Post-Game Talk (GBU): Well... It WAS Pardy time ...

[smitter88]

There aren't many opportunities for Chan Gailey moments in this sport...but putting Enroth back in net with 15 seconds left is about as close as they come. Were we afraid to lose by two (afraid to kick a 50 yd FG up by 5)? It shows such a disgusting level of complacency by this coach.

 

[jfb392]

Not sure how many actually thought this team had a chance to make the playoffs this year, but I'll just paint an ugly picture here for the hell of it:

If you believe work like this, .560 hockey will likely get you 8th, meaning you're looking at around .560 * [48 * 2] = 54 points.
As one can easily see, they're not even close with their current .350 pace.
With 76 points still available, they'd need a .618 pace or the equivalent of 23 wins in their remaining 38.
While that may seem somewhat doable, remember, that's just for 8th.

What an impressive hole they've dug.

 

[Woodhouse]

U: A Tale of Zone Exits at Scotiabank Place:

Buffalo's blue line looked like a unit completely overpowered and overmatched against Ottawa's puck possession system. Zone exits, in particular, were especially gruesome.

Two plays in particular stood out to me as evidence to the above; Mike Weber and Cody Hodgson flubbing what should've been an easy clear on the eventual Mika Zibanejad-Daniel Alfredsson marker, and Tyler Myers laughable effort on the Peter Regin-Chris Neil marker.

Alfredsson's goal at 14:15 in the first period simply doesn't happen if all five skaters work as a unit. But, after a defensive zone draw, Mike Weber (below) panicked, holding onto the puck and allowing Kyle Turris to apply initial pressure.

The puck eventually found Cody Hodgson in the corner working with little room, and his errant pass found Mika Zibanejad, who fed Daniel Alfredsson for the tally.

Bad play can be excusable. Lack of effort, though, is another animal entirely. Tyler Myers has really distanced the coaching staff and fan base with his lackluster play, and his attempt -- if you want to call it that -- at thwarting one Ottawa possession ended with another Senators goal.

Pictured below: Ottawa's dump-in. Note the time and space Buffalo should've had to (a) corral the puck; and (b) cleanly exit the zone.

And, here's Peter Regin -- initially at least four strides behind both Sabres skaters, and in particular, Myers -- beating both to the puck.

Myers has to assume full responsibility on that play, and didn't. Regin beat him to the corner, won the puck battle, and found the streaking Chris Neil for the last of four goals.

 

[Zman5778]

Not sure how many actually thought this team had a chance to make the playoffs this year, but I'll just paint an ugly picture here for the hell of it:

If you believe work like this, .560 hockey will likely get you 8th, meaning you're looking at around .560 * [48 * 2] = 54 points.
As one can easily see, they're not even close with their current .350 pace.
With 76 points still available, they'd need a .618 pace or the equivalent of 23 wins in their remaining 38.
While that may seem somewhat doable, remember, that's just for 8th.

What an impressive hole they've dug.

A .618 pace isn't THAT bad, we've seen this team go on stretches like that. Over an 82 game season, that's 101 points -- which is usually the 4th or 5th seed.

Is it gonna happen? Heck no. But it's not THAT bad yet.

 

[jBuds]

I totally agree with you. As soon as the whistle was blown after we almost scored and we had an offensive draw coming up I immediately watched to see if Ott would be coming onto the ice and he stayed on the bench. I saw the writing on the wall before the puck was ever dropped. Odds were totally in our favor that we'd lose that draw.

I agree on the Ott tenacity too. I think he has the desperation and willingness to sacrifice himself to try as hard as possible to win a faceoff in that sort of situation. And they don't put him out there. He's our best faceoff-man plain and simple.

Again, I love Hodgson and he was okay on the faceoffs tonight and improved over previous games earlier on this season but faceoffs are what he'll need to keep working on.

Still really wish we could have landed Konopka last summer. Our fourth line and faceoffs are both messes.

Yeah, I'm not really trying to knock Cody here...but "key faceoff wins" isn't exactly a label that's within his bailiwick, so to speak.

