SB Nation - Tim Kennedy

Sabres 6 Habs 2: Fast Start Propels Sabres to Home Win

David Oleksy — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:26:05 -0000

After watching the Sabres wait until the third period to start playing the last two games, I wasn't sure what to expect from them tonight. They quickly put my fears to rest with a fast start to the game. Clarke MacArthur scored only twice in November but started December with a goal just 2:28 after the opening faceoff. That was just the beginning of an impressive 6-2 victory against the Montreal Canadiens.

The first 40 minutes looked like the Sabres were playing against an AHL team as opposed to an actual NHL team. The Sabres led 4-0 just 25 minutes into the game and only allowed a late second period goal by Scott Gomex in the first 40 minutes. Making the domination even more aparent was the Sabres 29-8 advantage in shots on goal.

The Habs made it interesting in the third period by outworking the Sabres and getting some power play opportunities. Josh Gorges scored the Habs second goal and pulled them within 4-2 with over eight minutes left in the game. The Habs continued to put on pressure but Ryan Millerdid what he does best and made a couple of saves. Andrej Sekera scored his first goal of the game a couple of minutes later to seal the victory for the Sabres.

Final - 12.3.2009	1	2	3	Total
Montreal Canadiens	0	1	1	2
Buffalo Sabres	3	1	2	6

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Miller Continues to be Miller

Ryan Miller was not tested too much in the first two periods with only eight shots on goal. He did not let the lack of work affect him. He was outstanding in the third period, stopping 14-of-15 Montreal shots and many of them were difficult stops. While the rest of the team took a bit of a breather it was Miller that kept the team ahead in the late going.

Miller has been the Sabres rock this season. He has played in every Sabres win this season and he figures to play again on Saturday against the Rangers.

Kennedy Gets Hometown Goal

It was just the other day we were talking about how exciting it would be when Tim Kennedy scored his first home goal and he did just that tonight. I'm sure he would have liked it to be a more important goal but I would guess that he will be getting quite a few more now that the elusive first goal is out of the way.

Kennedy has bee a solid player for the team all season and he had plenty of chances that he didn't finish. This should give Kennedy the confidence to start scoring more regularly. Kennedy has alos started to get some time with Thomas Vanek on his wing and that should help him wth some offense as well.

Streaking Sabres

Jochen Hecht had his two game goal streak snapped but he had an assist to extend his point streak to three games. Jason Pominville and Derek Roy also extended their point streaks to three games. Pominville had Roy both had a goal and an assist in the victory. Thomas Vanek had three assists as well for the Sabres.

The Sabres improved their win streak to four games with te win and they scored four or more goals in three of those wins. They have outscored their opponents 17-5 during the current four game winning streak.

Up Next

Next Game

New York Rangers
@ Buffalo Sabres

Saturday, Dec 5, 2009, 7:00 PM EST
HSBC Arena

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Game Preview: Montreal Canadiens @ Buffalo Sabres

Rafal Ladysz — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:44:08 -0000

More photos » by Don Heupel - AP

12 days ago: Buffalo Sabres left winger Thomas Vanek, of Austria, celebrates his goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y., Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009. Buffalo scored five goals in the third period to defeat Carolina 5-1. (AP Photo/Don Heupel)

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Revenge is on the agenda tonight as the Buffalo Sabres look to win their fourth straight match and avenge a season opening overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Despite registering more than double the amount of shots as the Habs, 35-17, Montreal ~~earned~~ stole two points in the first meeting. Since then, it's been role reversals with the Sabres sitting one point out of the Division lead with three games in hand on the Boston Bruins and the Canadiens only five points ahead of the bottomed Toronto Maple Leafs.

Montreal has alternated wins and losses for the most part this season failing to reach any consistency. Defeat today spells four in a row in that category. In Buffalo's case, it's a fourth straight successful outing they seek in a stretch where they have connected superb offense (12 goals) with stellar goaltending/defense (three goals allowed). It'll be Ryan Miller and Jaroslav Halak backstopping their respective squads.

Five thoughts on each team below.

