Official Sabres Playoff Thread

[MacGuyV]

Lets kick off my first 3day weekend in forever with a win.
Some thoughts 4 hours before faceoff:

Should be a great game. I've always thought that when you earn a split on the road, Game 3 is absolutely crucial to hold serve because it's usually harder to win compared to Game 4.
In 99, they won dogfights vs. Boston & Toronto in Game 3 to go up 2-1 and went on to win Game 4 rather handily. Dallas they lost G3 and won G4. This same thing seems to be true in basketball as well. Maybe the road team feels they have to regain control in the third game by playing balls to the wall and if they lose they're emotionally done, i dunno.

With the injuries it's going to be tough. The good news is the Sabres have only faltered this postseason when they have a reason to "take a night off". When they play desparate hockey they usually win. Tonight with all of the injuries, they don't want to go back to Raleigh at 2-2 so I expect another good effort, as there's no reason for a letdown circa Game 2. OTOH, I don't think the Canes are going to be too demoralized about losing the last game because they should smell blood with all the Rochester kids in there. Sounds like Janik & Jillson will be paired together - I'm sure Ruff will try to use the home ice to hide them, ie match them up vs. Carolina's 3rd or 4th line.

I expect a well played game on both sides, could very well go into OT, where I'll take my chances with Miller.

Lets Go Bu-ffa-lo

[GambleGamble]

This by far the biggest game of the playoffs so far...The Philly series even though was tied was never in doubt, and we ran away with the Ottawa Series...

...We lose here it means we have to win again in Carolina without being able to set up our weakened defensive match ups...

...I see a very very close game, we just need a huge spurt again and then to batton down the hatches and hold on for dear life again...but not so much as the last 30 sec of G3

[Triumph36]

In case none of you noticed, Carolina is missing excellent power forward Erik Cole, who is dominant down low, a fantastic forechecker, and has terrific hands as well.

Tallinder for Cole is a wash. They do need Numminen and Kalinin back as soon as possible, 'cause Jeff Jillson ain't gonna cut it - I thought Jillson was playing in Europe.

[MarkSummers]

I think Tallinder for Cole is a pretty unfair comparison. Maybe nobody has noticed that Cole was out because he's been out since the beginning of March.

Cole is an excellent player, no doubt, but the Hurricanes have had pretty much the same team throughout the home stretch of the regular season and during the playoffs. They know what they have.

On the other hand, Buffalo has lost three crucial defensemen on a defensive unit that has overachieved so far during these playoffs. Tallinder being perhaps the best of the trio of downed defenders and maybe on the whole team. Cole being out for Carolina is more comparable to Conolly being out for Buffalo. Conolly is a good player, nowhere near as good as Cole, but just one player missing on both teams on a speedy, high powered offense. These two forwards being out for each team is merely a setback for each team. The injuries to the Buffalo defenders could prove to be the end of their season.

I agree that this is the most important game of the playoffs so far for Buffalo. Let's just hope they can win this one.

[bluef0x]

[ QUOTE ]
I think Tallinder for Cole is a pretty unfair comparison. Maybe nobody has noticed that Cole was out because he's been out since the beginning of March.

Cole is an excellent player, no doubt, but the Hurricanes have had pretty much the same team throughout the home stretch of the regular season and during the playoffs. They know what they have.

On the other hand, Buffalo has lost three crucial defensemen on a defensive unit that has overachieved so far during these playoffs. Tallinder being perhaps the best of the trio of downed defenders and maybe on the whole team. Cole being out for Carolina is more comparable to Conolly being out for Buffalo. Conolly is a good player, nowhere near as good as Cole, but just one player missing on both teams on a speedy, high powered offense. These two forwards being out for each team is merely a setback for each team. The injuries to the Buffalo defenders could prove to be the end of their season.

I agree that this is the most important game of the playoffs so far for Buffalo. Let's just hope they can win this one.

[/ QUOTE ]

You're right... it is unfair because Cole is like a million times better.

[GambleGamble]

Buffalo missing
Tallinder
Connolly
Khalinin
Numminem

is waaaaayyyyy tougher to overcome then Cole...who as mentioned has been MIA for 2 months already

[Triumph36]

You're nuts - Erik Cole is way better than Tim Connolly.

I call Cole for Tallinder a wash because Carolina acquired over-the-hill forward Mark Recchi as a Cole 'replacement'. Since Recchi isn't very good and hasn't been for a long time, I think it's hardly a replacement, but it's better than what Buffalo has to replace Tallinder. I think Darcy Regier has to be seriously regretting his decision not to pick up a depth defender when there were a million available at the trade deadline - Vancouver picked up 3, New Jersey 2, and so on. If you're going to make a serious playoff run, you have to have at least 7 NHL capable defenders, and probably 8. Rory Fitzpatrick doesn't count.

Numminen and Kalinin should both be back for Game 5.

[CrazyPsycho]

[ QUOTE ]
In case none of you noticed, Carolina is missing excellent power forward Erik Cole, who is dominant down low, a fantastic forechecker, and has terrific hands as well.

Tallinder for Cole is a wash. They do need Numminen and Kalinin back as soon as possible, 'cause Jeff Jillson ain't gonna cut it - I thought Jillson was playing in Europe.

[/ QUOTE ]

So if you do this, Buffalo is still down Connolly, Kalinin, and Numminen. And Connolly > Cole.

Jillson is gonna nut up again, he played great the other night. His game seems to fit the newer NHL. We'll see.

[Triumph36]

I'd like to know what universe you guys live in where Tim Connolly is better than Erik Cole. Cole is a point-a-game power forward - there aren't many of those in the league.

When both are unrestricted free agents, I wonder who's going to get more money - the enormous wing who was possibly the US's best forward in the Olympics, or the fragile playmaking center who's missed huge stretches of time with concussion problems and has a career high of 16 goals. Tough one.

[GambleGamble]

...Im confused as to where anyone said Connolly > Cole..

..from what Im seeing its a reference of all the players Buffalo lost vs Cole...

...and Buffalo has definatley got the short end of that [censored] stick...and anyone who disagrees will that is nuckin futs