CoHo last minute dangles not enough .. car 4-3 buf

CAR 4-3 BUF

CoHo dangles not enough

          The sabres were back to their old ways Tuesday night and even a slick dangle from Cody Hodgson was to little to late. Being sloppy in their own end and only showing up for half a game isn't what won them 3 games in a row, or what sparked them to score a shorthanded goal against the Rangers down 2-1 in the 3rd to tie it up, stealing a point. Ryan Miller looked exhausted he needs to rest, 14 straight starts including 3 games in the past 4 nights have taken their toll on the goaltender. But the team can't continue to take shifts or entire periods off, and expect things to turn around on their own. Twice tonight poor shifts right after scoring lead to goals for the hurricanes and took away any momentum that appeared to be building. Ron Rolston has his hands full trying to deal with the poor decision making that usually ends up in the back of our own net. Rotating D-men in and out every game doesn't help, whether due to injury or coaches decisions. 

        That said the Sabres are 3-1-1 in their last 5 and have been playing better. Vanek returned from injury and appeared to hurt his hand in the game, no mention in the post game though. TJ Brennan who recorded a 108 mph slap shot during the AHL skills competition, netted his first of the season at the end of a 5-3 powerplay. I'd like to see him quarterback the powerplay more often as Myers has proven to be ineffective in that role. Sabres will hop a flight to NJ and get right back at it Thursday, maybe playing a team they recently beat will give them confidence going into the game. And lets not forget Ryan Miller and devils forward Adam Henrique chirping at each other just a few nights ago.

The wheels haven't fallen off.. yet

       So somehow the Sabres held it together this weekend, it wasn't perfect by any means, but we beat the Devils, then went into MSG and stole a point. We totally should've lost the game even though we out played the Rangers most of the game. We took a penalty and Pat Kaleta sneezed on Brad Richards sending him violently into the boards making it a 5 on 3 and earning a misconduct. The rags scored 2 on the ensuing powerplay and the Sabres were down a goal. Nathan Gerbe would pull the Sabres back even short-handed with nine seconds left in the penalty. Sending the sabres into their 2nd extra period in 2 nights. Sabres got a powerplay in OT but could not capitalize. Ryan Miller playing his 13th straight and 2nd of back to back shootouts did not have the gas left, and the shooters did nothing to help his cause as lundqvist made saves on Pominville and Ennis. I like that the team showed the grit to get back in the game after taking the bad penalties and allowing 2 goals. This team is learning how to roll with the punches, and possibly face another one as we're waiting to hear about the Kaleta hit, Brendon Shanahan and him will have a phone conversation at 3pm EST.

      

          More important was the first game of the weekend against the New Jersey Devils, the last home game before a road trip the Sabres wanted to impress. The game was alot more physical than expected, Kaleta got under Kovalchuk's skin right away and forced him to take a bad penalty, how ever the 2 times the Sabres got on the powerplay in the first we took penalties and nullified them. The team played better in the 2nd which we're known for going to sleep during and stuck it out to OT. Captain Jason Pominville scored twice and really carried us, Hodgson assisted on his 2 goals. Adam Henrique got a break away shorthanded on Ryan Miller early in the third and burried it. In the shoot out Pominville scored, Illya Kovalchuk missed and Ennis scored. Leaving it up to Henrique who had beat Miller earlier in the night, not this time though, as Miller would bait the Glove and take it away. He even had a few words for Mr. Henrique.. I think it went something like this, Music coutesousy of Ryan Millers subconscious.

      

      

Don't come around here no more Mr. Henrique... Next time were coming to you. Sabs will be in Carolina Tuesday and in New Jersey Thursday 2 winable contests, I'd really like to see the point streak continue..

      

Hey, it could happen...

    So I know I'm going out on a limb here but it could happen. We really do have a chance to win 3 in a row. Saturday afternoon the Sabres face the New Jersey Devils(10-6-4) who started strong but have been going through their own troubles as of late. 4-5-1 in their last 10 and 4-4-1 on the road, sounds eerily similar to the Sabres home record. I expect Ryan Miller to get his 12th consecutive start, and back up Jhonas Enroth who hasn't played since Feb. 5th, to start Sunday against the Rangers. Should make for an interesting weekend of hockey.  I'm sure Miller is eager to get some wins, and it will be the last chance for almost 2 weeks to impress a somewhat rabid fanbase, as the Sabres begin a 4 game 10 day road trip Sunday.

UPDATE:Vanek has been ruled out for Saturdays game, with an upper body injury. This is news to me. It seems anytime we face must win situations one of our players miraculously gets injured. From Miller all the way back to Hasek. Time to stand up Drew Stafford, Tyler Ennis and Cody Hodgson. I would add Tyler Myers to that group, but I think his game is slowly coming around hes a +2 in his last 5 games and has been staying out of the box. Maybe less ice time is helping him sort out his game, the points will come. I still think we end up 1-1 after Sunday, unless Vanek's injury keeps him out tomorrow, and is more serious than it appears.

   Also I'd like anyone reading this to check out my buddies blog @ http://puckoftheislander.blogspot.com/. Likes to write about Islanders and Sabres but you might see him post about anything sports related. I plan on joining our blogs together in the near future, which was the main plan but that got a little derailed. Even good for a laugh once in a while as I was in a zombie like state after a long day at work and this picture brought me out of it. 

http://puckoftheislander.blogspot.com/

    Other games I'll be keeping tabs on:  Pens@Habs & OTT@NYI i hope pens and isles whoop our divisional rivals.

Prediction: 1-1 for the weekend ... I don't see Miller losing unless the team completely gives up. But its highly probable Enroth gets a start making it REALLLY hard to see us winning both games. I'd be happy to go
1-0-1 and sneak 3 pts out of it.