ColdBlueNorth

Starting Quick in front of Miller was just wrong, and the hockey gods have spoken. I am not always a Miller fan and we all know he can be streaky, but for the Olympics he has always elevated his game to a crazy-good level. This was Miller's year, he has played lights out for a team that cannot buy a goal, he carried the last Olympic team on his back and nearly stole the gold, at 34 this likely was the last year where he had enough in the tank to backstop the US team, and most importantly the US players trust him back there to play their "fast game" and take chances. Quick played pretty darn good in the game against Canada, but he let in the first goal that had the US team playing tight from that point on. In the game against Finland, Quick was playing with a disfunctional team in front of him that had mentally run for the bus - that is Miller time and familiar territory for him. He let in a softy and they just mailed it in from then on. Quick at 28 will have his shot, but the roles should have been reversed with Quick backing up Miller and perhaps being the starter next Olympics. Poor choice by Bylsma

This. I don't know what they need to do to overcome this, I think the USA Womens is the more talented team but they are prone to choking and playing a different game near the end. That's on the coaching too, you need to freeze the puck somewhere near the end and take a timeout and slow things down for them, reenforce the concept of trusting eachother and everyone doing their roles and playing hard and pinning it deep in the Canadian zone. It's not easy, but the best coaches know how to keep their heads and not get as caught up in the moment as their teams. Lord knows I've coached youngsters in several sports and even at that level I suck at staying calm and thinking clearly in tight matches.

Bump. Hard to believe this thread was started way back in 2011 and here we are still watching Stafford not playing well. What the heck does Rolston see in his play that justifies him being on the ice? Stafford must be deadly accurate with a firearm because just about every shot he telegraphs on goal hits the goalie center mass. I was just shaking my head watching him play last night against Winnipeg. Isn't there another rookie we can call up to fill his spot, or put Adam in for him. Anything that gets him off the ice is addition by subtraction in my book.

Tough call for Regier...let's see, do I pick up an average player who contributes consistently or stay with a player who only seems to find the net during his contract year? Decisions decisions... :wallbash:

Has Miller had bad games or stretches - yeah, especially after that concussion last year taking the slapper off the noggin. I go more by what opposing players say, and consistently they say that he is a guy they have to do a better job of getting traffic around him screening, bumping, etc... Players only say that about goalies who they cannot beat clean or goalies that are on a hot streak. It would be good to compare his shootout performance to other goalies, but I think we know the answer. He can be a streaky goalie, but he is on more often than not and he probably has more lopsided games as far as shots against and odd man breakaways than most goalies in the league. Did anyone else see Leopold take the puck off the wall and blindly backhand it right to the Montreal player right in front of the crease? Miller has had to work with one of the worst teams in front of him than most of us can recall. What used to kill me most about Miller last year was the softies he would let in all the way from the blue line, but other than tipped shots I have not seen that this year. Miller is a solid sometimes outstanding goalie, who I think we would really miss with the blueliners we have and the weak team forecheck. All that being said, it is good to see Enroth getting his feet under him the last few games he has played, this team requires a backup that can make routine and more than a few outstanding saves.

I have read through this string and clicked on the articles and meh. No surprises and just common-sense speculation and responses from talented players in the final years of their contracts. Had to laugh at the Regier hockey genius comment though. Pegula has to know that if you dig through and toss enough fruit out of the basket gone bad, eventually you find the source of the rot. With an open checkbook and a coaching change still leaving a team hugging the bottom of the standings, where else do you look? It has to be the GM and the personnel decisions he made building the team.

The inconsistency of Shanny in dishing out these suspensions makes me sick. If I get the circular logic correctly, there is no suspension for Lucic because he does not have prior history of suspensions... yeah, that makes sense.

Due to the very nature of his position on the team, Darcy bears the brunt of the blame for assembling this mismatched cast of finese players. Most teams are built around rosters of decent size forwards who are hard to get off the puck and good on the forecheck, sprinkled with some speedy finese-type players who can get behind the defense and can put the puck away. We seem to have a team of finese players, that lack the speed to get behind defenses, are easily knocked off the puck, are ineffective forecheckers, and even if we do get the lucky breakout pass and manage to beat the defense - they can't put it away. Combine that with the soft defensive pairings we have and you have the makings of a painfully lackluster season. This roster needs to be blown up, and as the situation gets worse and the window of playoff opportunity fades, there becomes less and less reasons not to do so.

THIS exactly.

