The "Official" Sabres @ Pens gameday thread!

[Mitchy moo]

GO SABRES!

Game Day Preview
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD align=middle colSpan=8>Matchup</TD></TR><TR class=colhead align=middle><TD> </TD><TD>W-L-OTL</TD><TD>HOME</TD><TD>ROAD</TD><TD>DIV</TD><TD>CONF</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=middle><TD align=left>BUF</TD><TD>44-19-5</TD><TD>23-10-3</TD><TD>21-9-2</TD><TD>16-9-3</TD><TD>38-16-4</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=middle><TD align=left>PIT</TD><TD>37-21-10</TD><TD>20-9-5</TD><TD>17-12-5</TD><TD>18-7-3</TD><TD>31-18-9</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD colSpan=8>&#183; Complete Standings (http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/standings)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD align=middle colSpan=8>Team Stat Comparison</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=middle><TD>http://espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nhl/sml/trans/buf.gif</TD><TD> </TD><TD>http://espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nhl/sml/trans/pit.gif</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=middle><TD>246</TD><TD>Goals
</TD><TD>224</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=middle><TD>197</TD><TD>Goals Against
</TD><TD>207</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=middle><TD>63</TD><TD>Power Play Goals
</TD><TD>78</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=middle><TD>60</TD><TD>Power Play Goals Allowed
</TD><TD>67</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=middle><TD>6</TD><TD>Shorthanded Goals
</TD><TD>13</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=middle><TD>13</TD><TD>Shorthanded Goals Allowed
</TD><TD>13</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=middle><TD>1039</TD><TD>Penalty Minutes
</TD><TD>1074</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=middle><TD>15</TD><TD>Average Penalty Minutes
</TD><TD>16</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD align=middle colSpan=9>Goalie Breakdown</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD> </TD><TD>GOALIE</TD><TD align=right>GP</TD><TD align=right>W</TD><TD align=right>TGA</TD><TD align=right>GAA</TD><TD align=right>SO</TD><TD align=right>SV</TD><TD align=right>SV%</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD align=middle rowSpan=3>http://espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nhl/sml/trans/buf.gif</TD><TD>Ryan Miller (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=2637)</TD><TD align=right>52</TD><TD align=right>32</TD><TD align=right>139</TD><TD align=right>2.72</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>1419</TD><TD align=right>.911</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD>Martin Biron (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1395)</TD><TD align=right>19</TD><TD align=right>12</TD><TD align=right>54</TD><TD align=right>3.04</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>479</TD><TD align=right>.899</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD>Ty Conklin (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=2742)</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>4.81</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>8</TD><TD align=right>.889</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD align=middle rowSpan=2>http://espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nhl/sml/trans/pit.gif</TD><TD>Marc-Andre Fleury (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=3341)</TD><TD align=right>56</TD><TD align=right>32</TD><TD align=right>158</TD><TD align=right>2.90</TD><TD align=right>4</TD><TD align=right>1481</TD><TD align=right>.904</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD>Jocelyn Thibault (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=688)</TD><TD align=right>18</TD><TD align=right>5</TD><TD align=right>45</TD><TD align=right>3.03</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>414</TD><TD align=right>.902</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD align=middle colSpan=8>Team Stat Leaders</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=middle><TD> </TD><TD>http://espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nhl/sml/trans/buf.gif</TD><TD>http://espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nhl/sml/trans/pit.gif</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD>G</TD><TD>Thomas Vanek (http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=3344) 34</TD><TD>Evgeni Malkin (http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=3638) 31</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD>A</TD><TD>Daniel Briere (http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1737) 52</TD><TD>Sidney Crosby (http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=3737) 72</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD>PTS</TD><TD>Daniel Briere (http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1737) 80</TD><TD>Sidney Crosby (http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=3737) 100</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD>PIM</TD><TD>Adam Mair (http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1791) 118</TD><TD>Jarkko Ruutu (http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1981) 107</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD>SOG</TD><TD>Thomas Vanek (http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=3344) 202</TD><TD>Evgeni Malkin (http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=3638) 211</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

