\GoBillsInDallas/ Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frostbelt City Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 Still 3 pts above Carolina but this win would have helped... UGH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buftex Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 I still feel good about this team making the playoffs and making some noise, but this loss was a blueprint of so many of their losses this year...they come out and dominate for the majority of the game (it is a game of ebbs and flows, it is near impossible to dominate an entire game), only to have somebody (in this case, Miller, IMO) just go limp in the crunch. He made some tremendous saves in the game, but I had a pretty bad feeling, when the Predators got their second goal, to make it 3-2 Sabres, they were going to lose...Miller just seems to freeze up wen he gives up a goal late in the game...and the rest of the way looks like a stone statue...very frustrating...the team has been playing like an elite team, offensively for the last month or so, and defensively, they are starting to look much better...they just got to turn more of those great scoring opportunities into goals...very frustrating loss...but, I have to remind myself, if they hadn't exploded for those 3 quick goals in the second, I would have been happy to get a point had the result been the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
It's in My Blood Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 Still 3 pts above Carolina but this win would have helped... UGH More than that is we lost pace with NYR..MASSIVE CHOKE!...every game is a must win and to let one like that get away is inexcusable. Lindy better have em' skating hard tomorrow for that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrDawkinstein Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 More than that is we lost pace with NYR..MASSIVE CHOKE!...every game is a must win and to let one like that get away is inexcusable. Lindy better have em' skating hard tomorrow for that one. Im more worried about fending off the #9 team than I am about chasing #7. 2 points would have been nice, but even 1 is huge at this point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billsfan4ever14580 Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 Why is it nobody ever points out the play of Ryan Miller when he has a bad game? I'm a fan of his but you never hear the media, players or coaches say he had a bad game. His defense wasn't much help on thr goal that tied the game at 3 but he has to make the glove save on Nashville's second goal and he was WAY out of position on the OT winner. Ryan lost the point tonight and MSG made Vanek look like the bad guy because he didn't score tonight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Jose Bills Fan Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 The Sabres are not a team which has the talent to win the Stanley Cup. Earlier this season it looked like a longshot that they would even make the playoffs. Thus, if they make the playoffs, they've exceeded expectations. If they can knock off the number one seed in the first round, that would be a nice bonus. The Sabres have a new, committed owner who unfortunately, took over the team shortly before the trade deadline. The team's long term future is bright. Their short term future is a bit irrelevant, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aloha22 Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 Vanek does need to get out of this mini-few game slump. So many great chances, so close to putting some away.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 The Sabres are not a team which has the talent to win the Stanley Cup. Earlier this season it looked like a longshot that they would even make the playoffs. Thus, if they make the playoffs, they've exceeded expectations. If they can knock off the number one seed in the first round, that would be a nice bonus. The Sabres have a new, committed owner who unfortunately, took over the team shortly before the trade deadline. The team's long term future is bright. Their short term future is a bit irrelevant, IMO. It's hardly irrelevant, given how their playoff chances just a month ago looked to be a longshot, as you said. And by extension, you could say every team but the SC winner's short term future is irrelevant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDD Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 They are who we thought they are. A borderline playoff caliber team which their record shows. They might get in (and lose in the 1st round), or they might not. Either way it's exciting to see what unfolds. Miller was simply terrific last year and carried the team to the playoffs. His career basically shows he is a decent to good goalie however, not a great or elite one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bills1960 Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 This game brought us two truths. That Miller isn't as good as he's hyped to be and that this team is still not there to being a Stanley Cup contender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Jose Bills Fan Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 The Sabres are not a team which has the talent to win the Stanley Cup. Earlier this season it looked like a longshot that they would even make the playoffs. Thus, if they make the playoffs, they've exceeded expectations. If they can knock off