THIS. Getting rid of Cody would be one more step towards Darcy's vision of the Powder-Puff Sabres roster. I used to somewhat like Hecht, but yeah if they are looking to cut away the dead wood...he has been less than useless. He can't carry out our zone without turning it over, and he can't keep possession of it in the offensive zone without losing every one on one battle on the wall. Rarely if ever get in on a forecheck. At 6-1 you would think he would be a bit more physical, but you never see him throwing his body around, yet Gerbe and Ennis are out there playing like rabbid chipmunks while he is skating figure 8's in the neutral zone. If they are going to clean up the toilet that the Sabre's roster has turned into flushing that turd would be a good start (yeah, I still have heartburn over last night's no show)

Could be nothing, Vanek's ice time was about the same as previous games. I was only wondering out loud if Vanek is playing hurt because he seemed pretty slow out there last night. Being the only scoring threat on this team up till recently he was getting the snot beat out of him pretty much game in and game out.

I'll take it. It isn't like the B's looked that comfortable in their own end when our boys were presuring them - it is funny how bad and desparate a team looks when you get a good cycle going and they cannot clear their own zone. The only thing that still sits in my craw is that Boston can hack, cross check, hook, and trip all day without drawing a call. This teams best defense is a good offense, getting in on the forcheck, letting the defense jump into the play, and doubling up on who ever has the puck and not giving a green light to the neutral zone by constantly backing off the blue line. Our better skaters did a good job of clearing the zone and skating through Boston's trap game when they had the lead. I will enjoy the win. I think everyone is aware there are a lot of things they need to work on still. Hecht was a turnover machine tonight constantly getting his pocket picked from behind - he either needs to get faster or pass the puck sooner. There is still work to be done when we do not clear the defensive zone - there is still that tendancy for this team to stand flat footed and not take a man or pressure the turnover they need to clear and get a change in. A win is a win and Stafford broke his slump, Gerbe looked like he had some of his old speed back, and Myers got a shot of confidence when he first upended Paille, then got a goal, then topped that by stick handling through a bunch of Bruins and backhanding the redirect to Hodgson. Nice. Oh, and one other thing - Vanek looks like he is playing hurt. I know he took a lot of abuse during his scoring run when teams focused on shutting him down and he also did that wild split along the blue line a few games back, but he was definately slow tonight and not himself.

There are usually two types of successful business owners, the ones who are charismatic/type-A my-way or the high-way owners who trust their own instincts above all others - the Jerry Jones of the world, or the big-pcture owners who delegate and trust the people they surround themselves with - Terry appears to fall into this second category and it is probably better that he does because openly meddlesome owners have a way of driving away talent. If things do not change for this franchise, at some point the worm will turn and Terry will have to do the thing he really does not want to do and make changes at the top. When that time comes I have no doubt that he will handle it professionally and with all the respect due to Darcy and Ruff who if nothing else have put a lot of life-equity into trying to build a winning team. When and if that happens the open positions will be a very attractive for a new GM/coach because Terry has shown both the capacity to fanancially and publically support his GM and coach through good times and bad, giving them every opportunity to build their team and get the team on track. Change is not always for the better, but if a change were to happen I am pretty sure it would be something Terry would do at the end of a season with a full offseason to work through the transition. I do not claim to have any inside connections on Pegula's plans or anything of that nature; this is just what I have taken away from his interviews and comments. I am not on the bandwagon of those who think he is asleep at the wheel or inept. I think he is a guy who genuinely loves the game of hockey and this team. As a fan there is no way that he cannot notice the lackluster play on the ice, but I believe he really does care about the people in the Sabre's organization, does not relish having to fire any of them, and is trying to give them every chance to save their jobs.

Just like last year it is all about attitude and forecheck and it is in short supply on this team and only shows up when they realize they are going to miss that final playoff spot. Some of our forwards are just too small to really forecheck, some are skill players that are contact-adverse, and sprinkled around are the few that give us glimpses of how the game could and should be played - Vanek, Foligno, and McCormick... putting the pressure on and being strong down low near the crease. Too often you just see one forward rushing in to forecheck all alone and you realize it is Tyler Ennis doing everything but climbing into the other guys pants - only to be swatted away like a gnat. They need to get the puck in deep, follow through with at least two players going in strong on the forecheck and cycle it deep for a change. The amazing thing that happens when you get a good forecheck and cycle going behind your opponent's goal is that you spend less time in your end giving up 35-40 plus shots each night. I'm not saying they should not work on clearing the zone - they need to figure out how to string more than two passes together instead of just blindly choppig the puck to an area.

