Going dry: the torture of watching the Sabres at home in the playoffs

[PASabreFan]

I'm empathizing here with the fans in the building and at Canalside. This has been brutal, not just the 2-4 record but the sitting/standing there waiting for a goal.

Game 1 vs. Boston: they didn't score until 7:58 left in the third. (They made up for it.)

Game 2: 6:06 was left in the third.

Game 5: Dahlin scored 3:35 in and that was it.

Game 1 vs. Habs: They didn't score the second half of the game (stretching my point juuuust a little).

Game 2: Benson the only goal late in the second.

Game 5: You know.

15 goals in six games. Nine of them came in three bunches (was going to go with tranches, but I'm already a big enough douchebag).

[John Tucker]

It's not just the filling the net part... Aside from miniscule parts of games, the effort hasn't been there.  Last night was the worst of all of them combined to me.  After Montreal tied it, they completely turtled.  No effort.  No life.  Especially knowing that it was likely their last home game of the season.  Simply mindboggling

[TageMVP]

Watching them at home has sucked 

Id rather watch them on the road, where they've clearly been better

Seems to be a trend league wide, though. The road team has been better the entire playoffs for some reason 

[tom webster]

52 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

I'm empathizing here with the fans in the building and at Canalside. This has been brutal, not just the 2-4 record but the sitting/standing there waiting for a goal.

Game 1 vs. Boston: they didn't score until 7:58 left in the third. (They made up for it.)

Game 2: 6:06 was left in the third.

Game 5: Dahlin scored 3:35 in and that was it.

Game 1 vs. Habs: They didn't score the second half of the game (stretching my point juuuust a little).

Game 2: Benson the only goal late in the second.

Game 5: You know.

15 goals in six games. Nine of them came in three bunches (was going to go with tranches, but I'm already a big enough douchebag).

I had this exact conversation with my son as we left the arena. It’s been brutal. In the moment it’s taken the luster off a great season. I’m sure when it’s over, and I’m not conceding just yet, we will look back on the season with more fondness.

[tom webster]

45 minutes ago, John Tucker said:

It's not just the filling the net part... Aside from miniscule parts of games, the effort hasn't been there.  Last night was the worst of all of them combined to me.  After Montreal tied it, they completely turtled.  No effort.  No life.  Especially knowing that it was likely their last home game of the season.  Simply mindboggling

I’m still amazed that people still think it’s effort when a team goes bad. This season more than any has shown how a team looks faster, quicker, better when they are confident in not only their abilities but in what they are doing.

Right now they are going through a crisis of confidence, maybe some uncertainty in how to best attack and defend Montreal, but to think they aren’t trying is a thing I guess.

[zow2]

Outside of game 3 at Montreal, seems like the goaltending on the road has also been superior to home.  It happens.  When i used to play organized sports back in the day i recall enjoying playing on the road more than home.  Just felt the comradery with my teammates more and enjoyed making the home crowd silent and upset.  I imagine in pro sports maybe it's more stressful trying to perform in front of home fans and living up to expectations. 

[RangerDave]

I'm hoping that when the Sabres win tomorrow in Montreal, that they petition the NHL to have Game 7 there as well.  They do better on the road.

[Night Train]

4 hours ago, tom webster said:

I’m still amazed that people still think it’s effort when a team goes bad. This season more than any has shown how a team looks faster, quicker, better when they are confident in not only their abilities but in what they are doing.

Right now they are going through a crisis of confidence, maybe some uncertainty in how to best attack and defend Montreal, but to think they aren’t trying is a thing I guess.

Bullseye

They just got to the playoffs  and so many players have no idea about this level. 

 Montreal does look a little faster and is making less mistakes. I'm pragmatic in my viewing without the blind fandom.  I'll watch tomorrow for the response.  If not. I'll watch the retooling to raise the level this off-season. 

 

[RETURNTOGLORY]

Too much pressure at home. With the pre-game hoopla overload and all the friends and family in the building, it's clearly too much pressure. No other explanation for the dismal results. Too many distractions. 

Edited May 15 by RETURNTOGLORY

[Pimlach]

6 hours ago, PASabreFan said:

I'm empathizing here with the fans in the building and at Canalside. This has been brutal, not just the 2-4 record but the sitting/standing there waiting for a goal.

Game 1 vs. Boston: they didn't score until 7:58 left in the third. (They made up for it.)

Game 2: 6:06 was left in the third.

Game 5: Dahlin scored 3:35 in and that was it.

Game 1 vs. Habs: They didn't score the second half of the game (stretching my point juuuust a little).

Game 2: Benson the only goal late in the second.

Game 5: You know.

15 goals in six games. Nine of them came in three bunches (was going to go with tranches, but I'm already a big enough douchebag).

Number of goals matters much less than the 2-4 record. 

This team is better on the road.  Some attribute it to bonding.  Could also be less pressure. 

