GAME THREAD: Pens at Sabres 12/17

[nfreeman]

The Sabres are on their way to the playoffs. But do you really want them matching up with another team with Fitzpatrick, Peters and Grier in the lineup? Call me greedy. First all I wanted was a playoff spot. Now that I seem to be getting that? I want home ice. Pick up a blueliner, call up Thornburn and waive Peters and the Sabres will be on their way.

 

 

DeLuca -- I've become a believer in Grier. The Drury line has become more and more effective and I think a lot of the credit has to go to Grier. He's not flashy but he seems to make the right play a lot of the time. He also is a good checker, with size. We have plenty of nifty small guys -- there is still room for a bigger (albeit slower and less skilled) guy who does the dirty work and can be trusted not to make a big mistake.

 

As far as Peters and Fitzpatrick -- I think each is useful to have as a spare part. Once Kalinin is back, Fitzpatrick will go back to being a healthy scratch most nights, but we still need him in case someone gets hurt. As far as Peters -- I know many people disagree, but I think until the NHL bans fighting we still need him at least to be available.

[deluca67]

 

DeLuca -- I've become a believer in Grier. The Drury line has become more and more effective and I think a lot of the credit has to go to Grier. He's not flashy but he seems to make the right play a lot of the time. He also is a good checker, with size. We have plenty of nifty small guys -- there is still room for a bigger (albeit slower and less skilled) guy who does the dirty work and can be trusted not to make a big mistake.

 

As far as Peters and Fitzpatrick -- I think each is useful to have as a spare part. Once Kalinin is back, Fitzpatrick will go back to being a healthy scratch most nights, but we still need him in case someone gets hurt. As far as Peters -- I know many people disagree, but I think until the NHL bans fighting we still need him at least to be available.

Grier has 9 points and is a -9. All this for $1.3 million?

 

Last night he was horrible and was benched.

 

He has a good shift here and there. But those are too few and too far between. I couldn't find a complete stat sheet for the year. But I would guess he has more turnovers then hits this season.

 

Grier is big, slow and not very effective. Most of the rallies the Pens could muster happened with Grier on the ice. WHich is why he was benched.

 

As far as the other two?

 

Fitzpatrick should be in the ROC. He is weak along the boards and makes poor decisions. Like shhoting the puck into the defenders legs instead of dumping into the corner with less then two minutes to play. This resulted in a Pens rush and the Sabres had trouble clearing after that.

 

Peters. Compeltely useless.

[Guest brihs2005]

DeLuca - last night Grier got hurt, he wasn't benched. Also he is out there most penalty kills, which will lead to his +/- being lower than an offensive specialist like Kotalik. Grier isn't putting up points but i think he is a valuable member of the team in and out of the locker room. He is physical, can play comfortably on both sides of the rink and is one of our best defensive forwards.

[pwner]

Grier has 9 points and is a -9. All this for $1.3 million?

 

Last night he was horrible and was benched.

 

He has a good shift here and there. But those are too few and too far between. I couldn't find a complete stat sheet for the year. But I would guess he has more turnovers then hits this season.

 

Grier is big, slow and not very effective. Most of the rallies the Pens could muster happened with Grier on the ice. WHich is why he was benched.

 

As far as the other two?

 

Fitzpatrick should be in the ROC. He is weak along the boards and makes poor decisions. Like shhoting the puck into the defenders legs instead of dumping into the corner with less then two minutes to play. This resulted in a Pens rush and the Sabres had trouble clearing after that.

 

Peters. Compeltely useless.

Grier was injured Friday night and played hurt the rest of the game. He was still injured Saturday and obviously couldn't play through it. He wasn't benched.

 

Fitzpatrick is trash (PUT JILLSON OR JANIK IN) and Peters blows, but Grier is an important grinder that will be a huge asset in the playoffs.

