Post-Game Talk (GBU): The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly -- Welcome Back Thomas Vanek!

[Chainshot]

The Good -

- Vanek making plays and cashing in on a beauty. The EN goal was just gravy. Loved that he made sure.
- Taking control to win a tied game in the last 5 minutes? Wow. Who ARE these guys?
- Powerplay conversions.
- Making Hartnell pay whenever he was in the box.
- Some solid hits
- Otter getting on the board on a beauty feed from Poms.
- In what I've seen, liked the Regehr-Myers pair (haven't watched all of the second period yet... I reserve the right to change my mind. ).
- CoHo hustling and being rewarded with a goal.
- VanMassivehoser breaking things Buffalo's way with that late whistle.
- Stafford dropping the mitts. Yes please. Bigger is fine, getting everyone into the mindset that they're not a team to **** with is best.

The Bad -

- Missing much of the second while my son's team was getting curb-stomped by two different select travel squads. Whoever thinks that's good for some house league players ought to be punted in the potatoes.
- Didn't think the first Flyers goal should've been waived off. It was really weak.

The Ugly -

- Did I mention watching 8 and 9 year old selects pound on a house league team twice? When it's 20-2 total for a two-game set and the goal on the team that got lit up is the best player on the ice....

Click to read more...

 

[enthusiast]

U: Refs

 

[Myllz]

I like this team. Couple players had some serious rust (Ennis especially), but if/when they get to full speed they should be a good mix of everything.

 

[BritSabre]

I think we owe DvM a beer or two. Great fight on show even if the touch was a little rusty.

 

[Duddy]

I like this team. Couple players had some serious rust (Ennis especially), but if/when they get to full speed they should be a good mix of everything.

I was thinking the same thing, they're fun to watch again. A couple bad plays, but all in all a fun team.

 

[LFDM]

Missed the game, but I am accepting thanks! Me visiting Vanek in our hometown was the key to success

 

[littletonhockeycoach]

Will keep it short.......

Good:
Thomas Vanek - 'nuff said


Ruff's benching him seemed to work. Classic Ralph and Alice Cramden relationship!

 

[start winnin]

G: Ott, Vanek, Pommer, Ennis, Hodgson, Sekera, Sulzer, 1st period Myers

B: Miller looked so shaky, but somehow made the saves, we got very lucky with the calls. Myers in the second and third, just brutal. Leopold was bad as well.

U: Putting Grigorenko with scrubs, hopefully Leino can play tomorrow because Grigs should be put on a scoring line, not on a ****ing line with Kaleta.

 

[gallagt01]

Good win. This team is different and I like it.

Just to note a few on the good side.

Good:
-Vanek-Hodgson-Pominville played like a top line. Hodgson played fantastic.
-Stafford tossing the mitts and sticking up for Ennis.
-While sheltered a bit, I find the need to give Grigorenko props for that no-look pass.

 

[sabresfan129103]

I love how Sulzer was a throw away player in the Hodgson deal and he's one of our most solid defensive d-men.

 

[Fire Lindy]

I like this team. Couple players had some serious rust (Ennis especially), but if/when they get to full speed they should be a good mix of everything.

Really? I thought Ennis was all over the place out there.

 

[start winnin]

Really? I thought Ennis was all over the place out there.

I thought he was better in the 2nd and 3rd, the 1st period he didn't do much.

 

[Myllz]

Really? I thought Ennis was all over the place out there.

Being all over the place doesn't mean he was good. He's fast, he's always going to be all over the place. His passes were off the mark and he lost an edge a couple times.

 

[JOHNBOY]

Vanek looked great

Really liked Hechts play

Thought Sulzer/Erhoff was solid with the exception of one mistake in the D-zone

 

[Chainshot]

I'd like to see them get ahead by 2 earlier in a game so they aren't paranoid about putting Grigorenko on the ice in a tight game. If he's sitting, it's not helping him.

 

[sba]

G: The centers go like this all year and we're in good shape.

B: Sekera/Leo
Miller's rebound control was bad

U: Paul Hamilton...YIKES

 

[gallagt01]

U: Putting Grigorenko with scrubs, hopefully Leino can play tomorrow because Grigs should be put on a scoring line, not on a ****ing line with Kaleta.

I'm fine with Ruff's handling of Grigorenko thus far. Ease him into a larger role.

 

[littletonhockeycoach]

The Ugly -

- Did I mention watching 8 and 9 year old selects pound on a house league team twice? When it's 20-2 total for a two-game set and the goal on the team that got lit up is the best player on the ice....

That happened once to my kids too. Travel team out of Chicago - AAA playing in a mite A MLK tournament. Why? The answer was never provided.

Tell your son to keep his chin up and carry his hockey stick high.

 

[Myllz]

I'm fine with Ruff's handling of Grigorenko thus far. Ease him into a larger role.

Can't take too long with it though, he's only got 5 more games to make a decision. If you keep him with grinders it's going to be a pretty easy decision to send him back down since you won't see much from him.

 

[NotABadPeriod]

I'm fine with Ruff's handling of Grigorenko thus far. Ease him into a larger role.

I think Hecht could be really good in that sense. But Grigs needs talent to utilize his amazing vision...Ott and Hecht aren't really those guys. Leino is more of a playmaker, but probably better. Gerbe might really work well though.

 

[CrazyPsycho]

Miller was definitely fighting the puck but he was strong when we needed it.

Ehrhoff/Sulzer were very very good

 

[brian_griffin]

Awesome:
Sabres Hockey Is Back!!
Woodhouse's GDTs
Good:
Ref's jobbed PHI of 2 goals...
Bad:
...but I certainly can't complain.
Ugly:
Hartnell's face.

 

[Fire Lindy]

As for Grigorenko..I really hope Leino is ready to go tomorrow, I think we were all a little disappointed we didn't get to see Ott-Grig-Leino

 

[littletonhockeycoach]

I love how Sulzer was a throw away player in the Hodgson deal and he's one of our most solid defensive d-men.

Agree. He was solid today... (last year too!)/ Sleeper in the deal!

 

[Chainshot]

That happened once to my kids too. Travel team out of Chicago - AAA playing in a mite A MLK tournament. Why? The answer was never provided.

Tell your son to keep his chin up and carry his stick high.

He's over it -- they had a good day yesterday (1-0-1) against comparable squads. I told him at one point to relax and don't worry about it and he yelled back (loud enough for the whole crowd to hear) "I'm NOT!".