 

[EichHart]

Not sure how many actually thought this team had a chance to make the playoffs this year, but I'll just paint an ugly picture here for the hell of it:

If you believe work like this, .560 hockey will likely get you 8th, meaning you're looking at around .560 * [48 * 2] = 54 points.
As one can easily see, they're not even close with their current .350 pace.
With 76 points still available, they'd need a .618 pace or the equivalent of 23 wins in their remaining 38.
While that may seem somewhat doable, remember, that's just for 8th.

What an impressive hole they've dug.

Yeah, in 4 or 5 more straight losses...I am all aboard train of "Stop Winnin for Mackinnon" or the "Get Boned for Jones" sweepstakes.

 

[jBuds]

U: A Tale of Zone Exits at Scotiabank Place:

Myers took his time in retrieving that puck on the Neil goal, yes. He had just gotten onto the ice, too, so it's not like he was gassed at the end of a shift.

But he wasn't the problem tonight, and complaining about him simply to pile on him is annoying. When he plays like ****, I'll be the first one to say as much (see: GBU's of games prior to the last two).

 

[Royisgone]

U: A Tale of Zone Exits at Scotiabank Place:

A lot of posters have said Myers had a good game tonight, or was at least better than he has been.

That is like saying contracting Hepatitis C is better than gonorrhea.

This kid is beyond lost physically and mentally and looked horrid tonight, a lot of the time.

 

[Woodhouse]

Yeah, in 4 or 5 more straight losses...I am all aboard train of "Stop Winnin for Mackinnon" or the "Get Boned for Jones" sweepstakes.

My internal number was after sixteen games. Then I'll know where they stand and which tier of draft picks to watch more closely. It's looking like the obvious talents right now.

 

[jBuds]

A lot of posters have said Myers had a good game tonight, or was at least better than he has been.

That is like saying contracting Hepatitis C is better than gonorrhea.

This kid is beyond lost physically and mentally and looked horrid tonight, a lot of the time.

Your top defenseman is rarely going to play a mistake-free game. It's part of the position. You're under constant pressure being forechecked, having to make split-second decisions, etc.... Two games in a row where Myers has looked fine. Rip him when appropriate, credit him when appropriate. I don't think the last two games were games in which he looked "lost," though all the games prior were tough to watch.

Love the comparison someone made: we had a 6'8 Scott Niedermayer that we've been trying to turn into a 6'8 Chris Pronger, and we've been failing miserably in that regard.

 

[SabresBillsBuffalo]

How is Enroth a bad backup?

 

[sba]

How is Enroth a bad backup?

He's not...he plays well when he gets work. He's on the wrong team.

 

[jBuds]

How is Enroth a bad backup?

Because he doesn't get his job done, and he loses hockey games. In what world is he a good backup?

He may be talented, he may be decent enough to play in this league. But for whatever reason, he can't seem to find his way as the guy who gets called on every 2-3 weeks for a night.

Part of being a backup is knowing that you won't play much, but you're ready to contribute and do your job when you are called upon.

 

[Woodhouse]

Myers took his time in retrieving that puck on the Neil goal, yes. He had just gotten onto the ice, too, so it's not like he was gassed at the end of a shift.

But he wasn't the problem tonight, and complaining about him simply to pile on him is annoying. When he plays like ****, I'll be the first one to say as much (see: GBU's of games prior to the last two).

Where exactly did I pile on Myers? I was simply agreeing with the illustration that D-zone exits are a recurring problem for this team and it's obvious to opposing bloggers/writers too. I'm sure there are more botched exits and turnovers than the two goals Yost cited, as our D seem incapable of consistently clearing the puck no further than a yard inside our blue line on hard arounds and they also make some ugly D-to-D passes that leave their partners stretched and turn into turnovers. Those are recurring problems that stretch TOI and immediately heighten goal pressure as our opponents quickly pounce on the counter. I think they're valid criticisms, but par for the course so far with our D.

