Better Backup in Buffalo?

by Ray Blind on Aug 18, 2009 12:52 PM EDT

With the added games that Ryan Miller is going to face starting in goal for the Americans at the Olympics in Vancouver, one can only assume that during the NHL regular season, he is going to have to play even more sparingly than he did last season. This means the Sabres are going to have to rely on their backup goaltender even more than they have in the past.

Although Lalime deserves a shot to take over these extra games in goal (mostly because he is already signed), I think Ruff has got to give him the start for most of the preseason games and many games early in the season to see if he will be able to win enough games to get the Sabres into the playoffs. If his GAA is up near 3.5, that simply is not good enough. I think any GAA below 3.0 would be good enough, but if our backup had a GAA of less than 2.5, even if Buffalo's forwards scored at the same miserable clip as they did last year, we'd probably make the playoffs given the extra 5-6 points that would translate into the standings.

If Lalime's intial GAA is satisfactory, good enough - I'd have no problem rolling with him. However if he performs the same as he did last season, that simply will not cut it. Could Enroth be ready to take 15 starts this year, if Lalime falls on his face?

This is a fanpost written by a member of the community, it doesn't necessarily express the views or opinions of Die by the Blade

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Is Miller the designated starter for the olmpics? I don’t know much about that but there’s still Tim Thomas to worry about.
On second thought, based on your post, I hope Thomas gets the start.
Once again Lalime numbers don’t accurately refelect his performance but he definitely lost some games for us.
I think that another factor was the strange rythym that we used Lalime. Hopefully, there will be a bit more of a science to that this season.

by Traver on Aug 18, 2009 1:01 PM EDT reply actions

it wasnt just Lalimes fault we played like crap infront of him. Thomas is a great goalie he might very well get the starting nod. I wouldnt mind seeing Enroth going up for some reason lately the Rookie goaltenders in the NHL have been unreal

by mitch400214 on Aug 18, 2009 1:53 PM EDT reply actions

agreed

We did play like junk in front of him for at least half the games he played. If we force him to be a stand on ur head goalie he wont be to succesful. Could also be a different story depending on what are d-lines shape up to be. Montador and Rivet? Even Myers perhaps.

Got some work to do before being a playoff team let alone a contender again!

by thenewhockeytown on Aug 19, 2009 8:00 AM EDT reply actions

Lalime is overpriced and terrible

I would LOVE to see Manny Fernandez as the backup, but I am thinking so would a lot of other teams…

I think Enroth (as an elite goaltending prospect) could be the backup as well, which is something a lot of other teams want…Since Miller isnt going anywhere anytime soon, it would be nice to showcase Enroth at the NHL level

in other words, Lalime is a terrible signing on many levels…

by TimR on Aug 19, 2009 9:06 AM EDT reply actions

Depends on how much of a discount you want to take on Fernandez and his really bad hip. I could really pass there.

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by Zachary Zielonka on Aug 19, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions

i just want to have a back up goalie that when plays doesnt make me miss Miller more and more after each period

by mitch400214 on Aug 19, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Couldn't see it coming

Based on what Lalime did in Chicago the previous season, this wasn’t a bad signing. Darcy, I’m guessing didn’t know Lalime had a bad hip or whatever it was that he had the operation on. The way we played in front of him, I don’t think Hasek would have been able to save us. This team (defense) has to realize, when your back up is in you have to tighten it up a bit. We didn’t do that. They expected Lalime to bail them out the way Miller usually does. Bad giveaways do not help. Losing battles and lost faceoffs in our zone didn’t help either. If Tallinder plays like he’s not afraid of being hurt, Rivet stays healthy, Lydman clears the zone consistantly, we should look a lot better this year. Hopefully a healthy Lalime and better defense can contribute a few more wins this year

by danabob on Aug 23, 2009 10:55 AM EDT reply actions

Marty Marty

WE Need Marty Biron Back atleast We all know that he can play back to back with miller like in 2005-2006 season

GO BUFFALO

by kooldude on Aug 24, 2009 2:52 PM EDT reply actions

sadly we will never get Biron back its just not looking that way, the team needs to learn that they cant play the same game with different goalies they have to adjust

by mitch400214 on Aug 25, 2009 1:24 AM EDT reply actions

i understand that but how about if we get Hasek back as a goalie coach to help Ryan with some of the issues he has on the ice and with the injurys (Last year not his fault)(Damn that Gomez he is going down this year my Kaleta

GO BUFFALO

by kooldude on Aug 25, 2009 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I hardly think Hasek has the personality to be a coach. His personality is so odd, and odds are, he’ll think he can play better himself. The solution to the problems of Buffalo Sports fans might not being bringing back people from the past (Hasek, Lafontaine, Levy, Kelly, Tasker, etc.) but instead bringing someone who has had success elsewhere as a coach or administrator.

by bluecollarbuffalo on Aug 25, 2009 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions

our goalie coach right now is amazing one of the best in the league at what he does i wouldnt want anyone else teaching Miller and soon Enroth then him

by mitch400214 on Aug 26, 2009 2:25 AM EDT up reply actions