Sens trying to surpass the Sabres

[ricogarion]

Its a warning that must be respected as the Senators have been playing some great hockey while our Sabres have not been arguably playing at the top of their game.Its imperative that the Boys get back to the basics that make Sabres hockey such a pleasure to watch,again its good to be King but others lurk that want your throne!

Ottawa lurking for 'scary' playoff rematch

By Tim Schmitt
Greater Niagara Newspapers

Noticed who’s climbed closest to the Sabres in the Eastern Conference?

It’s former nemesis Ottawa, which has quietly been the league’s best team through the past two months, losing in regulation just twice since Feb. 1. Of a possible 22 points in February, the Sens got 18. In March, they’ve taken 18 of 24. And they’ve gone 7-0-4 in their last 11, climbing to 96 points in the process.

Buffalo has done a better job in the season’s second half, handing the Sens one of those two aforementioned losses.

But this team is as loaded as any, and still mad as heck about the Sabres’ dismantling of them in the playoffs. If Ray Emery stays good and Ottawa keeps skating, the Sabres have a wired bear to tangle with in Round 2.

http://www.niagara-gazette.com/local/local_story_084231809.html

[sukie]

Funny that you started this thread.. I just mentioned the Sens hell nnipping us in response to your post about worst D man.

[bduff54]

yeah, they are really playing well. they could be a stong contender in the east. To be honest i think this might be there year, they have not had it easy this year and have battled as a team to get where they are.

[sukie]

I'm getting nervous. Our next three games are HUUUUUUGE!!!

[ricogarion]

You always have your fingers on the pulse of the Sabres, Sukie!

[anEinherjer]

For a dude, sukie, you sure act like a ninny little girl most of the time.

Now is the time for calm, for concentration of the mind and body before the war. It's all good! I worry not about the Sens, we can take them in 7, because we will be interested in actually playing. And last I checked, we're still a handful of points ahead of them.

[sukie]

Sens...

March27... home BOSTON
March 30... home Montreal
March 31... away Islanders
April 3... away Jersey
April 5... home Pittsburgh
April 7... away Boston

[sukie]

For a dude, sukie, you sure act like a ninny little girl most of the time.

Now is the time for calm, for concentration of the mind and body before the war. It's all good! I worry not about the Sens, we can take them in 7, because we will be interested in actually playing. And last I checked, we're still a handful of points ahead of them.

Just a Buffalo fn pre-emptively looking for the fall. I know it sucks but it IS a conditioned response.

[anEinherjer]

:rofl:

Fair enough man, but I choose not to live such a life. Grab it by the balls and see it through. We're going to win this year. And the Sens are not going to catch us, don't worry. They'll be in 4th, there will be one or two upsets in round 1, and we won't have to face them - they'll choke long before we get a chance to do it to 'em.

[sukie]

I have 10 more years of the conditioning than you... It is harder for me.

[ricogarion]

For a dude, sukie, you sure act like a ninny little girl most of the time.

Now is the time for calm, for concentration of the mind and body before the war. It's all good! I worry not about the Sens, we can take them in 7, because we will be interested in actually playing. And last I checked, we're still a handful of points ahead of them.

Its tough to see the Sabres on cruise control as they take a terrible beating.Physically speaking the Leafs cracked them at every opportunity and because the Sabres did not feel like skating they caught many hits.I saw Miller get hit a few times also by Toronto players in the crease while Sabres defenseman idly watched.I just can't ever accept that style as the Sabres are way to good to go down like that.

[anEinherjer]

I agree Rico, it's hard to watch. Thank ye the gods for Tivo so I could FF thru most of Sat night's game.

But to extrapolate that crap to think the Sens will catch us? Bah.

[Carl J. Ironsides]

Ottawa has neither the heart nor the goaltending. They'll be a pain in the ass if we have to face them in the playoffs, but better than us they are not.

[beTough54]

Do people have their brains wiped in every offseason?

The Senators haven't played well in the playoffs since their inception in 1992. They lost Sabres killer Havlat and monster D-man Chara and replaced them with... nothing. They are not a serious threat to the Sabres.