I found this response to a Scotch article helpful:) OK, Being reared up in good ol KY, having an Irish Gram who believed all childhood ailments could be cured with whiskey (properly pronounced bu-bon) and local honey, AND being a bona-fide country musician, I consider myself not only an expert, but a professional on this topic. My take on this whole article is that it is horses$*% (another thing we know about in KY). And here is why (you can hate the player, but don't hate the game ;) ) 1. All whiskey is bourbon, not the other way around. I know many of you will talk to me about history and facts and dates and such, but that is really just the part of the conspiracy. We invented both corn and corn squeezing here in Eddyville, KY. Thems the truth. 2. Only children drink bourbon from a glass (mixed with honey as medicine) Adults drink the proper way – from the bottle. 3. The only acceptable mix for bourbon is ice, mint, and soda water (maybe a dash of bitters if you a bold and daring), and this is acceptable ONLY on derby day. 4. If you complain that the tastes get mixed up and confused when you drink fast as opposed to sipping, then you are not taking big enough drinks. Don't swish it around in your mouth. Taking three large gulps from the bottle aerates and mixes when you stop to take a breath. 5. Never choose bourbon for taste. Like wine, you should always choose for mood and function. For example: Early Times – supper bourbon, cheap, take with food or your hiney will regret it the next day Makers Mart – Staple of life, elixer of good health and mental functioning – take daily as needed, double on Sunday Old Grandad – Friday night bourbon Wild Turkey 101 – Saturday night bourbon 6. The proper temperature for drinking bourbon is whatever the temperature is behind the seat of your truck. I'm sorry for shattering the propaganda, but the truth will set you free. It may however land you in jail, but this is not just some beverage, bourbon is a lifestyle.

This. I believe much of Myers slide has to do with Leopold not being where he expects him to be, and when Leopold is in the right spot he often mishandles the puck which forces Myer to have to come back and then they both get trapped and pressured into the cycle of forechecks and scrambling around for loose pucks around our net. They are simply a terrible pairing that do not compliment eachother's playing style. Myers needs someone who is calm and where he expects him to be when he is pressured and needs to dish the puck off. That is why he worked so well with Tallinder. Tallinder was always where Myers expected him to be and once Myers dished it off he was able to head up ice and Tallinder was good at getting it back on Myers tape allowing him to break out of the zone and tote it himself with that deceptive speed the big guy still has when he is actually hit in stride rather than Leopold sending it into his skates. He had a very calming effect on the kid and allowed him to escape the pressure and to get out of the defensive zone. If Tallinder is finsihed physically as some have indicated (I still think it is worth a shot if the price is right) then finding a defenseman with very similar skillset and jettisoning Leopold is still a priority if they want to salvage Myer's game. It is not all on Leopold, but he does not lead the league in the minus category for no reason.

The Canadian announcers last night were really focusing on how Meyer's play devolved without the veteran presence of Tallinder. The club has millions wrapped up in this kid, it would be worth a shot to get the defensive partner he worked best with back in the lineup. I don't know if it will help, but at least it would show that Darcy is giving the kid every chance he can to get back into the saddle. At this point his head just does not seem to be in the game, no hustle for loose pucks, late on checks and cutting off the wall, can't hit on his passes, indecision on pinching and fighting the puck when he gets it. His play of late could be used as a training video of all the wrong things to do and it certainly does not help pairing him up with the perenially awful Leopold.

Apparently no one with an ounce of sanity tonight... that was brutal. Our boys looked completely gassed tonight and looked like crap in Toronto with Ryan bailing them out and needing rest and therapy after - what did they do all offseason, sit on their ass, watch TV, and wipe Cheeto crumbs off their shirts? Not only did they look completely out of shape, but they could not hit the tape on a pass to save their lives - they looked like shifts thrown together for the very first time with no idea what their assignments were scrambling around in our own zone like chickens with their heads cut off - ack, I just need to go to bed and forget this one. I tell myself that it is still early and those lines other than the Vanek line just need to play together more. I still worry about our defensive pairings - Sekara has been a turnover machine and so has Leopold and I am still waiting on Myers to play less soft - I see flashes of what he can do in the corners, but then he disappears. He's good, but he could be so dominant and maybe that is too much to ask.

Maybe that was last year :)

I never understood the love for Leopold. Everytime I look at the guy he is coughing up the puck or getting knocked off the puck or getting out husstled to the puck.

Should have guessed - so true. :sick:

There are so many great song clips in this thread that I really would not want to get out of my head, but for anyone with young kids "Elmo's Song" has got to be the worst thing for any parent to find stuck in their head. I can't get on this computer without my daughter chanting one of the few words she knows "Elmo". I swear she can watch the same Elmo clips for months...and months You find yourself at work with your buds and catch yourself humming "la-la-lala...la-la-lala" and you slap yourself before anyone else does. :blush: Yep.