Home is where the losses are

The only time fans used to leave HSBC Arena early was when the Sabres had a huge lead and the outcome had long been decided. Lately when fans leave, it's because the Sabres are trailing and the result is all but final in favor of the visitors.

If the Sabres are to make the playoffs, they'll have to play better at home. They are just 1-4-1 in the past six games at the foot of Washington Street. The Sabres went 55-21-6 at home the past two years. This season, they are 17-13-4.

"Home should be an advantage, and lately it hasn't been that way," captain Jason Pominville said.

Coach Lindy Ruff put a positive spin on Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the Capitals, but no matter how well he felt the team played, one simple fact remains. Time is running out. Only 14 games remain, and the Sabres are out of a playoff spot.

"We didn't get enough pucks at their net, but we didn't have the best legs," Ruff said. "We didn't skate our way out of some situations. Positionally, we did a pretty darn good job. We let [Alexander] Ovechkin get in behind us, which hurt us. That guy's dangerous. He doesn't miss too often."

Fans shouldn't miss Ovechkin's games, either. The guy does it all, and has fun doing it. There's a reason Washington is climbing toward the playoffs, and he's it. That 13-year, $124 million extension he recently got? He's trying to show he deserves it.

"He's one of the biggest game-breakers in the league," Washington goalie Olie Kolzig said. "He's ridiculous. Everybody said after he signed that big contract that there was going to be a drop-off. It's the exact opposite. He's actually elevated his game."

---John Vogl

Comments

[Hambone Johnson]

This just in - the unknown Philly source that has figured out the problems in buffalo is.........Bobby Clarke!

Why does every writer for the news try to over simplify everything? Does it take too much effort to really analyze things?

The sabres are not a hopeless team. The struggles this season are a result of younger players filling the roles of the departed. Some are clearly ready for it (Roy and Hecht) and some are not (like stafford and Kalinin). But the nucleus of the team is strong. It reminds me of the team we had the year before the lockout. Didnt make the playoffs, but you could tell they were coming around.

I just think its funny how teams like Philly paid top dollar for all these free agents and are in the same boat as us.

[Bster]

Um....furthermore.....DiCesare (D), competitive ownership can certainly be a part of the equation. There was no such denial of such, but as the only reason, or even as the main overriding reason, as Hall & Oates once sang; "I can't for that, noooooo, no can do".

Also, Mr. D Bingo, here is the quote which so solicited comments about how I should awake to your higher standing, from your willing fingers but wavering brain; "The Sabres greatest loss has been the rules that made the game great for that one fabulous year in 2005/2006." Really, just my opinion. It always really comes down to that and in this very subjective world of analysis of Hockey, uh, yeah, they all are opinions and BINGO has absolutely nothing to do with it. Your opinion, and that of the nameless Philly Flyer expert (?), is that of the recorded message variety but you have made that popular claim and so be it. Again, congratulations, your recital has been well recieved by the masses.

[george]

I hear that the SABRES have a reserved aircraft parking spot in Carolina. Must they display the handicap sticker while using that slot?????

[Bster]

Then that is that, DiCesare, I am enlightened. Thank you for that. The nameless fella' from Philly who has taken in about ???? Sabre games this year knows all. Let me throw that nameless expert down in my little black book as my Biblical Master. Just one request, DiCesare, in the course of my awakening, could you throw me some initials of this Master of all hockey (from Philly) so I can easily look him up whenever I feel need (and YOU know that will be a whole host of times) to learn more about the game?

Of course, there are many others who would agree with this obvious statement and therefore we can extract two things from your comments. 1/You don't believe that all the folks who say the same thing at the Buffalo News are authoritative enough to use as your backing. 2/You are fully in bed with those obvious theories. Very good and congratulations! Keep reading and nodding your head. The love is mutual.

[DiCesare]

Yo, Bster, expand your horizons. The game has taken a turn for the worse, no doubt. I've written about it multiple times. But if you think that's all that's wrong with the Sabres, wake up.
I listened to a Flyers game on XM last week. They took calls between periods. Host was asked why Sabres have fallen so drastically. Answer: Lack of competitive ownership. And that's a BINGO.

[Bster]

Again, Hambone, you are preaching to the choir and doing a fine job of it.

Here is to all in the Buffalo media.....write this down and paste it directly above your negative writing machines:

The Sabres greatest loss has been the rules that made the game great for that one fabulous year in 2005/2006. Hmm....Somebody should write a book about that season. It was the last great season and the first for a very long time.

Last year's playoffs were unwatchable. Please pass along a series from last year that was enjoyable. Compare it to Buffalo/Philly, Buffalo/Ottawa and Buffalo/Carolina. Good luck!

Did somebody shoot the caretaker? Why didn't the press notice and report on this? (eeek.....these two questions sound very much the same to the ones we should ask about Baseball/Steroids.)

[ZAP]

Tim, Thanks for the heads up, he just needs a new schtick besides butterknife and golfing. I enjoy the read,alot of pationate and most cases knowleable hockey fans. I've been watching the Sabres since the 1973/74 season. I thought the recent Sabres team the lasst 2 years have been some of the most entertaining and competitve teams we've had. Unfortunately mgt has failed to be forward thinking and re-up the core players at the right time. I hope they do not screw up when it is Miller's time. This not Ruff and Regiers doing, I blame this solely on Quinn and Golisano. I will continue to support GO SABRES !!!!