[biggbrd27]

You always have your fingers on the pulse of the Sabres, Sukie!

That's assuming they have one. They have sunk firmly into IDGAS (I Don't Give A S***) land. The lacksadaisical, non chalant play they have exhibited as of late is a slap in the face to the fans who have shelled out the big bucks for regular and now postseason (exorbitant $$$$) to make Tommy G and Darcy happy. Perhaps they should not spend so much non-energy resting on their laurels and press clippings. Some of these guys, especially the D, notably Kalinin, Campbell and Spacek look positively comatose every single night...

[sukie]

Do people have their brains wiped in every offseason?

The Senators haven't played well in the playoffs since their inception in 1992. They lost Sabres killer Havlat and monster D-man Chara and replaced them with... nothing. They are not a serious threat to the Sabres.

Past performances mean nothing.. Each event is mutually exclusive.

[sukie]

Ottawa has neither the heart nor the goaltending. They'll be a pain in the ass if we have to face them in the playoffs, but better than us they are not.

Oh and our goaltending is so much more stellar?

[bduff54]

emery has been playing well this year, where have you been tubist?

[ricogarion]

I have no doubt that our goaltending is better than most

[sukie]

Not NYR or Canucks or Devils goaltending. Isles' DiPietro looks like he's on fire now

[beTough54]

Past performances mean nothing.. Each event is mutually exclusive.

Ah ok.

So a team with zero players with playoff experience versus a team with 11 Stanley Cup winners has exactly the same chance. Got it.

[Carl J. Ironsides]

Ah ok.

So a team with zero players with playoff experience versus a team with 11 Stanley Cup winners has exactly the same chance. Got it.

As usual, BT gets it.

Question for you, sukie: Ryan Miller's past playoff performance means nothing to you? Last I checked, he got it done last year behind a depleted defense, while Emery sucked. He can't handle the puck well, and he's incapable of stepping up when it matters.

I get that you have some sort of anti-Miller feelings, but back it the hell down. I'll take Miller on my team any day in a game that we have to win.

[sukie]

Mutually exclusive. Past performance means squat... If he blows this year then you will be saying he sucks only half as much due to last year?

You'd take miller over any of the 8 or 9 better goalies in the league? Homer.

[Carl J. Ironsides]

Rough day for you, sukie. First you cower in fear over the Senators, then try to tell everyone Miller isn't good.

Yikes.

[JLB]

Rough day for you, sukie. First you cower in fear over the Senators, then try to tell everyone Miller isn't good.

Yikes.

He's just playin.

How's my beard 19 you puttin one on Carrie?

Let's kick some ass!

[sukie]

No i din't say he isn't good. I meant by my posts that he isn't great.

[slowpokemcgee]

We should be fine. We have a game in hand on them and enough of a lead that even if Ottawa wins out, we should still win enough to take the East.

[M76]

miller is good NOT GREAT .. i dont get how we have a great defense and a great goalie but they never seem to both be playing great at the same time .. ottawa should scare people but the sabs realistically can't lose the east lead.. sens prob. will collpase in the playoffs but that isn't a given ever

[ricogarion]

Man I can't see the Miller comments how can people turn their nose up to him so fast? I really feel were in great shape in that regard,our goalkeeper is not an issue as far as I am concerned.

[sukie]

Netminding is okay going forward.

[ricogarion]

Looking beyond the goalie question if the Sabres did play the Sens again it would be a series of hatred from the opening face-off till the teams shaking hands at the end.

[SabresInVa]

I think our magic point number is 111. If we hit that, we're #1.

[SabresFan220]

Well looking at things we have a 2 game pt edge on Ottawa, we'd have to drop a few games in our last 7 for them to pass us. I'm more concerned about Pittsburgh going into the playoffs than Ottawa. Pittsburgh will get all the calls because of Crosby and Malkin and the whole relocation issue. Their powerplay will be dangerous, make no mistake about that. We'll hold off Ottawa because the guys will bear down under pressure and hold the #1 spot.

