"Howie Mansfield"
Buffalo, NY • United States • 32 Years Old • Male
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Sabres' search for consistency continues
Posted 8:36 AM ET | Comments 3
There are teams that can get away with playing 40 minutes in a hockey game and still win.
But certainly not the Buffalo Sabres.
Every night, the Sabres appear to be on the verge of busting a game open, after a flurry of chances in front of the net. Clanking posts, passes through the crease, broken sticks on wide open shots...Buffalo has had gifts, but no delivery on many occasions.
And then with one breakaway goal by the opponent at the other end on another turnover, the momentum deflates and Buffalo skates back to the bench, dejected and defeated.
Where is the passion? Where is the desire to win?
Some nights they can rifle off four goals in a period and rout a team 8-2. Then on the next night, they play a flat first period, fight back in the second, but the other team wears them out and pulls out a 3-1 win.
The past two games are perfect examples. The Sabres played a decent game against Philly in hostile conditions, and caught a few breaks on route to a 5-2 win Tuesday. Then last night, the Sabres crash the Capitals' net with nothing to show for it, and then give up odd-man rushes and breakaways, and lose 3-1 at home to the great Ovechkin.
All fans are looking for is a little bit of consistency. A little bit of passion and a sprinkle of desire. We see that on some nights. Some nights.
When a team is fighting for a playoff spot, every night should be a must-win. Coach Lindy Ruff and players called Tuesday's game against the Flyers just that...a "must-win" game. But then, they play uninspired hockey, can't win a face on their own powerplay, and get schooled at home.
But shouldn't the Washington game have been a must-win? The Capitals were just three points behind the Sabres for ninth place in the conference, and playing in a weaker division. Washington has been playing much better lately since the acquisition of Cristobal Huet from Montreal. Ovechkin has been a monster on the ice, with 52 goals coming into last night's game. But why would the Sabres overlook it? Apparently they didn't feel they needed to bring the same effort they did against Philly. Was it because they were playing at home? Because they had scored five goals the night before and seen their offense begin to click?
Time is ticking on this Buffalo team with 14 games left, with many against teams ahead of them in the standings. Three against Toronto, two against Carolina, Montreal, Boston and Ottawa and one against the Rangers, Penguins and Lightning. The Sabres need a minimum of 19 points to have a shot.
If they can package a few wins together, get a few bounces and have Ryan Miller steal a game against a top opponent, there is still hope. But the Sabres need to be consistent, play their game night in and night out. And they have no further to look than their newest captain, Jason Pominville, for inspiration.
But certainly not the Buffalo Sabres.
Every night, the Sabres appear to be on the verge of busting a game open, after a flurry of chances in front of the net. Clanking posts, passes through the crease, broken sticks on wide open shots...Buffalo has had gifts, but no delivery on many occasions.
And then with one breakaway goal by the opponent at the other end on another turnover, the momentum deflates and Buffalo skates back to the bench, dejected and defeated.
Where is the passion? Where is the desire to win?
Some nights they can rifle off four goals in a period and rout a team 8-2. Then on the next night, they play a flat first period, fight back in the second, but the other team wears them out and pulls out a 3-1 win.
The past two games are perfect examples. The Sabres played a decent game against Philly in hostile conditions, and caught a few breaks on route to a 5-2 win Tuesday. Then last night, the Sabres crash the Capitals' net with nothing to show for it, and then give up odd-man rushes and breakaways, and lose 3-1 at home to the great Ovechkin.
All fans are looking for is a little bit of consistency. A little bit of passion and a sprinkle of desire. We see that on some nights. Some nights.
When a team is fighting for a playoff spot, every night should be a must-win. Coach Lindy Ruff and players called Tuesday's game against the Flyers just that...a "must-win" game. But then, they play uninspired hockey, can't win a face on their own powerplay, and get schooled at home.
But shouldn't the Washington game have been a must-win? The Capitals were just three points behind the Sabres for ninth place in the conference, and playing in a weaker division. Washington has been playing much better lately since the acquisition of Cristobal Huet from Montreal. Ovechkin has been a monster on the ice, with 52 goals coming into last night's game. But why would the Sabres overlook it? Apparently they didn't feel they needed to bring the same effort they did against Philly. Was it because they were playing at home? Because they had scored five goals the night before and seen their offense begin to click?
Time is ticking on this Buffalo team with 14 games left, with many against teams ahead of them in the standings. Three against Toronto, two against Carolina, Montreal, Boston and Ottawa and one against the Rangers, Penguins and Lightning. The Sabres need a minimum of 19 points to have a shot.
If they can package a few wins together, get a few bounces and have Ryan Miller steal a game against a top opponent, there is still hope. But the Sabres need to be consistent, play their game night in and night out. And they have no further to look than their newest captain, Jason Pominville, for inspiration.
At this point my thought is that playoffs are a long shot for this team. They need more consistency and I think we're far enough into the season to expect it from them. That said, they have lost a lot of players while grooming younger guys in the past two years. I do expect them to be better next year. I also hope they pick up another vet D man and center over the summer, but that is just my hope.
Make that 2 quality defensemen, as Kalinin is most likely (and thankfully) outta here, and a good centerman. They been inconsistent all year. Their play typically in uninspired. Making the playoffs is HIGHLY unlikely. The last game ...Washington looked like the Sabres of last year....the Sabres looked like the Flyers. This season was especially hard on Sabres fans.....Can't wait to be able to forget about hockey for a while.
I agree, some nights the sabres look like they can beat any team in the league, like when they put up 8 against nashville, but most nights the sabres struggle to beat teams even below them in the standings (washington). I also really liked the way Sekera played the last couple games, and I think he can develop into one of our top defensemen