[LabattBlue]

Pittsburgh was going through the motions in the 2nd period last night and the Sabres should have buried them when they had the chance. The 3rd period was so bad, I was wishing the clock away, so I could get the heck out of there.

 

- Thibeault sucks. Score should have been 7-1 after two periods.

 

- Power play continues to be very good.

 

- A win is a win.

 

- Peters is useless. Odelein was laughing at him every time Peters tried to lure him into a fight.

 

- Drury has really turned it around from when he started the season with 2 points in 8 games and was invisible on the ice.

 

- The Pens pissed away a ton of money on Gonchar, Recchi, Palffy & LeClair. That being said, Crosby is the real deal. I don't think he is Gretzky or Lemieux like, but he will be a top 5 player in the NHL for many years to come.

 

- I don't know if Mair got a star last night, but he was one of the best players on the ice last night for the Sabres.

[GGM]

Grier was injured Friday night and played hurt the rest of the game. He was still injured Saturday and obviously couldn't play through it. He wasn't benched.

 

Fitzpatrick is trash (PUT JILLSON OR JANIK IN) and Peters blows, but Grier is an important grinder that will be a huge asset in the playoffs.

I can't believe that I agree with someone named pwner, but I do. Grier is a plodding, consistant, "worker bee". He may suck at stick handling and be a bit slow, but he gets open for breakaways a lot, and creates chances for others by forechecking and just being "in the way". He is willing to take the beatings in front of the net and seems to be able to tip shots on goal awful well. In short, he represents everything that makes this team good.

 

Fitzpatrick just doesn't do a thing for me. Every time I see him out on the ice, I cringe. That would make him the ONLY player on this team that makes me feel that way (since Peters being out there may at least mean a good fight). Either Kalinin needs to get healthy, (and back to playing well,) or we need another blueliner.

[deluca67]

DeLuca - last night Grier got hurt, he wasn't benched. Also he is out there most penalty kills, which will lead to his +/- being lower than an offensive specialist like Kotalik. Grier isn't putting up points but i think he is a valuable member of the team in and out of the locker room. He is physical, can play comfortably on both sides of the rink and is one of our best defensive forwards.

Power Play goals don't count against the +/-. Nice try though.

[deluca67]

Grier was injured Friday night and played hurt the rest of the game. He was still injured Saturday and obviously couldn't play through it. He wasn't benched.

 

Fitzpatrick is trash (PUT JILLSON OR JANIK IN) and Peters blows, but Grier is an important grinder that will be a huge asset in the playoffs.

I'm sure Grier was hurt :lol:

 

He must have been hurt all season.

 

The only thing Grier grinds is the the Sabres offense to a grinding hault. I'm starting to think the reason Drury's +/- is so bad is because he has to play with Grier.

 

The best thing about Grier is that his contract is for only one year. I will guess that if any trade is made to bring in a top blueliner? Grier will going the other way to even the salaries up without committing the other team long term to Grier.

[deluca67]

I can't believe that I agree with someone named pwner, but I do. Grier is a plodding, consistant, "worker bee". He may suck at stick handling and be a bit slow, but he gets open for breakaways a lot, and creates chances for others by forechecking and just being "in the way". He is willing to take the beatings in front of the net and seems to be able to tip shots on goal awful well. In short, he represents everything that makes this team good.

 

Fitzpatrick just doesn't do a thing for me. Every time I see him out on the ice, I cringe. That would make him the ONLY player on this team that makes me feel that way (since Peters being out there may at least mean a good fight). Either Kalinin needs to get healthy, (and back to playing well,) or we need another blueliner.

The "others" you refer to? Do you mean the other team ;)

[shrader]

Pick up a blueliner, call up Thornburn and waive Peters and the Sabres will be on their way.

I'd rather have Peters as the 13th forward over Thorburn. The kid needs to be playing every night and that won't happen in Buffalo with our top 12 healthy. Now, if someone gets hurt, by all means call up Thorburn, but don't waste him away in the press box.