You name it, Ryan Miller's on top or close by. In reference to save percentage, goals against average and shutouts, the 29-year-old is setting the bar leading all netminders. His 15 wins are bested by Evgeni Nabokov and and Marc-Andre Fleury. Matt Stajan and Ron Wilson applauded his efforts in Monday's 3-0 result in Toronto.
As I said, Halak is in and he's actually won both career starts when facing Buffalo but was beaten six times in the process. Montreal's hopes rely heavily on him for the sake of a decent result because of injuries and the fact that the Sabres have their A-game going.
Henrik Tallinder notched his first goal in over a year three days ago creating a 2-0 lead and taking the life out of Toronto. Ready for another frightening fact? The last time the Swede scored twice in as many contests was May of 2006 during the playoffs. Go get em Henrik.
Mike Cammalleri and Tomas Plekanec have been the noticeable offensive producers. Besides them, nobody has 14 points although Brian Gionta likely would were he not hurt. They'll have to make their chances count because Buffalo usually out-shoots Montreal and Miller is seeing everything.
Jason Pominville, Derek Roy and Jochen Hecht are riding two-game point streaks. While they aren't large streaks by any means, it seems like a new person is stepping up daily to shoulder the load. Who will it be tonight?
Former Sabre blue-liner Jaroslav Spacek has struggled with nine points on the year. I guess someone forgot to tell Bob Gainey that last season's 45 points came in a contract year.
Energetic forward Tim Kennedy is still looking for that first goal at HSBC Arena. The local 23-year-old beat Martin Brodeur for goal No.1 and the other came in Toronto. With each coming against a historic goaltender or franchise, it would be worthy of breaking that funk through Montreal.
Good news for Andrei Markov who is expected to now return at some point in January rather than February. While it won't affect the outcome of this match, the sooner the Canadiens can activate their most valuable performer, the better.
Craig Rivet may return to the line-up tonight after missing two games confirming that he's healed up. The final decision will be on Lindy Ruff whether to allow him right in or wait given how well the defense has played recently.
I still can't believe Montreal pursued Scott Gomez and his ridiculous contract. This guy has 11 points to reward Gainey for $8 million dollars worth of salary. Chalk another stupid choice up to the general manager.

Four of the last seven battles have gone to overtime so expect a tight match-up if history is any indication. By the way, Toronto shutout Montreal 3-0 the day after Buffalo did the same to the Maple Leafs. Is it our turn to be closed down completely or am I just superstitious?

Sabres 3 Leafs 0: Miller Inspires Team to Shutout Victory

David Oleksy — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:40:39 -0000

More photos » by CHRIS YOUNG - AP

10 days ago: Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Millar blocks a shot against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto on Monday, Nov. 30, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Chris Young)

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No need to hurry home on a Sabres game night. As long as you make it in time for the third period, you won't miss any action. For the second consecutive game, the Sabres waited until the third period to start playing inspired hockey. Against Carolina the Sabres had no energy after two periods and trailed 1-0 as a result; tonight they played better in the first 40 minutes but they only led 1-0 and they were being outshot 28-20.

Of course we all know about the third period explosion of offense on Saturday that led to the Sabres 5-1 victory over the Canes. They weren't able to generate as much offense against the Leafs but Henrik Tallinder scored his first of the season only 20 seconds into the third to give the Sabres a 2-0 lead. Jochen Hecht beat Johan Gustafsson with a wrist shot later in the third period and the Sabres continued on to a 3-0 victory.

This was another game that everyone believed the Sabres would win and exactly the kind of game they would lose last season. There are some that believe this team is different than previous years and others that believe they are the same bunch of guys and they haven't learned their lesson. Count me as one of the people that believe in this team.

The last two games were admittedly against inferior opponents but there was no panic in the third period. How often did we see this team either get a lead or have a lead in the third period and blow it? The last two games they got the lead and they poured it on thick. No panic, no worry, just high energy, responsible hockey that leads to a few offensive chances.

Final - 11.30.2009	1	2	3	Total
Buffalo Sabres	0	1	2	3
Toronto Maple Leafs	0	0	0	0

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"We Are Not Worthy"

Those were the words of Rick Jeanneret on Saturday night after Ryan Miller robbed Rod Brind'amour with a glove save in the second period. Of course words don't do the save justice, you have to actually see it to believe it. Those words are equally relevant whenever you get an opportunity to watch Ryan Miller play.

He amazes me more and more every single night. The most important part of his game might be the confidence he gives his teammates. Maybe there is no panic because they know how good Miller is. The team is allowed to play a wide open style because of his heroics so far this season.

Miller made 38 saves tonight to earn his third shutout of the season and his best play wasn't even a save. During the third period, Miller tried clearing the puck off the glass but instead it went through the camera hole in the glass and hit a camera man in the face. Miller skated over to make sure the gentleman was okay before he would get back in his crease. When the game ended, Miller skated over and gave the injured man his goalie stick. Miller is not only a great goalie but a wonderful human being as well.

