The boo birds were well deserved. They only came out after extremely extended shifts spent hemmed in their own zone.
Good:
- NJs forecheck was ridiculous. Another team capable of getting the puck out would have had chances at a few odd man rushes.
- Ott, Miller, Kaleta
- Myers, for the most part. Still having issues on turnovers, but still looked much more confident carrying the puck and in the offensive zone.
Bad:
- Getting hemmed, especially one shift that must have been at least 2 minutes straight
- Something is up with that ice. Not only were the Sabres losing battles, but when they did have a chance for the puck, it would bounce over their stick or something else.
Ugly:
- The lack of support in the D-zone. The defense half the time had no where to go with the puck. Then other teams the forwards would chip it BACK instead of trying to get the ****ing puck out of the zone.
A couple of comments or observations on the Sabres getting hemmed in their own zone...
1.) I'm sure you'll agree that the Devils executed the 2 - 1 - 2 low forecheck as well as any team could have. Outstanding anticipation by all the Devils players. And across multiple lines. Sabres D had no where to go with the puck because everyone was covered. There were simply no options for our D other than reversing the puck back to their D partner. And he was immediately set upon by 2 Jersey forecheckers.
2.) The Devils were supremely mobile last night. And very effective at stealth obstruction. It was like pre- rule change clutch and grab out there. There were many instances of interference that kept the Sabres from having any clear path to the puck. NJ's style was rewarded by a.) their quickness and b.) the ref's via non calls. (Not making an excuse here but several times it was obvious that Sabre sticks and arms were being held in tight to the body.)
3.) The Sabres lack of size and physicality was telling in their own zone. They could not control the Devils by angling, positioning and and pinning their opponents. Jersey just brushed them off as long as they kept their feet moving and danced around the Sabres D.
4.) It was frustrating that the Sabres would rather try to play the stick and the puck. Clearly the Devil's have better skills in this area. Which allowed them to take advantage of a lot of those fortuitous bounces (both teams played on the same ice surface so you can't blame the ice).
5.) Size matters... NJ seemed to be able to brush off our D's and F's attempts to knock them off the puck..... not withstanding Kaleta's and Ott's big hits. We need Regehr-level size and physicality. But at NHL elite speeds (which RR no longer has.....)
6.) It was one of those nights where Jersey anticipated every clearing pass and the puck bounced well for them. Sabres (Ott, Kaleta) could block shots and the rebound would go right to another Devil's player's stick. Uncanny. But that happens sometimes.
Yet, although the Sabres were dominated, they appeared (to me) to keep their focus, intensity and position. They checked off properly in most cases. There was way less panic than I've seen earlier in the season.
I'm not giving the Sabres any props here. They WERE dominated by NJ's forecheck and normally, teams lose when that happens. No question there's a serious need for improvement.
But overall, I think the team weathered the adversity much better than previously demonstrated. By holding themselves together, they managed to eak out a win they barely earned. Maybe the team's culture is starting to change ever so slightly?