02-11-2013, 07:36 PM
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Meanderings of a Feeble Mind - 2.11.2013
WARNING: Not a coherent thought, hence the title. Rather an amalgam of thoughts needing to be purged. Not really sure if it's fantasy relevant either.
- On Sunday Feb. 10th the Sabres hosted the Bruins - their first meeting since the Bruin embarrassing 7-4 loss. The Bruins despite being on the road chose to start their backup netminder, Anton Khudobin.
- On Thursday Feb. 7th the Sabres hosted the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens too decided to start their backup netminder, Peter Budaj.
- I would be embarrassed as a member of the Sabres, if I knew opposing teams entering our building didn't fear us enough to start their best goalie. True....Montreal lost, but the Sabres got away with one. Facing a Montreal team that faced the Bruins the night prior, the Canadiens eventually lost steam. Good on the Sabres for taking advantage of it, but really that Vanek goal to tie w/but one second remaining was the result of luck and a ref who couldn't find his whistle.
- 2010 playoffs Sabres were NorthEast conference champs. Got knocked out of the first round by the Bruins.
- 2011 playoffs Sabres lost to the Flyers in the first round.
- In both series losses the Sabres were forechecked unmercifully.
- In fact, after the Philly series in particular, during the off season Regier overpaid for Leino because of his playoff play/forechecking against the Sabres
- Yet to this date the Sabres inability to get out of their own end persists second only to a herpes chancre.
- Boston most recently demonstrated that (forecheck + powerplay) - Vanek = success
- It's true. Even last year teams did it to us. But in the past at least the Sabres had two lines scoring. This year it's only one.
- In addition this year the outlet pass eludes the Sabres even more. In past years when the Sabres starting losing Ruff would immediately revert to a more defensive, shutdown posture. Still not much offense...but they won some games.
- Problem this year? Miller not stealing as many (Islanders game duly noted) and Myers has completely shutdown. He used to be able to get the outlet pass quickly up ice to his forwards.
- So Myers starts his NHL career winning the Calder and slowly regresses.
- Luke Adam starts his NHL career on the top line and quickly regresses to the point where he's now referred to only as "He who we no longer speak of".
- Grigorenko, the Sabres touted first rounder, was a healthy scratch, after seeing his playing time slowing disolve.
- Despite the fact that secondary scoring is what the Sabres desperately need and what Grigs could supply if allowed to be free. Because as I have mentioned, ya take away Vanek's line and there little to no offense (apologies to Ennis and Foligno).
- The more ya watch this team the more you realise that not only does it not have an identity, there's no on-ice cohesiveness.
- So nothing's really changed since the Bruins and subsequent Flyers playoff losses.
- ...and people wonder why I want Ruff gone. [sigh]
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Last edited by Bomm Bastic; 02-11-2013 at 07:41 PM.
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