- The best team in the Eastern Conference only scored two goals against us, only one of them coming from the now legendary line (enter eye-roll here) of Heatley, Spezza, and Alfredsson.
- Despite taking way too many penalties - way too many - our penalty kill did a solid job, killing off every last one of them.
- The Sabres got a solid start from Jocelyn Thibault. Yes, he had some luck on his side - I don't think I've ever seen the Senators miss the net so many times - but he also came up with some big saves. Mark and I discussed whether or not the team relies too much on Ryan Miller when he's in net because they really looked like a different team through stretches of tonight's game. Mark said it's the Jim Kelly/Frank Reich effect - the Bills always played a little harder for Frank. I can't comment on the accuracy of that since I wasn't in Buffalo at the time, but I'll take his word for it. At any rate, the point is this: Guys, Ryan needs your help, too!
- We were in the game despite missing a fair number of bodies. Underachieving or no, Derek Roy, Maxim Afinogenov, and Tim Connolly are important parts of the team as it's currently built. And in addition to that, the defense played short-handed for most of the game with Jaroslav Spacek leaving with back spasms. Aside from the poor powerplay - seriously, it was awful - I would even say the Sabres carried the play for much of the game. I know it's annoying to hear, "If we play like that, most nights we're going to win," but tonight it's kind of true.
- Lindy, with a little assist from me, held Thomas Vanek out of the shootout at first despite two of our usual shooters (Afinogenov and Connolly) being out. (For the record, all previous mentions of Lindy reading my blog have been completely in jest, but I'm beginning to get suspicious...) But when Lindy did go to Vanek, with the game on the line, Vanek bucked up and scored. Go, Van, go! (Is there a team optometrist? Has anyone thought of checking Thomas's eyes? Maybe that could explain missing those can't-miss shots during regulation and overtime?)
- And perhaps most importantly, Paul Gaustad made Chris Neil bleed. The phone rang during the first period and we didn't answer it. (We don't answer the phone very much anyway but we definitely don't answer during a game.) During intermission Mark checked the voicemail and heard the following message from his 70-something mother: "GAUSTAD BLOODIED CHRIS NEIL! YEAAAAAH! GO, GAUSTAD!" Did I mention that I love Mark's family?
I will say this... While I do think Roy, Afinogenov, and Connolly are important (I know our PP hasn't scored much lately but somehow it looks even worse without Timmy), the guys who play hard and show some effectiveness should play. Clarke MacArthur should be in the line-up until he does something to deserve not being there. He was arguably our best forward tonight, I thought.
Also, I love Jochen Hecht - he's my first-half MVP and it's not even close in my book - but Lindy, really? Yo-Yo in a shootout? His thing is bouncing pucks off of goalie's backs and stuff like that. He can't carry the puck in on a breakaway and score. Too bad Spacek had to leave the game. I'm sure he would've nailed it!
Loved the round-table discussion about fighting in the NHL. I am truly shocked to learn to Rob Ray considers it important. Shocked, I tell you! And I loved this quote from Mike Robitaille: "Hockey is like a war without the killing." Deep, Robi. Very deep.
7 comments:
Wait, Lindy actually put Yo-Yo in on the shootout?! Surely not as one of the first three shooters, right? Was it a complete mess? Did he shoot it at the goaltender's chest, somehow manage to hit both posts and the crossbar, and then have it deflect out of play? Oh, I can just imagine!
Gambler, Yo-Yo was the 6th shooter so no, Lindy didn't completely lose his mind. And with Max and Timmy out his options were getting a little thin. I can't remember for sure but I'm pretty sure Yo-Yo hit Gerber in the chest. Shocking, isn't it? :-)
I never considered the Jim Kelly/Frank Reich effect beforeas it applies here. This postulate excites me!
And with Max and Timmy out his options were getting a little thin.
I assume Roy would also have gone before Yo-Yo, so that puts him what, 9th in Lindy's normal shoot out rotation? Hecht it now 0 for 2 in his career (I'm a little bit obsessed with looking up shootout stats now).
I don't know why Lindy wouldn't have tried a d-man like Campbell at that point and with so many others out.
As for replacements - how long are we going to keep Peters for being what, a nice guy. He brings nothing to the game, has no skills, doesn't lead, doesn't hit, doesn't check, never scores. There's got to be someone who can do at least one of those things for the a half mil.
AT LAST! Another MacArthur fan.
Everytime this year he's been called up, he's been insane. There has got to be some way to work it so this guy can be up here full time. I don't know what it is but it is almost like he ignites the others with his play.
and yay Thibault! He did not give me dry heaves with his play last night which is an accomplishment on par with the moonlanding.
Matt (BOP): I assuming that means the Kelly/Reich effect did exist? So my husband does know what he's talking about! :-)
Meg: I forgot about Derek but yeah, I'm sure he would've gone before Jochen too. I'm not sure how I feel about the shootout, but I do think it's interesting to see who's good at them and who isn't and how it often doesn't line up with real-game effectiveness.
grumps: We were wondering why Soupy never gets a shot too. I don't know how he would be on a breakaway but again, Jochen? Come on, Lindy! I totally agree with you on Peters and am actually planning on eventually addressing that in more detail. But for now, yeah, word.
red guitar: Clarke's play hasn't been perfect but if nothing else, he's playing hard which is more than most of the team has been doing lately. No doubt he should be in the regular line-up.
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