Sabres Lose Two Games, Not the Season

by David Oleksy on Nov 8, 2009 11:26 PM EST Comment 13 comments

Boston Bruins' Byron Bitz, left, scores on Buffalo Sabres' Jhonas Enroth, of Sweden, in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

4 months ago: Boston Bruins' Byron Bitz, left, scores on Buffalo Sabres' Jhonas Enroth, of Sweden, in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

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During the month of October the Sabres were the hottest team in the NHL. It seemed they won every game, even if they didn't play very well. I tried my best to remind everyone that the Stanley Cup isn't won in October and we should see how things played out.

The Sabres lost a pair of games this weekend so I'll remind you again. The season isn't lost because they lost two straight games. I'm obviously concerned with the way the team played but there is plenty of time to correct what went wrong.

After reviewing the play-by-play while preparing the stats for this post I did see one disturbing trend. I have often criticized Lindy Ruff for his line juggling and this weekend was not much different. Lindy Ruff is very impatient when the team is struggling and he doesn't allow the players to work through their troubles.

There are times when changing the lines could be beneficial but I think it is better to do it in between games as opposed to the first period of a game you are trailing 2-0. The players practice with their lines and have a certain comfort with their line mates. The players should be able to adjust quickly to their new line mates but sometimes it leads to sloppy passes and no chemistry.

Flyers Game Stats

		Game Stats
#	Player	Pos	TOI	+/-	FO%	Hits	GV	TK	BS
4	Steve Montador	D	18:36	0	-	0	1	0	0
9	Derek Roy	C	18:03	-1	67%	1	2	1	1
10	Henrik Tallinder	D	19:00	-1	-	0	1	1	1
13	Tim Kennedy	C	13:38	-1	20%	0	0	0	0
19	Tim Connolly	C	18:31	-2	0%	0	0	0	0
21	Drew Stafford	RW	14:14	-1	-	0	0	0	0
25	Mike Grier	RW	16:34	-1	-	1	0	0	0
26	Thomas Vanek	LW	15:20	-1	-	1	0	0	0
28	Paul Gaustad	C	13:24	-2	53%	0	0	0	0
29	Jason Pominville	RW	17:01	-1	67%	1	1	0	0
34	Chris Butler	D	20:56	-3	-	1	1	0	2
36	Patrick Kaleta	RW	8:26	-1	-	2	0	0	1
37	Matt Ellis	LW	6:50	-2	-	0	0	0	0
41	Clarke MacArthur	LW	17:21	-2	43%	0	0	0	0
44	Andrej Sekera	D	17:45	-1	-	0	0	0	0
52	Craig Rivet	D	19:42	-2	-	0	1	1	1
55	Jochen Hecht	LW	15:01	0	40%	0	0	1	0
57	Tyler Myers	D	21:10	-3	-	1	0	0	3
TOI = Total Time on Ice				GV = Giveaways
FO% = Faceoff percentage				TK = Takeaways
Hits = Total Hits				BS=Blocked Shots

			Even Strength Individual Stats						Even Strength On-Ice Totals
#	Player	Pos	EV TOI	G	A	Shots	S A/B	S Miss	SOGF	SOGA	SOG Diff	Tot SF	Tot SA	Corsi
4	Steve Montador	D	18:07	0	0	2	1	1	10	12	-2	17	15	2
9	Derek Roy	C	14:20	0	0	1	1	1	2	9	-7	8	11	-3
10	Henrik Tallinder	D	17:39	0	0	2	1	1	8	7	1	16	12	4
13	Tim Kennedy	C	13:38	0	0	2	0	0	6	11	-5	8	15	-7
19	Tim Connolly	C	14:21	0	0	1	0	2	11	8	3	24	13	11
21	Drew Stafford	RW	11:13	0	0	1	0	1	5	9	-4	7	15	-8
25	Mike Grier	RW	14:41	0	0	0	0	0	9	11	-2	15	14	1
26	Thomas Vanek	LW	13:02	0	0	1	1	0	4	11	-7	8	17	-9
28	Paul Gaustad	C	9:06	0	0	2	1	1	5	7	-2	9	11	-2
29	Jason Pominville	RW	12:22	0	0	1	0	1	6	7	-1	14	9	5
34	Chris Butler	D	15:48	0	0	0	1	0	10	14	-4	17	23	-6
36	Patrick Kaleta	RW	8:26	0	0	0	1	1	4	4	0	8	10	-2
37	Matt Ellis	LW	6:50	0	0	2	0	1	4	5	-1	6	8	-2
41	Clarke MacArthur	LW	15:21	0	0	5	0	0	11	10	1	22	14	8
44	Andrej Sekera	D	17:06	0	0	1	2	0	8	12	-4	16	15	1
52	Craig Rivet	D	15:38	0	0	0	1	2	6	13	-7	13	22	-9
55	Jochen Hecht	LW	13:37	0	0	4	0	0	11	6	5	17	9	8
57	Tyler Myers	D	17:26	0	0	0	0	1	11	9	2	20	14	6
EV TOI = Even Strength time on ice								SOGA = Team shots against while on ice
EV TOI = Even Strength time on ice								SOG Diff = Difference shots on ice
S A/B = shots attempted and blocked								Tot SF = Total shots including blocked/missed
S Miss = Shots missed the net								Tot SA = Total Shots Ag. Including blocked/missed
SOGF = Team Shots while on ice								Corsi = Difference in Total Shots

