Nolan Contemplating Change(s) (sabres bills)

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Nolan Contemplating Change(s)

By GARTH'S CORNER

Oct 12, 2014 • 10:38 pm

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The Buffalo Sabres should consider themselves thankful to have a goalie the stature of Jhonas Enroth. The first year starting goalie held his Sabres in its first two games, both losses to Columbus and Chicago. Enroth was deluged with 40 shots on Thursday night in their opener and then yielded a whopping 47 shots to the Blackhawks on Saturday night. Enroth has allowed 9 goals on the 87 shots that he's faced thus far. Don't hate Enroth for his 4.50 GAA and .897 save percentage. Take Enroth out of the Buffalo net and the damage would have been far greater. The Sabres allowed Hossa, Kane, Sharp and the Hawks to pepper Enroth with 19 shots in the third period on Saturday night. The Hawks scored a shortie, a PPG, and two even strength goals in the third period against Enroth.

Ted Nolan said after the game that inexplicably, his troops are flaking out in the third period of games.

“They’re tightening up with their sticks and their plays,… Nolan said. “It’s not naturally doing things that are instinctively right. They’re just really tense for whatever reason.…

Nolan wants his team to get over their current desire to win games. He wants them to go out and do it against Anaheim on Monday.

What's more:

“Getting over that hurdle to try to win a game versus trying to stay close to hope to win one is a big difference.…

Nolan need only look at his D corps for the reasons why the Sabres are struggling mightily late in games.

Andre Benoit and Andrej Meszaros were brought into Buffalo to groom the young kids. Right now, they are terrible role models. Meszaros was a robust -4 in Chicago on Saturday night. Meszasrous is already -5 in his first two games in the Blue & Gold. Benoit has been a tad bit better, however, is -3 in his first two games.

Ted Nolan is not one to sit idly by and watch players struggle to find their game. He has three extra D men who he can, and may well insert into the lineup beginning against the powerhouse Ducks.

Tyson Strachan was a standout in training camp. Nolan really likes Strachan's game. Nikita Zadorov had a so-so training camp and could certainly inject youthful enthusiasm into the struggling D corps. Rookie Jake McCabe is still in Buffalo and may be cleared to resume play on Monday after sitting out of practices last week with a "middle body" injury.

Nolan's patience appears to have reached its end.

On the offensive side of the puck, struggling winger Cody Hodgsom is already -3, with no points, 1 shot, a penalty and a handful of ugly turnovers. Hodgson has looked lost ever since his training camp line mate Mikhail Grigorenko was sent to AHL Rochester last week. Hodgson and Grigorenko competed well together and made plays for one another with relative ease and solid chemistry.

Captain Brian Gionta is also -3 with zero points, 4 shots, a minor penalty and a couple of turnovers. Gionta skated the first game of the season with the lagging vet Hodgson and the still-learning-on-the-job rookie Samson Reinhart. Nolan moved Zemgus Girgensons up to the second line from the third line for the Chicago game to play with Gionta and Hodgson while Reinhart slid down to play between thumper Foligno and Stewart.

In two games played, Reinhart has no points, has taken one shot on goal and is -1.

Matt Moulson is so far scoreless with only 1 shot on goal in two games. He's -1.

“You might see a change now,… Nolan said about his starting lineup for Monday's game against Anaheim.

“That’s two games now. We can’t continue going this way.…

Nolan doesn't like losing. He will tinker with his D pairs and line trios until he finds his winning five man units. The Sabres' head coach wants his players to follow the lead of youngster Zemgus Girgensons. The kid pulls on his work boots and does the heavy lifting on every shift. Nolan is waiting for more of his guys to punch the clock and to get to work.

Might Nolan be contemplating making a call to Rochester to promote Grigorenko back to Buffalo? Are Meszaros and Benoit heading up to the press box? Will Strachan, Zadorov, or McCabe be infused into the losing lineup?

Thanks, Sabres.com

Nolan says that old habits are hard to break. He won't wait until the 10 game marker in this young season to implement a plan of correction to his team's inconsistencies and poor play.

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According to staylor111, the entire Buffalo Sabres team is inside Ralph Wilson Stadium right now supporting the Buffalo Bills brothers.

#OneBuffalo

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Terry and Kim Pegula, their four kids and dog "Sidney" were officially introduced to a raucous crowd of 74,000+ Pegulamaniacs just before the opening kickoff of the Bills-pats game on Sunday afternoon.

The Pegulas assumed ownership of the Buffalo Bills on Thursday.

Terry Pegula:

"There aren't too many times when I'll accept being second. But to follow Ralph Wilson? I'll accept that."

The Pegulas have quickly been anointed as Buffalo's royal family as they have insured that the Bills and Sabres will never be leaving Buffalo, NY for greener pastures. The Pegulas are also re-building downtown Buffalo's skyline with their breath taking HARBORCenter project.

In a related story, former Sabres D-man Jay McKee created a #OneBuffalo vibe of his own by inviting the Connor McDavid to the first game in Pegula history.

McKee is the assistant coach of the 6-0 Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League. McDavid, Dylan Strome, and other Otters teammates are in the house, courtesy of coach Jay McKee.

The Erie Otters are now 6-0 and McKee is rewarding his youngsters with a well deserved day off in Buffalo.

Sabres and Bills fans, rejoice!

Its a great omen to have McDavid experience firsthand the greatness that is Buffalo sports fandom. Who knows? If the Sabres finish at the bottom of the NHL standing, #97 McDavid may be selected #1 overall in the 2015 NHL Draft.

#OneBuffalo

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