Sabres V Preds Game 24
Four games in 6 nights certainly marks a rough patch in a schedule, and the Buffalo Sabres showed what kind of toll it can take by losing to the Nashville Predators 2-0 on home ice.
To be fair, both teams played an uninspired game from start to finish, which makes sense when you consider that the Predators played 3 games in 5 nights. There were few exciting scoring chances on either side of the ice and the game's pace was both stilted and broken. It was likely due to the coaches changing their lines more frequently – it's a little harder for the players to get flow going when they're being taken off the ice so quickly.
One of Nashville's goals was a fluke. It was a hard shot that Miller would have stopped if it didn't take a strange bounce over him and into the net. One would expect the team to get a little fired up after a goal like that, especially on home ice, but it was obvious they were completely worn-down from the last few games.
The second was also due to an odd turn of events, but it highlights how poorly the Sabres deal with unexpected pressure in their own zone. Spacek tried to clear the puck out of the zone, but hit the referee. The Predators jumped on the opportunity to set up shop and every Sabre on the ice scrambled – Miller included. Shea Weber took a hard shot from the point into traffic, which Miller shrugged aside. He uncharacteristically seemed to stop paying attention after that for a second – just a second – but it was enough. Former Sabre JP Dumont swooped in and buried it right-side past a diving Miller for his 5th on the season.
If the Sabres don't find a way to regularly stop turnovers from turning into goals, or turning the puck over in general, they're going to be in for a long season. They have been a lot better in every area in the last few games in every area except for turnovers. They seem to give their opponents a gift each game, and lately it's been enough to put them away. The boys in Blue and Gold could definitely use the next few days to recharge their batteries. They'll need it to take on the Florida Panthers on Thursday.
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meanoldman
OHHH NOOOOO!!!, the poor sabres. 11wins-10Losses average at best, just another buffalo overpaid bunch of losers that the public keeps supporting. ninth in the division. sports players should be paid by performance, not the millions they think they deserve. based on performance they might deserve minimum wage. support your CITY first, then maybe your sports teams will become valuable!! picture this." SABRES WIN STANLEY CUP"!, it will be on display at the entrance to the unemployment office, for all to admire!!!
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AMSBRO
I totally agree with you about sports players, not just the Sabres, being over payed, but it's not exactly the city's fault that professional sports, not just the NHL, throws money around.
I also agree that players should be paid based on performance. Good thought.
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ncneuman
What a disappointing loss. The Sabres are proving they are nothing but a mediocre team at best.
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d_a_n
horrible loss to an average team.
i think the writer needs to analyze the game better - the first predators goal was caused primarily because of a clarke macarthur turnover on a breakout pass, and the second was due to a similar lapse on a clearing attempt. i wouldn't qualify either of those as flukes, as the predators dominated the first 10 minutes of the period - it was a matter of time until they got a break.
the thing is, they did that stuff all time the two years ago, but got away with it because they could score in critical moments - something this team has not been able to do. outside of thomas vanek, the forwards as a whole have been incredibly inconsistent. getting shutout by a rookie goalie at home is about as embaressing as it gets.
when it comes down to it, they need to get tougher around both nets - they need to be able to cash in garbage goals consistently, as well as be meaner in front of their own net to prevent the same chances - which is how the predators won the game monday, and how the sabres beat the pens on friday. unfortunately, i don't think they have the team to do that consistently.
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scottnorwood
i've never yawned so much at a professional sporting event in my life.
What a waste of time and money. Good things Sabeers in the wax paper cups make you hallucinate after 2 or 3 or the night would have been a complete bust.
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AMSBRO
d_a_n,
You make valid points about the first goal (and everything, really). Everything you said is true. However, I still feel that Miller would have been in the proper position to stop that shot if it didn't take that bounce, therefore nullifying the goal, and in turn, Mac's turnover. I also qualify hitting the ref with the puck on a clearing attempt out of the ordinary, but to be fair, I did follow up by talking about how they need to get better at defending unexpected turnovers in their own zone.
I do agree with you, however, that I could have been more indepth, though, so next time expect to see a deeper analysis. Thanks for the feedback, and more importantly, for reading.
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