What a crushing loss. To lose 4-1 at home in the middle of a playoff race against a team that won 3 games in their last 23 and were coming off a 7-2 pounding... Well I can't say that we've never been there before, but it sucks for them tonight. Tomorrow is huge. We can't miss out on these opportunities.
What a crushing loss. To lose 4-1 at home in the middle of a playoff race against a team that won 3 games in their last 23 and were coming off a 7-2 pounding... Well I can't say that we've never been there before, but it sucks for them tonight. Tomorrow is huge. We can't miss out on these opportunities.
I'm not worried about Montreal. Look at their schedule and you'll see why. Not only do they play a 5 game Western road trip, but they also play only 2-3 bottom feeding teams. They're dead in the water as far as I'm concerned, and any reasonable stretch of .500 by Buffalo will put us ahead.
It's Florida behind us that worries me because they play 7 games against the Canes, Pitts, and Washington. Tomorrow is a vital game in putting distance on them.
I have a good feeling about this, but the Sabres must keep playing well. Obviously, they don't need to play like maniacs like recently (but I'd love it if they could). But they do need to play .600 hockey from here in out.
I'm not worried about Montreal. Look at their schedule and you'll see why. Not only do they play a 5 game Western road trip, but they also play only 2-3 bottom feeding teams. They're dead in the water as far as I'm concerned, and any reasonable stretch of .500 by Buffalo will put us ahead.
It's Florida behind us that worries me because they play 7 games against the Canes, Pitts, and Washington. Tomorrow is a vital game in putting distance on them.
I have a good feeling about this, but the Sabres must keep playing well. Obviously, they don't need to play like maniacs like recently (but I'd love it if they could). But they do need to play .600 hockey from here in out.
I just realized that we're 6 points up on Florida. I'd originally been thinking it was 4. Tomorrow is huge as a knockout blow.
I doubt we're going to catch the Islanders, so is it okay to root for them to stomp the Rangers and make sure they don't chase us?
As long as we've got no one behind us, I think one on one we've got Montreal. I don't see how they can even finish the season at .500 with their schedule unless a minor miracle happens. Plus, we've got two head to head games with them. As long as we don't lose both, we're good.
Gotta love Atlanta.. they let us spank them and then they play the next night and beat a rival of ours. They are definately helping us out and I appreciate it. It's a beautiful thing.. go Thrashers!
Oh and I wouldn't count Montreal out yet either. I think they are still a good team that has the capacity to turn up the heat. I mean just look at last season.. when we were surging and fighting for a spot.. they were doing equally as good and we could never catch up. Who knows.. they could do that again. I wouldn't count them out just yet. Remember to respect the opponents no matter who they are or how bad their record is.
BG43 is right.At the same time I have also taken a look at their sched and it does not look promising...for them.They have a ton of tough games and with no Souray for the next little while they will struggle.This is the time for the Sabres to capitalize.We must move to the team being pursued instead of being the pursuers.I think if Montreal was in the reverse place of us they would collapse under the struggle.They are like a wounded race horse and we have the means to put them out of their misery.I know everyone is focused on MTL but don't forget about NYI as well.Their own hot streak has to come to an end sometime and hopefully we could capitalize on that too.
Montreal is collapsing as we speak. The schedule is not in their favor.
However, Montreal and Florida are dangerous. The reason is because Theodore and Luongo can get very hot for an extended period.
This game against Florida is huge. I watched part of the game against Carolina. Jokinen was tough, blocking a shot while Florida was down 2 men. He gutted it out, but I don't know his status against us.
Montreal is collapsing as we speak. The schedule is not in their favor.
However, Montreal and Florida are dangerous. The reason is because Theodore and Luongo can get very hot for an extended period.
This game against Florida is huge. I watched part of the game against Carolina. Jokinen was tough, blocking a shot while Florida was down 2 men. He gutted it out, but I don't know his status against us.
However, Montreal and Florida are dangerous. The reason is because Theodore and Luongo can get very hot for an extended period.
Luongo still needs a D in front of him, and that hasn't happend yet in Florida. Same goes for Montreal. As far as Theodore, he's over-rated in my book. He's gotten hot ONCE at the right time. That is starting to look like more of a fluke. They needed him last night against Atlanta, and he misplayed the puck that led to a goal. That was a huge game and he's proving he has concentration problems.
French-Canadian goalies in generaly enjoy a special status in the NHL thanks mainly to Patrick Roy. This makes it hard to be objective in measuing their talent.
Buffalo is enjoying having two goalies playing well right now. That will be it's biggest asset going forward (funny really, becuase it was what was killing us early on).
If you can remember my comments on Pat Roy, you'll know I don't buy into that myth. It's pathetic that people compare him to Hasek in the first place. It's tragically embarrassing that some of those people do so favorably.
Two years ago, Theodore didn't need a defense. Montreal was simply winning because he was fantastic. Florida has never won with Luongo, but he has certainly won games for them over a short period. And that's what either team needs. They have the 4th and 6th best goaltending in the league.
