Comments on: Are You Not Entertained?

By: The Rick

The Rick — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:25:06 +0000

With the Olympics and compressed season we need to get the points against the teams we should be beating or else we won’t even make the playoffs. It’s easy to get excited with this team, last year it was the same story. We need consistancy and 60 minute efforts. TML game was a vast improvement from Sat.

By: Phil

Phil — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:44:42 +0000

What Kate said.

By: Kate

Kate — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:22:52 +0000

You know, I’m fine with this “stop and start” approach to learning how to a good hockey team. I think I’d be suspicious if they were suddenly “all good, all the time”. Why on earth would they suddenly shed everything we’ve come to recognize as “them” this season? The fact that they’ve been able to recover from their dips into suckitude has been heartening and an indication that maybe, MAYBE, they’re finally learning something (maybe).

Also, in ’06 we saw a team come barreling out of that gate, start to fold late in the season and then ultimately play without passion in the playoffs. I’d rather the pacing of the season go the other way around.

A little adversity now might serve them well in the spring.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:44:27 +0000

I think you’re being a little harsh on the Sabres. I think they’re better than last year, but teams don’t change overnight, and you’re right in that there have been more than a few games this year that have been shades of the past two years. Leadership is slowly starting to coalesce on this team in a way that wasn’t always present before. I think the encouraging thing to take away from Carolina is that Rivet, Gaustad and Kaleta were out. That’s a lot of the soul of this team, and they still found a way to win. Yes Carolina is bad, but the Sabres didn’t win in a shootout or 2-1. They put them away with authority, and that’s not something we saw last year.

By: Mark B

Mark B — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:07:10 +0000

This team definitely has issues, and it’s firmly focused on our questionable top six. And even with the added leadership of Grier, they still play down to their opponents and have trouble playing hard for 60 minutes. Hope this changes.

By: The Rick

The Rick — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:15:04 +0000

Ryan I totally agree with you. Where I thought Friday’s game was well played. I was very frustrated on Saturday. 2 point is great anytime you get it, but against better opponents 60 mins are definately needed. Most teams you cannot show up for 20 mins and win. With the exception of Goose, Miller and Grier I see very little effort or heart being put forth on a regular basis. With Goose out, someone is going to need to step up

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:12:48 +0000

Wow, seriously? The Sabres won back-to-back games. Guess how many times that happened last year? Once, in April. Yes we played 2 bad periods against the worst team in the NHL. You think the Hurricanes weren’t desperate for that win? There are no easy wins in the salary-cap NHL. Washington lost to Toronto recently. Pittsburgh lost to the Islanders. Detroit is losing to everyone.

Ryan Miller is the 4th-highest paid goalie in the league, and he’s outplaying the three guys ahead of him. Why shouldn’t we rely heavily on him? Yes, we had a 4 game losing streak. We’re still 1 point out of the division lead, with 3 games in hand on Boston. These are not last year’s Sabres. I don’t understand the negativity.