Kennedy on the Scoresheet

Tim Kennedy is still looking for his first goal in Buffalo but tonight he scored his second goal on the road. It has to be a dream come true to play for your hometown team and that first goal in Buffalo will be special. With that being said, he has to be happy with his first two NHL goals. The first came against Martin Broduer, arguably the best goalie ever and the second came against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs are like the Yankees to hockey fans, you either love them or you hate them and that makes goals against them special.

Penalty Killing: Another Solid Performance

Ryan Miller gets all the headlines because of the great saves he makes. The penalty killers need some love too. The Leafs were 0-for-4 on the power play tonight and they were held to perimeter shots during much of their time with the man advantage. The penalty killing units have been really good over the past week or so and need to finally be recognized for helping Miller look good on a nightly basis.

Up Next

Next Game

Montreal Canadiens
@ Buffalo Sabres

Thursday, Dec 3, 2009, 7:00 PM EST
HSBC Arena

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What Do We Know About These Buffalo Sabres?

Rafal Ladysz — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:35:32 -0000

More photos » by FRED CHARTRAND - AP

19 days ago: Buffalo Sabres' Tim Connolly, left, Jason Pominville, (29), and Paul Gaustad celebrate Thomas Vanek's goal against the Ottawa Senators during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Ottawa Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Fred Chartrand)

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Out-shooting an opponent 17-5 in the first period and coming away with a mere 1-0 lead from of it isn't the best of signs. Overall, Buffalo held a 41-26 advantage in shots Saturday when it was all said and done but Ottawa pulled out a 5-3 win in a match-up that's become theirs to win and the Sabres' to lose. The thought of Patrick Lalime getting the start was unsettling however, I refuse to put the blame on him.

Had they buried more of their chances and given him a larger lead, a point if not two could have been grabbed. The powerplay was again discomforting going 1-for-8 and late man-advantages went wandering when Buffalo pulled back within two goals and had a few chances to force overtime. Ottawa's win was nothing but blind luck.

A 12-6-2 record through 20 games is excellent yet there remains a sense of worriment in the long haul. A hot October (8-2-1) is being accompanied by a mediocre November (4-4-1). Sound familiar? It should because this script was enacted in 2009 in an identical form.

But this isn't the same Sabres squad as last year. Ryan Miller's presence and skill haven't been seen in this city since the days of Dominik Hasek. Everyday he's given the nod improves the likelihood of a victory. Mike Grier, Paul Gaustad, Patrick Kaleta and Steve Montador provide toughness and grit while Tim Kennedy is a non-stop bundle of energy.

The offense is available through Thomas Vanek, Derek Roy, Jason Pominville, Tim Connolly and maturing forwards Drew Stafford and Clarke MacArthur. Defensively, they are still a work in progress but it's hard not to be convinced with Tyler Myers' play. Do we really want our most dependable defender being a rookie on the other hand?

While they've clicked admirably when facing the likes of New Jersey or Detroit, it's the weaker New York Islanders, Atlanta Thrashers and Ottawa Senators that cost them points. That's why the NHL is the finest league in the world with the fierce competition and unpredictability of outcomes.

Consider this: in the six regulation losses on their record, they actually outshot their opponents 209-93 combined obviously indicating there is no lack of effort. The level wasn't the same in each match but the Sabres are doing the logical things like getting shots on net, pouring on the offense and responding to bad periods.

Slumps are unavoidable no matter how talented a team is and Buffalo is finding that out right now. Consistency, stronger starts and increased scoring are what they need a better handle on. It's too early to get excited with their record or throw in the towel because of the latest results.

We still have 62 games and mistakes are the source of learning experiences.

Another Fast Start Propels Sabres to Third Straight Road Victory

David Oleksy — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:46:56 -0000

More photos » by Rich Schultz - AP

about 1 month ago: Buffalo Sabres' Clarke MacArthur (41) scores past New Jersey Devils' goalie Martin Brodeur (30) during the first period of an NHL hockey game at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

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It's been the recipe for victory all season so why change. The Sabres started fast and used good goalie play to win another road game. Ryan Miller stopped 31 shots and allowed only a power play goal in the Sabres 4-1 victory for Buffalo. Clarke MacArthur, Tim Kennedy and Paul Gaustad scored even strength goals and Jason Pominville scored on the power play for Buffalo.

