Game 11: Islanders vs. Sabres

by Zachary Zielonka on Oct 31, 2009 12:00 PM EDT Comment 24 comments

Buffalo Sabres right winger Patrick Kaleta, top, gets by New York Islanders defenseman Freddy Meyer, left, and scores past New York Islanders goalie Martin Biron during the third period of the NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday, Oct. 16, 2009. Buffalo won 6-3. (AP Photo/Don Heupel)

5 months ago: Buffalo Sabres right winger Patrick Kaleta, top, gets by New York Islanders defenseman Freddy Meyer, left, and scores past New York Islanders goalie Martin Biron during the third period of the NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday, Oct. 16, 2009. Buffalo won 6-3. (AP Photo/Don Heupel)

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This game has all of the makings for another loss. The team is playing their second game in two days, will most likely play their backup goaltender and some on the team are suffering from flu symptoms which will most likely hamper their play. Thankfully, the Sabres are playing the Islanders tonight, ~~14th~~ 11th in the Eastern Conference (hat tip to TheMetalChick for the correction) and the same team they defeated 6-3 two weeks ago.

The Sabres are coming off a 3-2 overtime win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in which the team looked like they were playing in first gear. They looked slow and sloppy at times and lost energy heading into the third period. Thankfully, the best player on the ice was goaltender Ryan Miller who made 31 saves on 33 shots. Tim Connolly became the Sabres hero scoring two goals including the game winner in overtime.

The Islanders are coming off of a 4-3 overtime win against the Washington Capitals in Washington. Mark Streit scored the game winner while Dwayne Roloson made 37 saves on 40 shots. Due to Roloson playing last night, it would not surprise many if Marty Biron starts against the Sabres. Biron is 6-2-1 against the Sabres in his career with a 3.19 GAA and .905 SV%.

Keys to the Game

Sabres: Play a sound defensive game. In the past few games that Patrick Lalime has played, the defense just falls apart in front of him and leave him out to dry. Lalime is not Ryan Miller and is not going to make the spectacular save to bail out a bad defensive play. The defense needs to play a sound game in front of Lalime because the Islanders are going to have the upper hand through most of this game.

Islanders: Take charge of the game early. The Sabres are going to be tired and most likely going to be floating through this game. If the Islanders can jump out to an early lead on Lalime much like the Thrashers did, the Sabres are going to be back on their heels for most of the game and should be able to take an easy win.

Also as a note, this game is one of the Sabres HD road games so be prepared for the Islanders crew calling the game. Game time is 7:00 pm.

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Also as a note, this game is one of the Sabres HD road games so be prepared for the Islanders crew calling the game

Thanks, Sabres!!!

…..NOT

by Afino on Oct 31, 2009 12:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

the Sabres are playing the Islanders tonight, 14th in the Eastern Conference

Yeah, wrong. You need to check the standings when you write articles. FYI, the Isles are presently 11th place in the conference, but are actually in a 4-way tie points-wise for the 8th seed playoff spot.

As far as your “thankfully” crack, I hope your team is taking the Isles for granted as much as you are.

Lets go Islanders...

by TheMetalChick on Oct 31, 2009 1:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mistake

It’s an honest mistake to list the Islanders in 14th. Zach probably didn’t look at the standings, he just assumed the Islanders were in their normal spot in the standings. The Islanders are obviously improved but still lost to the Sabres on a night the Sabres didn’t play well. I think we can all agree the Sabres are a much better team than the Islanders but it may be the Islanders night.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere

by David Oleksy on Oct 31, 2009 2:15 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Mistake

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere

by David Oleksy on Oct 31, 2009 2:16 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

I agree it was an honest mistake… I dont think there was any malice involved lol. But, no personal offense to this guy, its not exactly the epitome of fine writing to not even know the deal with your opponent and then write about them!

