Jets vs. Sabres Recap: Offense Steals The Show On Home Ice

by Zachary Zielonka on Nov 8, 2011 11:14 PM EST in Game Recaps

When the Buffalo Sabres score six goals, one would think that they had a very good night and that they walked away with a dominating win. On Tuesday night against the Winnipeg Jets, they never held the lead until the score went final. The Sabres scored a 6-5 overtime victory to push their record to 9-5 on the season.

The offense stole the show for the Sabres and it had to be good with such shaky defense and goaltending behind it. The special teams accounted for five of the six goals, four on the power play and one shorthanded. Derek Roy scored twice on the power play and Thomas Vanek scored his two goals on the power play as well. Jason Pominville registered one goal, which was the shorthanded goal, and two assists on the night and Corey Tropp had his first professional goal, the lone even strength goal for the Sabres. The Sabres had a season high 45 shots on goal against a Winnipeg team that gave up 12 power play opportunities on the night.

It seemed like deja vu for Sabres fans during the start of this game as Ryan Miller allowed two goals on three shots in the first five minutes of the game. He wasn't pulled though and finished the night making 25 saves on 30 shots on goal. He did not look solid all night and gave up juicy rebounds and couldn't seem to cleanly cover and handle the puck. The defense did bail on him on most of the goals that were allowed, but in the same respect he just didn't look good.

The defense for the Buffalo Sabres didn't look very good either with a bunch of defensive miscues, dumb penalties, and overall terrible play. The leading offender was Tyler Myers, who ended the game with an assist and a -3. He looked very slow and tentative out on the ice and because of that lack of confidence he just didn't look effective at all. Andrej Sekera was a -3 on the night as well because he and Myers have been playing as a pair for the last couple of games.

The Sabres will try and work out their issues as they have two divisional games coming up this weekend with the Ottawa Senators on Friday night and the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.

Tweet Comment 19 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Jets took 12 penalties, Sabres took 5. That’s not counting the fighting majors or misconducts.
If we had that great of a power-play advantage, and we didn’t win, I’d be scared.

This game was a case of one awful team squeaking past an awful and undisciplined team. Hopefully it was a fluke game for us, and our team-defense improves. I want to see Weber get another shot, but I’m not sure who he should replace, they all played poorly at some point or another. I think Gragnani has been the most consistently bad. Myers in second, but his PK-ing and role on the team will keep him on the ice. Sekera made a few bad plays, one led directly to a goal, but in the past few games leading up to this he was our best defenseman IMO. So I guess I’d sit Grags for Weber, give it 2-3 games and re-assess from there. Also, Miller needs to start the next 2-3 consecutive games until his confidence is back to 100%. We can’t expect him to make super-human saves until his mojo is restored.

by lassathrax on Nov 8, 2011 11:26 PM EST reply actions

On a more positive note

I could watch the Gaustad/Pominville SHG on repeat for the rest of my life. That was so beautiful… Pommer’s 4-foot leap into Goose’s arms afterwards is a nice bonus, you can really feel that excitement. I don’t think Poms (or anyone else in the world) could actually believe Goose pulled that move off. Ri-dic-u-lous.

Also, the CMac fight was awesome. Bombs away.

And finally, that gamethread was super fun. Some great material in there for anyone who missed it and cares to peruse.

by lassathrax on Nov 9, 2011 2:46 AM EST up reply actions

Here's the link to the fight

on YouTube.

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Nov 9, 2011 2:58 AM EST up reply actions

The redirection that goose had in one of the preseasons games was amazing as well. Him and it seems whoever is on his line can really create some havoc in the offensive zones. Its very fun to watch

"Just when I think you couldn't possibly be any dumber....you go and do something like this....and totally redeem yourself!"

by higs59569 on Nov 9, 2011 6:48 AM EST up reply actions

RJ RJ RJ RJ RJ RJ RJ RJ RJ RJ RJ RJ RJ RJ RJ RJ

Life is better because of that man.

by Munchausen on Nov 8, 2011 11:53 PM EST reply actions 3 recs

Did you watch the game?

