Mancari, Paetsch in -- Hank, Max out

The fans' clamor has apparently been heard: The Sabres have just taken the ice for the morning skate and right winger Mark Mancari is here from Portland, where was second in the AHL in scoring with 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists) in 14 games.

Mancari is skating with Paul Gaustad and Daniel Paille and Lindy Ruff (finally) will make Maxim Afinogenov a healthy scratch. One-goal Max is on the ice but not skating on the lines, which look like this:

Vanek-Hecht-Pominville; Paille-Gaustad-Mancari; MacArthur-Roy-Stafford; Kaleta-Mair-Peters

And now more news: Henrik Tallinder is a healthy scratch for tonight in the wake of Wednesday's disaster in Boston that was a key topic in the locker room yesterday. Nathan Paetsch will be in.

---Mike Harrington

Comments

[Buffalo Excuses]

Interesting Move. Didn't expect the Tallinder thing. I can see why he's miffed but he did say he's moving on. If I'm the coach and rest of team, I am ok with that.

This weekend should tell us what the team thinks of Ruff. If they like AND respect him, they play their tails off and walk away with 2 victories. If there is a silent strike, well...

I think they come out fired up. As much as I've complained about lack of Passion, I do like Ruff as a coach. I think a system works, particularly when you are in the second tier of the league. You beat better talent with a system.

BTW, by talent, I mean top to bottom. We have studs on this team, jut not enough of them. System works either way, but is critical when the other team has a couple more studs.

[jan]

Tallinder's "miffed" because he's benched for tonight's game? Too bad-- the reason isn't just because of the pass he put right onto the stick of a Boston player (which resulted in a goal for Boston seconds after the pass) It's about time Max takes a turn in the press box as well. Mancari needs to take advantage of this call-up. Paetsch needs to also take advantage of this chance to be in the lineup as well. If the players continue to decide they don't want to forecheck or backcheck, make sensible passes, drive to the net, finish their checks, etc. then there will always be a seat in the press box waiting for them and another teammate who gets to play, or a player in Portland who is wating for their chance to play. Will this be the wake-up call for this team?

[P.E. Carr in Calgary]

I agree with JD. Max is a fast skater and exciting to watch, but the problem is that he never accomplishes anything. Put him on waives, hope someone claims him, and free up some cap space. And I like seeing Paetsch in there because he actually does play defence, which I realize is a foreign concept to some of the boys on the blueline. When you cannot keep the puck out of your net, you need more Tim Horton and less Phil Housley. (Too bad Briere is out as I don't think Flyers have won a game yet with him in the lineup for a full game).

[pirates_fan_1969]

Mancari earned the call up, and I hope he makes the best of his opportunity. It's a shame to see the Sabres doing so poorly after such a great start.

[SabresFan in DC]

Hopefully this will wake the team up and get them going again. They still should put Connolly on IR.

[Greg]

I agree with Chad and JD about putting Connolly on IR and bringing up another guy. Mike, your thoughts?

[dtl]

Max and one of our D-Men to Chitown for Havlat. This would be a good trade for both teams. Free up money for Chitown and both are UFA's next year. With the Portland trio learning the system and we would have a new threat on offense. We could bring up Weber.

[aroch]

Thank god i dont have to see max cruise all the way up the ice, behind the opponent's net into the corner impressively - and then cough up the puck.

[JD]

About time Lindy benched Max. He may be flashy with the puck at times, but he has no finish. He looks a lot like Sergei Samsonov did a few years back... right before Sergei got passed from team to team to team.

I'd bring up Kennedy and Gerbe -- see what they have to offer. At least Gerbe could've skated underneath Chara the other night...

[rragilia@aol.com]

no reason to watch game tonight,max out!!!!

[rragilia@aol.com]

max out,i never buy tiket

[Jerry]

Hey Bark, do you watch the games. Max makes moves to open up ice and gets passes to his teammates. What are you watching? This is not the description of a one-man show as you would indicate.

[rragilia@aol.com]

max out?this is joke!!!!! lindy assholl

[Bark]

Max has blown chunks for the past couple of seasons now. He's a one man show when he's on the ice. Bad giveaways and the inability to use his linemates has been the only things that Max does on a consistant basis.

[Chad]

Mike, thanks for the update. I wonder why they're not putting Connolly on IR. The only requirements to be placed on IR are that a) the player cannot play for 7 days after being placed on IR, and b) the player must be deemed unable to play for at least 7 days using mandated medical standards. Connolly will be out at least 7 days and it seems like bruised rips or a bruised sternum (which are the rumors) would meet the 2nd prong. We could get Gerbe or Kennedy in here, too.

[Billy]

Who the heck would play center if Roy and Mair were scratched???

[Mike Harrington]

Chad et al: It was not clear after practice today what move they were making. Kotalik -- not Connolly -- has been placed on IR to make room for Mancari.

[Ryan]

Max has had about two good games this year but has turned the puck over far too many times.

[Jerry]

When you have guys making the type of nonsense plays that they are and doing it repeatedly, yes it is coaching. If you accept that as a coach......you continue playing the morons. That is exactly what he has been doing. His "discipline" is not consistently applied across the team. That is starting to create issues on this team. That is what is producing the results you see on the ice currently. Lindy has hit the end of his rope. Tonight will not be pretty.

[Jerry]

Oh no, I have watched Max. Yes he hss made a few mistakes, but not nearly as many as I indicated by Mair and even Roy. Max adds an element to the line he is on that does not come from any othe member of the Sabres. Actually his backchecking over the last while has been signficantly better than any other forward you would care to name so perhaps you need to watch more closely. I will be there again in person tonight.

[Chad]

My question still stands: How did the Sabres make room for calling up Mancari? Is Connolly now on IR? Otherwise, they'd be over the roster limit.

[Pat]

Inconsistent coaching? Its about the only thing that has been consistent. Its about time that Lindy brought a shakedown though, and big surprise, Max gets to sit again. Just trade him already...

[cak]

Jerry I agree. I was trying to find on the Sabre site player stats. All they are showing are 2007-08 stats. How many goals does Roy/Mair have? Assists, +/-? Why is Max targeted?

[Lindy]

That was an inconsistent email, Jerry.

[Derek]

Apparently you haven't watched the sideshow that is Max.

[Jerry]

Why would he sit Max. Mair took retarded penalties in open ice that cost them goals. That is the guy that needs to be sat down. Along with Roy. Inconsistent coaching by Lindy. He is losing control.

[tim]

Now I am really excited to watch the game on TV tonight. Normally it doesn't take much for me to get worked up enough to watch a game against Filthadelpdia but now I am really eager to watch.

[Caps]

Here we go! Now things get interesting.

[waz]

YES.......Chad ur right on the nose. Stafford needs to step down to the gaustad line and mancari should be in his spot. If ur gonna bring the guy up and take advantage of his current points spree then at least play him effectively.

[Chad]

Also, glad to see they're giving Paetsch an opportunity in the wake of Hank's disaster of a game on Wednesday. The message has been sent by Lindy. Now we see if anyone is listening and/or cares.

[Chad]

Greg, agreed. Not sure that Gaustad and Paille are the best linemates for Mancari. He's not a player in the banger/checker mode. He's a scorer. They should give him a shot on the right side of the Roy and MacArthur line.

[Chad]

Does this mean that they put Connolly on IR in order to free up a roster spot?

[lotofsnow]

Hopefully he can infect the team with the winning attitude from Portland.

[Greg]

Very nice. Wouldn't it be great to see him get a chance with some of the scoring guys?

[Ryan]

Gives me a reason to watch tonight. I can't wait!