Bruins Game Stats

		Game Stats
#	Player	Pos	TOI	+/-	FO%	Hits	GV	TK	BS
4	Steve Montador	D	16:49	-2	-	1	0	0	0
9	Derek Roy	C	19:02	-1	31%	0	0	0	0
10	Henrik Tallinder	D	16:42	1	-	1	0	0	0
13	Tim Kennedy	C	15:05	0	56%	3	0	0	0
19	Tim Connolly	C	17:02	1	43%	0	0	0	0
21	Drew Stafford	RW	18:24	0	0%	0	0	0	0
25	Mike Grier	RW	15:36	0	-	2	0	0	0
26	Thomas Vanek	LW	17:26	0	-	0	0	0	0
28	Paul Gaustad	C	16:08	0	65%	2	0	0	0
29	Jason Pominville	RW	17:14	0	50%	0	1	0	0
34	Chris Butler	D	20:00	1	-	0	1	0	0
36	Patrick Kaleta	RW	10:00	0	-	3	0	0	0
37	Matt Ellis	LW	10:23	0	50%	0	0	0	0
41	Clarke MacArthur	LW	14:23	-1	0%	3	0	0	0
44	Andrej Sekera	D	15:56	-2	-	0	0	0	0
52	Craig Rivet	D	20:46	1	-	0	0	0	2
55	Jochen Hecht	LW	14:25	0	-	0	0	0	0
57	Tyler Myers	D	22:02	1	-	0	1	0	0
TOI = Total Time on Ice				GV = Giveaways
FO% = Faceoff percentage				TK = Takeaways
Hits = Total Hits				BS=Blocked Shots

			Even Strength Individual Stats						Even Strength On-Ice Totals
#	Player	Pos	EV TOI	G	A	Shots	S A/B	S Miss	SOGF	SOGA	SOG Diff	Tot SF	Tot SA	Corsi
4	Steve Montador	D	14:53	0	0	2	0	3	8	9	-1	16	10	6
9	Derek Roy	C	10:25	1	0	3	0	0	5	8	-3	12	9	3
10	Henrik Tallinder	D	14:58	0	0	0	0	1	8	8	0	11	13	-2
13	Tim Kennedy	C	14:47	0	0	2	0	0	8	9	-1	12	13	-1
19	Tim Connolly	C	9:09	0	1	1	0	1	8	7	1	9	10	-1
21	Drew Stafford	RW	11:18	0	0	2	1	1	5	8	-3	9	10	-1
25	Mike Grier	RW	14:11	0	0	1	0	0	8	9	-1	12	12	0
26	Thomas Vanek	LW	11:09	0	0	1	0	1	5	7	-2	7	8	-1
28	Paul Gaustad	C	9:22	0	0	1	1	0	5	2	3	9	3	6
29	Jason Pominville	RW	8:28	1	0	1	0	0	6	6	0	12	8	4
34	Chris Butler	D	14:53	0	0	0	2	1	6	10	-4	14	14	0
36	Patrick Kaleta	RW	9:33	0	0	0	1	0	3	2	1	6	5	1
37	Matt Ellis	LW	10:23	0	0	3	0	0	3	4	-1	4	6	-2
41	Clarke MacArthur	LW	7:58	0	1	0	1	1	4	5	-1	11	7	4
44	Andrej Sekera	D	13:17	0	0	0	0	0	8	8	0	13	8	5
52	Craig Rivet	D	12:21	0	1	0	1	0	5	9	-4	11	13	-2
55	Jochen Hecht	LW	11:31	0	0	5	0	0	10	9	1	15	12	3
57	Tyler Myers	D	15:12	0	1	1	0	0	11	8	3	13	12	1
EV TOI = Even Strength time on ice								SOGA = Team shots against while on ice
EV TOI = Even Strength time on ice								SOG Diff = Difference shots on ice
S A/B = shots attempted and blocked								Tot SF = Total shots including blocked/missed
S Miss = Shots missed the net								Tot SA = Total Shots Ag. Including blocked/missed
SOGF = Team Shots while on ice								Corsi = Difference in Total Shots