STATS LLC
With their lead in the Eastern Conference vanishing, the Buffalo Sabres (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/clubhouse?team=buf) have picked a bad time to struggle offensively.
The Sabres will try to get their high-scoring offense in gear and avoid losing a fourth straight game when they open a four-game road trip against the Pittsburgh Penguins (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/clubhouse?team=pit) on Tuesday.
Buffalo (44-19-5) has scored an NHL-leading 256 goals, but has just five during its three-game skid after posting 17 during a three-game winning streak before the slide.
"Teams want to control our offense," defenseman Nathan Paetsch (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=2936) said. "We've scored the most goals in the league, so they are trying to find ways to beat us."
The Sabres are in first place in the East, but that lead shrunk to just one point following their 3-2 loss to second-place New Jersey on Saturday.
"I don't think anybody is panicking," said Dainius Zubrus (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1485), who scored his first goal for Buffalo since being acquired from Washington at the trade deadline.
Thomas Vanek (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=3344) leads the team with 34 goals, but has not scored in his last four games. Chris Drury (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1761) has 33 goals and hasn't scored in his last three, but has a goal in each of his last four games against the Penguins (37-21-10).
Along with its offense, Buffalo's special teams play has also been struggling. The Sabres have failed to score on the power play in a season-high three straight games, while allowing a short-handed goal in each of those contests.
"We're just going to have to realize we're not always going to be cute and pretty. We have to be ugly and we have to play defense," said Ryan Miller (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=2637), who has posted a 3.61 goals-against average in the last three games.
The Sabres haven't lost four straight since dropping six in a row March 18-27 last season.
The Penguins came back from a two-goal third-period deficit on Saturday to defeat the New York Rangers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/clubhouse?team=nyr) 3-2 in overtime and win for the third time in four games. Colby Armstrong (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=2857) scored 1:19 into overtime after Sidney Crosby (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=3737) tied the game at 2 and earned his 100th point of the season with 13:04 to play.
Crosby, who has two goals and an assist against Buffalo this season, became the youngest player in NHL history with two 100-point seasons.
"It's never something I think about," Crosby said. "It's nice, for sure, but there's a lot of games left -- important ones -- and that's where my mind has been."
The Penguins have come back in each of their past five victories and are outscoring opponents 14-2 in the third period and in the extra time in those wins.
Pittsburgh is in fifth place in the East and second place in the Atlantic Division, trailing the first-place Devils by eight points.

THX TO: ESPN

[RockStar36]

This is one game they better win. Pens fans are crawling out of the woodwork around here talking ****.

[RockStar36]

This is a heart attack game. I can't even sit back unless it's a commercial. Wow.

[SABURZFAN]

This is one game they better win. Pens fans are crawling out of the woodwork around here talking ****.


send them back to Finheaven. :snicker:

[chubluv]

great end to end action!!! thats the way hockey should be played. :up:

:hockey:
:gosabres:

[SABURZFAN]

i want a briere hat.what was that website?

[SpillerThrills]

i want a briere hat.what was that website?


www.BriereBunch.com (http://www.BriereBunch.com)

$25 for autographed hat
$20 for just the hat

[chubluv]

Another **** goal let in by Miller

[LtFinFan66]

This is one game they better win. Pens fans are crawling out of the woodwork around here talking ****.who's talking ****? i don't know enough to talk ****

[MikeInRoch]

Dammit. If it wasn't for bad luck, the Sabres wouldn't have any luck at all, lately.

[Nighthawk]

Does anybody else get the urge to punch Derek Roy in the face? His constant turnovers are really killing us.

[RockStar36]

who's talking ****? i don't know enough to talk ****

I live in Erie buddy. Home to a million Pittsburgh fans (Steelers and Pens). All of a sudden I get phone calls (like tonight) and e-mails (like earlier today) talking tons of **** about how the Sabres are going to get killed. Don't worry. I wasn't referring to you at all.

[RockStar36]

Luckily for my lamp they scored that goal. I was getting ready to whip that thing 100mph into my wall. That was a bad period and an even worse power play.

