commander Cody got to really fight last night, was over too quick. Really starting to like McCormick.
- Jeff Skinner is a player.
- I still hate Carolina.
-
You Just Don’t Know
Really, you just can’t know how a team, any team, will respond to an injury to a key player. Many of us wrote off the season after Roy got hurt (myself included), but all the Sabres have done since then is go on a run. Since the 5-2 loss in Calgary, Buffalo has gone 4-0-1, including a 7-6 barnburner highlighted by a Drew Stafford hat trick, and a 3-0 real shutout of San Jose, and a 2-1 win against the Coyotes, games in which the Vezina quality Ryan Miller made appearances.
Players and coaches will always throw out the ‘other guys need to step up’ cliche when an injury like this happens, but it really is true, and it’s happened here. EX:
“Since Derek’s (Roy) gone, there’s a chance for a lot of guys to step up and play some extra minutes. Guys are trying to take advantage of that.” Jochen Hecht
Stafford is on a tear (in addition to the hatty he had an OT game-winner in Phoenix), Jordan Leopold has 10 goals, Shaone Morrisonn has brought an increased physical presence, Mike Weber has too (in addition to a few goals!) and there have been goals by Jochen Hecht, Luke Adam, and Jason Pominville, all guys who are in that ‘needs to step up’ category.
Looking at the standings, Buffalo is currently 10th, 8 points behind Boston and Montreal (catching both would jump them all the way into 3rd). The schedule for the month means Lalime will be keeping the bench warm quite a bit, as there is only 1 back to back set of games as part of a 3 in 4, with two of them against the Isles. Gotta get him in once there, I’d think. There’s a game each against the teams they are chasing in the Northeast, how successful January is probably turns on how they do there. It’s a tough lead to make up, but a team that plays the way they have in the past few games can do it. They are making it interesting, at least.
-
In my experience, there’s no such thing as luck
Tyler Ennis did what he was supposed to do.
He went to the net, created traffic, but unfortunately instead of deflecting a goal in, he stopped it. Of course, some still think it went in, but doesn’t show as such because of the angle of the camera above the net. Until we have cameras IN the goalposts, there’ll never be a better angle, so we live with it. Unfortunately for the Tiny Tyler, he followed up that ‘save’ with a high-sticking penalty in OT, and the Avs capitalized for the game-winner (4-3). Both Budaj and Miller had stretches of spectacular saves, sandwiched around a goal or two that made you roll your eyes.
The game was definitely a spiritual successor to the Bruins game from the other night, defense optional. I don’t think there was one d-man that was really any good, Montador got a goal from a bad angle thanks to Budaj brain-farting on the shot. Thomas Vanek scored on a 4-min power play (yay!), but then the team gave it right back by allowing a shorty after that (boo!). Hecht scored, Vanek had 1G, 1A, and Drew Stafford had 2 assists.
Buffalo travels to San Jose for a game tomorrow, a painful 10:30pm start.
-
Gameday 2010-2011 – Penguins at Sabres
The Sabres are hot right now, gaining 7 of their last 8 points available including 2 shutouts, but the hottest team around is in the building tonight as Sidney Crosby’s Penguins come to visit. The Pens have won 11 in a row, and all the ‘kid’ has done during that time has put himself at the top of the list for goals and points. And that’s without (for all or part of that time) Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal.
On the positive side for the Sabres, they usually do well shutting down or at least curbing the production of top players. They’ve frustated Alex Ovechkin, and caused Dany Heatley’s line to be -9 the other night with no goals. If the secondary scoring that occurred last game can take the heat of Vanek a bit, these guys will be back in a playoff spot in no time. Let’s break the Penguins’ streak TONIGHT.
-
Goose Bites Sharks
Paul Gaustad has taken a ton of flack, really dating back to the end of last year, for not contributing more on the score sheet. Last night had to be pretty satisfying then, as the Goose made some plays (and got a lucky bounce of Dan Boyle’s melon) including keeping a close eye on Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley (combined -6 on 4 shots). Thomas Vanek continued his dominance, scoring 2 and very nearly netting a third. Jason Pominville even scored on a shorthanded break. A lot of positives, even if they kept letting the Sharks back in.
