Sabres Bruins Preview

I know I called the Bruins "boring" and "that it was great the Sabres don't play them 8 times this year" because they are terrible horrible boring games. Well some Bruins fans took that to heart, and I "didn't watch them this year" Well of course I didn't watch them. I assumed they were boring. Why would I watch that?

But now the Bruins have some talent, and they are leading the Northeast, not due to high scoring for sure, but still are a much improved team. They are defense first (nice way to say sit back), though do give up 30 shots a game. But they score 3 goals a game and are 2nd in the league in Goals against. So they are a good team and it was wrong for me to slam them. Plus they are a hard hitting team, with 3 guys in the top 20 in hits. Milan Lucic is number 2 in the league. I guess it maybe the way Lindy Ruff would like his team to play. Maybe.

The Bruins are 11-3-4, and 3-1 in their last 4. They are coming in playing well and their leader on the stat sheet is Marc Savard with 21 points. He always seems to play better against the Sabres. Young gun Phil Kessel leads in goals with 8, and hard banger Milan Lucic has 11 points. Other offensive guys are Michael Ryder, Patrice Bergeron and young Blake Wheeler. Chara only has 7 points on the year, which seems disappointing for the big guy. I don't think the defense gets to jump in plays as much anymore.

But the real star of this show is Tim Thomas. Who is leading the league in GAA and Sv%. I always thought he was a real good player who never got the credit for keeping a bad team competitve. Now they have some talent and they can win some games. If they stay healthy of course. Marco Sturm and Andrew Ference won't play, that hurts a little. The defense isn't deep so any vet out, hurts the team.

The Sabres on the other hand are struggling. Can't keep the puck of the net, and can't score. Minus the St Louis game and 6 minutes of offense, they aren't very good right now. Derek Roy is banged up and taken away from Vanek. Tim Connolly is a disaster and Lindy is shaking everything up. This team is so up and down its frustrating.

Maybe a road game, where they don't have to be flashy, is what the Doctor ordered. If not its probably another loss to a good team.

Sabres Bruins Preview

Ugh the Bruins. Its too early for the Bruins. Thank god they only have to play them 5 more times. No one plays a more boring brand of hockey then the Boston Bruins. Hey if you want to get fans back in Boston, make them play a fun style of game. Not sit back and wait for turnovers type of hockey.

Well they come into HSBC Arena off a shootout loss, one of a 30 for the Bruins this year, so they will probably be tired. They are 2-1-2 on the year already. Thats a pretty good indication of what the Bruins will be this year. They won't be great, but they won't be bad, they have enough talent and decent goaltending, but they won't be one of the elite teams in the league. They can be beat any night. They do have two 5 goal scorers already, in Kessel and Savard, but their lineup is pretty average after that. Michael Ryder isn't someone your scared of, neither is Krejci or Bergeron. Its a hard working lineup, thats led by Chara on the Blueline and a bunch of other grinders like Wideman, Aaron Ward and Brad Stuart. Tim Thomas is pretty good and having a decent year, but Manny Fernandez might get a go tonight, and he isn't having the best year with a 3.02 GAA and a .878 sv %. Thats Thibault numbers right there. But I'm not spending time on the Bruins because I hate them. So lets talk about the Sabres.

Well the Sabres are off to a fast start. They aren't relaying on scoring to bail them out, but defense. I think the Atlanta game showed if they are lazy, they will get scored on. Thats why I look to tonight for the Sabres to return to form. Their team GAA is 1.36 thats Detroit like. I think people realize that the Detroit style of game is what will be successful in the NHL. Tight defense with some offensive power. The Sabres have the offensive power, led by Vanek, Pominville and Kotalik. This is when their forwards are banged up, imagine when they can roll four lines with some scoring touch.

The Sabres can't start slow again, they have to come out strong and play smart. If they want to be the team they want to be. I'm sure Lindy has told them what they have to do. They can just look to last year and see he's right. They played wild and loose and had success, because they had so much offensive power to dig themselves out. But eventually that catches up to you. Now they have a good amount of talent, but they have to play two way hockey to win. There is a reason Vanek is doing what he's doing, he wants it. No one can stop him when he's motivated. He can be a 50 goal scorer and be one of the elites in the league. Soon that contract will look like a deal.

Hey he's been in the league as long as Sidney Crosby.