the number one seed in the first round, that would be a nice bonus. The Sabres have a new, committed owner who unfortunately, took over the team shortly before the trade deadline. The team's long term future is bright. Their short term future is a bit irrelevant, IMO. It's hardly irrelevant, given how their playoff chances just a month ago looked to be a longshot, as you said. And by extension, you could say every team but the SC winner's short term future is irrelevant. You're right, Doc. I didn't explain myself clearly. I guess what I was trying to say (unsuccessfully) is that the Sabres have been a marginal team for the last several years and are again this year…so I can't get excited about a team that is treading water. If I was seeing some real uptrending, I would feel differently. Most of us remember the 1987 Buffalo Bills…they finished with a record of 7-8 but they had a young nucleus of Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, Andre Reed, Cornelius Bennett, Darryl Talley, etc. There was no question that they were a team on the rise and lo and behold, the next year, 1988, they finished at 12-4. The 2003-04 Buffalo Sabres were the same way. They had a nucleus of talented young players such as Ryan Miller, Briere, Drury, McKee, Satan, Dumont, Roy, Biron, Kalinin, Tallinder, Pominville, etc. They were obviously one of the up-and-coming teams in the NHL. Ditto with the mid-late 90's Sabres teams of Hasek and Nolan which featured all the bruise brothers…Rob Ray and Brad May, Bob Boughner, and Matthew Barnaby and talented players such as Michael Peca, Zhitnik, Audette, etc. The above three teams were clearly teams on the upswing. On top of that they each had distinctive personalities…team identities. The current Sabres edition is a nondescript team. They pretty much define average. The only reason to believe they will improve and become an exciting team is because of the new ownership. If the roster isn't changed drastically two years from today, I'd be very surprised. As the roster is currently comprised, the Sabres with a few exceptions are not an exciting or improving team. I do love Tyler Myers and Tyler Ennis. Myers should become one of the best players in the league very soon and Ennis has the verve and desire which allowed players like LaFontaine and Briere to transcend their size limitations. Hope my point is clearer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 You're right, Doc. I didn't explain myself clearly. I guess what I was trying to say (unsuccessfully) is that the Sabres have been a marginal team for the last several years and are again this year…so I can't get excited about a team that is treading water. If I was seeing some real uptrending, I would feel differently. Most of us remember the 1987 Buffalo Bills…they finished with a record of 7-8 but they had a young nucleus of Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, Andre Reed, Cornelius Bennett, Darryl Talley, etc. There was no question that they were a team on the rise and lo and behold, the next year, 1988, they finished at 12-4. The 2003-04 Buffalo Sabres were the same way. They had a nucleus of talented young players such as Ryan Miller, Briere, Drury, McKee, Satan, Dumont, Roy, Biron, Kalinin, Tallinder, Pominville, etc. They were obviously one of the up-and-coming teams in the NHL. Ditto with the mid-late 90's Sabres teams of Hasek and Nolan which featured all the bruise brothers…Rob Ray and Brad May, Bob Boughner, and Matthew Barnaby and talented players such as Michael Peca, Zhitnik, Audette, etc. The above three teams were clearly teams on the upswing. On top of that they each had distinctive personalities…team identities. The current Sabres edition is a nondescript team. They pretty much define average. The only reason to believe they will improve and become an exciting team is because of the new ownership. If the roster isn't changed drastically two years from today, I'd be very surprised. As the roster is currently comprised, the Sabres with a few exceptions are not an exciting or improving team. I do love Tyler Myers and Tyler Ennis. Myers should become one of the best players in the league very soon and Ennis has the verve and desire which allowed players like LaFontaine and Briere to transcend their size limitations. Hope my point is clearer. Well...the Sabres won the Northeast division last year with essentially the same team and Golisano's "tread water financially" system. Granted, Miller was far better last year than he is this year, but the point is the potential is there, given the right moves, as Pegula has promised. It's not like every good NHL team got that way through just developing their own players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JÂy RÛßeÒ Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 I was at the game and it was a stunning and inexcusable whole-team defensive brain-fart in the last 3 minutes of the game. Their 2nd goal, Sekera got the puck from a corner scrum. He was near the side of the net and for some reason wanted to pass it up the middle. Miller apparently thought that Sekera would tap the puck to him so he put his stick down. He wasn't ready for the velocity of the pass (which was not intended for him) and it ended up next to the post. Miller tried to put his glove on it but the Predator got his stick in first and jammed it in. Their third goal was really not Miller's fault. It was a hard, waist-high shot that got deflected down to the ice and bounced in. The game winner came when Myers nonchalantly tried to pick up the puck behind the net, took his eye off it, and left it there. 