From bad to worse. For the second night in a row, the Buffalo Sabres get outplayed by one of the worst teams in the NHL.
The Sabres have now dropped four consecutive contests, losing Saturday night 4-0 to the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena.
Buffalo had to know it wasn't their night after the first goal scored by the Blue Jackets. A harmless dump in from center ice in to the corner took an awkward deflection in to the crease. As Buffalo goaltender Patrick Lalime was about to leave his net to play the stray puck, the frozen rubber bounced off his chest and in to the twine to put Columbus up for good. Milan Jurcina was given credit for the goal.
After that, Rick Nash showed why he is one of the league's best and brightest. On a power play opportunity, Nash in one motion dove, took a pass while falling to the ice and flipped it past a sprawling Lalime.
In the third period, the Blue Jackets added two more goals from Aaron Stralman and Raffi Torres in a complete disassembling of the Sabres.
Buffalo played an undisciplined game, committing a whopping seven penalties throughout the evening. That fact was brought to a climax when Craig Rivet took a four minute high sticking penalty, only to be immediately followed by a penalty assessed to Toni Lydman. The Jackets scored their second goal on the almost six minute long chance.
Steve Mason earned the shutout for Columbus, making 28 saves in the process. Lalime made just 21 saves on 25 shots.
The now reeling Sabres will be back at home to try and reverse their losing ways. They next take on the Boston Bruins Tuesday night at HSBC Arena.
It is amazing that Regier states that he will not make a move and risk the future. The future is now buddy! Do you think that Kennedy and Mcarther are going to lead us there by losing every battle possible and Craig Rivet who is terrible. He is slow and does the team no good! Do you want to win the cup Darcey? Show the fans that you do!! Lindy- Send a message and bench the Captain! Please!
02/06/2010 9:53PM
J-O-K-E
What is happening to this team???? Come on!!!!!!!
02/06/2010 9:55PM
NUFF RUFF
what a joke. this team is pathetic and its because of their gutless, untalented coach
02/06/2010 9:55PM
Ridiculous
Something must give. Trade time, please.
02/06/2010 9:56PM
Laughing Larry and Farcy missing!
Hey guys taking a walk by our developed waterfront ER i mean pile of rocks? aren't you doing a show with Shillp so you can get softball questions and tell us how smart you are and how dumb Totonto and Jersey are? and don't forget the best Miller is a SUPERSTAR! we don't need trades! What we have is good enough!
02/06/2010 9:56PM
Wasn't Mason Slumping?
For like the entire season? Way to go Buffalo.
And, yes, the Sabres did commit dumb penalties but at least they stood up for themselves a couple of times. That's a refreshing change.
02/06/2010 9:59PM
Looking at the scoreboard
I had an epiphany seeing Toronto's whitewashing of Ottawa. I think... I think maybe trading some players might have actually HELPED Toronto. I know, I know, it's a crazy idea but maybe that kind of thing could work here?
02/06/2010 10:01PM
effort effort effort effort effort...
this is what this team has played like all year long but miller bailed them out earlier, now lindy burnt him out as usual, and lalime is one of the worst goalies i have ever seen. we're in trouble.
02/06/2010 10:03PM
bring.. PECA , MAY, BIRON back now.
We need some bigger leaders on the team, and why not bring guys back that know the system and town.
02/06/2010 10:06PM
Not to worry
Buffalo will finally make the playoffs no thanks to Darcy and rest assured they will be out in the first round. This team just is not good enough. Darcy time to earn your money and do something!!!!
02/06/2010 10:06PM
NOTHING WILL HAPPEN
We all know Regier won't make a trade, and if he does, we'll get some also-ran from a bad team. He may want to win the cup, but he knows it won't be this year!
02/06/2010 10:14PM
Don't fool yourselves
Every year we sit here and hope that they will make some big trade at this time of year. Honestly everybody stop thinking anything is going to happen on a trade. It never will happen with this gang of screw ups running this team. We are our own worst enemies and get ourselves worked up on trade rumors and dreams. Just stop!
02/06/2010 10:15PM
Ok where are all the..