[Gatorman0519]

As I have said many times, I truly believe Buffalo has a top 3 fan base in the United States. Incredible passion and generally good understanding of both football and hockey. Probably the second-best hockey market in the US. That being said the most tortured fanbase in history. The level of ineptitude in management and the number of freak choke-jobs and injuries at the worst time is incredible. For the Sabres, for being in the league for 56 years and only two appearances in the finals is incredibly bad. Living in Florida, I took the boys to playoff games on the Florida runs. Things happened that never do for Buffalo.. clutch amazing plays time after time after time and two cups now. The Panthers have been there 4 times with 2 cups with half the time in existence. Vegas wins one early on and have been there twice already. The Sabres have very few such clutch moments, rather, they always inevitably choke or something bad happens. The same with the Bills. I'll be honest, being in my 50's I probably have PTSD from it lol. It's such an agonizing experience being a fan of Buffalo sports. We waited 14 years and the people came back immediately only to be let down and embarrassed yet again. I just want to win one championship lol.

Edited May 15 by Gatorman0519

[Pimlach]

1 hour ago, Gatorman0519 said:

As I have said many times, I truly believe Buffalo has a top 3 fan base in the United States. Incredible passion and generally good understanding of both football and hockey. Probably the second-best hockey market in the US. That being said the most tortured fanbase in history. The level of ineptitude in management and the number of freak choke-jobs and injuries at the worst time is incredible. For the Sabres, for being in the league for 56 years and only two appearances in the finals is incredibly bad. Living in Florida, I took the boys to playoff games on the Florida runs. Things happened that never do for Buffalo.. clutch amazing plays time after time after time and two cups now. The Panthers have been there 4 times with 2 cups with half the time in existence. Vegas wins one early on and have been there twice already. The Sabres have very few such clutch moments, rather, they always inevitably choke or something bad happens. The same with the Bills. I'll be honest, being in my 50's I probably have PTSD from it lol. It's such an agonizing experience being a fan of Buffalo sports. We waited 14 years and the people came back immediately only to be let down and embarrassed yet again. I just want to win one championship lol.

About a championship for Buffalo, I get that 100%, I want it with great passion too.  

But I don’t feel let down or embarrassed by the Sabres this year.  I feel the opposite of that.  Friends that know I’m a Sabres fan are happy for me too.  Things are just getting started for this team.  These players should not carry 56 years of no Cup history.  This group of players is just getting started.  We have a bunch of excellent players on good contracts and more promising plays just now coming in.  

There is a game to watch tomorrow.  That’s a good thing. 
 

 

[K-9]

For all the talk of the Sabres being 2-4 at home in the playoffs, the Canadians are sitting at 2-3 at home themselves. We have a great opportunity to make them 2-4 as well tomorrow night.

[Taro T]

3 hours ago, Gatorman0519 said:

As I have said many times, I truly believe Buffalo has a top 3 fan base in the United States. Incredible passion and generally good understanding of both football and hockey. Probably the second-best hockey market in the US. That being said the most tortured fanbase in history. The level of ineptitude in management and the number of freak choke-jobs and injuries at the worst time is incredible. For the Sabres, for being in the league for 56 years and only two appearances in the finals is incredibly bad. Living in Florida, I took the boys to playoff games on the Florida runs. Things happened that never do for Buffalo.. clutch amazing plays time after time after time and two cups now. The Panthers have been there 4 times with 2 cups with half the time in existence. Vegas wins one early on and have been there twice already. The Sabres have very few such clutch moments, rather, they always inevitably choke or something bad happens. The same with the Bills. I'll be honest, being in my 50's I probably have PTSD from it lol. It's such an agonizing experience being a fan of Buffalo sports. We waited 14 years and the people came back immediately only to be let down and embarrassed yet again. I just want to win one championship lol.

Not a shot, but am shocked that you're only in your 50's.  Was sure you were as old as @pastajoe who's at least mid-60's if not mid-late 70's.

Even if the Sabres get blown out tomorrow, they did not embarrass themselves nor us.  And btw, they ain't getting blown out tomorrow.  😉 

They had the misfortune of the Habs winning their 1st round series on a game where they only got 9 shots the entire game and the 2 pucks that went into the net wouldn't even have been shots if not for deflecting off Bolt players.  The Habs and Sabres have played each other very tightly for at least 6 years if not a full decade.  Both have been building quick young teams and they're very difficult matchups for each.  Sabres would be gameplanning for the Canes now had the Bolts been able to score more than 1 in game 7; they couldn't and the Sabres are still trying to figure out Moe-ray-all.  But whether they figure them out 2 times or only 1 or none; it's been a great season (at least since December 9) and as frustrating as the 1st 2 months were the last 5 have been that much enjoyable.

Why should they win tomorrow?  Why shouldn't they?