Ryan Miller made 77 saves on the 81 shots he faced vs. the Islanders and Bruins. Wouldn't it be great if he could maintain a .951 save percentage?
Only problem, is his teammates only scored four goals to support him. Miller allowed only four goals against (the empty netter by Lucic wasn't his fault).
Wouldn't be great if the Sabres forwards could get up off their duffs and score more goals while to give Miller some needed breathing room? Wouldn't it be great that when oppoenents shut down Vanek-Hodgson-Pominville that the Sabres of three lines could still scores buckets full of goals?
Excellent goal tending and spotty goal scoring aren't symptoms that are exclusive only to the Sabres. The Ottawa Senators find themselves in a quagmire of their own. They can empathize with the Sabres.
Ever since Jason Spezza left the lineup seven games ago, the Senators have not been able to light the lamp. Craig Anderson's league-leading 1.49 GAA and out-of-this-world .950 save % are being undermined by his team's anemic offense.
In the seven games without Spezza, the Sens have struggled mightily. They are 3-3-1 in the Spezza-less stretch, largely because they have only scored 15 goals.
Sens second line centre Kyle Turris has been thrown out of the frying pan and into the fire. He is now Spezza's replacement on the Sens' top line with Daniel Alfredsson and Milan Michalek. Turris hasn't scored a goal in eight games. He only has five assists since Spezza left for back surgery. Turris got off to a great start to the seaso,n when he scored four goals in his first four games of the season. However, he hasn't lit the lamp in his last eight games.
Michalek has been a big disappointment in Spezza's absence, scoring only 2 goals in 12 games. Michalek scored 35 goals last season.
Though he has scored two goals in his past three games, he has only scored three goals for the slumping Sens offense.
Tuesday night's Miller vs. Anderson head-to-head showdown may well end up in a 1-0 final score. Goals are extremely hard to come by right now for both teams.
Senators coach Paul MacLean’s team has scored only 15 goals in its past 7 games, including being shutout 1-0 by Winnipeg on Saturday. Maclean preached one message to his team on Monday: Drive the net.
The befuddled Buffalo D corps best be ready for Chris Neil and the Senators crowding Ryan Miller’s dance floor on Tuesday night when the two teams meet in Kanata.
"We do need to get to the net if we're going to score, I know that much. Today was basically about getting to the net”, MacLean said on Monday. MacLean wants his team to throw more pucks and more bodies at Miller.
________________________________________________________________________
Photo courtesy, Dan Hickling
As expected,
Matt Ellis has passed through waivers and will play in Rochester. The versatile veteran forward was waived on Sunday. His great work habits and team-first attitude will benefit the Amerks youngsters greatly.
Ellis became expendable in Buffalo due to the return from injury of Kaleta and McCormick
***
Any surprises?
Sports Illustrated has named its annual 'Most Hatred Players In The NHL List".
Sabres choir boys
Pat Kaleta and
Steve Ott are #s 10 and 9 , respectively on the list.
Kaleta told me Sunday night that "I play my role very well. I do what I have to do to help my team win games." Fighting, blocking shots, chirping opponents. Whatever it takes.
Ott isn't offended by the inclusion on the "most hated list". He believes that if your opponents likes you, you aren't playing the game the right way.
I agree with Kaleta and Ott.
Photo courtesy of Dan Hickling
Thats the way they love it.
10. Pat Kaleta
9. Steve Ott
8. Jordin Tootoo
7. Alex Burrows
6. Mike Ribeiro
5. Raffi Torres
4. Dan Carcillo
3. Brad Marchand
2. Max LaPierre
1. PK Subban
This list is a joke. No Milan Lucic? No Chris Neil? No Shawn Thornton? No Matt Cooke? No Steve Downey?
Who would you like to see on this list