It was another quick start for the Sabres. Clarke MacArthur scored his fifth goal of the season after picking up a rebound on a Craig Rivet shot. MacArthur slid across the crease and waited for Broduer to be out of position before he slid it into the open net. Tim Kennedy scored the first of his career just minutes later to put the Sabres ahead 2-0. Kennedy received a pass from Jochen Hecht and just wheeled around a blindly fired a shot that beat Broduer through his legs.

After dominating New Jersey in the first period, the Sabres let their foot off the gas. The Devisl started to take control and eventually pulled within one on a power play goal. Paul Gaustad was in the box for Buffalo after a questionable hooking call was made. Andy Greene scored the goal by skating in from the point and a deflected shot found its way to his stick. Miller tried to slide across and get into position but Greene buried the wrist shot into the back of the net. New Jersey had chances to tie the game but Ryan Miller played like himself and turned everything away.

The Devils came out flying again in the third period but Ryan Miller played like a future Vezina winner. He was once again outstanding and after he made a couple of really nice saves, his team added some insurance. Matt Ellis made a nice pass from the corner that made it through three Devils players before it went on the stick of Paul Gaustad who was all alone in front. Gaustad easily buried it in the far side to give Buffalo a comfortable 3-1 lead. Pominville scored his power play goal in the closing minutes but it came after the Sabres killed off two Devils power play opportunities.

MacArthur Earning Keep

There was plenty of discussion regarding Clarke MacArthur and his pending arbitration hearing this summer. It was eventually settled and he signed a one-year contract with the Sabres. He is well on his way to an even bigger raise next season. C-Mac scored the first goal of the game tonight and it was his team leading fifth goal of the season. I don't think he will finish the season with 40 goals but he will if he continues to play like he has been. The funny thing is, he just gets himself in position. He is just a natural goal scorer and his not necessarily a dominate player.

Was that Another Goal by the Fourth Line?

The fourth line of Gaustad-Kaleta-Ellis continues to impress me. They have been extremely productive this season and they scored another big goal tonight. There are no words to describe how this unit has been playing. The biggest key was when Lindy moved Gaustad to that line. I have mantioned time and time again that Gaustad is perfect for the fourth line because it makes that line dangerous. He can play the style of a fourth line player but he has talent that most fourth liners don't have.

Congrats Tim Kennedy

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that South Buffalo native Tim Kennedy scored his first goal tonight. It was nice to see the kid finally find the back of the net on a very nice play but I would have liked to have seen it happen in Buffalo. The way he has played, he will score plenty of goals in Buffalo but their is a special feeling about the first one.

It's D-Day for Sabres Brass

The Buffalo Sabres are now forced with a difficult decision regarding the future of Tyler Myers. He has to be sent back to Kelowna or his contract will kick in this season. He made some key mistakes tonight which could justify the Sabres sending him down as a learning experience. Oh, who am I kidding? The kid isn't going anywhere and if he does it will be a PR nightmare.

Harry Neale Quote of the Game

This feature has been absent for quite sometime now and it is basically absent again. I didn't get the Sabres feed of the game so I was stuck listening to the Devils crew. "Doc" Emmrick did come through and supply us with a quote tonight.

"Donald Trump is a very nice guy but his hair doesn't belong on a hockey jersey" - Doc Emmrick

Comment of the Game

This has also been absent but there were some quality comenst tonight. Noen was more funny than actioncuse posting an easy button in te first six minutes when the Sabres went ahead 2-0.

Up Next

The Sabres will return home for one game against their hated border rival, the Toronto Male Leafs. There was concern that the Sabres would have to face the winless Leafs but that threat was eliminated when the Leafs beat the Ducks on Monday night.

The Week Ahead: October 26th

Zachary Zielonka — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:15:31 -0000

More photos » by Steve Nesius - AP

about 1 month ago: Tampa Bay Lightning' s Vincent Lecavalier (4) skates off the ice while Buffalo Sabres' Derek Roy (9), Chris Butler, center, and Drew Stafford (21) celebrate Stafford's goal against the Lightning during the third period of their NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009 in Tampa, Fla. Stafford's goal tied the game and forced it into overtime. Buffalo won 3-2 in a shootout. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

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Coming off a complete sweep on the Florida road trip, the Sabres play three games this week including the pivotal ninth game of the season for Tyler Myers. After Wednesday night's game in New Jersey, the Sabres have to make a decision on whether Myers is going to stay with the team or if the team is going to return him to juniors. Daniel Paille's trade should have been the signal that the team is committed to keeping both Tyler Myers and Tim Kennedy in the lineup but Darcy Regier's comments to the Buffalo News at this point is showing that the team has not made a decision:

"I haven't [made a decision], and we haven't, because we know what the time frame is," the Sabres' general manager said over the weekend. "We know that we've got the games to watch him, and we'll take that time.