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No...

They lost 3 of 5 though, and that might as well have been 4 of 5 considering we didn’t deserve to win against the Leafs.

by Ron A on Nov 8, 2009 11:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yup

This is essentially the same team that finished in 10’th place last year.

The law of averages was bound to catch up to us. We had a good 7 game stretch. Every mediocre team has good 7 game stretches. We just had ours at the start of the season.

Here comes a 9th place finish!!! Yea!

by TrentEdwardsHoF2018 on Nov 8, 2009 11:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hate to say it, but...

I think we WILL make the playoffs via a 7th or 8th seed, then lose in the first round.

by Ron A on Nov 9, 2009 3:17 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Wednesday

Buffalo should be able to pull it together for Edmonton next. At least, let’s hope they do. Nice work.

by Rafal Ladysz on Nov 9, 2009 10:39 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Just as five games are not a cause for celebration (although we do celebrate it sometimes) they are also not a cause for concern when you have a bad stretch. The Sabres need to pull it together defensively and get back to what they had been doing well that got them off to the hot start. No cause for concern here, but let’s just hope and see if they can pull it together again

B-B-B-Byrd Byrd Byrd, Byrd is the Wyrd!"

by willgarr15 on Nov 9, 2009 12:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Once again

same forwards + same coach + same GM = similar results.

With the usually-inept scoring we have, we have to depend on Miller to save our butts most games….and he usually comes through. You’ve seen what happens if he’s injured or given nights off. Given an average goaltender, the Sabres wouldn’t be a .500 team. So far, eight of the 14 games we’ve played, we’ve scored two goals or less. That has to change..

by ccthemovieman on Nov 9, 2009 12:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The nay-Sayers are out big time. It’s kind of ironic, because panic seems to take over the Sabres a bit prematurely as well. Very similar to recent years past, when the Sabes get down in a game, they seem to forget how to play team hockey. Everyone is trying to do too much. We got down 3 -1 against Boston, and we looked a lot like my Monday night roller hockey team. This may be contributed to what David is pointing out about Ruff changing up the lines (my father refers to him as the mad scientist). I was (and still am) hoping that experience, and maturity will prevail this year. I think we need to play confident, and pissed off hockey. Now is the time for the Vets to stand up and be vocal. I keep picking Rivet for the first fight in the first period. Do it, man! I may be wrong, but it seems as though Connolly is playing a little more feisty this year. C’mon boys! Let’s get it together. Go Sabes!

by KTyczka on Nov 9, 2009 2:49 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

REC’D.

Delightfully Ignoring The Truth since 1995.

by NeverendingOptimism on Nov 9, 2009 8:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

this team is much better

and will be fine…relax

by TimR on Nov 9, 2009 2:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Seriously… this team is playing far better than last year. Both those losses to me looked to be about bad goal tending. Miller is bound to have some bad games this year and we just saw the first there against the Flyers… Enroth… well… Enroth sure is inexperienced. Arguing with the ref while the other team is on the power play shooting pucks at (and into) the net is pretty painful to watch.

by clownfat on Nov 9, 2009 4:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The season isn’t lost because they lost two straight games.

Couldn’t agree more.

I really like this roster when comparing it to the last two. I think when the season ends, they’re either sitting in the three spot as the division winner, or about the six spot. Barring injuries, this is a playoff team.

by krytime on Nov 9, 2009 6:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs