when the team rolled 3 lines, there was no pressing need to have legit first line players
once they changed the style, got thin at center they were doomed
you can't expect 2nd liners to be your first line deep in any cup run - homiedclown
Except they couldn't win that way either. The three lines bit was exposed when they played Ottawa in the conf. finals. The same way you can't expect 2nd liners to be 1sts you can't expect 2nd liners to play a shut down role unless you're team canada.
Except they couldn't win that way either. The three lines bit was exposed when they played Ottawa in the conf. finals. The same way you can't expect 2nd liners to be 1sts you can't expect 2nd liners to play a shut down role unless you're team canada. - Sabresfan-365
bad goaltending early on
lack of goal scoring later on
poor special teams
that's what doomed that series
they allowed 2 pp goals in games 1 and 2
they went o for on the pp for both games
bad goaltending early on
lack of goal scoring later on
poor special teams
that's what doomed that series
they allowed 2 pp goals in games 1 and 2
they went o for on the pp for both games - homiedclown
It also didn't help that the way hockey was being played was already changing towards the end of the regular season that year, and it only got worse, meaning more stuff being let go and more congestion in the neutral zone, especially when compared to the year after the season long lockout.
Michael, another excellent blog. Very well done sir!
Regarding tonight's game, I am deeply concerned about it. I think we actually might have a shot at winning the game. As bad as the Sabres have been during the 2014 - 2015 season, the Leafs have been even more brutal in the past 30 games or so. Plus they are now sitting Kadri! Our only hope is the giant piece of Swiss cheese lets in a few softies which results in the team folding like a cheap suitcase.
Location: We need a You're an Ass button, NY Joined: 09.07.2006
Mar 11 @ 2:48 PM ET
Michael, another excellent blog. Very well done sir!
Regarding tonight's game, I am deeply concerned about it. I think we actually might have a shot at winning the game. As bad as the Sabres have been during the 2014 - 2015 season, the Leafs have been even more brutal in the past 30 games or so. Plus they are now sitting Kadri! Our only hope is the giant piece of Swiss cheese lets in a few softies which results in the team folding like a cheap suitcase.
Location: you don't need an ignore button to ignore someone., CA Joined: 02.22.2007
Mar 11 @ 2:51 PM ET
I always wonder why the Canadian media gets their panties in a bunch when it comes to the possibility of Buffalo getting a generational player, but it wasn't a problem to Pittsburgh to get FOUR.
I mean, Pittsburgh isn't exactly the US center of the hockey universe.
I always wonder why the Canadian media gets their panties in a bunch when it comes to the possibility of Buffalo getting a generational player, but it wasn't a problem to Pittsburgh to get FOUR.
I mean, Pittsburgh isn't exactly the US center of the hockey universe. - seedy
Their panties are in a bunch because of what happened in 05. And the other thing is nobody actually tanked that year because of the lockout, im willing to bet had Pittsburgh actually played the 82 games like we have this year the canadian media would all over them as well.
Lastly canadian media is basically run through toronto so the fact that buffalo is about to get a franchise player doesn't exactly bode well with them. Especially since the last time they had one they abused him and essentially ran him out of town.
I always wonder why the Canadian media gets their panties in a bunch when it comes to the possibility of Buffalo getting a generational player, but it wasn't a problem to Pittsburgh to get FOUR.
I mean, Pittsburgh isn't exactly the US center of the hockey universe. - seedy
it was not an issue with the media when the oilers got 3 number 1's in a row
Location: Wonderful things can happen when you sow seeds of distrust in a garden full of (bum)holes Joined: 07.01.2007
Mar 11 @ 3:03 PM ET
I always wonder why the Canadian media gets their panties in a bunch when it comes to the possibility of Buffalo getting a generational player, but it wasn't a problem to Pittsburgh to get FOUR.