I can see Pittsburgh passing New Jersey, thereby forcing Ottawa to deal with the Jersey trap and Brodeur in round #1. If Ottawa does us a favor and takes the Devils out, I won't be scared of them in round 2. Remember who their leaders are, Alfredsson disappears in the playoffs like Houdini, and where was Heatley last year? Spezza, Vermette, and Schafer worry me more than them. That and Chris Neil's elbows, of course Schafer's then too. That's assuming that the #6 and #3 series doesn't go the way of #6. Whether that #6 team is the Rangers, Tampa, or Atlanta they could knock out the #3 team who wouldn't be much better than them. In which case Pittsburgh are the ones dealing with New Jersey or Ottawa, not us.

[Iggy72]

Well looking at things we have a 2 game pt edge on Ottawa, we'd have to drop a few games in our last 7 for them to pass us. I'm more concerned about Pittsburgh going into the playoffs than Ottawa. Pittsburgh will get all the calls because of Crosby and Malkin and the whole relocation issue. Their powerplay will be dangerous, make no mistake about that. We'll hold off Ottawa because the guys will bear down under pressure and hold the #1 spot.

I can see Pittsburgh passing New Jersey, thereby forcing Ottawa to deal with the Jersey trap and Brodeur in round #1. If Ottawa does us a favor and takes the Devils out, I won't be scared of them in round 2. Remember who their leaders are, Alfredsson disappears in the playoffs like Houdini, and where was Heatley last year? Spezza, Vermette, and Schafer worry me more than them. That and Chris Neil's elbows, of course Schafer's then too. That's assuming that the #6 and #3 series doesn't go the way of #6. Whether that #6 team is the Rangers, Tampa, or Atlanta they could knock out the #3 team who wouldn't be much better than them. In which case Pittsburgh are the ones dealing with New Jersey or Ottawa, not us.

You know, I was actually thinking the same thing. Pittsburgh and Ottawa according to the media are duking it out for 4th, but the Pens can actually take 3rd.

Either way, whether it's a run and gun team like Ottawa and Pittsburgh, or a trap team like NJ, the Sabres have to be at their best this playoff run. If no one dogs it, we'll be fine. If they take even one night off (e.g., Game 4 of the ECF last year) that will be trouble.

Pax.
Iggy72

[TheAnswer74]

Its just like last year. Sabres ran out of games, came to within 1 point of the Sens last year. I cant say Im not nervous, I do live in Buffalo.

[LetTheJillsPlay]

"When We Know the Results of the Future, It Will Already Be the Past"

-Me- 3/26/07

On any given day, anybody can beat anybody. S**t happens, injuries occur and pucks bounce the right or wrong way.

No use in stressin' it until gameday.

[BuffaloSoldier2]

Ottawa has neither the heart nor the goaltending. They'll be a pain in the ass if we have to face them in the playoffs, but better than us they are not.

Miller has a GAA of 2.79 (23th in the league). Emery's GAA is 2.48 (13th). Miller's save percentage is .910 (16th). Emery is .919 (6th).

I would much rather have Miller. However dismissing a 24 year old goalie who has obviously improved because of last year is stupid IMO. I just hope the Sabres don't share your attitude because it will get you beat.

[Ralonzo]

Emery doesn't scare me. He fights the puck more than he fights opponents.

[ricogarion]

Sounds like some one else wasn't to fond of the Sabres performance over the weekend and heading into the playoffs:

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070327/SPORTS02/703270309/1007/SPORTS

Maybe now coach Lindy Ruff has the Buffalo Sabres' attention.

Unhappy with his team's performance of late, and with two weeks left in the regular season, Ruff put the Eastern Conference-leading Sabres through a grueling 90-minute practice Monday: a not-so-subtle reminder that this is not the time to let up.

"There were some parts of our game I was embarrassed about," Ruff said, still stewing over a 4-1 loss at Toronto on Saturday. "We're not going to hide from it. We're not happy with the way we played."