SabreCast Blog Archive
The Weak, the Soft, the Shameful
Thursday, March 4th, 2010 10:47 pm
Have you ever seen a team so uninspired in games of such importance? It's not like mailing one in against the Islanders when you're sitting in the 10-spot, this is a team that is on the cusp of winning the division and could even make a run at the 2-seed. From what we've seen since the midway point of the road trip the team is playing like it's tanking for the top draft pick. It's disgusting, a team of clowns with the complacency of a team of sloths. Does someone need to remind these guys they haven't won anything? Would it really make a difference?
Best Wins of the 00’s, Number Three
Sunday, January 31st, 2010 3:44 pm
It was a frustrating time for Sabres Nation. The march to the Stanley Cup finals was not supposed to be this difficult for a team that had led the league in goals scored on their way to the President's Trophy. The team had dispensed of the New York Islanders in five workman-like games, and had taken the first two games of the next series, which were played in Buffalo. The Sabres were going to finish off a sweep- or at worst, another five game win- and head on to the conference finals, one step closer to the Stanley Cup the team had spent all year putting reservations on. Suddenly, however, someone pulled the power on the Sabres' high powered offense.
Road Trip Ruminations
Thursday, January 28th, 2010 2:02 pm
Okay, so staying up until one or one-thirty in the morning to watch hockey with work the next morning is not as fun as I had anticipated. Granted, the games- or at least their conclusions- were at times so maddening that it was difficult to fall asleep, so maybe had the team played better it would have actually been enjoyable.
Devils and Kings and Canucks, oh my: eve of the roadtrip
Thursday, January 14th, 2010 12:11 am
Luckily, none of those four things are going to happen, and with the team sitting near the top of the Eastern Conference, winning nearly 3 of every 4 games, there is nothing wrong with expecting them to come out of the road trip with similar results. Ruff said earlier today that a 'successful' road trip would be nine or ten points, a number exceeding my preliminary hopes for seven or eight, simply going .500 for the next two weeks.
Top Wins of the Decade: Number Four
Tuesday, January 5th, 2010 11:47 pm
The story is pretty well known by now. Following the game five loss in Raleigh, coach Lindy Ruff left his cell phone behind in the hotel room and would depart for Buffalo without it. Upon receiving a call from the hotel offering to mail it back to him, Ruff replied something along the lines of "don't worry, we'll be back on Thursday" (the presumptive day of game seven). By this time the buzz around Western New York was electric, the birth of the car flag craze, the storefronts and signs normally reserved for advertisements now bearing messages wishing the Sabres well on their improbable run to the Stanley Cup Finals. Sure, we trailed 3-2 and sure, Carolina had previously won all four of the Game 6's they had played while in that position, but aside from feeling that there was still some magic left in the tank, there was a prevailing notion that had evolved over the series that Carolina just wasn't that good.
So About This Year’s Team…
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 12:17 am
It sounds silly to say, but I think we all want to say it: there's just something. Patrick Lalime, who had Sabres fans itching to pack his luggage and sell his house for him, comes in and has his third outstanding outing in a row, when it appeared to be nothing more than a conditioning assignment. Tyler Myers, the rookie defenseman charged with putting the cap on Malkin and Crosby not only did so, but put Malkin on his rather large behind with timing running out to stymie what could have been a tying opportunity.
Top Wins of the Decade: Number Five
Monday, December 28th, 2009 10:43 pm
For a team that was quite unimpressive before a lockout canceled the 2004-2005 season, it was amazing what a few rule changes could do for the Sabres, who skated to a forth seeded finish, which could have been higher had we not been blessed with being in the same division as Ottawa, but that is neither her nor there. The first round matchup with the Flyers was the clash of new versus old, of the establishment versus the upstart, of the traditionalists versus the innovators. While the Sabres had adapted to the new rule changes and offensively thrived, the Flyers maintained their pre-lockout style of intimidation and brute strength on their way to a fifth seeded finish, setting up the third playoff matchup of the decade between Buffalo and Philadelphia.