Where are all the "its only one game" homers now? Step 1, get Marty Biron, step 2, get some dam REAL talent. Open your purse Darcy and get out your phone.
02/06/2010 10:20PM
NICE!!!!!!!!
That's all I can say after another disappointing Bills season, now the Sabres start to suck! Just when you start to dream of a championship for the deprived city of Buffalo........The wheels come of...wide right! Skate in the crease! This team needs a kick in the Kieser!!
02/06/2010 10:22PM
enough is enough
it is time to dismantle part of the team and bring in some fresh faces.
02/06/2010 10:22PM
Awww
Aw, COME ON MAN!!
02/06/2010 10:25PM
What future?
I keep hearing about the future? What exactly are we waiting for? Isn't the goal to win the cup this year? They need to shake up the core, guys who've been here for a long time that continue to come up apathetic when things start to get difficult.
02/06/2010 10:27PM
wow!!!!!!
Another LaLAME performance. Trade for a golie too!!!!
02/06/2010 10:30PM
wow
I would think that this team will be lucky to even make the playoffs after this tailspin.Hey Darcy if you have any authority you need to make some moves before it's over' as in the season.
02/06/2010 10:31PM
great job sabres
way to look awful against #15 in the east and even worse against #14 in the west. someone needs to be fired.
02/06/2010 10:40PM
weak
Too many untalented, gutless guys on this team throughout the roster. Time for call ups and trades and the new softer Lindy to go away
02/06/2010 10:48PM
ITS NEVER LINDYS FAULT!!!!
ooooooo he held them after the game!! o what a great coach hes the best, nobody is better, give him the jack adams, give him the cup, give him the HOF! best coach in the history of the NHL, buuuttttt... CANT run a powerplay, CANT run his goalies, CANT develop talent, CANT send a message to his team, CANT get his team to play hard, CANT get his team to show effort. BRUTAL coach and everybody loves the man. ALL HAIL THE GREAT FAILURE THAT IS LINDY RUFF!!!! 12 more years, 12 more years, 12 more years!!
02/06/2010 10:49PM
i love it
craig rivet and butler get nothing but ice time AGAIN!! how long has rivet been in the league and hee think standing in the middle with his legs open is taking away a pass on a 2 on 1? what a captain! and butler, what can you say about him? sophmore slump? i think not he is just pathetic, he cant even keep a puck in at the blueline. but keep feeding the all the ice-time they can
02/06/2010 10:55PM
powerplay?
how can anyone who touches this PP have a job? teams run miller, teams run kaleta and they dont care because the powerplay is a joke! but nothing ever changes on it, they do the stupid everyone stand at the blueline and myers drops it back to connolly who skates in by himself because everyone is standing still and he loses the puck. BUT THEY DO IT EVERY GAME!! nothing ever changes. they lose the faceoff off every PP and the puck gets cleared, or they lose a battle and the puck gets cleared. Then when they have the puck guys like rivet and butler do nothing but miss nets, hit players, and cant keep pucks in, and yet they are on EVERY time. i also love how they cycle the puck towards the side of the net to take a shot so one of the most talented guy in front of the net in vanek has to try and tip it to the side at a tiny portion of the net instead of directly back like worthwhile teams do when they CYCLE TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF THE ICE!! nothing ever changes on this team and it wont with ruff and darcy running the buddy system here in buffalo.
02/06/2010 10:55PM
Darcy is on Vacation...
He goes on vacation every year at this time and doesnt come back till the last day of the trading deadline...when all there is left is the likes of Dominic Moore. Darcy is a joke...
02/06/2010 11:09PM
Keep Playing Miller
The only hope this team has is if they play Miller every game till the end of the season ..... and hope he can score a few while he's at it .... lol
This team is following the same path its been on in recent past ...
Oh well, at least its football season soon ....
02/06/2010 11:12PM
Jeremy
Hey Whitey, I guess the sky IS falling. Vood to see you know nothing as usual. BTW, howz JP doin'?
02/06/2010 11:14PM
Regier now has an out
Gutless Darcy now can do his usual nothing-why trade for a rental when you won't make the playoffs anyway.
02/06/2010 11:27PM
Darcy
This team is gutless and heartless. Its time to make a move NOW! I hate how he always waits until the 11th hour. We could have had Kovalchuk!
02/06/2010 11:28PM
This is going to end badly:
How to fix it...1-Hope USA loses to Switzerland in the opener - relegate Miller to the bench so he can rest his body. His mind will sharpen during the Olympics if he sits.2- Send Kennedy down for another hungry prospect - develop a Portland rotation.3-This weeek, actively shop Montador, Grier, Lydman, Gerbe, Roy and Stafford. They have value and upside particulary out west. Vancouver could use Roy, Edmonton could use Stafford. A number of teams out west could use Grier and Montador. Gerbe would fit in a few places but I could see him playing for the Islanders right away. Look for picks, prospects, picks and prospects.4-Ray Whitney, Martin Biron, Keith Tkchuk and Mark Recchi are not going to bring Buffalo a cup. It takes a load of picks and prospects to land a Kovalchuk, Phaneuf or Hossa, obtain those assests. Buffalo is losing the talent battle and Darcy needs to recognize. He needs to match the TALENT of NJ, PIT, WAS and OTT...before its too late.
02/07/2010 12:00AM
rivet
this guy is so bad they couldnt give him away with a first round pick in exchange for a bag of pucks...he is the main reason this team wont win when it matters! captains lead by example and truthfully rivet they only exaple rivet has shown us is how to collect a 3.5 million dollar salary and be the worst defenseman on the team...when is the last time you seen this guy take off tyhe gloves? philly and that was 3 months ago...he should be the one holding players accountable in the locker room when they dont show up for periods and take nights off...those kinds of things never happened when chris drury was here because he leads by example...rivet was they absolute worst pick up regier has made in recent years and maybe ever...3.5 million and he really is barely there six defenseman....skating skills are average at best and no offensive skills at all, i mean watch this guy make a pass regularly and you'll see that hes horrible at it, defensive wise not that much better as evidenced by the pass on the two on one he let go right by tonight..along with many other horrible plays...until he is traded or stripped of his captiancy we will continue to get exactly what we have gotten from him and the team that he is captain of...and that is a team that has many of the right pieces and when they play to there potential and strengths very tough to beat..but a team that lacks leadership and accountability were it matters most! wake up lindy and do what you know has to be done before the team is lost for the season.
02/07/2010 12:20AM
La-LIME......
ANYONE but Lalime ....... PLEASE
Biron,where are you?
02/07/2010 12:27AM
La-Lime
PLEASE .... ANYONE but him!
Biron, where are you????????
PLEASE
02/07/2010 1:07AM
Anger
Guaranteed Darcy doesn't make a move at the trade deadline, because you don't "build a team" with rental players. You know what you do though? You win games, and championships. Clearly our team is not good enough, but it will lookexactly the same as it does tonight after the trade deadline. I shouldn't say that, Darcy will probably trade a 100th round pick for a 3rd line loser from the Panthers...Dominic Moore pt. II ... just to show his commitment to being a loser.
02/07/2010 1:23AM
Change it up
I love Lindy but he has to stop playing Miller in the first game and Lalime in the second game of back to backs, it should be the other way around. I am not playing Lalime for this game though because the Nash and Torres goal were not being stopped by Miller either and our offense was obviously non excistent. Time to change it up enough with Mair and Ellis, put them both on waivers if they go un claimed release them or send them to Portland. Two of the three of McCormick, Gerbe or Ennis should be called up, and Darcy please get Lydman the hell out of here the holding penalty he takes every single game is old. We all know you arnt going to make a huge trade but at least show you are alive because there are obvious holes on this team.
02/07/2010 2:29AM
Annual mid season swoon
They do this every year. At least the Leafs bet the Sens to keep them at bay.
