Sabres Limp to Quarter Pole

by David Oleksy on Nov 25, 2009 12:15 PM EST

The Month of November is not quite over yet but the Buffalo Sabres have finally reached the quarter point of the season. Most of the teams in the league reached the quarter pole last week but the Sabres were one of the last teams to do it on Saturday night. The results have been favorable for the Sabres through 20 games but the current three game losing streak is an obvious concern for the team.

We talked a couple of weeks ago about breaking the season into 10 game segments and the second segment was not a good one for the Sabres. They went 4-5-1 and it could have been worse if not for a tree game winning streak in the middle. The team suffered through some key injuries to Mike Grier and Drew Stafford but injuries are part of the game and good teams overcome their injuries. With that being said, you decrease your odds of winning when you lose a top six forward and replace him in the lineup with a defenseman.

Scoring has been the biggest concern for the Sabres in recent weeks. The team started the season by scoring just enough goals to win but now they are allowing more goals and the offensive deficiencies have become noticeable. Nobody on the team is averaging a point per game and Thomas Vanek has only seven goals to lead the team. At some point they will need their offensive players to step up if they want to be a playoff team.

	5-on-5	5-on-4	5-on-3	4-on-4	4-on-3	3-on-3	3-on-4	3-on-5	4-on-5	EN	PS	Total
For	30	16	1	1	2	0	0	0	0	1	1	52
Against	28	3	0	4	0	0	0	1	12	2	0	50

Despite the recent struggles, the team has put themselves in a good position to be a playoff team. We talked about the key being 12 points in every 10 game segment. They failed that goal with only nine points in the last 10 game segment but the 17 points coming out of the gate was more than enough.

2009-2010
Games	Record	Points Earned	+/- points	Total Points
1-10	8-1-1	17	5	17
11-20	4-5-1	9	-3	26
21-30				26
31-40				26
41-50				26
51-60				26
61-70				26
71-80				26
81-82				26

The best thing the Sabres can do at this point is move on. They need to forget about the first 20 games and start looking ahead to the next 10 games. They find themselves trailing the Senators for the division lead, due in large part to their loss on Saturday night.

Northeast Standings

	GP	W	L	OTL	PT
Ottawa	21	12	6	3	27
Buffalo	20	12	6	2	26
Boston	23	11	8	4	26
Montreal	24	12	11	1	25
Toronto	22	4	11	7	15

(updated 11.25.2009 at 8:23 AM EST)

The Sabres have a couple games in hand with the other teams in the division and will have to use them to their advantage to get back the division lead. The Upcoming schedule is not easy for the Sabres in their next 10 games. They played the month of November with a unique Wednesday-Friday-Saturday schedule but the schedule intensifies now that we head into December. There are many weeks when the Sabres will be playing four games a week and even 4-in-6 many times.

Sabres Schedule

Next 5 Games

@ Washington	Wed 11/25	7:00 PM EST
@ Philadelphia	Fri 11/27	1:00 PM EST
Carolina	Sat 11/28	7:00 PM EST
@ Toronto	Mon 11/30	7:00 PM EST
Montreal	Thu 12/03	7:00 PM EST

NY Rangers	Sat 12/5	7:00 PM EST
New Jersey	Mon 12/7	7:00 PM EST
Washington	Wed 12/9	7:00 PM EST
Chicago	Fri 12/11	7:30 PM EST
@ NY Rangers	Sat 12/12	7:00 PM EST

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Comments

I have a feeling this teams fate could be sealed by the Olympic break. These next 2 months obviously are going to be crucial but we have to get back on track… and soon. If they are sitting pretty (1-4/5 seed) then I think we’re going to be ok after the break. But if Dec and Jan arent good for us I dont think we can climb back into the race.

And especially they need to prove to themselves that they are for real. Are they the same team as last year? Hot start with a fizzle starting in Nov. Or can they turn it around and start winning some games. I know 0-2-1 isnt the end of the world but Ruff will sure make it seem like it.

Idk if what Im saying makes sense or if im just rambling, but no comments yet and I need to talk Sabres haha

"I don't know how to explain it but we seem to find eachother on the ice and make things happen... Yeah. Pass, shoot, score... Yeah. Pass.. Shoot.. And score."

by bflo on Nov 25, 2009 3:52 PM EST reply actions

Not much has changed

This is for the most part the same team as last year. Yes, there have been a few changes, but not a lot. The top six have failed miserably lately for the same reasons they have failed in the past. Most of them are overpaid and know it. Most of them are perimeter players and we all know it. When they go to the tough spots and put in the effort, they win. When they skate down the wing and take a slapper from outside the dot (Pommer) or miss open nets from 2 feet (Stafford) or put in a quarter effort (Vanek) we lose. Kaleta, Ellis, Grier and the like can only do so much. You can talk systems and breaks and injuries, but you still have to score more than the other team to win. This is not the most talented bunch. Without 100% effort, they will lose most of the time.

by danabob on Nov 25, 2009 4:57 PM EST reply actions

They definately need to trust and stay with the system. Thats when they are playing their best hockey. When everyone is doing their job.

“You think you can win on talent alone? Gentlemen, YOU DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TALENT TO WIN ON TALENT ALONE!”
-Herb Brooks

Thats what I think of when I see the Sabres play that lazy passing, lazy skating style they fall into every once and a while.

"I don't know how to explain it but we seem to find eachother on the ice and make things happen... Yeah. Pass, shoot, score... Yeah. Pass.. Shoot.. And score."

by bflo on Nov 25, 2009 5:03 PM EST reply actions

I smell a win tonight

The Sabres have been more competent against the better teams than Atlantas and Ottawas. Plus Miller can only go without a win for so long.

by Rafal Ladysz on Nov 25, 2009 5:07 PM EST reply actions

I know I'm a complete ass hole...

but the quarter pole actually refers to the pole marking one quarter mile remaining in the race.

As for the Sabres, the string of six home games out of seven after the Philly game will be huge. That’s where they should be able to make up some points they’ve lost the last couple weeks.

A bullhorn, a bottle of whiskey and a dream. GobblerCountry.com

by furrer4heisman on Nov 26, 2009 12:02 AM EST reply actions

Yes you are right

but that being said…it is a common term among hockey fans. I guess I don’t have to be a follower but in this case I chose to listen to the masses when it comes to hockey fans. NHL.com thought it was good enough to be on their site so I can live with that.

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

by David Oleksy on Nov 26, 2009 12:31 PM EST up reply actions

Then its good enough for me.

Great stuff, as always.

A bullhorn, a bottle of whiskey and a dream. GobblerCountry.com

by furrer4heisman on Nov 26, 2009 11:16 PM EST up reply actions

I read my comment above and realized it might have sounded bitter…I am not bitter at all. I actually appreciate the feedback and I probably should have used a different phrase but it was pure laziness.

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

by David Oleksy on Nov 27, 2009 8:05 AM EST via mobile up reply actions