Top 5 of the Decade: Worst Losses
Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 11:47 pm
One warning, some of these lists may cause strong feelings of disdain and melancholy, and this one is certainly one of them, which is why it will lead us off and give us plenty of time to forget. The criteria was based on pain and disappointment, not by score, and if you feel rightly depressed being brought back to these dark days, just remind yourself the Sabres are at the top of the Northeast Division coming off last night's great win at Montreal. Even if that will provide little solace.
The Reasonable Argument for ‘Shooooooot,’ and Other Observations
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 9:21 pm
Far too often these challenges result in a simple turnover in the offensive zone or a drop pass to no one. Couple this with our defensemen's penchant for playing incredibly far up on the rush, and suddenly the teams bad habit of giving up more than a couple odd man rushes a game seems to make sense. Myers, certainly the defenseman with the best nose for the puck (but still learning what to do when he actually has the puck) has been a repeat offender this season, attempting numerous drop passes in the neutral zone which more than once have resulted in Miller finding the puck behind him. These mental lapses are not the result of poor play or taking a night off- though those certainly exacerbate the situation- but simply a predictable result of gambling one too many times.
The Sabres’ Inconvenient Truth
Monday, December 7th, 2009 9:31 pm
You would be certainly be forgiven for missing it, especially if you don't watch hockey with one eye cocked at the Sabres bench, but Jhonas Enroth was in Buffalo for the team's pair of games hosting Montreal and the Rangers. Of course, like 23 of the previous 26 games this season, there was little for the backup goaltender to do but fist bump his teammates at intermission and look stylish in a team wool cap. Therefore it has been all too easy to remain blissfully ignorant to the fact that there is an achillies heel to this very talented, very scrappy team that could destroy not only our pie-in-the-sky dreams of a Stanley Cup parade down Delaware Avenue, but of a playoff appearance altogether: our backup goaltending situation.
Can the Sabres REALLY Make the Playoffs?
Saturday, March 14th, 2009 11:25 am
The Sabres are only 3 points out of the Playoffs with 14 games remaining. The Sabres have the talent, but I'm not sure if they have the drive. Here is what I think the Sabres need in order to make it...
Trade Deadline Day Analysis
Wednesday, March 4th, 2009 9:29 pm
Today, March 4th marked the last day for NHL teams to make trades until after the playoffs. The Sabres made a few trades, but nothing really substantial and I'm left wondering, did they do enough?
Can the Sabres Win Without Vanek?
Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 7:30 pm
The short answer is YES, the Sabres can win without Thomas Vanek. However, if they continue to play as they have, they run a huge risk of dropping out of the playoff picture.
Connolly’s Injury Now Week-to-Week
Tuesday, November 18th, 2008 8:59 pm
Tim Connolly sustained, what was referred to as, an "upper body bruise" after being body checked by Keith Tkachuk during the Sabres win over St. Louis on November 12, 2008. Sabres.com is reporting that Connolly's injury will now be evaluated on a week-to-week basis.
Four Sabres on All-Star Ballot
Wednesday, November 5th, 2008 10:02 pm
The NHL announced the ballots for fan voting for the All-Star game yesterday. Sabres players chosen included Ryan Miller, Thomas Vanek, Derek Roy, and Teppo Numminen.
Rivet Out for Two Weeks
Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008 8:25 pm
According to Sabres.com, Craig Rivet has had arthroscopic knee surgery and will miss at least two weeks. Nathan Paetsch will take Rivet's spot in the lineup.
Sabres Perfect After Four
Saturday, October 18th, 2008 2:17 pm
The Buffalo Sabres have had a perfect start to the season, going 4-0 in their first four games. Not only have the Sabres had success, but they have looked the part as well. The Sabres have been very good offensively, defensively, and in goal.
Sabres Name Rivet as Captain
Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 10:00 pm
It was reported today that Lindy Ruff has named newcomer Craig Rivet as the Captain of the Buffalo Sabres for the entire 2008-09 season.
Sabres Assign Eight to Portland
Friday, October 3rd, 2008 10:09 pm
WGR 550 reported today that eight more players on the Sabres training camp roster have been assigned to Portland.
Sabres Preseason Report #2
Tuesday, September 30th, 2008 8:39 pm
The Buffalo Sabres have now played four out of seven total preseason games. Our last report focused on the first two games, so this will pick up on the last two versus the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Minnesota Wild.