[LtFinFan66]

ok...SAB's send them back to FH comment made me wonder

[LtFinFan66]

Luckily for my lamp they scored that goal. I was getting ready to whip that thing 100mph into my wall. That was a bad period and an even worse power play.So basically the Sabres lit the lamp and saved your lamp from getting lit up!

[chubluv]

This sucks

[chubluv]

Alright Lindy its time to start sitting Miller. The kid needs a rest. He needs to start thinking about getting Ryan ready for the playoffs.

[Iehoshua]

:mad:

[Iehoshua]

OK BABY 1 MORE!

[camelcowboy]

Briere!!!!!!!!!

[camelcowboy]

wow

[Iehoshua]

TIEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PcA125]

THEY SCORE!!! With 6 seconds left to send it to OT!!!!

look at all the sabre fans in the stands!!!!

[Iehoshua]

Yuuuuuuuuuuuck.

[Iehoshua]

:monkeyp:Crosby

[PcA125]

at least we got a point. A little dissapointed with the SO result but at least we got something instead of just another loss

[PUCKER]

FRIG! :mad:

[MikeInRoch]

We stole that point.

[BlackMetalNinja]

Yeah we did steal that point, but we could have very easily stolen 2.

[chernobylwraiths]

We stole that point.

And we didn't much deserve it.

[camelcowboy]

vanek :sad:

[Nighthawk]

This team is not winning anything. They are WAAAY to soft and Darcy made them softer with the trade for Zubrus. Sorry, but I just don't see this team winning the cup. God, I hope I'm wrong, but I have a gut feeling this team just doesn't have the makeup of a Champion.

[SkateZilla]

more proof Crosby and the pens get an ass kissin' by the refs/league...

late in the third, there was repeated boarding incidents on Briere and Roy, and Crosby.. Mr. I don't like being hit, was playing baseball with Tallinder's elbow..

oh.. and gee... looking at the shootout rules, intentionally shooting the puck on net after the goalie makes the save is a big no no... Ruutu get anything... no...

Vanek is Offically on the top of my D-List, Poor back checking and floating, and when the game is on the line he just floats it to Fluery.... WTF...

[JD]

Why the **** are we putting Vanek in the shootout? This kid plays lackluster hockey and gets the garbage goals from standing in front of the net. He never really creates any good plays if you think about it. Sure hes leading with goals, but how many of them were rebounds. I just dont see why people are so high on this guy like hes the next Tedy Bruschi..


Put Drury in the damn shootout!

[SkateZilla]

i cant wait to get kotalik back in the shootouts.. lol..

[Mitchy moo]

Sucks we lost but stole a point.

[SkateZilla]

and brings skooby's Gameday thread record to... 6-13-3 hhmmmmmmmmmmmm

[RockStar36]

I'm surprised my living room is in one piece after that game.

But that being said, they stole a point so I guess I'll go with it.

[Mitchy moo]

I'm surprised my living room is in one piece after that game.

But that being said, they stole a point so I guess I'll go with it.

nice!

[SABURZFAN]

ok...SAB's send them back to FH comment made me wonder



is he gone yet? :couch:

[LtFinFan66]

:bravo:

NEVER!!!

[SabreEleven]

This team is not winning anything. They are WAAAY to soft and Darcy made them softer with the trade for Zubrus. Sorry, but I just don't see this team winning the cup. God, I hope I'm wrong, but I have a gut feeling this team just doesn't have the makeup of a Champion.

Jesus Christ, give it a ****ing rest. So during last season, you said to yourself, Geez, this team is going to make a run deep in the post season? Doubt it. You know less than you think.

[SabreEleven]

A Sabres game with Lemiuex, Bettman and Crosby in attendance? You knew we were going to screwed by the ref's all night and we were. Ever Roberts hit was high and to the head, but got called for nothing. That was a good effort despite the stacked deck. Ryan is starting get disappointing.

[Nighthawk]

Jesus Christ, give it a ****ing rest. So during last season, you said to yourself, Geez, this team is going to make a run deep in the post season? Doubt it. You know less than you think.

Even if what you say is true, I know more about hockey than you ever will.

[Mitchy moo]

Even if what you say is true, I know more about hockey than you ever will.