"As a group, we really haven't talked about it a lot because we're going to allow it to play out, then we'll make a decision afterward."

The Sabres most likely are just playing a bluff here due to the fact that Myers has played a phenomenal first eight games this season and is starting to get some Calder Trophy consideration this early in the season. Whether his play will drop off as the season will have to be seen but at this point, the Sabres would be in a public relations nightmare if they sent this kid down to juniors just to save a year on his contract.

Buffalo plays three games this week, two on the road and one at home. They will also play another dreaded three games in four nights which will become a staple in the schedule over the next few weeks. We take a look at the games after the jump.

Wednesday @ New Jersey:

The Devils have always been a thorn in the Sabres side as they are 29-21-12 at home against the Sabres. Martin Brodeur is 27-14-5 in his career against the Sabres and will be starting this game as the Devils last game was Saturday. New Jersey is 6-3 this season which puts them third in the Atlantic division, three points behind the Rangers and six points behind the Penguins. Zach Parise is still continuing to impress many in the league as he leads the Devils in goals and in 16 career games against Buffalo, Parise has five goals and four assists.

Friday vs. Toronto

Toronto is experiencing the worst start in franchise history at 0-7-1, with their only overtime loss coming in the season opener against the Canadiens. The Leafs are going to be hungry for their first win of the season and for the Sabres sake, hopefully it will have already happened before these two teams meet on Friday. Toronto plays two games before they meet the Sabres, one against Anaheim and the other against Dallas. The Maple Leafs major problem is still goaltending with both Vesa Toskala and Jonas Gustavsson are both injured which has left Joey MacDonald in the starting position. Both Gustavsson and Toskala should return to the lineup this week. The one thing that the Maple Leafs do well is fight. In eight games this season, the team has ten fights and Colton Orr has four of those fights. Patrick Kaleta should be prepared to drop the gloves in this game.

Saturday @ New York Islanders

The Islanders looked pretty bad against a Sabres team that struggled on their own in their first meeting on October 16th. The Sabres chased goaltender Dwayne Roloson after he allowed four goals on 12 shots. Backup goaltender Martin Biron looked better allowing only two goals on 22 shots. Expect to see Patrick Lalime in this game as it will be part of a back to back series. The Sabres will see the Islanders again four days later on November 4th.

Around the Division

Boston will play two games this week as they are looking to try and recover from some of the major injuries that key players have suffered. The Canadiens will play four games this week, two on the road and two at home. Toronto will also play four games this week all on the road. Finally, Ottawa will play three Southeast division teams this week as they try and catch the Sabres for the Northeast division lead.

Sabres Trade Paille to Bruins

David Oleksy — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:47:35 -0000

More photos » by Gene J. Puskar - AP

about 1 month ago: FILE - In this Dec. 8, 2008, file photo, Buffalo Sabres' Daniel Paille (20) plays against the Pittsburgh Penguins during an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh. The Sabresave traded underachieving left wing Daniel Paille to the Boston Bruins in exchange for two draft picks, on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

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The Buffalo Sabres announced they have traded Daniel Paille to the Boston Bruins for a third round draft pick and a conditional draft pick. The move effectively alleviates the Sabres roster dilemma when Andrej Sekera returns to the lineup.

There are always going to be positives and negatives when you make a trade. The trade means that Tyler Myers and Tim Kennedy should remain with the team for the season and that is good news. It also means the Sabres gave up on a former first round draft pick that was never really given a chance. It also gives a division rival a capable player that might be capable of more than we have ever seen out of him.

Paille was the Sabres first selection in the 2002 draft taken at number 20 overall. He played parts of the 05-06 season and parts of the 06-07 season with the Sabres but spent most of his time playing with the Rochester Americans. He joined the Sabres full time in 2007-2008 when he scored 19 goals and had 35 points. He was rewarded (sarcasm) for his unexpected goal total by playing as a bottom six forward when he was able to crack the lineup.

