The Buffalo Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres had one of those seasons.  Some stellar performances, big results, personal glory, but ultimately unsuccessful and frustrating.

Now I understand that many of you don’t know who the Sabres are (or even where Buffalo is) so open with a bit of background information. Firstly http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Buffalo&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl.

 

So the Sabres came into being as a NHL team in 1970, so while not being part of the Original Six they are a well established team.  They habitate a sports mad town, one who has never won a championship.  The football team went to four straight super bowls, but lost them all.  The Sabres suffered heartbreak in 1999 when they lost in the 6^th game of the Stanley Cup finals to a controversial goal by Brett Hull.  There remains dispute about his foot being in the crease, before the puck.  At the time this was illegal (a rule which has now been scrapped).  The goal stood, the Sabres lost felt aggrieved and have not been to the showcase finale since, but have come close.

 

This season was one in which the Sabres two star contributers were both defensive, which was pretty indicative of the way the season panned out.  But my goodness were they some impressive performances.

 

Firstly there was Ryan Miller.  Not your average looking hockey player.  Thin and wirery, he’s also on the tall side for a goalie.  But what a goalie.  His aggressive style of play takes away the bottom of the net and his lightening reactions make up for any time he finds himself out of position.  Here is some examples of what I’m talking about http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQKfFKr-M7g / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akIIVHTHd0o.

 

This season he has really upped his game.  During the first quarter of the season he still had a GAA (Goals Against Average) of less than two.  He was the last goalie to lose in regulation this season.  He was also the goaltender for Team USA at the Olympics, and was named MVP for the tournament.  He was awarded a standing ovation in his first NHL game back, away, in Pittsburgh.  More than once he carried the team through games where the offense has not fired.  In fact he has carried the team through the season where the offense hasn’t fired. 

 

The highest ranked Buffalo points scorer was Derek Roy, ranked 32^nd in the league, then came Tim Connolly at 44^th.  And yet the Sabres won the Division.  The combination of stellar performances saw Mr. Miller walk away with the Vezina Trophy awarded to the leagues best goaltender.

 

He didn’t do it all on his own.  He got help on the defense from this season Rookie of the year Tyler Myers.  At 6 foot 9, he’s a formidable looking size.  But that is not reason he won the trophy.

 

He reads the game remarkable well, to such an extent that he doesn’t need to rely on his frame.  That and he racks up the points as well.  He led rookies in assists, 10^th in goals, and finished 3^rd overall for total points, despite being a defenseman.

 

In his first season he was thrown straight on to the Sabres top defense pairing, and as a result averaged nearly 24 minutes per game.

 

Unfortunately, how the Sabres played this season seemed to be in response to getting the best out of these two players.  The result was a collapsed defense style, getting bodies around Miller to make it as hard as possible for second and third phase opportunities.  Out came Miller to challenge to shooter knowing any rebounds off the pads or the blocker were likely to fall to a teammate. 

 

They then looked to counter, get a shot off and then retreat.  This style of play leaves the powerplay as almost uncharted territory, the idea of building possession and moving the puck to create opportunities seemed alien.  As a result more than one commentator has proclaimed that the Sabers killed their own penalties.

 

This was a pretty frustrating a nervy way to watch your team, content once they had a goal, happier to not concede then to try and score.  There was something almost Italian in their mentality.  The Sabres lost only a handful of times when leading going into the final period, because rather than the traditional 2-3 set up, they went 3-2.  It makes it easier not to concede but then very difficult to score.

 

It seemed to be working until the first round of the playoffs.  The first round series with the Boston Bruins just magnified the problems.  No player scored more than 2 goals, or 4 points.  No powerplay goals, no big time players scoring clutch goals.  Out they limped 4-2.

 

Oh for next season, for there is always a next season.  Miller is locked up.  A long-term contract means the man who carries the team can continue to do so.  The key for the management is to try and make sure he doesn’t have to.  Some big money moves have been mentioned for free agent Ilya Kovalchuck and possibly Simon Gagne (if he waived his no trade clause) but that seems unlikely.  These are big players with big contracts and Buffalo has a smaller budget than some teams.

 

Tomas Vanek is the Sabres big money offensive player.  He’s good, very good in fact.  But unreliable.  The season before last he had 40 goals in a team that didn’t make the playoff.  This year he found himself playing down on the third line for extended periods of the season.

 

Build from within.  That is how this club does things.  Tyler Ennis did very well when thrown in at the end of last season and I expect to see him back in again.  Nathan Gerbe should also see more ice time.  Silky skills and a bit of an attitude despite his size (5”6”) there are big hopes for him.  Rob Niedermeyer has come in to hopefully bring some cup winning nouce to the youngsters.

 

Looking to next season.  Well when you have Miller and Ruff (didn’t I mention the fact the Lindy Ruff is the longest serving head coach in the league and assistant coach on the Canadian Gold medal winning team at the Olympics) there is always hope.

 

As the Buffalo sporting adage states, firmly, desperately, and unequivocally.  Believe!  And for some reason, maybe it’s conditioning.  I do.

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