Whoa, that's a bold statement.

[RockStar36]

Everyone needs to calm down.

They will be fine in the playoffs.

If anything, this game proved that Pittsburgh wouldn't hold up in the 7 game series with Buffalo. The Sabres played a horrible game and still took it to a shootout. In the playoffs it would be a different story. Especially if the get Spacek, Max, and Kotalik back.

[Earthquake Enyart]

Even if what you say is true, I know more about hockey than you ever will.
I've fortgotten more about hockey than both you and scooby know. :ee:

[SabreEleven]

I've fortgotten more about hockey than both you and scooby know. :ee:

I bet he knows how to spell forgotten, which you forgot. :snicker:

[Michael82]

Alright Lindy its time to start sitting Miller. The kid needs a rest. He needs to start thinking about getting Ryan ready for the playoffs.
Thank you! :bf1:

[SabreEleven]

Even if what you say is true, I know more about hockey than you ever will.

Did you ***** and whine the whole time while becoming this hockey god?

[JD]

As I said in another thread:

Why the **** are we putting Vanek in the shootout? This kid plays lackluster hockey and gets the garbage goals from standing in front of the net. He never really creates any good plays if you think about it. Sure hes leading with goals, but how many of them were rebounds. I just dont see why people are so high on this guy like hes the next Tedy Bruschi..


Put Drury in the damn shootout!

[Nighthawk]

Did you ***** and whine the whole time while becoming this hockey god?

Hey, you attacked my knowledge and you hardly are brimming with hockey information. All that comes out of your posts is what is said by the Sabres front office. People may not like to hear the truth, but sometimes the truth hurts. The fact is, this team does not hit, they are soft...they don't go into the corner for pucks...can you argue this? I'm driving home today and listening to WGR (I know, it's painful to listen to) but Mike Schopp said the exact same thing. The things I'm saying are no secret and other teams in the NHL know this too. Why do you think every team comes out and starts pounding us? Well, it's because the Sabres are soft and not many like to get hit or throw their bodies around. I'm not reinventing the wheel here, just telling you what I see and many others also.

[Nighthawk]

I've fortgotten more about hockey than both you and scooby know. :ee:

I'm not sure about that...but I guess it means you're really old?

[Nighthawk]

As I said in another thread:

Why the **** are we putting Vanek in the shootout? This kid plays lackluster hockey and gets the garbage goals from standing in front of the net. He never really creates any good plays if you think about it. Sure hes leading with goals, but how many of them were rebounds. I just dont see why people are so high on this guy like hes the next Tedy Bruschi..


Put Drury in the damn shootout!

Yes, I do believe Vanek needs to be taken off the shootout roster. Hell, it wouldn't hurt.

[chernobylwraiths]

Hey, you attacked my knowledge and you hardly are brimming with hockey information. All that comes out of your posts is what is said by the Sabres front office. People may not like to hear the truth, but sometimes the truth hurts. The fact is, this team does not hit, they are soft...they don't go into the corner for pucks...can you argue this? I'm driving home today and listening to WGR (I know, it's painful to listen to) but Mike Schopp said the exact same thing. The things I'm saying are no secret and other teams in the NHL know this too. Why do you think every team comes out and starts pounding us? Well, it's because the Sabres are soft and not many like to get hit or throw their bodies around. I'm not reinventing the wheel here, just telling you what I see and many others also.

I have to agree that the Sabres lack greatly in that area. I don't know why they don't hit a little more, especially considering that they seem to be taking a beating along the boards when they actually DO go after the puck. Getting Spacek who is a "little" bigger and "can" play a more physical game will help the D. I liked seeing Zubris yesterday keep the puck along the boards and hold off guys. He doesn't hit often (I saw him hit Orpik I think) but he is big enough to take a hit and stay on the puck. Kotalik has some size and take a hit as well.

No, we don't have the players to bang with other teams, but 5 on 5 and when healthy, they are still what I would consider the best team in the NHL. This team is built for speed and they have to use it better. They also need the assistance of the NHL for them to call obstruction and such if they want to have a chance. The lack of calls in recent games is a lot scarier to me than the poor play of the Sabres lately.

