And Thanks for Staying
When the Sabres were down 4-1 after two periods I turned to Mark and said “I’ve been here before – no way we leave early.” The fact that we were in a box and drinking free beer certainly made the decision easier, but still, in my thirty-some years of attending Sabres games I can count on one hand the number of times I bolted early (before I had kids, at least), and I’d be damned if it was going to happen again.
So, tell me again when Jason Pominville became the best player on the team? I am loathe to use the word “clutch” when describing a player, especially since Chris Drury went from “Captain Clutch” on the Sabres to “Meh” on the Rangers (at least in terms of “clutchdededness”), but that’s two straight games where Pommers has scored the goal that changed the momentum of a game.
Honestly, I have no idea how a team of professionals can play the way they did in the second period, then turn things around in a heartbeat and play the type of third period they did. Was it the boos? Was it Lindy Ruff? Was it a sudden realization that their season could be over? But why in the world did they play the way they did in the second period?
I love this team, but they frustrate me on a weekly basis. And as an aside, is there anyone out there who trusts Ryan Miller anymore? I wish I could make a YouTube video of all the short-side slappers he has given up from the faceoff circle over the past season. It has to average one per night.
But enough complaining. Last night was a game for the ages, and was reminiscent of the Sabres of two years ago. I guess I should just be happy to have witnessed one of the most exciting games I have ever seen and be done with it.
Oh, and the last time the Sabres scored six in a period? SonOne was there with me.
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Lindy Ruff in his post-game presser, as replayed on On-The-Fly, said that the booing was definitely a wake-up call for the team. He said that that’s not something they’re used to hearing in that building and it was definitely motivating. He also said they deserved it and he actually thought the booing was a little weak, which got a laugh from the reporters in the room. So it seems we need to turn into Flyers fans to keep this team motivated.
I was at the Lightning game Feb. 20 when Thomas Vanish finally showed up in the 3d and scored a hat trick to win it in overtime. Probably not as exciting as last night but a seat jumper nonetheless…
How about the balance on this club? We have five — six if Paille scores two more — 20 goal scorers on this team. I’ll take 100 goals from five guys over 80 or 100 from two anyday. Despite our inconsistency, I think our scoring balance is the envy of the league…
Miller’s uneven play points out even more emphatically why we need a dependable/reliable No. 2 goalie. Ryan is just not a 72 game/year goalie…
Oh, and I agree… who’da thunk that Pominville of all people would emerge as the top player and leader of this team? Frankly, I’m glad someone’s finally stepping up. It’s only taken 70-some games. I’m just surprised it’s him!
I’m sure Lindy made it a point to say to the guys, ‘If you want your season to end in a hail of boos from the home crowd, keep playing the way you did in the 2nd…’
I loved Lindy’s post-game presser…he got some laughs, smacked down an upstart reporter for putting words in his mouth, it was classic.
“So, tell me again when Jason Pominville became the best player on the team?”
When he realized he’s going to cash in at the end of next season.
SIGN. HIM. JULY. FIRST.
Please. As long term as possible.
I don’t want to get too semantically invested in this, but I’ve always hated the use of the word “clutch” in the first place. There are players who do more regularly what MOST of them should be doing. And, of course, the more situations in which you play, the more opportunities you have to rise to the occasion when it matters the most.
Who knew Poms would emerge like this? It’s easy to say you always ‘knew’ something, but I think we all had some pretty high hopes after that shortie to put the Ottawa series away, didn’t we? He and a couple other young guys are part of the reason I figured we could live without Drury, and big reason why I was hoping we’d boot Briere.
Miller is yet to prove he’s an elite goalie. He got a lot of free passes when we scored six goals a game last season, and the year before that he truly was in a battle with Biron. You will not be able to fault Darcy if he doesn’t sign him to a 7yr/$50 million contract in July.
When I said yesterday that if we didn’t win by at least three that all hope would be gone, this sure wasn’t the way I was expecting it to all go down.
I can’t believe I even decided to watch the third (I thought it was 3-1 when I went to the mancave) in favor of grabbing a few shots of Christie Lee Cook, but it’s amazing what a fresh 30-pack will do for you.
After the first two goals you just knew we were gonna come back, but I couldn’t help thinking that coming back to tie it and then lose in regulation would have been even more of a setback than getting blown out – and I think we can all agree that a loss would have been the unofficial end of the season.
Next question: Did this win finally give them the confidence they’ve been whining about all year? I’m still very bothered by the fact that they couldn’t put more than 1.5 periods of effort out last night when they should damn well know what’s on the line by now.
“it’s amazing what a fresh 30-pack will do for you”
Hahaaaaaahaha. Well-said.
well… I was delayed in my departure from Chengdu – still smiling because the blue & gold came back in the 3rd. By the time I hit Beijing, my flight to Chicago had closed. A free night in the Capitol Airport Hotel courtesy of Air China w/ dinner, breakfast & lunch to boot was mine for the grabbing. I’m thinking I should have used my Hilton Honors membership to find the local Hilton in lieu of this motel 6.
Life serves dilemmas; I make dilemma-ade, THAT IS the WNY spirit! All those wild winters growing up taught me a thing or two. The coffee is just as poor here but hey – I can get Olympic trinkets for neighbor’s kids before I leave. I went to the bar here last night and they put on Hotel California in my honor – sat eating sunflower seeds w/ cabbies and pounded numerous bottles of Carlsberg Ale, while the cab drivers had coffees. I will buy that Eagles CD when I get home.
Trevor – you’re right, Ryan Miller still must prove he is better than average.
As far as Jason Pomminville, I think he, Derrek Roy and, Thomas Vanek must become the lead three on this team. Not anyone of them becoming the leader but all three; when one or the other has a funk on, one or two of the others has to pick it up. After being shelled, Robert Esche said “four of the best # 2 lines he’s ever seen†– stay w/ that,
spread it around. Keep Mair and Kaleta in the line up to keep people honest. Bernier looks like he could throw his weight around – feed that boy some gunpowder.
The first email I sent last night was to my son – PLEASE TIVO the leafs at sabres, I’ll be in VT around midnight w/ my clock at noon – REAL COFFEE and a ham & cheese on rye w/ Weber’s mustard, man can’t wait!
Be Good!
vtTom – Welcome home, man! Sounds like your trip was awesome. I’ll bet you’ll be glad to breathe some (relatively) non-polluted air for a change.