Sabres vs. Blue Jackets Preview: Hey Look, A Hockey Game!
by Zachary Zielonka on Dec 3, 2010 9:00 AM EST
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PrintSix days off is a long time. While we discussed the rumors and reports of a new Sabres owner, the Sabres have been practicing their game and working on things that have been issues with the team. Friday night, they get a chance to showcase their hard work. The Columbus Blue Jackets come into town after losing their last three games against Central Division opponents.
The Sabres have been tinkering with lines in practice and the latest creation comes from practice on Thursday:
Nathan Gerbe-Derek Roy-Thomas Vanek
Drew Stafford-Luke Adam-Jason Pominville
Tyler Ennis-Jochen Hecht-Patrick Kaleta
Cody McCormick-Paul Gaustad-Mike Grier
The first thing noticed is that Drew Stafford will be back in the lineup as he has missed the last three weeks with an upper body injury. Stafford is replacing Colin Stuart who was sent back to Portland on Wednesday. Stafford has four goals and eight points in 14 games this season, one of the lowest points/game in his career.
Nathan Gerbe will have a chance to showcase his talents playing on a line with Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek. Gerbe has no goals and three points in 15 games this season. Gerbe has spent most of his playing time this season with Paul Gaustad and Patrick Kaleta, 46.7% of his total playing time, a line not known for making production. If Gerbe can't start producing with the leading goal scorers and and leading point producers, it will be very telling.
For the Columbus Blue Jackets, its the return of Scott Arniel, Columbus Blue Jackets head coach. Arniel played four seasons for the Sabres starting in 1986-1991 and was also an assistant coach for the Sabres from 2002-2006. He had this to say about Buffalo to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch:
My family loved it there, my sone was born there. There are certainly a lot of great memories there. When I had a chance to go back there as a coach with (Sabres coach) Lindy (Ruff), it was an easy decision."
Game time is 7:30 pm at HSBC Arena.
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Woo Hoo, gamenight!!!
Its felt like forever… Its funny, the other day my gf (who Ill be taking to her first game later this month) asked me if I was done with the Sabres… I responded with a “no, why?” She said “because you havent watched them, talked about them or complained about them for 5 days.” haha
Such a weird feeling having no game for 6 days. Lets get a ‘W’ tonight boys!!!
Im breaking up with Stevie Johnson this week, but don't worry... we'll get back together.
The Sabres Will Be A Gratious Host
Welcome back Scott. I am certain that the Sabres will do their best to end your team’s losing streak. Six days is not long enough to quell the nausia that results from watching them sleepwalk game after game.
Do you ever add value to these discussions? Why must you always focus on the negative? If you hate the Sabres and everything they do why do you continue to post here?
"Who else but Chris Drury!" - 2007
"Who else but...... um... yea.. about that.." 2010
by FloridaBuffalo on Dec 3, 2010 10:08 AM EST up reply actions
Some of your displeasure with the Sabres I understand and can tolerate… but this comment is completely unneeded. Lets let them play the game before you give sarcastic remarks about the game that hasnt even happened yet.
If we lose a 1-3, 1-4 snoozer and we look like hell then Ill take this back… but my god man… let them play first.
Im breaking up with Stevie Johnson this week, but don't worry... we'll get back together.
Ennis on a defensive line?
Really?
"I could have conquered Europe, all of it, but I had women in my life." - King Henry II of England
Yeah...
Idk how I feel about that yet. We’ll see.
Im breaking up with Stevie Johnson this week, but don't worry... we'll get back together.
I like the idea of Ennis on a line with Vanek and Roy more than Gerbe.
"Who else but Chris Drury!" - 2007
"Who else but...... um... yea.. about that.." 2010
by FloridaBuffalo on Dec 3, 2010 2:02 PM EST up reply actions
Third and fourth lines may be swapped in that list.
Mike Weber: Free to roam the ice and take stupid boarding penalties once more.
Everything wrong with the Sabres is Drew Stafford's fault.
Did you mean second and third lines? I don’t think Ennis is being demoted all the way back to the fourth line. I do see Luke Adam centering a third line though. I also see Ruff being frustrated by Pomenville’s lack of scoring and wanting to ease Stafford back into the game after being gone for so long. What is listed as the second line I believe gets less minutes tonight than the third with the exception of Pomenville getting lots of PK time.
zzz
Oh, hey, hockey.
The Doctor Jones fanclub: Active for more games than Jones himself.
"Just Do Something" - Nike’s new logo for Bills apparel.
Paul McCartney Can't Play Piano
Burgundy Wave - SBnation's home for the MLS Cup 2010 Champion (!) Colorado Rapids
Glory, Glory, Colorado. The 'Pids go Marching on!
Oh, who are we kidding...
Stafford is back, the lines might start as they have been practicing but at some point before halfway through the game (especially if we are behind) expect to see the top line as…
Vanek, Roy, Stafford
It is almost like Ruff likes to practice these alternate lines just so he can break them up halfway through the game.
Gerbe on the top line=
tits on a bull. He is the 2nd coming of Claude Verret. This just underscores the team’s "short"comings.
Darcy needs to trade some of our D “depth”, if U will, for even a marginal scorer.
Negativity is fine as long as it contributes to the conversation. We are all entitled to our opinions and what we want to say.
Die By The Blade - Where even we would rather watch the Bills.
by Zachary Zielonka on Dec 5, 2010 8:16 AM EST up reply actions
people who are negative all the time lose the validity of the point they are trying to make just like people who are overly positive about everything. Nothing is always sunshine and lollipops just like nothing is always doom and gloom.
"Who else but Chris Drury!" - 2007
"Who else but...... um... yea.. about that.." 2010
by FloridaBuffalo on Dec 5, 2010 5:19 PM EST up reply actions
Couldn’t disagree more. For a couple games now he has been playing like a mad man. During the Toronto game I thought he was easily the best player on either team in that game. Let the kid play with the top line he has earned it. Also I really don’t see how its so useless. He’s a scorer why shouldn’t he play with some other offensive talent
by willgarr15 on Dec 3, 2010 7:22 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
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