Minnesota Wild @ Buffalo Sabres GameThread, Mar 12, 2010 7:30 PM EST

Buffalo Sabres vs. Minnesota Wild [Game Thread]

by David Oleksy on Mar 12, 2010 6:30 PM EST in Game Threads Comment 70 comments

Minnesota Wild at Buffalo Sabres, Mar 12, 2010 7:30 PM EST

Buffalo Sabres(36-20-9, 81pts)	Game #66	Minnesota Wild(31-29-6, 68pts)
	vs.

Date:	March 12, 2010	Location:	Buffalo, NY
Time:	7:30 p.m. ET	Arena:	HSBC Arena
TV:	MSG-B	SB Nation Affiliate	Hockey Wilderness
Radio:	WGR (550AM)	SB Nation Game Page	Wild vs Sabres coverage
Season Series	Buffalo (0-0-0) - Minnesota (0-0-0)

Buffalo Sabres	Category	Minnesota Wild
176 (2.7)	Goals For	177 (2.7)
158 (2.4)	Goals Against	187 (2.8)
2050 (31.5)	Shots For	1886 (28.6)
2050 (31.5)	Shots Against	1877 (28.4)
42/250 - 16.8% (23)	Power Play	47/253 - 18.6% (14)
30/216 - 86.1% (2)	Penalty Kill	42/235 - 82.1% (15)
Won -2	Home/Road Streak	Lost - 1
Won -3	Overall Streak	Lost - 1
3-2-0	Last 5 Games	1-2-2
4-4-2	Last 10 Games	4-4-2

Expected Goalies

I have no inside information, this is purely speculation. I am also writing this on Thursday night.

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Patrick Lalime	11	563	3	4		30	3.20	287	257	.895	0

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Niklas Backstrom	50	2941	24	19		130	2.65	1353	1223	.904	2

Projected Lines

0 recs | Comment 70 comments |

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Comments

Note – Backstrom will not play tonight. I assume it will be Harding.

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

by David Oleksy on Mar 12, 2010 6:56 PM EST reply actions

Harding played last night and Buffalo News suggested that the Wild would be bringing someone up to play.

by Guido1983 on Mar 12, 2010 6:58 PM EST up reply actions

I hope that Rivet and Montador have another good game tonight. They seem to be meshing well and with any luck they could become our 2nd pairing.

by Guido1983 on Mar 12, 2010 6:58 PM EST reply actions

is this a 7:30 game?

"Its always Miller Time
Whens it gonna be Sabres-Offense Time?"
- by Jsz on Mar 3, 2010 6:25 PM PST

by bflo on Mar 12, 2010 7:02 PM EST reply actions

Yes

by Guido1983 on Mar 12, 2010 7:03 PM EST reply actions

haha alright, I was pissed to see Jason Kapono shooting 3’s on sports science. Almost had to make a call to Time Warner lol

"Its always Miller Time
Whens it gonna be Sabres-Offense Time?"
- by Jsz on Mar 3, 2010 6:25 PM PST

by bflo on Mar 12, 2010 7:06 PM EST up reply actions

As much as the Sabres own my heart, I’m having difficulty turning away from “Dodgeball” on FX

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 7:29 PM EST reply actions

LOL I just changed from that to the game

by Guido1983 on Mar 12, 2010 7:31 PM EST up reply actions

I can’t wait for next week. I have tickets to both games in Florida. Sunrise on the 18th and Tampa on the 20th. They’ll be my 5th and 6th Sabres games I’ve gone to this year.

"The three important elements of hockey are: forecheck, backcheck and paycheck." - Gil Perreault

by FloridaBuffalo on Mar 12, 2010 7:32 PM EST reply actions

Torres-Mair-Kaleta should be a fun line

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 7:39 PM EST reply actions

Terrible call on that trip.

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 7:41 PM EST reply actions

I’ve got to disagree.

by Guido1983 on Mar 12, 2010 7:42 PM EST reply actions

PP Goal

1-0 Minny

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 7:43 PM EST reply actions

Ahhh great set of chances there. Just seemed to always be a stick or a leg in the way.

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 7:48 PM EST reply actions

Goalie shouldered the best two chances from Pommenville.

Not even the Toronto Maple Leafs could kill my optimism

Free Tyler Ennis!

by Ubiquitous on Mar 12, 2010 7:49 PM EST up reply actions

So Latendresse is actually out this game? That ought to help our chances a bit.

Not even the Toronto Maple Leafs could kill my optimism

Free Tyler Ennis!

by Ubiquitous on Mar 12, 2010 7:50 PM EST reply actions

I like this “screw passing just shoot” plan on the PP

Not even the Toronto Maple Leafs could kill my optimism

Free Tyler Ennis!

by Ubiquitous on Mar 12, 2010 7:52 PM EST reply actions

Yeah this PP is looking hot so far.

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 7:53 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed!!! The only way to score is to shoot the puck.

by Guido1983 on Mar 12, 2010 7:53 PM EST reply actions

uggh

"The three important elements of hockey are: forecheck, backcheck and paycheck." - Gil Perreault

by FloridaBuffalo on Mar 12, 2010 7:56 PM EST reply actions

Ahhh

2-0 Minny on a baaaad play by Lalime.

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 7:56 PM EST reply actions

i thought Minnesota’s offense was struggling..

"The three important elements of hockey are: forecheck, backcheck and paycheck." - Gil Perreault

by FloridaBuffalo on Mar 12, 2010 7:56 PM EST reply actions

I would say that both their goals are Lalime’s fault.

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 7:57 PM EST up reply actions

yea it was sarcasm. Nothing like a Rusty back up to allow a struggling offense to put points on the board.

