What is the biggest reason for the surge?

[CoachC.]

7-0-2 since the All-Star break. 8-0-2 overall in the last ten.

What's the ONE biggest reason you attribute it to?

-Coaching
-Goaltending
-Something with the forwards
-Something with the defensemen
-Something with the special teams
-Other

Please elaborate and explain your vote when you post.

[Meathead]

securing baghdad?

[CoachC.]

securing baghdad?

Guess I could have used a different word, huh?

BTW, this was supposed to be a poll, but I forgot to hit the button. :nono:

[Meathead]

how about i rank them

a -Coaching - even the players all point to lindy when asked how they managed to turn their fortunes so dramatically. he kept telling them he liked their team, that he generally liked their effort, and that they werent getting rewarded for what was mostly solid play. that kept their confidence up enough to keep working and it is finally paying off

b - defensemen - perhaps not just the defensemen but with the entire team committment to defense. its is a dramatic difference betwen the keystone kops defense early in the year where they were running around in their own zone, chasing guys behind the net, leaving guys unmolested in the slot, and totally ignoring the third guy high. now theyve addressed all those things and play a more patient style where most nights they stifle the opponents offense while waiting for their counterstrike chances. pratts arrival seems to coincide with the defensive crew itself eventually gelling

c -Goaltending - miller has been very good and if he can clamp down on giving up the softie every other game he would officially be elite. not only that but hes basically the captain, hes poised and mature beyond his years, and lends a calming glue like effect to the entire team. He seems to know the perfect times to pat the team on the back or admit they are playing like crap.

d -Other, scoring first - that stretch where they got scored on first for something like sixteen straight was just unreal. you would expect even an ahl team to be able to avoid that so it was something of a huge fluke. so now the sabres have scored first in something like ten of their last fourteen. perhaps a bit of another fluke but regardless its a lot easier to win when you have the lead early

e -Something with the forwards - seems like the forwards have finally abandoned trying to make every goal look like a highlight reel and instead make them look like grinder hockey clinics. theyve gotten a lot more dedicated to mixing it up in the corners and driving toward the net regardless. plus they seem to be feeding off of vaneks mastery of the tip ins as everybody now is trying to do the same when theyre in front of the net

f -Something with the special teams - shoooooot. normally i wouldnt recomment listening to impatient fans on the pp but we all know they were passing way too long during droughts last year and earlier this year. now its obvious they are much more willing to blast it from the point and fight for the rebounds. and of course they have the best penalty killing unit at home and one of the best overall

[Sabres244]

Lindy Ruff and Ryan Miller

[bduff54]

Miller for me, and overall team confidence, guy don't look scared anymore.

[mshafer71]

Confidence in their abilities and a rededication to character...this team has FINALLY developed a new identity.....an identity lost since July 1st.

[sukie]

Meat, Let me get this straight. Lindy gets credit for this surge but no blame for the first half lackluster play? I don't get it.

[stepsukie]

They've totally adjusted their style of play.
Earlier in the year, they were having Druere withdrawls, trying to find one of them in the slot on the rush.
They've finally figured it out that they're not here anymore.

Also, the types of games they're winning are the total opposite from the types of games they were winning before.
Now, 1-0, 2-1, generally low socring games.
Last year, the Sabres had to score at least 3 to win a game, but now they've adjusted for the good, with big appreciation for :miller:

[Norwoodsrevenge]

I'm going with goaltending first and foremost. Miller's play is allowing the defense to take chances in the offensive zone. For an example just look at the goal scored against the Leafs, Tallinder pinches in the zone to keep the play alive and Paille does his work setting up Gaustad.

[pigpen65]

They aren't getting their asses kicked every single game anymore. They were averaging one player lost to injury every single time they played the Senators.

[dasaybz]

Miller is the single biggest reason why.
Look at his numbers, if he isn't playing like a monster lately, there's a couple games we would have lost.

[anEinherjer]

Miller's save % in the last month is something near .950. That's the reason it turned around. After that, it's confidence in the new, slightly less offense-with-abandon approach that Lindy finally got them to buy into.

