Leading Scorer: Tim Connolly, 17-48-65 pts
Starting Goalie: Ryan Miller, 39-18-8 with a .928 SV% and a 2.23 GAA.
New York Rangers (36-32-10) 82 points
Leading Scorer: Marian Gaborik, 41-42-83 pts
Starting Goalie: Henrik Lundqvist, 33-26-9 with a 2.39 GAA and a .920 SV%.
With leading scorer Tim Connolly, Thomas Vanek and Ranger-killer Patrick Kaleta all out of the line-up will the Sabres have enough to get past the Rangers?
Don’t be confused what you saw the New York Rangers did indeed defeat the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 in regulation. Well, that would have been the score if linesman Scott Driscoll knew what an offside was.
Towards the middle of the third period Brandon Dubinsky shuffled the puck into the Buffalo zone. The ouck hit a Sabres defender and hopped in the air and danced along, but never crossed, the offsides line and was kept in by Chris Drury.
Drury shoveled the puck to Dubinsky who promptly dispensed the puck into the net past a sprawling Ryan Miller. Rangers lead, right? Wrong! Apparently the linesman saw the puck go outside the line, which never happened. He blew the whistle, but it could not be heard to to the raucous MSG crowd.
Maybe he was blowing the initial play offside and not the Drury keep in? Wrong again. Upon entry to the zone you can clearly see him extend his arms in the “wash out” position, indicating that the initial play was, in fact, onside. The was just one of them many butchered calls in last nights game. From quick whistles to blown offside calls to blown icing calls, you name it, it probably happened in this game.
You can all that linesman Scott Driscoll if the Rangers miss the playoffs by one point.
Here is the incident, it happens around minute 3 of the video.
It’s Time. Time for the Sabres to make a acoaching change. Lindy Ruff has been the coach for over 10 years and has accomplished a lot but hasn’t been able to secure the Cup. He took his team to the Conference Finals in 05-06 but since then the team has failed to make the playoffs. I also think that Darcy Reiger needs to be dismissed as well. There is no way in hell the team should have lost Drury and Breire in the same friggin offseason. HOW he accomplished that still baffles me. Trading players like Jay McKee, JP Dumont, Brian Campbell and this season Ales Kotalik were just stupid moves.
HOW THE FUCK is a guy like Jason Pominville, who fucked up every oppurtunity to do something to help the team, from missing clearing attempts, missing open nets, and just being out of position, how is he worth more than Derek Roy a guy who has over 25 goals this season. I mean if Avery had played the whole season with the Rangers he would have more friggin points than Pommer, as he is called by the few fans he has.
Criag Rivet is a grumpy old fuck. HE SHOULDNT BE THE FUCKING CAPTAIN!!!! Roy or Vanek should be the captain. The defense for the Sabres is practically non-existant. Lydman, Rivet, Tallinder, and Sekera all need to practice more defense drills. Spacek has been the most consistant. Butler is a young, talented guy who if given the chance could be more like a Mike Green type player. Obviously without as many points. And Numminen has been injured in what will likely be his last season.
I seriously believe that Ryan Miller is a sub-par goalie. Since he has returned from his “injury” he has given up no less than 3 goals in each of his games. He has blown leads, given up soft goals and just hasn’t really earned the type of contract he was handed from Reiger.
Well so ends another piss-poor season for the Sabres and they will continue to suffer until they realize they need a new coach, new GM, and new fucking players.
The New York Rangers need a win against Montreal. Bad. The Panthers just beat the Penguins last night to really put a constriction on the final playoff position. The Sabres have been all but eliminated. One more loss by the Sabres or win by the Rangers or Panthers and the Sabres are done. The Rangers want, no no NEED the Flyers to beat the Panthers. I have become a three hour a Flyer Fan. I would have assume that the Capitals and the Flyers could and would beat the Panthers. But I think the Panthers will squeak out a victory against the Thrashers. So I would say the Panthers would go either 1-2-0 or 1-1-1 in their next 3 games. That would give the Panthers either 91 or 92 points.
The Rangers could probably beat Montreal althought theyhave been hot as of late. And I could see the Rangers beating Philly in at least on game. So the Rangers would go 2-1-0 or 1-2-0. In which they would have either 93 or 92 points. With 92 points and 1 win they would not make the playoffs so they Rangers really do need 2 wins to make the playoffs.
Anyone who is a Sabres fan (not me even though I live in Buffalo) has to be dissapointed in the way their team is playing. The team has lost 4 of five and have just 3 points in 5 games. The had a two goal lead late in the third period against Atlanta: BLEW IT. They had a two goal lead against Ottawa: BLEW IT. Those two games were two important games for the Sabres against poor teams that the Sabres should have easily had 4 points when those two game were overwith.
Now, I know what you’re saying “We don’t have our number one goalie”. So? The New Jersey Devils lost Martin Brodeur for almost the whole season AND THEY ARE THIRD IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE!!! Using a goalie that has only played a handful of NHL starts in his career. (Scott Clemmenson). Patrick Lalime was the starter in Ottawa and Chicago for numerous years.
These losses cannot be placed squarely on the shoulders of the goaltender. The offense and defense have to be held responsible.
I also blame Lindy Ruff for these losses as well. Patrick Lalime had about 11 starts all season and suddenly he started like 9 games in a row. That just doesn’t make sense. Put Enroth in for a game or two. I mean they aquired Tellqvist from Phoenix at the Trade Deadline and the first game he started as a Sabre was yesterday. Give Lalime a rest every now and then.
If the Sabres have any chance of making the playoffs they have to turn it around NOW! There is no more time to mess around. If the don’t win at least one of there next 3 games they will NOT make the playoffs.
There next game is versus the Flyers. The Sabres have not played well against the Flyers this year. They play the Rangers the next night and while they have fared well against the Rangers this year they have not played well in the second game when they play two in a row.
I think Sabres fans are in for another year of disappointment.