Goals

Crosby 100 in 220 games

Vanek 111 in 250 games

(and yes I know Crosby has 109 more assists then Vanek)

But that shows hes one of the elite goal scorers in the league, not in Ovechkin terrority. But Vanek wasn't the best player on his team. Now he's the best player on the Sabres. He wasn't given the ice time early on. Its time for Sabre fans to realize how good of a player the Sabres have on their hands, and for a very long time.

Tonight, I hope the beat the bruins by 5 goals. Probably more like 3 to 1. Boston is really going to play tight tonight.

Sabres Bruins Preview

Well its the last preview of the season, and of course its the team I least like doing one for, the Boston Bruins. Really the game is meaningless, the Bruins secured a playoff spot, and will play a team that will handle them in the first round. No question the Bruins can't beat Montreal or Pittsburgh in the first round. Though are in 6th spot right now, but a Philly win and a Bruins loss, would mean that the Bruins would be in 7th and ottawa eighth?. I'm still a little confused. But a New Jersey Boston series would a series I'd avoid like the plague. I wouldn't even acknowledge it. Nope. Well the Sabres are sending the walkons out today. Numminen, Ryan, Thibault and maybe Peters. The Bruins will be without Savard who is hurt.

The Bruins.

The Playoff bound Bruins, ecch, will be looking to win, after beating Ottawa last night. Well who doesn't beat Ottawa these days. Of course it was a 2-1 barn burner. Ottawa had 18 shots on goal, for a team needing to make the playoffs. Of course the Hurrisuck, lost letting them back into the playoffs. Nice 3 teams from the Northeast into the Playoffs, 4 from the Atlantic and 1 from the Southeast. Nice division. And no southeast fans its not a competitive division. Well the Bruins don't score much scoring 212 goals on the season and giving up 219. HOW ARE THEY IN THE PLAYOFFS? AND COULD FINISH 5th? The Sabres have a +10 Goal Differential. Well the bruins are we thought they were. Not fun, ugly, and bad for hockey. But they pick up points and now will make the playoffs and lose in the first round. YAY!

Outlook

I hope the Sabres win, but it won't matter I'll be at Roller Derby tonight and enjoying that. Pictures will follow on that. I would say Guys will be playing for jobs, but I don't think thats true. This will be the last we see of Thibault in Sabre blue and gold, hopefully Peters, Ryan and Kalinin is good as gone. I don't know if they need to make a splash in the offseason. Let Darcy make smart moves. He built the 05 team on the cheap. He knows talent, just let him work. Tinker. Maybe I'm an optimist. But I think this team will come out hungry. Angry. Determined. Now tonight go out and play like that team, to preview 08-09 for your fanbase. The season ticket sales depend on it.

Sabres Bruins preview

Well its getting bleaker by the day for the Sabres, the playoffs just get farther and farther away with every game. And its their own fault. They should be going in winning 3 in a row and 6 of their last 7. You know a team that really wants it. But they have lost 3 of their last 4, and two of those are 3rd period collapses. But due to math, the Sabres are not totally out of it. But really things aren't looking good. 6 points out of 8th and 4 points out of 9th. Its not the Bruins they should worry about. They have 2 games against them. Its the Caps. Who are hot and playing weak competition. If anything the Sabres beating the Bruins will only hurt their own chances and help the Caps make the playoffs. But its the last home game of the season, and I'm sure they want to send the home crowd happy tonight and actually put together a good 60 minute performance. They got 4 games left, no reason to hold back now.

The Bruins

The Bruins were sliding down the standings for a while now. But have won 3 in a row and looking to improve that total. Since 4th place in the conference is only 3 points away. Tim Thomas is how the Bruins go. Without Tim Thomas this would be a non playoff team. When hes on, he becomes some how unbeatable. They have been winning even without leading scorer Marc Savard who will be out of todays game, leaving Marco Sturm, Phil Kessel, Zdeno Chara and Dennis Wideman as your offensive weapons. The Bruins play tight, so if the Sabres are all loose, they will lose. I'm tired of the Bruins and half the remaining games are against them. So yay for Chara!!!

Outlook

Well its the last home game, before ending on the road, probably not a bad thing, since they seem better on the road lately. And if they are going to win 4 games in a row, not having booing and the word SHOOOOOT yelled at you, is probably good for this team. But if they come out and lay a stinker, they will be booed off their home ice, not the way you want to end the campaign. Well its the end of things at HSBC probably, so take down those signs and prep for other summer events. Looks like HSBC will be in a slumber earlier then usual this year. But who really couldn't use the extra sleep.

