matter2003

4th time the Sabres will try to break thru and win 4 in a row this year...last 3 were L's. Can they do it?

They also do a terrible job of passing the puck to players so that they can actually do something with it once they get it...too often it's to the wrong side or a little behind them or in their skates, so instead of actually being able to do something with it quickly, it takes them a second or two to gather the puck properly and by the time they do that, the defender is on top of them.

Just go watch Terry's other 2 teams...they are great.

Then why are teams constantly moving if they all make money? That doesn't make sense. Sure, some can be explained by arena situations, but the majority are because of hemorrhaging money like they had Ebola.

The majority of these players have never been coached properly since they have been in the NHL to play hockey the right way. Ruff not only needs to re-train them to do something they have never done before, but he also needs to untrain them to stop doing what they are used to doing and what they go back to as default. And it's not going to be easy. But it has to be done unless we want to spin our wheels for another 10 years.

Yeah the accountants who have to do tax returns for athletes are definitely worth every penny...filing that return must take days. Interesting how the different sports pay differently. In the NFL you get paid per game so your paycheck would be broken down into 1/17th each week you play. Also, unless you are a star player that has some sort of clause in the contract you only get paid half your normal salary if you end up on IR for those games.

Why would anyone expect 4th liners to be "great" at anything other than slowing the other teams best lines down?

Sabres are in the last wildcard spot as of today.

Hahaha... Meanwhile Fred and Daphne out on their own "investigating"

Can this team ever stay healthy for more than a few games at a time? Ridiculous.

JFC... Some people's bodies just aren't made to play pro sports. He is one of them.

UPL wasn't feeling well heading into last game which is why Ruff pulled him he said postgame, so it's likely just to give him some rest to recover quicker. What's new with Samuelsson. Every year the same thing...out weeks at least once a year. At some point the best ability becomes availability and they locked up a guy who is fragile to a long term deal.

When are they going to grow up and mature?

What usually holds true is that if the Sabres win the last game before the Bills play the Bills win and if they lose they tend to have a higher chance of losing or struggling. Believe both of the Bills losses this year have come after previous losses that weekend by the Sabres.

2nd 3 game winning streak in 3 weeks. Now they need to not have a 2nd 3 game losing streak mixed in again. Time to turn it up a notch.

Dahlin might be too emotionally all over the place to be a guy that can be counted on day in and day out to be even keel and keep the team on the proper path. He has let his emotions get the best of him way too many times so far this year. Breaking sticks, getting pissed off about mistakes, causing a goal against last game by getting involved in a scrap in the neutral zone for like 20 seconds instead of either dropping the gloves and fighting or disengaging and getting back in the play. He has a lot to learn about being a leader and hopefully he learns quick. I get it...he cares...a lot. But you have to channel that into positively displaying it instead of negatively. It's OK to do it once in a while but 2-3x a game is just too much. The effect wears off and you come across looking like an immature man child.

Good enough to make the playoffs. Hell, they almost did that playing no defense and no goaltending.

About time someone that isn't going to coddle these players and accept substandard crap.

Last night, much like the game against the Stars showed this team can absolutely play the style of game Ruff wants them to play. Tough, physical, all over the pucks, using their speed to disrupt defensively and cause issues in the offensive zone for opposing defensemen, crashing the net on rush chances and going there on long point shots to screen the goalie, etc... I mean when Tage Thompson is crashing the crease and getting dirty goals while on the ground with bodies on top of him, you know the team received the message loud and clear. But how long will it resonate with them? One game, two games? A week? Can they sustain it? The question then becomes "If you know this is what you are supposed to do, and you see the positive results when you play this way, then why don't you choose to do it every night?" Because if they choose to play like this every night, they would be a playoff team, no question. Why do they choose not to do it? It's a choice. This team has to break their bad habits of only putting out effort and being willing to do the little detailed "hard" things right that don't show up in the box score when "things get tough" or "the coaches get on us" and make that their team standard on a nightly basis. This shouldn't be something that gets them praised, it should be a given and what is expected of them on a nightly basis. Mostly from the players themselves. Can this team finally hold themselves and each other accountable for playing this way on any given night? Can Ruff finally get through to them where all the other coaches have failed? Honestly, I am hopeful but I don't know...

Well it was 79 on that same day 2 years ago...I spoke wrongly...it would have been a record for the prior day, not yesterday. Rochester, however DID smash a record hitting 81 yesterday.

The Sabres have allowed far too many non-NHL quality goals this year and it's cost us a few games so far. They better figure it out. Hopefully UPL isn't one of those guys who got paid and now sits back and relaxes after playing for a new contract last year. Levi is still is the same...very inconsistent from one game to the next. He has a high ceiling but his floor is too low currently.

Probably weren't around in the early 90's with LaFontaine, Mogilny and Hawerchuk I take it?

Tie a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree...

Yes those stretch passes from his own end past the red line that spring odd man rushes and goal chances. Has been exceptional at those since his rookie year...dipped a little last year but still was very good overall.

Things are starting to come together it seems like... I think by mid season this team could really start finding it's groove if they can keep building and get the special teams at least middle of the road. Looking forward to getting NAK back in the lineup as well, I think he adds more toughness and physicality we have been missing and can help shut down other teams top lines defensively.