Looking at the Buffalo Sabres

by MrNorrisTrophy on Oct 12, 2009 9:54 PM CDT in Game Preview Comment 19 comments

More photos » by Graham Hughes - AP

This is another new feature I want to start doing (time permitting with my schedule) on the day before the game or the morning of a game. We'll see what type of response it gets and if you guys like it, we'll keep doing it. Pretty much it's going to be a stat-based looking at the opponent as well as one or two opinions.

Category	Stat	NHL Rank
Goals per game	1.33	30th
Goals Against per game	1.00	1st
Power-play	11.1 %	28th
Penalty kill	90%	4th
Shots per game	38.7	1st
Shots against per game	22.0	1st
Faceoff percentage	42.8	28th
PIM per game	11.0	8th
PP drawn	18	26th

Leading...	Stat	Player
Scorer	1 G,1 A	Clarke MacArthur
+/-	+1	4 tied
Hits	6	3 tied
PIM	6	Paul Gaustad
Shots	12	Drew Stafford
Blocked Shots	4	Chris Butler
Faceoffs	58.3%	Paul Gaustad
Wins	2	Ryan Miller
GAA	.98	Ryan Miller

Granted, these stats are going to be a little skewed because the youth of the season thus far but some of them are still impressive, such as Ryan Miller's .98 goals against average. Another stat this is impressive is the shots per game and the shots allowed per game. Should be interesting to see how often the Wings are able to make Ryan Miller work and how much off time they can give Osgood.

Thomas Vanek is a pretty impressive playmaker on offense and could create some trouble in the defensive zone for Detroit. He's got two great line-mates in Derek Roy and Drew Stafford that are just as much of a threat as him. I think the Wings could have success defending this line with the new line that Babcock has created with Bertuzzi, Zetterberg, and Datsyuk. Put Nick Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski on the ice too and that's an almost impossible five to score on.

Players to watch on offense: Thomas Vanek, Derek Roy, and Drew Stafford

Players to watch on defense: Tyler Myers (6'8", 222 lbs!), Craig Rivet

As the season goes on, I'll add some more structure to this feature. Right now it's hard to do all that much analyzing of a team that has only played 3 games.

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1st in shots taken?

thats pretty impressive. almost 40 a game? how are they not scoring more? if they keep up that pace, it really can only be a matter of time.

by OriginalRecipeIzzy on Oct 13, 2009 9:41 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

GO WINGS!

dominate on Versus tonight!

we seem to have gotten over that HURDLE

ROCKTOBER HAS BEGUN!

by TuLoRocks2008 on Oct 13, 2009 11:26 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Well i hope this is the game we can finally get some of those 40 shots a game to actually get in the net. Even though we’ve played well its frustrating not scoring with that many shots. And Myers is definately someone you want to watch. Only 19 years old and played 25 mins last game. On the ice at all times too.. hes pretty impressive. Havent seen a Wings game this year.. How are you guys doing without Franzen?

"Well, I’m always hungry and it’s time to eat" - Lynch

by bflo on Oct 13, 2009 12:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

seemingly

we’re alright without Franzen but one game doesnt make it a definite. We definitely have a tough test running into the hottest goaltender in the league, should be a heck of a game!

Winging It In Motown

by MrNorrisTrophy on Oct 13, 2009 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah I cant wait for tonight. Should be a good game. Our games have been fun to watch so far this year.. just lacking in the scoring dept. Plus seeing the Wings play is always good… such a well-ran franchise. And there really isnt a player on your team that i dislike.. probably because you guys are out west but ya know.. What do you think your guys biggest weakness is?

"Well, I’m always hungry and it’s time to eat" - Lynch

by bflo on Oct 13, 2009 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Biggest weakness

would have to be goaltending and defense but they’ve stepped it up the last two games. Other than that, our PK has been atrocious so far this year and last year. What about the Sabres?

Winging It In Motown

by MrNorrisTrophy on Oct 13, 2009 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Scoring has been our obvious problem.. but with our chances its only a matter of time until that breaks out. The thing im a little nervous about, expecially this game, is we’ve been giving up quite a few odd man rushes but Miller has been outstanding. And as impressive as Myers has been hes also still 19 and I gotta keep reminding myself that. Our D likes to pinch and we just gotta make sure we’re rotating back. One more thing would be our lack of production from our “big names” but i think thats kind of tied into the lack of scoring too. Plus the season is young. We do look tougher than we have since the lockout which by our free agent acquisations is what we were trying to do so thats good to see that working so far. Hows Zets looked this year? One of my favorite non-Sabre players.

"Well, I’m always hungry and it’s time to eat" - Lynch

by bflo on Oct 13, 2009 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Zetterberg has been good so far. Not much to show in the stat column but that isn’t always the key to a player’s impact. He’s been great defensively and making some nice passes and taking some nice shots on goal.