 

[jBuds]

Where exactly did I pile on Myers? I was simply agreeing with the illustration that D-zone exits are a recurring problem for this team and it's obvious to opposing bloggers/writers too. I'm sure there are more botched exits and turnovers than the two goals Yost cited, as our D seem incapable of consistently clearing the puck no further than a yard inside our blue line on hard arounds and they also make some ugly D-to-D passes that leave their partners stretched and turn into turnovers. Those are recurring problems that stretch TOI and immediately heighten goal pressure as our opponents quickly pounce on the counter. I think they're valid criticisms, but par for the course so far with our D.

Where exactly did I say "Woodhouse piled on Myers"? You copied a post that ripped him apart; you didn't, the post from wherever did. You're good.

 

[Woodhouse]

A lot of posters have said Myers had a good game tonight, or was at least better than he has been.

That is like saying contracting Hepatitis C is better than gonorrhea.

This kid is beyond lost physically and mentally and looked horrid tonight, a lot of the time.

Meh, it was an improvement from what he's been, but is that a step worth celebrating? I thought at times he did well carrying the puck away from pressure, but then there were a few sloppy passes that could've been better placed for easy clears and transitions, but that happens to all D.

If I'm going to nitpick the D, an early play stuck with me... Brennan backhanded a D-to-D pass behind the net to Sulzer under light pressure, but it was out of Sulzer's reach and Ottawa gained possession; they continued to press us in our zone until Enroth was able to freeze a SOG... I think I muttered c'mon the moment they botched that pass and knew a chance was imminent... I also was disappointed to see Brennan miss the net on two prime PP chances, though I think he'd be better served as a focal point on PP2 with his shot than in the role he had on PP1.

Where exactly did I say "Woodhouse piled on Myers"? You copied a post that ripped him apart; you didn't, the post from wherever did. You're good.

Fair enough, call it quote confusion then.

 

[jBuds]

Fair enough, call it quote confusion then.

Surprised you haven't figured out yet that I'm guilty of such confusion with high levels of frequency I tend to leave out certain points that may be pertinent to alleviating concerns of attacks my bad

 

[jfb392]

How is Enroth a bad backup?

You either need someone who can win you some games or you use the roster spot to groom a future starter.
I'd say by not being either of those things, he qualifies as being bad.

Maybe some will finally see this when he's out of the league next year and in Europe.
Nobody wants a 5'9'' goalie with the five-hole of a guy who's 6'5'' that's prone to giving up momentum leeching goals.

 

[Royisgone]

Meh, it was an improvement from what he's been, but is that a step worth celebrating? I thought at times he did well carrying the puck away from pressure, but then there were a few sloppy passes that could've been better placed for easy clears and transitions, but that happens to all D.

If I'm going to nitpick the D, an early play stuck with me... Brennan backhanded a D-to-D pass behind the net to Sulzer under light pressure, but it was out of Sulzer's reach and Ottawa gained possession; they continued to press us in our zone until Enroth was able to freeze a SOG... I think I muttered c'mon the moment they botched that pass and knew a chance was imminent... I also was disappointed to see Brennan miss the net on two prime PP chances, though I think he'd be better served as a focal point on PP2 with his shot than in the role he had on PP1.

Fair enough, call it quote confusion then.

Our problems greatly transcend Myer's regression. However, what I continue to see from him is slow thinking, and indecisiveness. In that sense I thought he was lost a lot of the time. He is not reacting without thought; he is thinking then reacting. And that hesitation often hurts Myers and the team.

His confidence right now is clearly close to zero.

I also agree that he needs to be his own man on the ice, and not stuffed into a mold he is not made for.

He will never be Scott Stevens. Why try to make him that way?

This relates to one of Ruff's main flaws as I see it. He does not make the most of what he has. Rather, he has a rigid "Ruff way of doing things" and he tries to force what he has into that approach.

In warfare, that type of approach will get you killed. The greatest military tacticians, particularly in ancient warfare, knew how to adjust to change, unpredictability, and worked with what was at hand to achieve victory.

Ruff is no Hannibal Barca, Julius Caesar, or Alexander the Great.

A great chef does not go to the market and buy ingredients A, B, and C because that is what the chef knows how to make or prefers to make, even if those ingredients are bad on a given day. He studies the entire market and finds what is of the highest quality, on that day, and then makes something good out of those ingredients.