[Thumper]

I've been pleased with Miller for just about the entire season. He's definitely playing better than he was early, but that could just be a direct result of the team around him finally finding themselves. I also think that early on, he was taking it upon himself to be a vocal leader, and worrying about how the team in front of him performed. When really, all he needed to do was stop pucks. This leads into my next thought:

Earlier in the year, I think a few players really took it upon. themselves to "replace" Drury and/or Briere and Numminen. I think a select few of them thought along the lines of this: "Our two best forwards and our two best leaders from the past 3 years are gone. Our calming leader on the blue line is also not here. I have to step up my game to produce and lead in their absence." Some of the players that were really struggling are the ones I believe had that train of thought. Miller (very early), Vanek, Pominville, Tallinder, Afinogenov for sure are 5. I'm not blaming them at all for wanting to take charge. I actually really like that those guys felt they could handle those burdens. But it threw them off of their game because they were trying to do certain things that were out of characture for themselves, and the Sabres stumbled out of the gate because of it. Many of those guys were holding their sticks way too tight.

Over time, our consistant leaders emerged. Hecht, Spacek, Campbell, Miller, and Roy. Injuries to certain players allowed MacArthur and Kaleta to get NHL minutes, Nolan Pratt was signed because of injury. Those 3 players have changed the make up of this team in a very big way.

CoachC, I don't think the answer to your question is as easy as naming the coaching, or forwards, defense, or goaltending, etc. So I'm going to go with your last choice, "other", as the reason for the turn around.

It was a very talented team finding itself and finding its leaders. It was a natural process of the Sabres taking their lumps. Certain players getting humbled. Certain players taking control, not by force, but by doing what they do best. Playing with in themselves and refusing to lose focus. It appers that they've finally come together as a group. It couldn't happen at a better time. With the amount of playoff experience on this very young roster, this group really may be able to make a serious run this year. Miller is the X-Factor.

Looking forward to the rest of the year and the playoffs I see a Sabres squad that is better on special teams, and a grittier bunch than last season. Mair, Gaustad, Paille, Kaleta, Spacek and Pratt are the true grit on this team. They will be crucial right down to the wire. If Miller keeps playing at the clip he's at right now, this team could very well be a more playoff friendly group than last season.

[blue sonya17]

Miller has defintly been a big part of it. But overall, I think the whole team is playing better.

[pigpen65]

Probably the best thing about this season was the early season ass kicking's they took. I don't mean on the scoreboard, i'm talking about the physical ass kickings. They thought they were going to be able to dip and dink and twirl the way they did last year, and they were running into brick walls. They got taught a lesson that is going to be invaluable come playoff time. It's already payed off with them pulling their way back into playoff contention.

[foster]

It's team mindset and goaltending.

Miller's on his game and the team believes in themselves. They now have the mindset to put teams away once they have them down. The team is also willing to get their noses dirty - especially now since they've done it a couple times and it's worked.

[CrazzyLegs10]

Miller like I've said even when we lost 10 in a row, had we scored atleast 2 goals a game, that would've been at worse a 5-5 streak. Hes been outstanding, especially in those TOR and FLA games where he shut them out 1-0, he single handedly won those games.

Tim C really helps the PP, maybe we should assign him his own personal doctor for the rest of the year to stay healthy.

[slowpokemcgee]

Lindy Ruff for keeping the confidence high. The players, all of them, for turning it around as a team.

[SabreNasty2630]

Ryan Miller. The man has completely taken over games and is standing on his head, as this might be the best stretch of games of his career. The man is going out everynight and shouldering the load. Not that we have played bad defensively in all the games, but he has really take it upon himself to lead this team. I really wish you could give teh "C" to a Goalie cause there is no doubt Miller is worth of it.

Also, let's not forget about Jaro Spacek. Ever since he called the team together we have been on a roll.