I’m looking forward to watching Myers and Vanek, Myers especially. I’ve heard a lot of people are high on his skill set. I would probably cheer for the Sabres any other night than tonight because of one of my good friends who is a Sabres fan. The scoring should come for you guys (personally i hope it’s not tonight) but from the shot charts i’ve seen, the majority of the shots are from good locations. Probably just a matter of time before it starts to get rolling.

Is Miller in net tonight?

Winging It In Motown

by MrNorrisTrophy on Oct 13, 2009 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would expect Miller to start tonight. He gets most of the starts when he is healthy. In 07-08 he played 76 games. Our D will be pretty consistent with what it has been over the last few games, except for Andrej Sekera going out with an injury and Toni Lydman returning to the lineup. This shouldn’t be too much of change, as Sekera has been a turnover machine the last couple games, fully filling Lydman’s niche on the team.

As for Myers, I am already a huge fan. He seems very comfortable and doesn’t panic in the defensive zone when the other team is forechecking. In the offensive zone, he is not afraid to pinch and get down low when needed. Saturday in Nashville, there was a good 20-30 seconds that he was down below the goal line, winning battles on the wall (as Grier dropped to cover the point). There has been talk that he will be sent back to the juniors when his 10 games are up, but I think that he has already won over many of the fans.

This should be a good game, given our newfound defensive play. Detroit is the one team that I always worry about when we play, because of their size, skill and experience.

by The Burl 8 on Oct 13, 2009 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree. And if they send Myers back down there will be hell to be paid because he is not only a fan favorite but he really is playing well. Should definately be a good game tonight, hopefully Miller can stay hot and we can get some goals. But yeah the Wings are one of the few teams that do make me nervous. They do everything well above avg it seems

"Well, I’m always hungry and it’s time to eat" - Lynch

by bflo on Oct 13, 2009 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I really like how Miller is playing. Even if the sabres gave up a breakaway, Miller would rob just about any player. Myers looks like a beast out there. This game will be close. I am a Wings fan but Sabres come a second place because of Miller. Most of his family is Wing fans! Bet they have a tough time choosing on who to cheer for!

Im like Steve Yzerman! No, not the leadership, goals, two way play or sportmanship..... Just the knee pain!

by Wings40 on Oct 13, 2009 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would probably say Detoits my 2nd favorite team. Was a huge Stevie Y fan growing up and they just never seem to do any wrong haha. Plus it was nice to see Hasek succeed there. Whats your guys take on the rest of the west? Tought to watch west coast teams living in WNY. They’re either never on or too late at night.

"Well, I’m always hungry and it’s time to eat" - Lynch

by bflo on Oct 13, 2009 4:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes the other teams in the west are usually too late to watch. Look out for LA. This team is my pick to win the west (putting detroit aside for the moment) becuase they are so talented. SJ has a strong team this year and will make a deep run.

St.Louis is very strong but is missins some key parts for a playoff run. Chicago is done after this season for sure. No cap room for anyone

Im like Steve Yzerman! No, not the leadership, goals, two way play or sportmanship..... Just the knee pain!

by Wings40 on Oct 13, 2009 4:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah LA has looked impressive so far. And Drew Doughty is the real deal. Tough ass kid. I heard he took a puck to the face and still finished his shift!! And i agree 100% with the Chicago referance. That Hossa signing was outta this world and Kane and Toews are free agents after this year I believe? And do you think this is THE YEAR San Jose gets out of the 1st round? Heatly seems to be enjoying SoCal so far. haha. Also whats a Wings fans take on Hossa? Just curious to see how you guys reacted when he was signed/played last year. Didnt seem like he was ever “part of the team” to me.

"Well, I’m always hungry and it’s time to eat" - Lynch

by bflo on Oct 13, 2009 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He never fit iin with our style of play which slowly eroded our defensive play. I personally dont care for him now. Its the borderline of hate and dont care right now. SJ will be past the first round this year with the leadership of thorton and heatly. Kane,Towes,Byfguflen and Keith are free agents this year which is the main foundation of chi-town

Im like Steve Yzerman! No, not the leadership, goals, two way play or sportmanship..... Just the knee pain!

by Wings40 on Oct 13, 2009 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chicago has some MAJOR decisions to make this offseason. I would love to see Kane come home to Buffalo, that would be awesome. And you would think SJ has to break-through sometime haha. Im so happy hockeys back… The Bills are slowly killin me inside and if I guessed you guys were Lions fans you’re in the same boat.

"Well, I’m always hungry and it’s time to eat" - Lynch

by bflo on Oct 13, 2009 4:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs