Game Discussion Thread

[carpandean]

Stafford has been invisible all season. What is he doing on the top line? Right now, with the china-doll on IR, the Sabres top 7 offensive players are (in no particular order) Vanek, Roy, Pomms, Max, McArthur, Mancuri, Kotalik. 6 of those players should comprise the top 2 lines, with the 7th put on the checking line, along with Hecht and Paille. Goose centers the 4th line, along with Kaleta (when healthy) leaving Mair and Stafford competing for ice time. Is this so hard for a veteran NHL coach to figure out?

Do you really think that any of those four is a true top-six forward? Max has some moves, but turns the puck over far too much and doesn't cover well when backchecking. Mac has been better this year than I expected, but is a border-line top-six winger at best. Mancari is a decent third-liner who works hard and doesn't make many mistakes, but doesn't create too much offense either. Kotalik is good on the PP and SO, but does little to nothing 5-on-5. He had his shot on the top line, but disappeared as usual. If you look at our top three lines, for true starters, we have:

 

Vanek-(hole)-(hole)

(hole)-Roy-Pommer

 

Vanek is a first-line forward. Roy and Pommer are very capable second-line forwards (despite what some overreacters are saying.) When needed due to injuries, they can cover first-line duty. Anyone else on the team who has played on a top-two scoring line is, at best, a fill-in option. Now, we could probably get away with:

 

Vanek-Roy-Pommer

Hecht-(hole)-(hole)

 

if we had another true second-line center and capable second-line winger, but we don't even have that. The guys that we are putting in those spots should be third or fourth in the depth chart for those positions, not first. A big part of that is never having Timmy. He's the guy that should be in one of those holes, but rarely is. Basically, we are playing with a depleted lineup as the default. A lineup like that can step up and grab some points in the short-term when injuries mount, but they aren't capable of keeping it up as the primary lineup.

[PASabreFan]

Interesting. Maybe this is the kick in the pants and challenge Ryan needs. He's seemed to play his best in the past when challenged, so let's see what happens.

 

Mature NHL goalies don't need kicks from adults to be challenged. The challenge has to come from within. Getting his team out of this funk isn't enough of a challenge?! This guy just doesn't have what it takes between the ears to be a great one, or anything more than average to good. Look at all the shutouts he's lost, the tendency to give up goals in bunches, to give up a goal right after we score. The best example of ultimate pressure the guy has faced in his career, to hold onto a 2-1 lead in Game 7 against Carolina, ended with him allowing three goals in the third to cost us a trip to the finals. No one should be surprised almost three years later that he's a head case who can't focus. (Edit: And the first indication of his personality came early on when the Wings bombed him and he broke down in tears afterwards.)

[inkman]

(Edit: And the first indication of his personality came early on when the Wings bombed him and he broke down in tears afterwards.)

It was an indicator of thing to come, for sure. I absolutely question his mental toughness, and all of the Sabres for that matter...

[BuffalOhio]

Natalie's got to get off the heavy bag and start working the speed bag. How does she swing a golf club??

 

She swings the club just fine....

[nobody]

Lindy has to try Pommers on the #1 line. Stafford works for a couple games; Max works for a couple shifts.

[carpandean]

Lindy has to try Pommers on the #1 line. Stafford works for a couple games; Max works for a couple shifts.

While I agree that Vanek-Roy-Pommer would be a decent first line, one that we could get away with, it will do nothing if we can't get a better second line than Gaustad-Hecht-Stafford.

[carpandean]

She swings the club just fine....

Got silicone?

[nobody]

While I agree that Vanek-Roy-Pommer would be a decent first line, one that we could get away with, it will do nothing if we can't get a better second line than Gaustad-Hecht-Stafford.

 

 

If we have one line that has scoring potential from all 3 guys that would be one line more then we have now.

[inkman]

Got silicone?

Perhaps but it's her face that's the problem. Without the tan and makeup, she's pretty ordinary:

[LabattBlue]

...it will do nothing if we can't get a better second line than Gaustad-Hecht-Stafford.

That is because Connolly can't get back find his way to being healthy and Gaustad should be on the 3rd line and that is only when there are injuries.

[carpandean]

That is because Connolly can't get back find his way to being healthy and Gaustad should be on the 3rd line and that is only when there are injuries.

Exactly my point. A healthy Connolly, if such a thing exists, would be a big step toward that better second line. However, they never should have counted on that again this season.

[PASabreFan]

Everyone has Roy's middle on the mind. :) I think that was Max.

 

Correction: Max's blind back pass occurred with about 3 minutes left.

[Bmwolf21]

Exactly my point. A healthy Connolly, if such a thing exists, would be a big step toward that better second line. However, they never should have counted on that again this season.

The existence of a "healthy Connolly" will be debated for years to come, along with UFO's, the Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, the Mothman and other beings whose existence has not been conclusively proved.

[wjag]

The existence of a "healthy Connolly" will be debated for years to come, along with UFO's, the Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, the Mothman and other beings whose existence has not been conclusively proved.

You forgot Yeti aka Bumbles.. You remember, "Bumbles Bounce!"

[Bmwolf21]

You forgot Yeti aka Bumbles.. You remember, "Bumbles Bounce!"

Good call. It was a little late when I posted that and couldn't think of any other mythical creatures.

[inkman]

Good call. It was a little late when I posted that and couldn't think of any other mythical creatures.

Lest we not forget the fawn (anyone who hasn't seen Pan's Labrynth, it's a must see):

[carpandean]

(anyone who hasn't seen Pan's Labrynth, it's a must see):

Yeah, definitely. Much darker than I expected, but very good.