Despite playing mostly with checking line forwards and grinders, he followed up his 19 goal effort with 12 goals last season, all at even strength. His 12 even strength goals last season were less than only Thomas Vanek (18), Derek Roy (18) and Jason Pominville (13). He was tied with Clarke MacArthur and Tim Connolly who both scored 12 times at even strength last season. He had one more goal at even strength than Drew Stafford did and yet Stafford is looked at as a top six forward and Paille can't get a sniff of the lineup.

Every Buffalo Sabres player that scored double digit goals had at least three power play goals last season with the exception of Daniel Paille. Paille averaged exactly four seconds per game on the power play. Despite proving he had some offensive ability, he was never given a chance to play with a man advantage while players like Paul Gaustad and Jochen Hecht were able to increase their offensive numbers with the power play.

Paille was never a standout player but he did capitalize on some of his opportunities. His biggest issue was consistency and that led him directly into the Lindy Ruff doghouse. I always thought there had to be more than just on ice issues but we will probably never know if there was.

We do know the Lindy Ruff doghouse is not someplace a hockey player wants to be. Ales Kotalik (NY Rangers 9GP-3G-5A-8P) , Maxim Afinogenov (Atlanta 5GP-1G-2A-3P) and now Paille are all examples of what happens when you are in that doghouse. It is working out for Kotalik with the Rangers and Afinogenov is showing signs of improvement for the Thrashers. It will take some time before we see where Paille will fit in with the Bruins but I think they got a fine player that will fit in nicely.

Decision on Myers is Drawing Closer

David Oleksy — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:01:25 -0000

More photos » by Gerald Herbert - AP

2 months ago: Buffalo Sabres' Tyler Myers (57) checks Washington Capitals' Jay Beagle in the second period of an NHL preseason hockey game in Washington, Monday, Sept. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

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This is a post that I wrote last week but it still holds relative today because there are key decisions to be made by the Sabres coaching staff. Before the season we talked in depth about the difficult decisions they would need to make in regards to the roster. They made the decision to keep Tim Kennedy and Tyler Myers to start the season and both guys have made them look like geniuses.

The decisions that were made were obviously correct decisions. It is almost decision time again because the Sabres have eight defensemen on the roster and Myers has played six games. Remember Myers can only play nine games before his contract will kick in and make him a free agent a year earlier.

The Sabres have not been forced to make a decision on the blueline because of injuries to key players on that unit. Toni Lydman began the season on the injured list and now Andrej Sekera is out of the lineup with an injury. The injuries have delayed the need for decision but a decision is inevitable at some point.

I don't expect the Sabres to carry eight defensemen all season, especially with 14 NHL caliber forwards on the team as well. There are plenty of options for the Sabres to explore when the need arises.

The easiest option would be to send Myers back to juniors before he plays 10 games and freeing up a roster spot while avoiding his contract kicking in. If that is the decision it will be made before the Sabres take on the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday October 30.

Myers has been one of, if not the best Sabres blueliner this season. He is playing around 20 minutes a game and has a goal, three assists and a plus-5 rating. He has accomplished this as a 19 year-old rookie that figures to become even better with experience.

Another option for the Sabres would be to do something with Henrik Tallinder. Before the season started he appeared to be the odd man out on the Sabres blueline. He had gone from the Sabres best defenseman to their worst in just two seasons. He has been laying alongside Myers this season and is as close as we have sen to the old Tallinder.

Tallinder has also played around 20 minutes a game and he leads the team with a plus-6 rating. He was an amazing plus-5 in the Sabres 6-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings last Tuesday. His confidence is very evident in his play on the ice, especially the way he is playing the puck.

Nathan Paetsch looks like the obvious man out regarding a roster spot. He has not even gotten a sniff of the lineup although his name was mentioned as a replacement when Vanek was injured. I'm sure it was never a consideration but it was mentioned by Lindy Ruff.

If the Sabres waive Paetsch after Sekera returns they would still have seven defensemen that can play everyday in the NHL. They could decide to go with a reward system and make the decision daily based on the player that has the worst game. The positive would be the incentive for the players to play well but the negative would be developing a chemistry with the players in the lineup.

If I were the one making the decision, Myers would stay in Buffalo and in the lineup. Paetsch would be waived and sent to Portland if he clears, although I think some team would be in the market for a versatile seventh defenseman. It would be Andrej Sekera that would remain in the press box until another player gets injured or regresses. Sekera was struggling before he went out with injury and he has regressed considerably since his start last season.