02/07/2010 3:21AM
Bring in
Nash, and Marty. Darcy, don't let us down (even tho we all know you will) Vanek is garbage, trade him. Marty will challenge Miller for the starters spot and Columbus would move Nash for the the right price. Make the move Darcy
02/07/2010 6:44AM
Time to..
look outside the league for a goalie. The Dallas Cowboys went outside the NFL years ago and brought in a USA Olympic Track star in Bobby Hayes.How about bringing in a Sumo wrestler , putting pads on him and just having him lay down in front of the goal net? The Sabres are playing just like their coach did 20 years ago.
02/07/2010 7:42AM
same old same old
Regier wont do anything..he is a patsy that is scared to do anything...we have too many of the same type of player...ennis, roy, gerbe, pommer etc..trade some away and bring in some size and character...phanuef would have perfect...now we have to face him 6 times a year...regier is gutless
02/07/2010 7:46AM
Numb
Numb as in the feeling in Darcy's hands from sitting on them since the big trades in 1999 for Stu Barnes and Joe Juneau. What vision!
02/07/2010 7:50AM
I want my money back
...and so do the rest of the Sabres fans who traveled to see this dumpster fire of an effort. I'm embarrassed.
02/07/2010 8:22AM
Santanya's Law
Nice Darcy! Guess you don't read comments from all the twisted zealot fans like us who just want you to anything positive. Wasn't last night the end of the road? Apparently, you've forgotten the past... and are doomed to repeat it.
...Geeezuz, some people just never learn. Wow!
02/07/2010 8:33AM
RE: Ok where are all the..
Have you even looked at Biron's numbers this year? After last night, they are about as bad as Lalime's even with more games played. And that's supposed to be an upgrade?
02/07/2010 8:48AM
trade
We need to make moves for: Gonchar, Lecavlier, and Biron.....we can send, Lydman, Montador, Rivet, Butler, McArthur, and Roy for all I care
02/07/2010 9:01AM
sabres
time for a BIG overhaul !!!!!!
02/07/2010 9:13AM
Lalime is not the problem
Lalime is not the problem on this team. if I were him id be pissed at everyone on that team.The first goal took a horrible quick bounce off the wall. the other goals were due to horrible defending that he had no possible chance. Ive always thought they just needed a scoring forward, but now I feel they need alot more in a better defensive player, gritty forward as well as a scoring forward. But i guess it wont happen with the GM ok with the "status quo". Getting Marty for Lalime would not do anything for this team even though im a big fan of marty. Too many other holes.
02/07/2010 9:39AM
Lindy can go...152nd
If Lindy can't depend on his backup netminder more than once ever 13 games, he can be the 152 coaching change since he took over the Sabres job. And what the heck happened to all the snipers that are supposed to be on this roster. If they ain't putting a puck in the net in 28 shots...time to get bigger up the middle and dump the Roys on this roster.
02/07/2010 9:42AM
Montador showing....
...exactly how he lost the series for Boston isn't he?
02/07/2010 10:08AM
Same old Ruff Press Conferences
Excuses, excuses, and more excuses. Can't he just say we need help and that we are not good enough. Do something Darcy!
02/07/2010 10:17AM
This Loss Should be the Clincher
Changes must start by waiving Mair and Paetsch again. This time bring up Cowan and McCormick and send Mair and Paetsch to Portland. Then begin the trading.
02/07/2010 10:50AM
Stafford
Wow Drew you actually got in a fight it's about damm time, i would still trade you tommorrow.
02/07/2010 11:07AM
Darcy
Darcy give us fans a little credit we're more knowledgeable than you might think, if you have to trade away top players to get a key player for a cup run do it, we don't care we have been waiting for a cup for almost 40 years, let's winone and worry about the team next year, or we can have a decent team every year but never win the cup, you decide.
02/07/2010 11:16AM
System Wrong
This system that Lindy has isn't working--just ask Max Afinegenov--18 goals already because he has the room to skate, not be in some kind of scheme that retards his ability to use speed and skill. Too bad Lindy will stay around for a long time, he'd be gone if this team doesn't: make the playoffs or gets nowhere when they start. They have the talent--change the system.
02/07/2010 12:06PM
Buffalo Curse
Did anyone else notice this slide beginning about the same time playoff ticket prices were released? Maybe it is just coincidence.....
