When have we sucked?

[LALAFONTAINE]

In 2nd game of back to back:
0-3
2-5

W L T GF GA
0-2-0 2 8

We were thoroughly outclassed by the Pens and Blackhawks.

Every other game:
5-1
6-1
4-4
2-3
2-1
1-2

W L T GF GA
3-2-1 20 12

The effort was pretty good in each of these games, too.

Our performance has been quite decent, EXCEPT in the 2nd game of a back to back. Noronen started one of those games, Biron started the other, with the same result. Both of the back to back games has been on the road.

We have 4 back to back games in November. All four are on the road. Edmonton, Ottawa and Boston do not have any games the day previous to when we faced them back to back. Toronto is the only one who does. That is a tough stretch.

What do we need to do to change our performance in these games? We've tried sticking with Biron. We've tried playing Noronen. What else? I think these are the games where Patrick should sit and Woolley should sit. Let Campbell and Kalinin play instead. The main problem with this is Kalinin can't play the right side to save his life. I think Ruff should give the 4th line more time on the night preceding a back to back game as well. And for home back to backs, perhaps Hamel or Kotalik could get into the lineup.

Another area that might be responsible for this lackluster play is if we are lacking fitness. I don't think that's it. Ruff has criticized Dumont for coming to camp out of shape, and apparently the Sabres spent some time in camp just measuring the fitness, so it appears that it is covered. What else needs to change?

[mikeylikess99]

i have watched for most part every game, and with the exception of the first two games which the sabres played well and EXCITING hockey, i havent seen it....against pittsburg and the hawks you say we were outclassed, i dont see how you can say this we match up with the penguins and hawks, with the exception of lemieux, we just didnt play hockey, it as simple as that, and its not just my opion, its the opion of myself, and im sure otheres feel the same way, just listen to the players saying we got to worker harder, and hh, were the host just are in disbelief........

[BuffaloSoljer]

I hope you're right. As a matter of fact, I've often thought the Sabres seem to get screwed on these back to back games. But the coach needs to find a way to get a better effort on the second night if those are the cards he's dealt. Start the back up goalie? Play the healthy scratches from the night before? A few call ups from Rochester? This is not new, it happened last year as well. You just can't go through a whole season conceding the second game of a back-to-back.

[BuffaloSoljer]

Apparently we suck every night.

[LALAFONTAINE]

Originally posted by BuffaloSoljer
Apparently we suck every night.

We outplayed Carolina last night.

[thegame]

Yeah, we outplayed Carolina and outplayed Calgary and were right there with Columbus and really gave it a good effort against Edmonton, problem is, we have 1 point in those 4 games.

At the end of the year, no one will remember that we were "outplaying" teams and still coming up short, all we will remember is our point total, and if it was good enough to make the playoffs.

[LALAFONTAINE]

Originally posted by thegame
Yeah, we outplayed Carolina and outplayed Calgary and were right there with Columbus and really gave it a good effort against Edmonton, problem is, we have 1 point in those 4 games.

At the end of the year, no one will remember that we were "outplaying" teams and still coming up short, all we will remember is our point total, and if it was good enough to make the playoffs.

True. What matters is wins and losses. But if we keep outplaying teams, we will win those games.

[thegame]

^Agreed. But we have to stay positive, it's hard for a team as young on the offensive side as we are. Lindy has to come up big, uh oh.

[Jim Bob]

It's not coaching that will turn shots going off the post into shots that go into the net.

It's all about confidence right now. And success, not coaching, breeds confidence.

Although, there are a bunch of coaching things that might help the horrid PP. Although, the Sabres PP is better than the Amerks PP.........