2 seconds later it's out front and in the net. I don't know how Vanek didn't get a goal or 2. He had at least 5 chances at wide-open nets. Heavy sigh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 I will gladly take 1 point (non-conference) today for 2 points (division) on Tuesday! Do I really gotta ride this rollercoaster, Sabres? Well...the Sabres won the Northeast division last year with essentially the same team and Golisano's "tread water financially" system. Granted, Miller was far better last year than he is this year, but the point is the potential is there, given the right moves, as Pegula has promised. It's not like every good NHL team got that way through just developing their own players. Yep. We need a top line! Who do you think for a top line? You think Kane will come to BFLO when his contract is up (2014ish)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 (edited) More than that is we lost pace with NYR..MASSIVE CHOKE!...every game is a must win and to let one like that get away is inexcusable. Lindy better have em' skating hard tomorrow for that one. Eh, making 7th seed is no big deal. 8th is fine as long as we make the playoffs. I'm surprised Enroth didn't get the start. They are going to burn Miller out again. PTR Edited March 21, 2011 by PromoTheRobot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 (edited) Im more worried about fending off the #9 team than I am about chasing #7. 2 points would have been nice, but even 1 is huge at this point. They have 10 games left... 11 points in 10 games should make it close! Just don't lose more than 4-5 in reg... Stay below the 30 loss (reg) threshold. FWIW, they have a gme to give here or there... Even if the others are hot. Still, games w/ CAR, TOR, NJD, NYR, and Tuesday's MTL game are critical where points have to be earned! 2 on Tuesday will be nice! Eh, making 7th seed is no big deal. 8th is fine as long as we make the playoffs. I'm surprised Enroth didn't get the start. They are going to burn Miller out again. PTR ME TOO! Especially after finding out Rinne was sitting. Lindy pisses me off with his goalies. Miller better come out on fire against the Habs!!! Too boot... This NAS game was the only game all season they did not get a penalty called against them! They did everything right except choke and get complacent at the end! I don't know what it is about the psych of this team? I disagree with the one that says Lindy shoudl go hard on them... Lindy needs to lighten up a bit, esepcially on this one! It happens from time to time... This game brought us two truths. That Miller isn't as good as he's hyped to be and that this team is still not there to being a Stanley Cup contender. Bingo... He is great at times... But there is a reason he went 138th in the draft and a guy like MAF (Pens) goes number one. Well...the Sabres won the Northeast division last year with essentially the same team and Golisano's "tread water financially" system. Granted, Miller was far better last year than he is this year, but the point is the potential is there, given the right moves, as Pegula has promised. It's not like every good NHL team got that way through just developing their own players. LINDY. A great coach that needs a bit more talent. I have no doubt he would keep any team above water. IMO, he would have a team like the Isles in contention and maybe in as of now. Edited March 21, 2011 by ExiledInIllinois Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfan89 Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 Watch out for those New Jersey Devils only 7 points behind and they play the Sabers this Saturday. I know its a long shot for the Devils to make the playoffs but if they can win 9 out of their last 10 they can still get to 90 points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 Watch out for those New Jersey Devils only 7 points behind and they play the Sabers this Saturday. I know its a long shot for the Devils to make the playoffs but if they can win 9 out of their last 10 they can still get to 90 points. I am not saying it can't be done... BUT the numbers don't look good... BFLO, TOR, & CAR would have to collapse... And BFLO plays each other once... That is 6 points going to those teams... Maybe more in OT/SO/3 point games! You better hope they all "spread it around" winning one game... If a team wins mutiples against BFLO, the numbers will be tough to jive. This doesn't take into consideration the other games played. BFLO also plays NJD once. I feel for NJD, they are playing some of the best hockey in the league... Too bad they picked January to start playing and winning the way they know how. Good luck... It would be a great story if they pull it off! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 I will gladly take 1 point (non-conference) today for 2 points (division) on Tuesday! Do I really gotta ride this rollercoaster, Sabres? Yep. We need a top line! Who do you think for a top line? You think Kane will come to BFLO when his contract is up (2014ish)? Hopefully the way that game ended was a kick in the pants for the team. It was inexcusable. As for the top line, I couldn't tell you since I don't know who FA's are. I suppose Kane could be an option, but 2014 is 3 years away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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