Post-Game Talk (GBU): The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly -- Welcome Back Thomas Vanek!

[Wisent42]

So, from this thread, the most I can gather is that Scott Hartnell is ugly.

Seconded! He is so ugly that as a child, his mother had to tie a porkchop round his neck for the dog to play with him.

 

[JOHNBOY]

Good:
- Sabres hockey at 12:30 then playoff football at 3 and 6:30? Looks like I won't be getting anything done today.

Fixed it for you.

 

[Sabre Dance]

Hodgson lead all forwards in minutes. I thought he was outstanding honestly.

 

[The Washer]

I attribute this win and anything positive in the future to Derek Roy being of this team.

If this is how a happy TV plays, than someone should get fired for not moving him sooner.

 

[ZZamboni]

indeed he is, would still love him on the Sabres though..

I wouldn't

 

[jamers]

- While Grigorenko didn't screw up at all, he needs to do more than just not make mistakes if he's going to stay in Buffalo. 5 more performances like that and he'll be back in Quebec. He's not being put in a situation that he can really succeed in either.

Unless you just want him in on the PP, about the only way to do that is supplant Hodgson or Ennis (bad idea), or put him in the top 6 on a wing (also seems like a bad idea with the way our top 2 lines have been playing since the end of last season).

I'm sure Ruff understands that he won't get the offensive opportunities he would if he were in the top 6. I think he can certainly succeed in a third line role in his first season as a pro. It's not like he's playing with scrubs out there, like I'm seeing mentioned quite often.

Say wha?

Was it just me or did anyone else think the PP's were pretty damn good. It's not all going to be rainbows and hugs, but when we actually got in the zone and set up, the passing was superb. Which is what you want on a good PP, right?

Agreed. I still don't like how we enter the zone, but once we're there, we look pretty good honestly.

 

[start winnin]

I wouldn't

I would, he's like Foligno except uglier.

 

[Beerz]

Hodgson lead all forwards in minutes. I thought he was outstanding honestly.

First time he's impressed me.

Hopefully not the last.

 

[jamers]

I would, he's like Foligno except uglier.

I would love Hartnell on this team. One of the most talented power forwards in the league... sounds like something most fans have wanted over the last few years. I do hate him on the Flyers, however.

 

[Wisent42]

In some images, Marcus Foligno looks a bit like Michael Bolton. Don't know if that's good, bad or ugly.

 

[jBuds]

Thrilled that the sandpaper in Otter and Foligno seems to be rubbing off immediately. We weren't going to be pushed around today which is fantastic.

 

[CupWanted]

G:
Puck luck going Buffalo's way for a change.

Liked the play from both top lines. Don't see what people disliked about Ennis. He centered some nice passes but no one was home. Had lots of energy too.

Stafford going with Hartnell despite being clearly in over his head.

The power play finding a way to pot a few, but...

B:
The powerplay looked particularly ugly most of the 3rd when they were trying to take a lead. Like a Dickens novel out there. It was the best of times and it was the worst of times. Sloppy as hell on the entry.

Leo. Lot of turnovers. Took a penalty after getting beat.

Sekera on the PPG against. Although he shouldn't be the net front presence on the PK to begin with.

Myers was pretty damn bad. His goal was as seeing eye as it gets. He didn't initiate any contact. He was a giveaway waiting to happen. Hope to see better tomorrow.

U:
Hartnell. Such a punk.

 

[The Washer]

Hoppe tweeted he wasn't on the bench at one point. Skate issue makes sense. Clearly he should get his skate fixed every game.

Either that or keep the shots of 5hr energy coming..

 

[start winnin]

G:
Puck luck going Buffalo's way for a change.

Liked the play from both top lines. Don't see what people disliked about Ennis. He centered some nice passes but no one was home. Had lots of energy too.

Stafford going with Hartnell despite being clearly in over his head.

The power play finding a way to pot a few, but...

B:
The powerplay looked particularly ugly most of the 3rd when they were trying to take a lead. Like a Dickens novel out there. It was the best of times and it was the worst of times. Sloppy as hell on the entry.

Leo. Lot of turnovers. Took a penalty after getting beat.

Sekera on the PPG against. Although he shouldn't be the net front presence on the PK to begin with.

Myers was pretty damn bad. His goal was as seeing eye as it gets. He didn't initiate any contact. He was a giveaway waiting to happen. Hope to see better tomorrow.

U:
Hartnell. Such a punk.

Disagree with him being physical, he was very physical using the body everytime, in the first he looked dominant to me despite a couple miscues, I don't know what happened after that. But yeah, his puck management wasn't very good, lots of turnovers and giveaways.

 

[RattleYourSabre]

Ott really impressed me. From the opening goal to blocking a shot with no stick, all the way to driving guys into the boards.

Vanek was slow and tired at times, but that's to be expected early in a shortened season. As a whole, he looked explosive.

Hogsdon creates opportunities for himself and others. Man is he fun to watch. He looked almost exactly like he looked in Rochester earlier in the year.