This team is really starting to remind me of the team from 2 years ago, when we made that huge second half push. I am not afraid of ANY team in the east. With the Way Miller is playing we can beat anyone right now.

[MauvaisSang]

1.) Miller
2.) A re-commitment to team defense
3.) Grittier, more physical style of play

Ruff is probably 1A, as he deserves a lot of credit for #'s 2&3.

[Meathead]

Meat, Let me get this straight. Lindy gets credit for this surge but no blame for the first half lackluster play?
yes thats exactly what im saying

the sabres had a major transition to go through this season. the coach just cant will that change overnight with a bunch of young players going through a serious identity crisis. all you can do is keep teaching, keep encouraging, and keep being straight with everybody and hope that eventually they find themselves and come together as a unit. that simply takes time and he knew that

looked at another way, he coulda bitched and moaned and threatened constantly and risk completely losing the team but he didnt. he certainly sat some players and at one point came right out and said he was going to give replacements more time even when injured vets returned because he felt they were giving the team what they needed at that time, but he didnt browbeat anybody

i believe he handled it just about as perfectly as you can get and now the whole team is reaping the benefits

[GoBillsTom]

1.) Miller. Hope he can keep it up.

2.) The team appears to have found an identity. Needed to fall on tough times before they could do so. Ruff guided that process well. (Not saying he wanted them to lose, but he managed them well through the tough patch.)

3.) And the Devil's advocate says they haven't proven anything yet other than that they're a streaky team.

[two4trippn]

Lindy - here's why. He blamed himself during the skid to protect is players. He instilled confidence in players that lacked it. He's continued to groom the kids, without much choice, and the team has become a true team once again. Miller has had better support and has stopped giving up the soft goals. I think one factor that has been not mentioned since the Phoenix game is Kalinin-Pratt pairing. Even in that 6-2 loss, Kalinin was a +1. Now that we have 3 healthy pairs of defenseman, things have improved. Lindy got into Vanek about too many passes and simplified his game which has made our PP work and TV's slump come to a hault. The reason I say coaching is due to the fact that are rarely passengers on this club for more than one game. Every player can have a bad game but its unlikely that it continues beyond two.

[ricogarion]

They are playing a smarter more determined style that is better suited for the way the league is playing right now.A more serious commitment to team defense which helps Ryan Miller immensly.The best part right now is every man is contributing which in turn makes the team look really impressive and deadly.Thomas Vanek when he feels good this ffense goes to another level.Jason Pomminville is another surprise he is quietly having a nice season with overall points.And one cannot understate the emergence of Danny Paille and the controlled rage of one Pat Kaleta.Sorry for rambling Coach.

[coryjd]

OTHER:
- Tenacity
- Grit
- Determination

[Smapdi]

Miller has been playing lights out since the break.

The overall team attitude towards playing physical has also helped. The Sabres are no longer just a cakewalk to play against physically.

The d-corp has been playing very well as of late. They can take a lot of slack around here but they have all been playing very well. Tallinder and Lydman have provided a very good #1 pairing. Spacek and Campbell are offensive dynamo's who can move the puck. They also have been throwin the body around more. Kalinin looks lightyears better playing with Pratt. You can tell Pratt's good hockey sense and responsibility in the zone has rubbed off on Kalinin.

The forwards have finally realized every goal doesn't have to be highlight reel; just get the puck to the net.

[skoorah720]

-Goaltending

Miller has been phenomenal for this stretch run. I've been waiting for him to really make a statement this year after Drury and Briere left. I think it was hard for everyone losing the two captains, but I hope that shock has worn off. Miller stepped up against TOR and stole a game. If he keeps playing like this the rest of the NHL had better watch out...and Darcy...get his 7 year 42 million dollar contract ready so he can sign it as soon as the offseason begins.

[Iggy72]

I can't disagree with any of what you all brought up. It reminds me of the quote from Lindy at the bottom of my sig file: "...we still need to grow a bit." I think after that bumpy 10 game winless streak, they have.
Hopefully it continues, because there's still a ways to go.

Pax.
Iggy72