"The three important elements of hockey are: forecheck, backcheck and paycheck." - Gil Perreault

by FloridaBuffalo on Mar 12, 2010 7:59 PM EST up reply actions

I would say his defensemen didn’t both to tell him there was a forechecker on the second one.

Not even the Toronto Maple Leafs could kill my optimism

Free Tyler Ennis!

by Ubiquitous on Mar 12, 2010 8:00 PM EST up reply actions

Minnesota’s offense (except for Latendresse) is struggling.

If you project his games with the wild to a full season, he’d be over 50 goal pace.

Not even the Toronto Maple Leafs could kill my optimism

Free Tyler Ennis!

by Ubiquitous on Mar 12, 2010 7:59 PM EST up reply actions

Mancari seems to be having another strong game so far – encouraging.

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 8:02 PM EST reply actions

That whole line looks strong so far. I just wish they’d actually get it in the net.

by Guido1983 on Mar 12, 2010 8:03 PM EST reply actions

Good try, Montador.

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 8:06 PM EST reply actions

What do we have to do to get the puck past Harding?

by Guido1983 on Mar 12, 2010 8:08 PM EST reply actions

Stop shooting our open chances right into his body/pads. They gotta get those 10-15 foot shots off the ice.

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 8:12 PM EST up reply actions

a lot of them were right above pad height, but he seems to have those handled too.

Not even the Toronto Maple Leafs could kill my optimism

Free Tyler Ennis!

by Ubiquitous on Mar 12, 2010 8:16 PM EST up reply actions

Torres-Hecht-Mancari as the second unit on that PP. That’s certainly a new look.

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 8:11 PM EST reply actions

Frustrating Period

I would say Buffalo won that period other than the 2-0 score.

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 8:15 PM EST reply actions

played way better than minnesota, but 2-0 doesn’t show it

"The three important elements of hockey are: forecheck, backcheck and paycheck." - Gil Perreault

by FloridaBuffalo on Mar 12, 2010 8:15 PM EST reply actions

The way this game is being played so far its just like the first US-Canada game with the Sabres playing the role of Canada. They’re dominating play but the Wild have the goalie standing on his head.

by Guido1983 on Mar 12, 2010 8:22 PM EST reply actions

Honestly I don’t think he’s been standing on his head – he’s playing solid, but none of our shots have been especially dangerous. When we make him move side to side or he starts to flash the glove then I’ll agree, but I just think most of our shots have been right into the chest or leg pads.

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 8:28 PM EST up reply actions

Woah

Just realized I haven’t been wearing my jersey tonight. Let’s see if it makes a difference.

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 8:33 PM EST reply actions

So Clutterbuck is a pretty cool name huh guys?

by JSCoope on Mar 12, 2010 8:33 PM EST reply actions

Something tells me he got made fun of in middle school.

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 8:35 PM EST up reply actions

If I was him I would proudly refer to myself as Clusterf**k

by JSCoope on Mar 12, 2010 8:37 PM EST up reply actions

Vanek

Point blank….right into the chest.

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 8:34 PM EST reply actions

Connolly

20 feet…right into the leg pads

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 8:41 PM EST up reply actions

whats going on boys, how we looking?

by Rafal Ladysz on Mar 12, 2010 8:44 PM EST reply actions

Good first period, bad bounces. Not good this period.

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 8:45 PM EST up reply actions

With Torres-Kaleta-Mair and Ellis-Kennedy-Grier it’s like we have 2 fourth lines. Both of those lines have been incredibly ineffective.

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 8:45 PM EST reply actions

kennedy needs to return to the AHL for a bit

he’s been ineffective for a while

by Rafal Ladysz on Mar 12, 2010 8:46 PM EST reply actions

He’s been invisible tonight again.

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 8:48 PM EST up reply actions

minnesota powerplay

by Rafal Ladysz on Mar 12, 2010 8:47 PM EST reply actions

n/m 4-on-4

by Rafal Ladysz on Mar 12, 2010 8:48 PM EST reply actions

For a game with 44 shots already, does anybody else feel bored?

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 8:55 PM EST reply actions

very

by Rafal Ladysz on Mar 12, 2010 8:56 PM EST reply actions

Most exciting 30 seconds of the game so far and a great chance for Buffalo. Gotta make something happen on this PP.

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 8:59 PM EST reply actions

3-0

Games like this are why there’s not more hockey fans.

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 9:06 PM EST reply actions

stooopid.

by JSCoope on Mar 12, 2010 9:06 PM EST reply actions

Its all over

by Guido1983 on Mar 12, 2010 9:06 PM EST reply actions

Things I'm considering doing that would be more fun than watching this game

1. Teaching myself how to play the cello.
2. Searching YouTube for videos of angry nerds complaining about stuff.
3. Watching “Rush Hour 3” on TNT.

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 9:30 PM EST reply actions

SCORE!

3-1. Just what they needed – some cross ice passes, get the goalie moving, Vanek buries his chance.

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 9:33 PM EST reply actions

3 goals in the last 4 games for Vanek. Is that long awaited hot streak finally beginning?

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 9:35 PM EST up reply actions

If you’re bored you should watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsM1mv4Wrng
In fact you should watch it regardless. The complete unnecessary-ness of the stunts are AMAZING!

by JSCoope on Mar 12, 2010 9:36 PM EST reply actions

Yeah that’s a good one. It’s the perfect blend of why?!?! and AWESOME

by Andy Boron on Mar 12, 2010 9:37 PM EST up reply actions

It takes a special mind to think “Oh I know, I’ll take this Pringles lid off, bounce it off the wall and eat a Pringle before it comes back, at which point I’ll grab said lid out of the wall and put it back on top of the Pringles tin. THAT’LL BE AWESOME!”.

by JSCoope on Mar 12, 2010 9:41 PM EST up reply actions