Or did you just see that Myers was -3 and figured it must be his fault.

Sekera was horrendous. Two of his and Myer’s -3 are DIRECTLY attributable to his poor play. He had the brutal turnover for the first and was way way way way out of position of Buff’s goal. However on the third -1, he and Myers both contributed.

Sekera has been having a terrific year and I am sure he will bounce back.

With 5 goals against, all the D sucked last night some (Sekera) more than others (Grags).

Go Sabres!

by drwho62 on Nov 9, 2011 7:53 AM EST reply actions

Yeah, I have no idea why Sekera came over to the boards when Byfuglien was coming straight down the middle. Bad choice.

Shutdown Pair - Follow on Twitter

by TheTick on Nov 9, 2011 8:11 AM EST up reply actions

I think Sekera was not aware of Byfuglien on the rush, and was helping Tyler Myers on what he thought was a 1 on 2. In my eyes, this is his first bonehead game…so I think he will rebound.

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Nov 9, 2011 11:46 AM EST up reply actions

I think you’re forgetting that Myers made a few mistakes that led to goals as well, their -3 would have been higher but they were on the ice for some goals-for. And to say Grags had a relatively good game seems weird, because he was his usual turnover machine.

by lassathrax on Nov 9, 2011 10:55 AM EST up reply actions

No. Myers was on the ice for 5 total goals. 3 even which have been discussed and 2 Buffalo PP goals one of which he got an assist. Myers did lead the team in having his shots blocked.

By saying all the D sucked, I said Grags sucked, just less than others. He had one giveaway in the game and was on the ice for the game tying and game winner.

Go Sabres!

by drwho62 on Nov 9, 2011 11:59 AM EST up reply actions

I was there and Myers just looked scared and tentative all night. Yes Sekera made his fair share of mistakes but I notices Myers out there much more than I did Sekera

Die By The Blade - Where we've even turned ourselves around since January 1st.

by Zachary Zielonka on Nov 9, 2011 12:45 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

I watched

And they both sucked! And I DVRd it and missed the ceremony for Dale and RJ and the recording stopped about 3 min into OT and I missed the gwg, and that sucked too! But the rest was sure entertaining…

by buffaloparks on Nov 9, 2011 11:51 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

I think we all agree that all 6 of them sucked, to varying extents. No one played a good game on defense or in goal for either team.

by lassathrax on Nov 9, 2011 4:34 PM EST up reply actions

McCormick never returned after his fight

The cut must have not wanted to close. I hope he will not miss time.

Go Sabres!

by drwho62 on Nov 9, 2011 8:50 AM EST reply actions

He actually did for two shifts. He only had 5 shifts in the entire game. Before the fight, he hadn’t been on the ice in 17 game minutes.

Mike Weber Pressbox Incarceration Status: Back in jail for bad behavior.
"Had miller played the rest of the game facing that many shots, he’d have ended up with 120 shots against"

by Ubiquitous on Nov 9, 2011 9:12 AM EST up reply actions

Probably due in large part to all the penalties. Most of the game seemed to be either a power play or penalty kill. Combine that with the 4th line having the fewest minutes, and McCormick having to sit for 5 of them anyway…

Shutdown Pair - Follow on Twitter

by TheTick on Nov 9, 2011 9:25 AM EST up reply actions

Didn’t remember seeing him after the fight and the low TOI….

Thanks for setting me straight.

Go Sabres!

by drwho62 on Nov 9, 2011 10:03 AM EST up reply actions

It looked like Glass punched Cody’s helmet into his brow, causing the cut and also causing Glass to ask for an ice pack in the sin bin. I’m betting McCormick is fine with a few stitches and Glass is out for a week or more with a messed up knuckle or two. Great fight, though.

by lassathrax on Nov 9, 2011 10:58 AM EST up reply actions