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I agree. I would have questioned starting Enroth even if Vanek was playing.... without Vanek it's too big a hit to the offense. We need the best possible players on the ice tonight - Enroth is a good goalie, but he's no Ryan Miller.

That was an awful goal.... almost like Miller was alone on the ice

huh? I thought I was agreeing with you?? - Miller has played very well this year - the problems are NOT in goal-tending. Fix the defense and the GAA will plummet with Miller in the net.

It was good to get rid of him in the first place - why did they bring him back? He is useless - better than being shorthanded - that's about the best that can be said of his game play. Who should be blamed for his return? Lindy or Regier? I had the impression it wasn't Lindy's decision.

He didn't score any goals in his last 3 games in 2011-12 season, so he's only scored 1 goal in his last 22 games. So far this year, he' has made Leino's 2011-12 season look like a goal-scoring machine for the Sabres in comparison. BTW, Derek Roy remains putrid as well - one goal in 13 games played for the Stars this year, and he's been averaging 19-21 minutes of ice time per game. Good we got rid of him - we just need to get rid of more dead wood like Roy, and get some offensive power on the roster.

While I think Ruff's time was due in Buffalo, the far greater problem for this team was, and is, Darcy Regier. He gave Lindy Ruff a mediocre team to work with - other than Vanek, no scoring threats. Look at Stafford - a winger with only ONE goal after 19 games played this season??? That is ridiculous and it ought to be unacceptable, especially for the money he's being paid and his non-nonchalant attitude towards his poor play. And last night Stafford was MINUS 2 against the 22nd worst team in the NHL - this line made a bottom 10 team look like Stanley Cup timber.

I can't believe blame being leveled against Miller. He has been terrific, and one of the few players that seems to give a damn! That's a small number, sadly. And I think he has been playing at a "superstar level" - We all consider Jhonas Enroth to be a good goalie - I think most do. Remember the couple times he's played with this team this year? His GAA was 5 or close to it! I think you put an average goalie in that crease with the pathetic defense, and the GAA goes up by 2 or 3 per game. And I will stick with my contention that an average goalie, and the Sabres wouldn't even have reached 10 points for the season.

It seems like a very sound and well thought out process. I like the fact that the reviewers have actual ice time, and that they reply independently to Shanahan with their recommendation so it isn't influenced by anyone elses. They've got former players helping with the evaluations. Maybe I have been unfair to Shanahan?

Great point, Numark! A relevant stat here http://espn.go.com/n...13/seasontype/2 Buffalo has the highest average number of shots against their goal per game than any other team. They are the worst in the league. And even that doesn't convey how bad the defense is at helping the goalie block those shots. Compare Enroth to Miller. Enroth is a good goalie, and he got eaten ALIVE when he was in the goal those few games this season. It took Miller's skill to steady the ship. A lesser goalie than Ryan Miller in the crease, and I bet this team wouldn't even have double-digit points at this juncture. Yes, the team is THAT bad!

Wow this period is one of the worst I have seen them play. Hope it costs Regeir his job.

I'm fine with the statement - in fact it makes me think of a great quote by General Patton in the movie "Patton" "My sole purpose was to try to restore in him some sense of appreciation of his obligations as a man and as a soldier. 'If one could shame a coward,' I felt, 'one might help him to regain his self-respect.' This was on my mind." And he didn't single out a player or players - it was directed to the entire organization.

Blackhawks just set an all time NHL record for best season start- 17 game point streak to start a season. - surpassed the 16 game streak of the '06 Ducks. Got to admit - it is fun to watch the Blackhawks in action. Tonight is the 2nd Blackhawks game I've watched in the last week.

Wow - first period looked good for the Sabres, then it was like the bus drove off a cliff. 2nd and 3rd periods were some of the worst hockey I've ever seen them play. But in fairness, the new coach was, what, 24 hrs into his new job? And a good chunk of that was travel time, checking in to hotels, sleep, etc. And the team may be very split, emotionally, on Lindy's departure. Rolston's also got to see first hand how these guys actually play together before changing things around. I would assume he wouldn't change much if anything in his first game. Realistically, we need to give him at least 8 or 9 games before we can start to make judgments.

Pominville fanned it a couple minutes ago. Sigh.

Good stuff.... thanks for sharing!!!

haha! That did make me laugh!

It's a little sad that Lindy never won a cup with the Sabres. It just wasn't going to happen, and the change was overdue. Team was sliding downhill. However, LIndy was coach during a lot of GOOD moments and good games for the Sabres over the years. Just most recently - whipping the Bruins TWICE this year, and the opener against the hated Flyers. Good luck, Lindy! Thanks for what you did give us.

Just got the text from WGR - WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I never disliked Lindy as a person - just his coaching. Wish him well for the future.

The thing is - Terry Pegula could change everything with the stroke of a pen. He announces that Ruff and Regier are both out the door.... and it would be the true start of a new day. It's sad, and a bad sign... that he's isolating himself from the media and the fans needlessly. The fans want to love him.... but he needs to clean out the dead wood like Ruff and Regier. Then everyone would be on his side.

Yeah, that's got to be part of the frustration for Ryan - the fact that he's stuck with a 'defensive minded coach' and a soft team that's never going anywhere. Imagine how bad this team would be in the points standings right now had an average goalie been in net instead of Ryan Miller? I could see the Sabres with less than 10 points, instead of 13.

^^ haha! Ville Leino is rapidly becoming to the Sabres what Carl Pavano was to the NY Yankees - worst acquisition evah!!! LOL

Ok, folks, I updated my stat chart for the week. Things are looking worse for Buffalo instead of better. Average points scored per game - 28th out of 30 - 3rd worst in the league - only Columbus and Washington put fewer points, on average, on the board per game than does Buffalo Cost per point scored - This is the total salary divided by average points scored per game. We are now the WORST in the NHL in this regard, at $91 million+ per average point. I think the last number reflects on the front office more than the players - this is a combination of talent selection, negotiating, and coaching. And in that respect, we are now the rock bottom of the league. This coaching/management team gets the least amount of results for the dollar spent from the players than any other team.

Yeah, it's clear some of the guys play hard. I don't think the word "quit" is in Kaleta's vocabulary. Some of the individual play is terrible though - 1/3rd of the way thru the entire season, and Stafford has ONE goal..... that is horrid!

Ahhh crap. These are the games they must win to have any chance to reach the playoffs.

Yep..even Rob Ray commented on the extra energy. C'mon guys tie it up!