 

[Tachycineta]

Good

-I, too was very impressed with Steve Ott. His number (9) kept confusing me, though b/c of the Roy trade. But yes, I was glad he was getting involved and showing some offensive flair and we need him for face offs.
-Stafford's mitts (I didn't like the facial hair, though- just b/c I am not good with change).
-Hodgson
-Vanek seemed to be all over the place. And I didn't think he was bad defensiveley but I missed the 1st period. And Pommer as well.
-The Erie Lions have finally vacated our hotel.
-Hockey's back and we get to have these discussions.
-That the Sabres players, coaches, management and ownership were greeting fans.

Bad:
-Luke Schenn
-Regehr seems slow.
Ugly:
-Scott Hartnell.

The refs- eh. I understand that the calls could have gone either way.

I don't really have too many other comments.

 

[Taro Tsujimoto]

Just got back from the game. Always nice to go and see a W!

Good:

VHP was easily our best line.
Loved Stafford beating the pulp out of Hartnell after his hit on Ennis.
The Power Play accounting for three goals.

Bad:

No RJ.
The diving call on Ott.
The majority of the second.

Ugly:

Scott Hartnell

 

[cramdizzl]

Good:
-Whole first line, offensively dynamic and defensively responsible.
-FES was pretty good, nothing spectacular though.
-Grigs played well, but Lindy obviously sheltered him against a pissed off Flyers team, which I think was a good idea. Let him a little more loose tomorrow night against TO who is not as intimidating of a squad as Philly.

And I'm too happy that we have this back to do Bad or Ugly, just don't care

 

[McCauleyChirps]

a million times better than sylvester.

take that tootoo!

 

[notHiro]

I just got back from the game, so here's my list.

G:

-Stafford was a beast all night. He was throwing checks and taking the body from the get-go, and the fight just solidified how good he was. My second star of the game, right after
-Thomas Vanek. How can you complain about a 5 point day?
-Miller was solid when he had to be, and the two goals weren't his fault.
-Ott was great. Threw his body around, was good defensively, obviously the goal.
-I liked Ennis' effort, even though he didn't make very many productive plays.

B:

-The passing was atrocious, but I guess that's to be expected.
-Not sending out Scott after Pommers got boarded. Nobody sticking up for him (Come on, Ehrhoff).
-Didn't like how unaggressive we were on the PK. Other than Hodgson, it didn't seem like anyone wanted to get in the way or rush to a man to try and poke check.

U:

-The crowd was terrible. Our corner of the building was the only one I consistently heard "Let's Go Buffalo" chants from, and it died out immediately. My section (318) was bad except for a few people, but I was so disappointed with the crowd. One of the worst I've heard, and on opening day/home opener/first game after the lockout? Come on, man.
-The goal horn is much quieter. I don't know who made that decision, but it was disheartening.

 

[1TuchAnd1NoTuch]

On the way home from the game,
G: vanek
Pommers
Hodgson
Ott
Stafford

I thought Myers had some great shifts and some bad shifts.
Grigs made a couple good plays but wasn't spectacular.
CoHo was moving well.
Ott is everything I expected and more.
Good to see a fight from stafford.
Ennis was pretty good.
Foligno was good physically, meh offensively.
Vanek and pommers were great.

 

[start winnin]

I just got back from the game, so here's my list.

G:

-Stafford was a beast all night. He was throwing checks and taking the body from the get-go, and the fight just solidified how good he was. My second star of the game, right after
-Thomas Vanek. How can you complain about a 5 point day?
-Miller was solid when he had to be, and the two goals weren't his fault.
-Ott was great. Threw his body around, was good defensively, obviously the goal.
-I liked Ennis' effort, even though he didn't make very many productive plays.

B:

-The passing was atrocious, but I guess that's to be expected.
-Not sending out Scott after Pommers got boarded. Nobody sticking up for him (Come on, Ehrhoff).
-Didn't like how unaggressive we were on the PK. Other than Hodgson, it didn't seem like anyone wanted to get in the way or rush to a man to try and poke check.

U:

-The crowd was terrible. Our corner of the building was the only one I consistently heard "Let's Go Buffalo" chants from, and it died out immediately. My section (318) was bad except for a few people, but I was so disappointed with the crowd. One of the worst I've heard, and on opening day/home opener/first game after the lockout? Come on, man.
-The goal horn is much quieter. I don't know who made that decision, but it was disheartening.

We would've negated our power play when we were down 2-1, though I wouldn't have minded if someone stood up for him. Also, interesting that you thought Stafford was good, I thought he was average at best. I did like him sticking up for Ennis though.

 

[Go to Sleep]

Yes! Vanek finally found out he plays for the Buffalo Sabres in the National Hockey League!
I don't know where he was last season. In some other world maybe.

 

[zbubble]

I don't think that second controversial flyers no goal ever crossed the line. It got about 95% over and stopped before the whistle went, then immediately was swatted out by Miller and a dman. If the whistle hadn't gone, I don't think it would have counted. I didn't see any white between the puck and the line. That was my take on it.

 

[DatsyukNumberOne*]

I'm a big Grigorenko fan so I watched this game closely, and he didn't make any mistakes really, but he also didn't standout enough. At 18 years old, unless you really standout, chances are you get sent back down..so he has 4 more games to impress.