Sabres 2 Devils 1 SO: Sabres Need Shootout to Oust Devils
by David Oleksy on Jan 27, 2010 11:04 PM EST
in Game Recaps
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PrintBooooooorrrrrrrring....Booooooorrrrrrrrring...Booooooorrrrrrrrring!
A quick glance at the Game Summary will make you believe this was an entertaining hockey game. The Devils had 40 shots on Ryan Miller and the Sabres had 31 on Martin Broduer. The number of shots does not indicate the quality of shots. This was a low chance game for both teams and as Lindy Ruff stated in his post game presser "it looked like two tired teams playing tonight".
The important thing for the Sabres was to get two points in their return home and they accomplished that goal. It took a shootout to get the win but the play of the game was Adam Mair tipping a shot from Derek Roy to give the Sabres a 1-0 lead. The Devils eventually tied the game but the Sabres never trailed in the game and that was important for the home squad.
Recent history tells us that the Sabres do not play well against New Jersey when they fall behind. I mentioned earlier that the first goal would be important for that very reason. If Mair doesn't score that goal, his second in as many games, the Sabres lose the game.
Corsi Ratings | Event Summary | In Lou We Trust
Final Thoughts
- It was sad to see Tim Connolly's point streak end tonight. It is hardly a surprise with the way the game went with limited chances from both teams. Connolly did have a chance on a 3-on-1 and elected to drop the pass back instead of shooting. He has nobody to blame but himself for the end of the streak.
- The Sabres had a disappointing road trip although they played well for long stretches on the trip. Tonight they eliminated the mistakes that plagued them out West and they were rewarded with a shootout victory.
- I thought Clarke MacArthur played well on most of the West Coast trip but Lindy Ruff had other ideas. C-Mac was a healthy scratch tonight. When questioned I thought Lindy reacted strangely...I wonder if C-Mac is ready to be traded? This is pure speculation but the thought immediately popped in my head after watching Lindy after the game.
- I think Lindy Ruff needs to take some of the blame for the Sabres recent offensive woes. His line combinations have not taken advantage of his offensive players. I understand that Drew Stafford was coming off an illness but playing Adam Mair with Thomas Vanek and Derek Roy is not doing Vanek and Roy any favors (yes I know Mair scored the only goal and has two in as many games). In the same vain it doesn't help Stafford to be playing with Gaustad and Kaleta.
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break
Ruff hit it right on the head as he mentioned two tired teams on the ice tonight. Don’t get me wrong I love watching the Sabres on the tube every chance I get but I think they are going to appreciate the Olympic break as much as any team in the league. Good win tonight, much needed 2 pts.
by North Java Sabra on Jan 27, 2010 11:10 PM EST reply actions
Don't forget
that about a quarter of the regular lineup will be playing during that break. Most importantly Miller.
But yes, it will be welcomed.
Rick
David, Where the heck is RJ? Still on vacation, how much does the guy get? Wait till the off season buddy…I really think that is why we did not do better on the roady, I blame RJ’s lengthy vacation.
by North Java Sabra on Jan 27, 2010 11:31 PM EST reply actions
He'll be back Friday
D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere
by David Oleksy on Jan 27, 2010 11:35 PM EST up reply actions
I have to say, if MacArthur gets traded, I’ll be a little sad. I really like the kid and thought he had upped his game as well. Well, We’ll see…
Fatang Fatang.
by NeverendingOptimism on Jan 28, 2010 12:24 AM EST reply actions
This is pure speculation but the thought immediately popped in my head after watching Lindy after the game.
What did he say? I missed the game last night and C-Mac is one of my favorite players. Anyone wanna fill me on what Lindy said regarding him
"Be a wuss at home! Be a man on Rumblings!" - Kurupt
He just said he was healthy and didn’t play.
D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere
by David Oleksy on Jan 28, 2010 8:34 AM EST up reply actions
hmm...
Well I hope he doesnt get traded, but if it helps the team win it then all will be forgotten. I was just skimming thru the game thread and noticed a few times you had mentioned Mairs playing time. He really played that much? I know hes scored 2 goals now but playing with Vanek? In OT?? That sounds a little crazy to me Lindy. And I agree with what you said in that thread about the West Coast Trip. The lines he put together didnt make sense. Hed have 4th liners with Vanek and Roy. Stafford with Ellis, just a lot of not making sense. I know he was probably trying to send a message or shake things up, but you gotta keep the scorers and playmakers together. Seemed like he out-thought himself on that trip a few games.
"Be a wuss at home! Be a man on Rumblings!" - Kurupt
Rob Ray commented that a lot of the sabres top 6 forwards were sucking wind yesterday so Ruff wasn’t able to play them as much as he wanted.