Ruff just keeps going to the market, day after day, and buying mangoes because that is what he knows how to prepare---even if they are rotting and there is a basket of gorgeous apples sitting next to them.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

I though Pardy and Myers played much better than the craptastic performance we've seen from Myers and Leopold.

Wasn't impressed with Brennan's shot...doesn't do a damn bit of good to fire it like MacInnis if you can't even hit the net.

 

[schpaff]

This team lacks good hockey players, the roster is a shambles.

Watching Chicago and San Jose...the talent these teams can put out from top to bottom...it seems like the skill, compete level never changes.

Even with new coaching...the way this team is constructed it still has a way to go.

 

[jBuds]

You either need someone who can win you some games or you use the roster spot to groom a future starter.
I'd say by not being either of those things, he qualifies as being bad.

Maybe some will finally see this when he's out of the league next year and in Europe.
Nobody wants a 5'9'' goalie with the five-hole of a guy who's 6'5'' that's prone to giving up momentum leeching goals.

And couldn't catch a paperclip in his glove hand with a magnet in it. Worst. Glove. Ever.

I though Pardy and Myers played much better than the craptastic performance we've seen from Myers and Leopold.

Wasn't impressed with Brennan's shot...doesn't do a damn bit of good to fire it like MacInnis if you can't even hit the net.

Thank you.

Like I said in the GBU... he's here really under one notion: he has a good shot. But good shots hit the net, they don't miss 4 feet wide leading to the puck out of the zone and the other team in transition (turnover). 108mph shots are ineffective if they're wrapping around the boards into the neutral zone. Geetha Fugaudahea...NEEEEEEXT.

Any hockey mind will tell you the same thing. Good shots aren't always hard shots (by any means). They get through to the net and create scoring chances.

 

[jBuds]

This team lacks good hockey players, the roster is a shambles.

Watching Chicago and San Jose...the talent these teams can put out from top to bottom...it seems like the skill, compete level never changes.

Even with new coaching...the way this team is constructed it still has a way to go.

And we know this...we're okay with it. We aren't under the delusion that we'd compete for a Cup this year with a new coach.

AGAIN: we just wanted a team that worked hard and gave effort nightly. Combined with the concept of putting your best guys out in situations that call for their respective skillsets.

We need a new coach to take this team in the direction it is built to go in three to five years.

 

[buffalowing88]

Good:
-Vanek showing effort. He has sustained this far longer than I expected. He even backchecks.
-Pardy hitting people....I will never understand why it's a Buffalo Sabre mentality to use your stick to tap the puck against an opponent rather than use the body but clearly Pardy hasn't learned this yet.

Bad:
-Why all the love for Myers? I didn't see anything to tell me he isn't still a hesitant player with all sorts of physical potential and NO instincts.
-Enroth got screwed on some goals but he has to stop that 2nd trickler.

Ugly:-
-The book is out on Ennis. Play the body and he can't do anything. I was always scared he had the skill of Briere but the style of Afinogenov. This season has come to prove it. You can't be an open ice player if you can't control the puck.
-Foligno can't skate well enough to stay onsides with his line
-Stafford needs to drive to the net more than once a game to earn his paycheck
-Brennan is a one trick pony with his point shot and he ain't no Gragnani.
-Lindy Ruff
-Cody McCormick should never have to play a game when Scott is playing unless it's a rival. Pick one of them and call up ANY skilled AHL guy if we are playing a team who isn't physical.

 

[schpaff]

And we know this...we're okay with it. We aren't under the delusion that we'd compete for a Cup this year with a new coach.

AGAIN: we just wanted a team that worked hard and gave effort nightly. Combined with the concept of putting your best guys out in situations that call for their respective skillsets.

We need a new coach to take this team in the direction it is built to go in three to five years.

I agree.

My issue, I'm hesitant to think a new coach, scheme or game plan will change the level of play with a number of players. They're are way too many inconsistencies to put all the blame on coaching as a number of posters do.

New eyes..I'm all for it. If it were me, I wouldn't hesitate to trade anyone on this roster. Unfortunately, Buffalo would have to over spend on the talent.