Poll

Should the Sabres Keep Tyler Myers past the nine games

Yes...he has played well enough to stay

529 votes

No...he needs more time to develop

6 votes

No...he is good enough but his contract is more important

28 votes

563 votes | Poll has closed

Crunching Numbers: Sabres Limit Predators Opportunities

David Oleksy — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:00:28 -0000

More photos » by Mark Humphrey - AP

2 months ago: Buffalo Sabres right wing Mike Grier (25) is congratulated by Henrik Tallinder, of Sweden, right, after Grier scored against the Nashville Predators in the third period of an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009. Grier's goal gave the Sabres a 1-0 win. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

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The Sabres shutout the Nashville Predators 1-0 and they held them to only 25 shots on goal. The Sabres did a good job of getting in the shooting lanes and blocked some shots. They also forced the Predators to fire many shots wide of the net.

You would figure the Corsi numbers for the Sabres would be really good in a game when they outshot their opponet by a 42-25 margin. The numbers don't reflect the shot total accurately because many of the Predators shots were blocked or fired wide.

After watching the game, it is no surprise that Tim Kennedy and Jochen Hecht stand out as the Sabres best players in the game. There were a couple of players that had good numbers but the Sabres best players need to be better.

Follow the jump to see the full list of stats from the victory on Saturday night.

		Game Stats						Even Strength Individual Stats						Even Strength On-Ice Totals
#	Player	Pos	TOI	+/-	FO%	Hits	BS	EV TOI	G	A	Shots	S A/B	S Miss	SOGF	SOGA	SOG Diff	Tot SF	Tot SA	Tot Diff
4	Steve Montador	D	16:31	E	-	0	2	15:51	0	0	2	0	1	4	9	-5	12	14	-2
9	Derek Roy	C	19:20	E	57%	0	1	14:57	0	0	1	0	1	9	6	3	21	15	6
10	Henrik Tallinder	D	21:27	E	-	3	1	20:28	0	0	1	1	0	18	8	10	26	18	8
13	Tim Kennedy	C	13:30	1	10%	1	2	12:55	0	1	5	0	1	16	3	13	22	9	13
19	Tim Connolly	C	17:45	E	27%	0	0	13:26	0	0	2	1	0	6	5	1	7	12	-5
21	Drew Stafford	RW	16:29	E	100%	1	0	14:24	0	0	2	2	3	8	6	2	18	14	4
25	Mike Grier	RW	14:22	1	-	1	1	13:22	1	0	6	1	1	16	5	11	22	13	9
26	Thomas Vanek	LW	18:59	E	-	1	0	14:48	0	0	3	1	1	8	7	1	17	15	2
28	Paul Gaustad	C	12:35	E	60%	2	1	10:13	0	0	1	0	0	7	5	2	9	11	-2
29	Jason Pominville	RW	16:42	E	-	0	0	11:33	0	0	0	0	0	4	5	-1	6	10	-4
34	Chris Butler	D	21:49	1	-	0	3	17:28	0	1	1	0	0	16	7	9	20	15	5
36	Patrick Kaleta	RW	9:03	E	-	1	0	8:40	0	0	2	0	0	6	3	3	7	6	1
37	Matt Ellis	C	8:05	E	-	0	0	8:05	0	0	2	0	0	5	3	2	6	7	-1
41	Clarke MacArthur	LW	16:36	E	0%	1	0	12:20	1	0	2	2	0	5	4	1	8	8	0
44	Andrej Sekera	D	13:30	E	-	0	1	12:03	0	0	0	1	0	2	4	-2	10	11	-1
52	Craig Rivet	D	18:40	1	-	0	0	13:52	0	0	2	1	1	15	3	12	19	11	8
55	Jochen Hecht	LW	15:42	1	20%	0	0	13:18	0	0	4	1	0	16	5	11	23	10	13
57	Tyler Myers	D	0:56	E	-	2	0	20:18	0	1	0	0	1	17	7	10	25	19	6
TOI = Total Time on Ice						FO% = Faceoff percentage								SOG Diff = Shot difference
EV TOI = Even Strength time on ice						BS = Blocked Shots								Tot SF = Total shot attempts on ice
S A/B = shots attempted and blocked						SOGF = Shots for while on ice								Tot SA = Total shot attempt ag. While on ice
S Miss = Shots missed the net						SOGA = Shots against while on ice								Tot Diff = difference in total shots

We are always quick to point out when Henrik Tallinder has a bad game but the stats show that he had a really good game on Saturday night. Tallinder led all Sabres in even strength ice time and finished as a plus-10 in shots-on-goal while he was on the ice. Tyler Myers played a good portion of the night with Tallinder as his defensive partner and he had equally good numbers.