I have to say, I’m impressed with Logan Couture. He’s putting up Calder trophy numbers, including 6 goals in his last 5 games. I remember hearing his name 10 times before I heard Heatley’s. I actually forgot Dany-boy played for the Sharks for the first 10 minutes or so of the game. A great win for the home fans. The Sabres are 6-2 in their last 8 home games, by the way, with wins over Washington, Vancouver and LA.
-
Mixed Results and Who to Root For
Didn’t get to see much of any of the sports this long weekend, so the emotions that are churning over the Sabres and Bills losing aren’t really affecting me. I am bothered by the Sabres anemic offense in the past few games most of all. Thomas Vanek is scoring, Miller is solid and seems to have his mind right, and there is a long break (no games until FRIDAY) for the team to work on their problems and get healthy.
In the mean time, the rest of the league will catch up to the Sabres in games played during this break, to an extent. Here’s who to root against (or for if you prefer) until Friday:
- Monday: Ottawa plays Edmonton. Here’s hoping the Oil youngsters come through.
- Tuesday: Tampa Bay plays Toronto. Stamkos hat trick?
- Wednesday: Edmonton continues their East coast swing in Montreal.
- Thursday: Tampa/Boston, Edmonton/Toronto, NJ/Montreal, San Jose/Ottawa all on tap.
Nice thing about that is there are no NE versus NE situations where a team is guaranteed of getting two points while Buffalo is idle.
-
One, Two, THREE Periods! Ah-ah-ah!
Now the Count, HE can backcheck Hey guys, that first period was not a glorified warm-up! Those goals counted! But seriously, it wasn’t a terrible game despite it being a loss. Right now Washington is still better, so winning one of two games with them is not bad. What I liked: seeing Ennis/Roy/Vanek continue to play well, more D contributions, and not giving up when down 3-0. Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth was very good, he was definitely the difference after Buffalo scored their two goals (which he didn’t get much help on).
It’s not getting any easier for Buffalo, as they have a Friday/Saturday schedule at home, with the LA Kings and Steven Stamkos’s Tampa Bay Lightning in town. Tampa had lost 3 in a row before facing the coach-firing, injury riddled New York Islanders. If you are a Vanek fan, by the way, watch Saturday. He’s got 16 goals in 20 games against them.
-
Vanek Dazzles on OT Game-Winning Goal
It almost wasn’t fair to Braden Holtby, who had played quite well against the Buffalo Sabres. When Thomas Vanek skated in alone, with two defenders in the area, Holtby probably thought he could handle it.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd-IYT47kWw[/youtube]
Yeah, John Carlson, you might just have to read up on this Vanek character. What a way to get your first home win, no matter how delayed it was. Vanek also had a more typical goal in the second, cleaning up a rebound in his office in front of the net. Montador had the Sabres’ first goal.
Ryan Miller had some great saves in his first game back, including stopping Ovechkin on a breakaway, though he did have a puck that he thought he squeezed bounce between his legs and thankfully not into the goal. Great to see him back out there.
Do yourself a favor and go back and watch that goal again.
-
That’ll do, Enroth
Jhonas Enroth dueled Marty Biron to a tie through regulation, but in the end lost 3-2, gaining Buffalo another point. 5 out of 6 isn’t bad, considering they’d gotten, what, 1 out of 10 before that? Now to see how they fare against stronger competition, and not fellow basement dwellers.
I know Vanek is catching heat for not shooting on that play late. I liked his patience to move around the sliding defender, and he thought Roy had a better shot. Taken on it’s own, the play is fine. Some would see it as a pattern of Vanek passing up chances, which is true to a point. I think Thomas is just trying to contribute what he can while the goals aren’t coming. Games are more fun when Vanek is sniping, will admit that.
Enroth’s play has put Buffalo in an interesting quandry. He’s winning, something Lalime hasn’t done much of in his time here. His numbers aren’t super-impressive, but he’s made key saves and was strong in the two shootouts. People say he should go back to Portland to continue development, but to what end? Miller is the starter for the forseeable future, so what is Enroth’s career path? Backup goalie is the only option that keeps him here. If there was a trade offer that gave a solid return, I’d do it, but beyond that, what was he drafted for if not to play with the big club?
