Disgrace

Posted 10:49 PM ET | Comments 9

I sat down Friday night to watch the Sabres pound Toronto. On paper, it looked very simple. Buffalo, vs Toronto. Buffalo should have run away with this one before it began. Surprise, it didn't happen.

Buffalo had fairly good pressure all night long. However, Gustavsson was impressive, but Buffalo couldn't put it home. Numerous attempts failed, and the evening culminated in poor scoring opportunities. I have written numerous times about cleaning up Buffalo's play or it will come back to haunt them. It almost did on Friday, and definitely did on Saturday.

There is no excuse for Buffalo going to overtime against the Leafs. This should have been straight forward and simple. Sloppy play led to Toronto staying in this game. Even when Buffalo had a power play in the end of the third period, leading by one, they let the Leafs come into this game and stay there, eventually tying the game, and sending it to overtime. In the third period, Buffalo was out-shot 16-5. Buffalo, of all teams should know, no team is safe until the buzzer goes at the end of the third period.

Even scarier, the Sabres gave up a clean cut break away to the Leaf's Lee Stempniak on a power play. This isn't characteristic of the team that has the best record in the division. However, this was a preview of what was to come against the Isles.

I missed this game. I saw the first period, and then had a prior engagement. When i left, it was a manageable 1-0 lead for the Islanders. When I got back to a TV, i saw it was 5-0 Isles. This isn't characteristics of a team making a serious run at the Cup. Perhaps it could be back to back games for the Sabres, but I'm not sure what it is. However, this is two games back to back, against the 15th placed Leafs, and the 10th place Isles that Buffalo had looked poor in. If something doesn't change soon, Buffalo may have some big problems when they face some of the better teams in the lead.

The Sabres still do have a very competitive team this season. However, they need to return to the defensive tactic of putting pressure on the opponents offense. When that is done, opponents rush shots, and will not be able to get quality shots. Hopefully, the Sabres will take tonight's loss to heart, bounce back, and strike back in the rematch on Wednesday against the Isles.

Filed Under: Buffalo Sabres NY Islanders Toronto Maple Leafs

habbies

November 1, 2009 12:11 AM ET | Delete
you call this game a disgrace how about the game against the isles? with a goalie you know in nets.

yideboit

November 1, 2009 1:59 AM ET | Delete
think someone might be overrating buffalo's talent level a wee bit ;)

A-Mar

November 1, 2009 1:01 PM ET | Delete
Because the Sabres should get an automatic win against teams below .500

hplayer11389

November 1, 2009 9:45 PM ET | Delete
Don't comment on a game you didn't watch. Biron played and stopped 38 (let me clarify, 38 is a lot of shots), while the islanders only had 30, and Miller played his poorest game yet, because he should have never been in the net in the first place. The effort was there, but you can't score 5 goals every night.

boathout

November 1, 2009 9:51 PM ET | Delete
First and foremost it is an 82 game season. You cannot expect a team to play well every game. New Jersey is one of the better teams in the league and Buffalo controlled and dictated the play of that game. It is obvious that you didn't see the Islanders game because the Sabres played much better than the result showed. Buffalo is 8-2-1 and leads the division, cool your jets tommy tough nuts.

boathout

November 1, 2009 9:57 PM ET | Delete

boathout

November 1, 2009 9:57 PM ET | Delete
As for you Habbies, you wanna talk disgrace, how about the Canadiens 5 game losing streak highlighted by the great effort against Vancouver in which montreal would've needed a late touchdown to tie the score and an extra point to win. Facing a goalie you know doesn't matter when that goalie is having a career night. You play against teams in your division 6 times a year and in nearly every one of the games you face their best goalie.

boathout

November 1, 2009 9:58 PM ET | Delete
Players are just as familiar if not more than they are with a goalie who they have seen a handful of times in the last few years.

andydrmm

November 2, 2009 5:34 PM ET | Delete
I understand I didn't see the Isles game. Your right, I'm making this based on the first period i watched and what i listened too. I don't expect a team to win every game. From my understanding, Biron did play a great game, my hats off to him. BUT, you want a consistent effort every night. Hell, I had a college game where my school got 60 shots on goal, against a bad team, and were shut out. It happens. AND, Miller shouldn't have been in net... the same pattern of the past few years is starting again.

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