Lindy Ruff juggled his offensive lines and the line of Hecht-Kennedy-Grier responded with an outstanding game. It was by far the best game Kennedy has had all season and him and Grier connected on the only goal of the game.

Mike Grier and Ryan Miller Propel Sabres to Victory

David Oleksy — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 02:48:48 -0000

More photos » by Mark Humphrey - AP

2 months ago: Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller (30), Nashville Predators right wing Ryan Jones, center, and Sabres center Derek Roy (9) watch the puck after Miller blocked a shot in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Browse more photos »

The key to winning on the road is to play great defense and take advantage of your chances. The Sabres played great defense and had plenty of chances. They capitalized only once when Mike Grier scored the only goal to give the Sabres a 1-0 victory in Nashville.

The Sabres limited the Predators to 25 shots and Miller stopped all 25 to earn his first shutout of the season. Miller made some really good saves including a huge save on a shorthanded breakaway by Marcel Goc late in the third to keep the score tied 0-0.

The Grier goal was created by a great play by rookie forward Tim Kennedy. Kennedy was the Sabres best forward of the night with five shots on goal and a couple of real good scoring chances. The assist was the first point of his career for Kennedy. He figures to earn many more if he plays the way he did tonight.

Miller Stellar Again

I don't kow what else I can say about Ryan Miller so far this season. He has made save after save, inclding some outstanding stops on odd man rushes. Miller has allowed only three goals all season and that is including the controversila goal by Travis Moen in the first game. If you add in the great bounce Gionta got in the Sabres overtime loss and he has allowed almost nothing all season. It will be impossible for him to play this well all season but he gives the Sabres a chance in every game.

Rookies Shine For Sabres

It came right down to the wire for Tyler Myers and Tim Kennedy to earn their spot on the Sabres opening day roster and they have made Lindy Ruff look like a genius. Myers has not looked like a rookie at all. He earned the confidence of his teammates and coach and played 24:56 which led all players in this game. He had a couple of really nice plays and proved he wasn't afraid to pinch in from his point position when the opportunity arises.

Tim Kennedy was not to be outdone by Myers tonight. He may have been the best skater on the ice for either team tonight. Kennedy was making his presece felt all night with five shots on goal, some great scoring chances and relentless pressure to the net. He also proved that he isn't afraid to get dirty in front and earned a two minute roughing penalty in a scurmish with Francis Bouillon behind the Predators net.

Sekera Suffers Injury

Andrej Sekera left te game with an upper-body ijury that forced the Sabres to play the second half of the game with only five defensemen. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said after the game "it looks like it's a significant injury, he is expected to miss some time". The injury to Sekera will free up a roster spot if Toni Lydman is able to return but it also means the Sabres will be without a player they are counting on this season.

Harry Neale Quote of The Game

It seemed that Harry was hungry tonight because he continued to make comments about the Predators All-you-can-eat zone.

First quote...

Maybe the ran out of hot dogs in the all-you-can-eat zone

Second Quote

The fans in the all-you-can-eat zone were hoping this game would go to overtime

Roll Call

It was a boring game through two periods and that kept the comments to a minimum tonight. Bluecollarbuffalo almost kept pace with me but once again I led the way with comments.

Roll Call: David Oleksy, Kooz, Afino, Joan O., bluecollarbuffalo, qdloser, clownfat, krytime, kitaman27, sween
Total Users: 10
Total Posts: 154
Total Threads: 1

Name	# of Posts
David Oleksy	45
bluecollarbuffalo	43
Afino	24
Kooz	16
krytime	13
Joan O.	5
clownfat	3
kitaman27	2
qdloser	2
sween	1

Comment of the Game

The best comment in the open thread came from bluecollarbuffalo...

The single coolest thing I’ve ever seen at a hockey game (at least the coolest thing that has nothing to do w/ hockey). I hope Larry Quinn is watching…..and hungry.

Up Next

The Sabres will return home and take a couple of days off before they welcome the Western Conference Champion Detroit Red Wings to HSBC Arena on Tuesday night. The game will be televised on Versus so hopefully you don't have Direct TV.