Sabres Bruins Preview

Oh yay, the Bruins, the NHL's most exciting team. Ugh. Bruins games are usually terrible and sloppy, since the Bruins don't have much talent, but do enough to win. Kinda like the devils. Except Tim Thomas isn't Marty Brodeur. But they are in the division, so the Sabres have to play them 8 times a year, god I hope the schedule changes and there is only 6 games a year. And with that its 2 back to back games. Just to make the series over quicker. But this is an important game for the Sabres since they need wins to climb up the standings. With the Bruins 6 points ahead of the Sabres and in 8th place. Not to put pressure on but its a must win for the Sabres tonight. Good thing Ryan Miller is back, you could cancel the season if his injury was serious.

Whats up with the Bruins.

Well the Bruins are playing pretty well of late going 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. Really only 2 points better then the Sabres. But if the Sabres pull a couple of those shootouts, this game is pretty much a game for 8th place. But they aren't a offensive team only scoring 137 goals on the year. And they give up the same as they score. Most of the games will be close and tight, its like playing the Devils. The Bruins are also 3-0-1 against Buffalo this year and they will be playing again on Friday, what? So its Boston, New Jersey and then Boston again. Who is the schedule maker? Seriously? The bruins are tough to beat and whatever.

Who does what on the Bruins

Well the man is Marc Savard who is WAY ahead of everyone on the Bruins in points. Like 25 more points then anyone. How thats possible is beyond me. He is leading with 59 points, but only 13 goals. Chuck Kobasew is leading in goals with 19. Really Chuck Kobasew? Marco Sturm, Zdeno Chara, Phil Kessel are also some guys to look out for. But really just be careful when Savard is out there, he can make some plays, and is also a + Player. But the reason the team wins is Tim Thomas his numbers are outstanding with a 2.28 GAA and a .930 sv%. But after watching Alex Auld the last time these two played, they could do no wrong tonight in net.

Outlook

Well looks like I probably will miss this game and thats a shame, because the Bruins are fun to watch. I'll read up on the game, since there probably won't be too many highlights in this barnburner. But playing in Boston, which probably is very sad right now, awwww, plus a lot of sabre fans in attendance should be an interesting environment. Now the question is should I just cut and paste this for friday?

Sabres Bruins Preview

Hey look its back to play a Northeast Division rival, YAY! (Ugh) After a 6 game respite, we get the Bruins. A team the Sabres play a lot, but could care to see less of. They are boring, and all of a sudden somewhat decent. The Sabres are 1-1-1 against the Bruins this year, so they are looking to break that and get a 2 somewhere, hopefully in the win column. Well the game is at 7pm tonight and on Versus? Who scheduled that? Are there no other games tonight?

Whats up with the Bruins?

Since they have played the Sabres last, they are 7-4-1 over that 11 game stretch. And just came off a 2-1 win over the Maple Leafs on Saturday. They now have 33 points in 28 games and are 5th in the conference. (6 points ahead of the Sabres) They could be called a surprise this year. But they have gotten solid goaltending, though Fernandez and Thomas are out, leaving Rookie Rusk and Alex Auld. They play pretty close games and it shows in the the goals. 73 for 71 against. Games against the Bruins are tight and not filled with chances.

Who does what

Well Marc Savard is the playmaker on the Bruins, he has 33 points on the year but only 5 goals, so really you should cover the wingers and let Savard shoot. Chuck Kobasew leads the team in goals with 12 but only has 4 assists. Marco Sturm and Glen Murray are pretty decent offense weapons for the B's each with 9 goals a piece. And we can't forget about the big giant on the Blue line Zdeno Chara. Having a decent year with 17 points and a +6 on the year. A solid year for the big man. Tim Thomas was the reason for the Bruins winning earlier in the year. Now its up to Rusk and Auld, both don't have flashy numbers both over around a 3.27 GAA and a .886 Sv%. Backup numbers if you ask me. So I would look for the Bruins to play tight to vest. Plus you always have to look out for Phil Kessel and Peter Schaefer. One for his offensive talent, the other for taking cheap shots.

Outlook

Well the screwy Sabres, who you can't predict who will show up night in night out. Will either come out strong feeling good about beating the Sharks, or just beat up and mail it in. Since they do play 3 other times this week, Wed, Fri and Sat. Maybe they will save some energy. But me thinks not. They know they need to win games now to make the playoffs later. I say the Sabres come out and win 3-2. But once again what do I know?