Brain Enema of a Savage Mind

Slaughtering the Sacred Cow.

Many times in Buffalo when Lindy Ruff’s name is spoken, it is spoken with reverence.  He brought a core of young players together, and over the past few seasons have really helped a lot of them to find their place.  Sadly, just when things looked brightest injuries to every line slowed the momentum of the team two seasons in a row.  Injuries have been an issue again this season, and of course those aren’t Mr. Ruff’s fault.  What is his fault, however, the inability to get goal scoring out of his team.

When your backup goaltender (of questionable worth – ask the half dozen or so other teams he’s played for) puts up some decent numbers (for a backup) – like holding a bottom feeding team to 2 goals – you expect to win, or at least put on a good show.  Instead they don’t find the net.  Not once.  People are quick to point out how the team suffers with Vanek out of the lineup, but face it, if one guy is your whole offensive output you’re not a team in very good shape.

Sure, Afinogenov hasn’t been having a banner year.  Then he strained his groin.  However he’s been cleared to play medically for 10 days now and still he has remained a healthy scratch, still sitting on the IR list.  I know Ruff wants to make a point, that if you’re not producing you’re not going to play, but this is ridiculous.  No one on his team is producing.  He’s holding back an asset ready to get out there and earn his spot back.  What, is he afraid of sending someone like Matt Ellis back to Portland which he’d have to do in order to reactivate Afinogenov?  Well I have news for you, Ellis belongs in Portland.  In 109 career NHL games he only has 17 points.  That’s .15 points for game in case you were wondering.  That’s not where you’re going to find offensive production.  We need points on the board Mr. Ruff!  We need some creative line juggling.  We need firey speeches, and wrath of god-like threats to the players, the staff, and any one else out there who will listen.  We need a Buffalo Sabres team that has fire in their belly, not the current Sabres team who couldn’t seem to care that they are hanging on to the last playoff spot by a thread.

In the wake of all the other coaches who have been sent packing maybe, just maybe Buffalo should start doing the same thing.  Afterall Lindry Ruff is a proponent of benching those who aren’t performing up to par – and lets face it, right now he is the one who’s not up to par.  Get that fire back Mr. Ruff, or open up the classifieds and start looking for work.

Really bad hockey year.

Well the Sabres went from being the team with the best regular season record last year to blowing a game against Montreal tonight and failing to make the playoffs.  They’re in good company as they aren’t the first team to fuck up like that.  People can say what they want about losing Briere and Drury, but the Sabres were one of the top 5 goal scoring teams in the NHL.  What killed them was a weakend defensive core and a goaltender who redefines streaky.  If I were the Sabres GM I’d be looking to trade Miller over the off-season while he’s still under contract.  Pick up a couple solid defenders for him because, despite his serious flaws, he’s still highly regarded in the league.  There’s always a fair group of goalies in free-agency each year, and the Sabres should pick up a solid netminder.  They don’t need someone who can have amazing nights for them, they need someone who is stable – a goalie who you know exactly what to expect from night after night.  Miller is not that goalie.  I respect his ability, but I don’t think he has his head in the game enough to be a guy who can play 70+ solid games for you in a season.  Maybe a few more years and he’ll gain the consistancy he needs, but I don’t think the Sabres can afford to keep waiting for that year where his game settles down.

The hockey gods are displeased.

2008 is not a good year for anything hockey.  At least so far the hockey gods have been dumping all over me.  The Sabres are on the verge of losing 8 straight games – so yes, no wins so far in 2008.  The hockey team I play on dropped a couple games we had a damn good shot at winning.  In one of them we blew a 2 goal lead.

Tonight the Sabres look to snap the skid – unfortunately they’re facing a tough Ottawa Senators squad so it’s no easy task for them.  I have to wait until Sunday to see of my hockey team can get things back on track.  Hopefully we’ll shake of the new years blues and get back to rockin’ and a rollin’ soon!

So, not a good start.

Well the Sabres aren’t off to the best of starts this season.  Okay, it could have been worst, but they dropped their opener against the NY Islanders 4-6.  From the sounds of it, defensively speaking, it was a pretty sloppy game on both sides, but especially so for the boys from Buffalo.  Everyone was worried about offensive production from the Sabres after losing Briere and Drury, but it seems like people are stepping up to fill that offensive vacuum.  The defensive core hasn’t really changed much, but apparently the defense is still on holiday.  They are without Numminen until November, and that has to hurt some, but it still doesn’t account for their allowing shots from every angle.

Of course I had hoped things might be a little bit better tonight.  Their defense was a little tighter, but still pretty lousy as they dropped a 2-3 decision against the Islanders.  There’s still 80 games to go in the regular season, but starting out with a pair of loses isn’t exactly an encouraging way to start off the season.

Pre-Cup Thoughts.

I’ve been silent lately.  Not only have I been stunned by the Sabres absolute dismantling by the Senators, but life has been hectic.  Between the Sabres lack of inspiration, and the Senators amazing defensive prowess I was absolutely taken back.  The Senators should be congradulated for doing what no one expected them to do, and making their first ever Stanley Cup appearance.  Of course the Ducks are making their second cup appearance so in a couple of weeks one team is going to win their first ever Stanley Cup.  I’m torn over this matchup, and honestly, I’m not going to make any prediction as I had expected a Sabres v. Wings cup since day one.  Obviously I’m just out of whack on this one.  I’m also conflicted who I’m pulling for so I’ve decided what I really want to see is a 7 game series where every game is decided by one goal.  If there’s any slight bias I’d have to say I’m pulling for Ducks – not because they beat the Sabres, but because I despise Danny Heatly (something that may be discussed at a later date, but  most people who know me know why).  Still, as long as it’s a good series I won’t be upset no matter who wins this years cup.

Hey, there’s only about 180 days until the start of the next season.