[Nighthawk]

I have to agree that the Sabres lack greatly in that area. I don't know why they don't hit a little more, especially considering that they seem to be taking a beating along the boards when they actually DO go after the puck. Getting Spacek who is a "little" bigger and "can" play a more physical game will help the D. I liked seeing Zubris yesterday keep the puck along the boards and hold off guys. He doesn't hit often (I saw him hit Orpik I think) but he is big enough to take a hit and stay on the puck. Kotalik has some size and take a hit as well.

No, we don't have the players to bang with other teams, but 5 on 5 and when healthy, they are still what I would consider the best team in the NHL. This team is built for speed and they have to use it better. They also need the assistance of the NHL for them to call obstruction and such if they want to have a chance. The lack of calls in recent games is a lot scarier to me than the poor play of the Sabres lately.

:bf1:

Very well thought out post. Your last couple of sentences are what is hurting this team and that is only going to get worse in the playoffs. I think Darcy should have been able to see how the game is now being called and should've addressed the toughness at the deadline and I believe this might end up costing us a legitimate shot at the cup. If the NHL would call the game like it was last year, I'd feel more comfortable, but it looks like that is long gone.

[BlackMetalNinja]

I've been saying all season that we don't hit enough. I understand we are a finesse team first and foremost, but the best way for us to set up that style of play is with some solid forechecking, and actually going after some guys and finishing hits, causing turnovers.

One of the reasons I did like Kaleta is because of this, he just needs to learn when to do it, instead of going for the hit all the time.

[JD]

And why are they raising the ****ing cap?? Players are already making rediculous amounts of money!

[chernobylwraiths]

:bf1:

Very well thought out post. Your last couple of sentences are what is hurting this team and that is only going to get worse in the playoffs. I think Darcy should have been able to see how the game is now being called and should've addressed the toughness at the deadline and I believe this might end up costing us a legitimate shot at the cup. If the NHL would call the game like it was last year, I'd feel more comfortable, but it looks like that is long gone.

Maybe he should have and maybe he could have done something more about it. Many of us had trepidation of this team this year because of the losses we had in players. McKee was a defensive defensman who played physical (when healthy), Grier couldn't score on a breakaway, but he finished his checks and although I didn't care if we lost him, Dumont could take a hit and play with a little edge when he wanted to.

The losses in personel are neither here nor there. They are a product of the terrible salaries handed out in arbitration and Darcy getting most of the guys under contract. I don't like him much, but you can't say too much against how he kept most of this team together for the most part. Kotalik is big enough to play a physical game. Gaustad was a big part of our physical game and was a big loss. IMO, Roberts or Guerin were the only physical players we could have gotten at the deadline to help. I always felt Roberts was dirty, so in a way, I'm glad we didn't get him. Barring any more major injuries and if we get our players healthy, this team has a great chance to run for the cup. Even WITH the crappy officiating. Remember, 5 on 5, this team is gonna be hard to beat, so we should be able to get away with as much crap as the next team.

[Nighthawk]

Maybe he should have and maybe he could have done something more about it. Many of us had trepidation of this team this year because of the losses we had in players. McKee was a defensive defensman who played physical (when healthy), Grier couldn't score on a breakaway, but he finished his checks and although I didn't care if we lost him, Dumont could take a hit and play with a little edge when he wanted to.

The losses in personel are neither here nor there. They are a product of the terrible salaries handed out in arbitration and Darcy getting most of the guys under contract. I don't like him much, but you can't say too much against how he kept most of this team together for the most part. Kotalik is big enough to play a physical game. Gaustad was a big part of our physical game and was a big loss. IMO, Roberts or Guerin were the only physical players we could have gotten at the deadline to help. I always felt Roberts was dirty, so in a way, I'm glad we didn't get him. Barring any more major injuries and if we get our players healthy, this team has a great chance to run for the cup. Even WITH the crappy officiating. Remember, 5 on 5, this team is gonna be hard to beat, so we should be able to get away with as much crap as the next team.


I hope you're right. A lot of great points in your posts.