NowDoYouBelieve

It's #30 that concerns me, frankly. He's vacillated damn quickly this season between dominance and suckitude. If the floodgates open again, this team doesn't have the guns to outduel teams 5-4, 6-5, etc. Recent quotes about staying "professional" lead me to think that he's not ready for a lion-hearted charge to 8th.

Perhaps it's because he played so long in Dallas? I know they have some passionate fans, but if the Stars suck in those parts you can just switch over to see how the Rangers or mavericks are doing.

Hockey is also a game where the on-ice effort/product is often non-indicative of the score. In the Devils game, the defense got hemmed in their own zone for minutes at a time and the team surrendered yet another shorthanded goal. Whether or not the score was tied, whether or not they picked up a well-needed 2 points, that ain't quality hockey. Allow a short handed goal and you should expect booing, unless you're up 6-1 or something.

I don't see a lack of effort ending this mini-streak, but a lack of talent might do it. The contributing guys right now are either try-hards by nature (Ott, Hecht, Kaleta) and guys trying to make next season's roster (Flynn, Porter, Pysyk). They won't suddenly stop trying, but if that's your core group then they'll get shut out from time to time.

Final 20 contests over the last few seasons... 11-12: 11-6-3 10-11: 13-4-3 09-10: 12-7-1 08-09: 10-8-2 07-08: 10-7-3 Totals: 56-32-12 (124 points in 100 games) This year, the final 20 games doesn't comprise the final 1/4 of the season, but for the sake of argument, we'll start counting from game 28 anyway. So far they're 6-3-2 (14 points in 11 games). Pretty alarmingly consistent

OTTER!!!!

This is just depressing...

Due to another Alexander, I presume. I wonder if he still favors the Sabres after watching them as a rather soft team for the past several years (which has been turning around, despite their losing).

NJD offense is struggling lately, with 6 straight losses, including just 1 goal in the last 2 games combined.

I hate this team. So much.

Of course that just happened...

That was pretty much a typical 2nd period for the Sabres except for Enroth and Leino excelling. Outshot 17-8 and under siege for most of it.

Wow, Ville's gunning for a trade to the Hawks or Guins!

I wish the refs would just let hefty smurf fight. Yeah he'd get his butt kicked, but whatever.

Ennis giveth and Ennis taketh away.

Nice! 2-0......

#30's commercial was just on: "When my team needs a big save, they turn to me." Awkwaaard.

Great period of hockey by the Sabres. Here comes THAT period, though...

Hoff is quietly having an excellent season. He is now +10, on top of leading blueliners in goals and points.

Since Rolston's taking over, the Sabres are a predictably bad 7-10. 7-6-4 if you want to get technical. Weird thing that sticks out - 13 out of those 17 have been decided by 1 goal.

Crap. Contest of inches.

I don't think the captain could hit a soccer net right now.

These idiots...

I think Ott saved a goal there. Good penalty.

Finally.