02/07/2010 2:28PM
bring.. PECA , MAY, BIRON back now
Hey I heard Alex Tidey, Morris Titanic and Ron Schock were available too! Why not bring back Bob Corkum, Dave Snuggerud and Darcy Wakuluk while we're at it...Idiot.
02/07/2010 2:30PM
re: Jeremy
Forget it, if it doesn't have anything to do with Lost, Survivor, American Idol or 24 he doesn't care about it.
02/07/2010 2:56PM
What did you expect?
We have a bunch of 'No heart' midgets on this team! Its makes me sick that these players represent our city! I would rather show courage and lose, than be cowards and win! Sabres=Cowards!
02/07/2010 3:00PM
ROAD TRIP
ya know what pisses me off the most is so many of us drove or bussed to that game, there was thousands of us there supporting them and i know they saw all of us, and thats the kind of show we get, what a joke, get elroy off this team and get some balls in here, these pansies wont make it past the first round IF they still even get in!
02/07/2010 3:09PM
Changes?
Darcy says you build from within, draft and groom your players. but when do we start to see some of these players. we get stuck watching the same old stuff, Lydman, Mair, Ellis, Paetsch, how about Weber, McCormick, Kassian , I see plenty of young kids making a difference in the league. Lalime is not the answer I would rather lose with Enroth at least he is young and has a learning curve. I don't know how Darcy can watch this team night in and night out and not throw up in his mouth a little
02/07/2010 6:27PM
Gerbe
Watching players like macarthur and ellis, even stafford and roy lately...why not bring up gerbe? he had a short 2 game stint where he collected a goal and an assist. Since darcy is the only gm to watch his team sink and not fix it, why not send a message and bring someone else up. oh yeah and trade vanek, open up some cap space for a real player
To prepare you for the WGR Celebrity Golf Tournament 2008, this video focuses on Hole 1 at Tri-County Country Club's course. Video hosts Jeremy White and Steve Warzala will share each hole's layout and strategy tips.; Golf; WGR; Jeremy White; Tri-County Country Club; Steve Warzala; To prepare you for the WGR Celebrity Golf Tournament 2008, this video focuses on Hole 2 at Tri-County Country Club's course. Video hosts Jeremy White and Steve Warzala will share each hole's layout and strategy tips.; tournament; WGR; Jeremy White; Golf; Tri-County Country Club; Steve Warzala; To prepare you for the WGR Celebrity Golf Tournament 2008, this video focuses on Hole 3 at Tri-County Country Club's course. Video hosts Jeremy White and Steve Warzala will share each hole's layout and strategy tips.; Golf; WGR; Jeremy White; Tri-County Country Club; Steve Warzala; To prepare you for the WGR Celebrity Golf Tournament 2008, this video focuses on Hole 4 at Tri-County Country Club's course. Video hosts Jeremy White and Steve Warzala will share each hole's layout and strategy.; To prepare you for the WGR Celebrity Golf Tournament 2008, this video focuses on Hole 5 at Tri-County Country Club's course. Video hosts Jeremy White and Steve Warzala will share each hole's layout and strategy.; Golf; WGR; Jeremy White; Tri-County Country Club; Steve Warzala; To prepare you for the WGR Celebrity Golf Tournament 2008, this video focuses on Hole 6 at Tri-County Country Club's course. Video hosts Jeremy White and Steve Warzala will share each hole's layout and strategy.; Golf; WGR; Jeremy White; Tri-County Country Club; Steve Warzala; To prepare you for the WGR Celebrity Golf Tournament 2008, this video focuses on Hole 7 at Tri-County Country Club's course. Video hosts Jeremy White and Steve Warzala will share each hole's layout and strategy.; Golf; WGR; Jeremy White; Tri-County Country Club; Steve Warzala; To prepare you for the WGR Celebrity Golf Tournament 2008, this video focuses on Hole 8 at Tri-County Country Club's course. Video hosts Jeremy White and Steve Warzala will share each hole's layout and strategy.; Golf; WGR; Jeremy White; Tri-County Country Club; Steve Warzala;
E-Mail
Print