Not even the Toronto Maple Leafs could kill my optimism
Just swung by NHL.com
and the caption for the #1 story was “What the Hecht?”
Oh how they love their puns.
This win is entirely on Lindy. He has an incredible ability to realize which players are clicking at the moment, and promote them. If he hadn’t promoted Mair the Sabres probably would have been shut out. I was impressed by that move. I used to hate his line-juggling, but I can finally start to understand the reasoning behind it.
I thought Paetsch (and to a slightly lesser degree, Sekera) looked really solid out there. I’d keep them in for the next game, and maybe rest a different pair of defensemen (Rivet/Butler perhaps?) in favor of Lydman/Montador (chance for redemption).
Actually, maybe its not entirely on Ruff, I have to give credit to the referees for being completely fucking blind and letting both teams (mostly Buffalo) get away with so many minor infractions. I saw lots of high sticks, trips, interferences, hooks, and grabs… but apparently the refs did not. I think tonight that worked in our favor, because we would have spent a lot more time on the PK than the PP had the refs been paying more attention.
Personally, I like it when they let a little more than usual slide. When they call a tap on the hands a hook, I take issue with that. I’m also a big college hockey fan, and they seem to get away with a lot more than the NHL (now they just need to institute delayed offside). I think post-lockout NHL tried to do to much with the rules, and they should be more concerned about hits to the head than a forward losing half a step.
But that is after all only my opinion.
I’m fine with letting a reasonable amount of hooking and grabbing slide. I think all high-sticks should be called though – incidental or not. Its a safety issue, you have to control your stick. The Sabres got away with a few of those last night and while I was happy for the lucky breaks, I would be pissed if it were the other way around.
Good win last night – Miller was again very strong and the reason we won. I’d like to see a game soon where he basically doesn’t have to do anything while the defense plays lights out.
it’d be nice to give him a light workload one evening or another.
also – doesn’t it seem like the sabres could care less about odd man rushes as long as one guy is back?
seems to me that if it’s a 2 on 1 that the defender takes out one guy and leaves miller to essentially do his thing from what is usually a poor angled shot. seems to be working for them when the D is pinching in the offensive zone….
Hello - thanks for reading my signature. It's very interesting. Bye
i don’t think its that the Sabres don’t care about odd man rushes, it is more that the opponents recognize when our D are pinching and take advantage of it often to create the odd man rushes. Lindy hates it, and I’m sure the team hears lots of yelling about it. Truth is, your D either lay back and protect or they skate in and contribute. Its unrealistic to expect them to do both. I’m fine with it as long as one D and one forward can get back while the other D is pinching.
I am sorry, but being tired is not an option or a legitimate escuse for poor play. The Sabres are the second least-traveled team in the NHL.
Since the beginning of the season, they knew they would be on a 13-day road trip in January. When they left for the trip, they were near the top of their confernece. That should have been sufficient incentive to go all out to win games. Instead, they made too many mistakes and lost at least three games that a strong contender would have won. Now that they are back, they are five points behind Washington, and even worse, one point behind the Devels who have lost four out of their last six games. They are supposed to be professionals.
I am a professional geologist. If I tell my clients: “I am tired today. I’ll get your report out, but it will not be my best effort. Sorry.” They will find another geologist the next time they need one.
Unfortunately, Lindy makes too many excuses for the substandard play of some of he charges. He needs to talk to management about making some trades for a few more players who find a way to make the extra effort when the tank is getting low. In this league, you have to go out to win every night.
: "I am tired today. I’ll get your report out, but it will not be my best effort. Sorry."
while true – sports and professional jobs (blue/white collar) do require different sets of energy. I was a 3 sport athlete and now i’m a white collar worker and i can always, always push through the white collar stuff – but with the sports – if your energy isn’t there it can definately impact you negatively.
Hello - thanks for reading my signature. It's very interesting. Bye
by J2 on Jan 28, 2010 1:49 PM EST up reply actions
Seriously, trying to make a comparison to us keyboard GM’s and athletes is just silly. There’s a difference between making excuses and being realistic. You do what you can to overcome the scheduling and demand the best performance possible. Sometimes that best still isn’t very good. They aren’t robots.
Ta,
Did they play poorly last night?
I thought they played well and made very few mistakes. They definitely lacked energy but it didn’t seem like it was a lack of effort. The legs were moving but they weren’t going very fast.
D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere
by David Oleksy on Jan 28, 2010 2:49 PM EST up reply actions
No, they worked hard but were still not sharp. Neither were the Devils. They definitely ran out of gas in the third period. If not for Miller misplaying that Rolston shot we’d’ve shut them out.
Ta,
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