I mean, Pittsburgh isn't exactly the US center of the hockey universe. - seedy
It wasn't a problem for two reasons:
1. There was no buzz from the fanbase about tanking, largely due to lack of social media.
2. Pittsburgh wasn't as open about it as Buffalo was. They didn't have Ted Black mentioning the two of them as often as he did earlier. They didn't host games involving the two most coveted prospects in a decade.
I've been on board with "the tank" as long as anybody, but make no mistake, the Sabres didn't do themselves any favors by going about this the way they did.
It's not that the Sabres are tanking. It's that they are tanking and are as open as you possibly could be about it without being accused of "fixing games". Let's be honest, if a team like Toronto hosted the Connor McDavid and the Erie Otters for a game, we'd all be crying foul as well. Ultimately, I say "too bad", but to expect people not to have a problem with it is kind of naive.
1. There was no buzz from the fanbase about tanking, largely due to lack of social media.
2. Pittsburgh wasn't as open about it as Buffalo was. They didn't have Ted Black mentioning the two of them as often as he did earlier. They didn't host games involving the two most coveted prospects in a decade.
I've been on board with "the tank" as long as anybody, but make no mistake, the Sabres didn't do themselves any favors by going about this the way they did.
It's not that the Sabres are tanking. It's that they are tanking and are as open as you possibly could be about it without being accused of "fixing games". Let's be honest, if a team like Toronto hosted the Connor McDavid and the Erie Otters for a game, we'd all be crying foul as well. Ultimately, I say "too bad", but to expect people not to have a problem with it is kind of naive. - buffalofan19
It's a long shot, but I believe their "openness" of the tank is directly as a result of the conveniently timed lottery changes. They fought it hard during the BoG meetings and i wouldn't put it past them to do this as an f-u to the league.
It's a long shot, but I believe their "openness" of the tank is directly as a result of the conveniently timed lottery changes. They fought it hard during the BoG meetings and i wouldn't put it past them to do this as an f-u to the league. - Sabresfan-365
Agreed 100%.
It will be ironic if Buffalo loses the lottery this year, finishes 6th or 7th from the bottom next year, and then wins the lottery or picks top 2 with the new rules in place.
Location: Wonderful things can happen when you sow seeds of distrust in a garden full of (bum)holes Joined: 07.01.2007
Mar 11 @ 3:15 PM ET
It's a long shot, but I believe their "openness" of the tank is directly as a result of the conveniently timed lottery changes. They fought it hard during the BoG meetings and i wouldn't put it past them to do this as an f-u to the league. - Sabresfan-365
Whatever their reasons were, and whether they were justified or not, it doesn't take an IQ over 40 to see that going about it this way isn't going to make you many friends.
Whatever their reasons were, and whether they were justified or not, it doesn't take an IQ over 40 to see that going about it this way isn't going to make you many friends. - buffalofan19
Perhaps, but I've really enjoyed how open they've been about it. Cleverly spending money on players that made the team worse, going through 7 different goalies. In such an abysmal year its given me a good laugh and the by product of this has been my friends who are leafs fans female doging about integrity to try and mask their obvious jealousy.
Location: Where ever Matt Ellis allows me to be, NY Joined: 07.30.2012
Mar 11 @ 3:20 PM ET
Whatever their reasons were, and whether they were justified or not, it doesn't take an IQ over 40 to see that going about it this way isn't going to make you many friends. - buffalofan19
I'm done making friends Darcy's Dimwits are over. I want Murray's not give a frank attitude to bring us something this city doesn't have and that's a championship
Location: you don't need an ignore button to ignore someone., CA Joined: 02.22.2007
Mar 11 @ 3:46 PM ET
Also none of those draft years featured a guy who had been hyped for 2 years to be the next big thing - Sabresfan-365
I don't know. At the time, they hype everybody who is supposed to go first overall. It's just that its easier to say they're not that great in hindsight.
Not saying McDavid isn't going to be special.
I just seem to recall "Fail for Nail" being thrown around a lot.