[tim]

Zap, ignore that turd! He is just this anrgy little man who comes on this blog to talk trash about other people on the blag and our beloved Sabres. He does this just to get a rise out of people and remain semi self important. He just wants attention. He is the type of person that believes negative attention is better than none at all. Just ignore him and continue participating in conversations about the sabres and the game of hockey. No matter what anyone does, including the news when they firewalled his previous user name, he will just come on here and talk about how the Butterknives are the worst team in the world.

[ZAP]

D Truth , I have been reading this blog for couple weeks know and continue to see your daily attacks on the butterknives.Who is your team of choice?
Zap

[Hambone Johnson]

The 05/06 season was the best in a long time for the NHL. They called all the obstruction and the game became more wide open. Unfortunately it has regressed to what it was pre-lockout. As a result the team that Regier built, which is based on speed, is paying the price.

But hey, at least the officials remain consistent in calling the delay of game for shooting it over the glass. They ignore all the other penalties, but they NEVER miss that gem!

Fear not Bster - Hecht, Tallinder, and Connolly should be back on Saturday. I think we'll see a more lively effort from the team.

[Bster]

Hambone,

Always appreciate your posts here. It is true, the NHL is a collective bore. When you cause a team, Buffalo in this case, to play 20 back-to-back games during a season then you gets what it is you paid for.....watered down hockey.

Hockey is my favourite sport. The NHL is my least favourite league. Considering MLB seems to be in court more than the field lately, The NBA employs refs who bet and then try to alter their games, and the NFL has coaches who spy, then get caught, then they burn the evidence....uh....THAT IS SAYING A LOT!

Last nights game was not only a product of a tired (lazy) Buffalo team but a product of the NHL and its silly idea of entertainment. Not even the most exciting player on ice could keep me from flipping to Americas Best Models so as to score points with the wife! Fricking sad - Both me and the NHL.

[Glenn W]

P.E. Carr,

How can you blame Miller? I thought he looked good, better than he has in some of the more recent games.

It's bad enough that he's stuck in the net night after night, but when you get that many breakaways and odd-man rushes against you, you can only do so much. Miller kept it a one-point game most of the night - it could've easily been 5 to 1 at the final buzzer.

Agree with you 100% on Kalinin, though. I hope Tallinder is back on his feet quick...

Sekera has stepped up nicely, but for some reason Spacek really seems off his game. I hope it's not b/c he's missing his buddy - he's much better than that.

[Hambone Johnson]

John - you should watch teams besides Buffalo. If you do, you'll see that it isn't that much more exciting. And if goals = exciting hockey, Buffalo is a much better team to watch than most. We don't play a trap and have the 5th most goals in the league. I guess you would need to watch other games to realize what the NHL product is these days, so I thought I'd give you a heads up.

[Buffalo Bill]

###

Was Tony Lydman not in the same room when the defense was informed to play Ovechkin physically?

I saw Spacek whiff on the puck three consecutive times, and actually avoid playing during a scrum in defensive end.

How many times are we going to allow Kotalik to turn the puck over a center ice for the game winning breakaway?

I saw Derek Roy beat four opponents lined up along the blue line. Could he share his hockey knowledge with his teammates?

I think Lindy Ruff over-thinks the game at times and it's reflected in some players games. How many times can you pass the puck within three feet of the goal crease?

Disgusting. I'm scrapping the Sabres sticker off my car now.

###

[Dominic S]

ROFL, Stephen Hawking...

[Stephen Hawking]

John who posted below is a genius! Thanks for providing such a sophisticated statistical analysis. An overtime loss is the same as a tie in the old NHL. I know that you want to prove how bad the Sabres are by counting them as losses, but a point is still awarded. If you use the same asinine logic for the rest of the league, you would find many other mediocre teams. I wonder if Lindy is going to read this so he can see your 6-8-2 prediction for the rest of the season. Maybe he can just forfeit the remaining games because John predicted 87 points.

[P.E. Carr in Calgary]

Kalinin on the ice for all 3 goals against. Dump this loser asap. Power play goes nowhere without Connolly, but I understand why he can't play on successive nights. Apparently neither can Ryan Miller; too bad he is in the net when he takes nights off. Very medicore performance by him.

[Greg]

Kenhockey, your Caps turned their fortunes around when Gabby Boudreau replaced Glen Hanlon as coach. Having witnessed what he achieved in the AHL with Manchester and Hershey, the guy can flat-out win.

As for Ovie, what more can be said? Surefire MVP candidate.

[kenhockey]

As a Caps STH, it was great to see our team FINALLY beat yours this season. Always a tough team to beat.
LETS GO CAPS!!!

[John]

"This season, they are 17-13-4."

They're really 17-17(4) at home for 38 points, a .500 team, and 15-19(5) for 35 points on the road.

In one word: MEDIOCRE

[John]

Sabres now 32-36(9) for 73 points. Does a team playing .471 hockey deserve a playoff spot.

This team is more boring to watch than the New Jersey Devils. They have gone from being one of the most exciting teams to one of the biggest bores.

They have 14 games left. They should go 6-8(2), which would give them 14 points and 87 for the season. That might not get it done, but remember, they are playing .471 hockey, so what else do you expect?