Lets go Islanders...

by TheMetalChick on Oct 31, 2009 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Woah-ho-hoo!
I don’t think it was a crack, he was just saying he is glad we are playing the islanders rather that an obviously more talented team. If you read the article, I believe DO thinks we’re going to lose tonight, and so do I.
Thanks for dropping by though. ^^

by Traver on Oct 31, 2009 1:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nah, it was a crack. And as far as the ‘omg the Sabres are gunna be so ired ’ stuff, this will be the Isles 3rd game in 4 nights. I just think that bloggers should research the other team when tthey do a writeup like this. Not even bothering to check where the Isles are in the standings (and getting it totally wrong lol) and talking about how tired the Sabres will be even though the Isles have played just as much hockey as they have in the past # of days, those are things that easily could have been researched and made for a much better writeup. See what Im saying?

Lets go Islanders...

by TheMetalChick on Oct 31, 2009 2:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

both teams have played the same amount of games but the Sabres have been stricken with the flu bug. At least two players were vomiting during the second period last night and who knows who actually made the trip. I think that is what Zach was reffering to.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere

by David Oleksy on Oct 31, 2009 2:19 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Yup, I know. The Isles have been dealing with the flu bug, too. Our Captain Doug Weight was even out with H1N1. Thats another thing he would have known if he had researched the opponent before writing about the matchup. Do you see what I mean now?

Lets go Islanders...

by TheMetalChick on Oct 31, 2009 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Like MetalChick said, the Islanders will be every bit as tired as the Sabres, though, like DO said, we have the flu bug.

That said, tired and flu-ridden or not, this is a game the Sabres SHOULD win. Whether Lalime plays or not (and I think he will), the Sabres are a much better team than the Islanders this season and should win this game. Let’s ignore “bad feelings” (which you’ve had both games this week, DO) and just call it like it is for a change.

The Sabres are 8-1-1 with +14 GD, and the Isles are 3-4-5 with -12 GD. The Sabres can, should, and will win.

by HarryNeale'sGarden on Oct 31, 2009 2:26 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Let’s also not forget these teams played already, and the Sabres took a 3-0 lead and then sat back and took a 6-3 victory.

This is not a game they need Miller in net to win.

by HarryNeale'sGarden on Oct 31, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As far as this added part goes, Im HOPING they remember that- believe me. And I hope they feel the same way you do. If they think that this is going to be an easy game, that is the biggest gift they can give the Islanders.

The Isles have played only 2-3 games htis season where they did not play GREAT and give the opponent a run for their money. The Sabres game was one of them.

Lets go Islanders...

by TheMetalChick on Oct 31, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why on earth would profession hockey players think like fans? If you did some research before posting you would have found that players in general think quite a bit differently about opponents than the fans do. All you needed to do before posting such an absurdly wrong post was a little research. Players are constantly giving other lesser teams all the credit in the world. I wouldn’t doubt if, after having done an ounce of research, you would maybe have found Stafford saying something like “The Islanders are a good team… they play hard… we have to do all the little things right… good play along the boards…”

sheesh… do a little research first would you?

by clownfat on Oct 31, 2009 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

OK- so I take it back- ONE person here is being a jerk!

You can throw those Stafford quotes out there all you want-I am not talking about the kind of talk that all teams HAVE to say, Im talking about what these guys were thinking INSIDE when they knew they were facing the Isles tonight. So you think after watching that game that the Sabres looked at tonight as a game when they had to play their absolute best? Well I completely disagree with you- and so does the final score. Yeah I know, they all have the flu, they are tired, yeah yeah. Whatever, none of those excuses are flying with me. The Sabres EVEN WHEN SICK AND TIRED are a helluva lot better AND more talented than that score tonight warrants. The Sabres DID NOT approach this game as if they were playing a top team, and if you actually think they did then YOU are the one who needs to wake up.

Lets go Islanders...

by TheMetalChick on Nov 1, 2009 1:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Two Words

Martin Biron.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere

by David Oleksy on Nov 1, 2009 9:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

good post… other than the fact that BOTH teams have had the flu bug, so that is a non-issue, too. My point was simply that things should be written up accurately.

The Sabres are 8-1-1 with +14 GD, and the Isles are 3-4-5 with -12 GD.

Cant get more accurate than that lol.
Heres hoping for a great game.

Lets go Islanders...

by TheMetalChick on Oct 31, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’ll take a Sabres win, whether it’s ugly or otherwise ;-)

Hey, nothing wrong with honesty, right?

by HarryNeale'sGarden on Oct 31, 2009 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I get more and more convinced every year that this fanbase doesn’t understand how to handle winning. We seem impervious to the fact that good teams are supposed to, and far more often than not, do beat bad teams. Yet our fans constantly get “bad feelings” when we play teams we’re supposed to beat. I’ll never understand it.

Given last year’s pitiful record against bottom feeders…..seems like the team has caught the bug, too

by HarryNeale'sGarden on Oct 31, 2009 3:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah.

Agreed.

by Afino on Oct 31, 2009 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Welcome to Buffalo

Those “Bad Feelings” that we all get come from disappointment after disappointment. Whether it be a foot in the crease, or a kick going wide right, fans of Buffalo sports teams know that in this town anything that can go wrong…does. Hopefully this year will be the year to change that, but I think we’ll all believe it when we see it.

by The Burl 8 on Oct 31, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But those were completely different situations, and it’s nonsensical in my opinion to equate the two. Wide right, no goal, the forward lateral, no goal II, ridiculous, gut-wrenching MNF losses…..these are all instances of either great or decent Buffalo teams playing great or decent competition. Which, one would think, are scenarios which would come down to the wire and close games (with corresponding tough losses) may follow.

But having a “bad feeling” when your good team plays a team inarguably worse than they are just doesn’t make any sense. The most recent blatant example was when people had “bad feelings” about the 6-6 Bills losing to the 0-12 Dolphins in 2007. It made no sense. Period. And yet, people inexplicably believed it.

Good teams beat bad teams in sports, with astoundingly regularity. There is no reason to expect to lose to bad teams. Why can’t anyone in Buffalo figure this out? Are we THAT unaccustomed to being the favorite?

by HarryNeale'sGarden on Oct 31, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And, for the record, just because I EXPECT to win this game doesn’t mean, of course, that they will win, because that is the nature of sports.

But my point is that there is no reason why we shouldn’t EXPECT to win this game. Know what I mean?

by HarryNeale'sGarden on Oct 31, 2009 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My apologies to the mistakes in the article, I will admit I wrote this in a hurry this morning. The whole point of the three games in four nights and the flu bug is that I expect the Sabres to lose this game tonight. It was really in no means a crack against the Islanders.

Die By The Blade - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere

by Zachary Zielonka on Oct 31, 2009 4:46 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Its all good, Zach- I really wanted to clarify things, and I got to. Im glad that absolutely nobody here was being a jerk about it (including you.)

Helluva game tonight, you know Ive got to say that. And yes I know that you guys saw a sloppy-ass team when they played the Sabres, but Im telling ya- thats one of the only games that they looked like that. Ive been amazed at how the Isles have been playing this season. It just gets me so frustrated when they are playing so well and people dismiss them and are like whatever, they are losers, bottom feeders, etc! Tonight you saw how the Isles have been playing. If the Sabres were feeling better no WAY it was 5-0… but if they were healthy, you can be sure this would have been ahard fought game and the Sabres would have to be at their best to have beat them.

The Isles had nearly 1000 mangames lost to injury in the last 2 seasons- and unfathomable number that was tops of the NHL by far. This is the 1st time they have been almost healthy (aside from flu bugs, normal type injuries like Trent Hunters, and of course missing our franchise goaltender for more than an entire season.) Do I think they can keep this pace up? I dont know about that… but I do know that this team is a lot better than other teams and most fans outside of our own fanbase realize. They are giving a lot of very talented teams a run for their money.

All the best, Sabres fans… and Sabres, too… except when we play again coming up. ;) (Hey I can be honest too right lol?)

Lets go Islanders...

by TheMetalChick on Nov 1, 2009 1:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs