5) Experience: Between Tim Connolly, Thomas Vanek, Ryan Miller, Jason Pominville, Jochen Hecht, Paul Gaustad, Rob Niedermayer (BTW, Phil, wants me to mention that Nieds has a Stanley Cup ring, which makes him a Jedi Master, and not just a Jedi with playoff experience 😛 ) and Mike Grier, the eight of them have 477 playoff games under their belt. That’s a TON of experience. Excluding Grier and Niedermayer, the names mentioned have battled deep into the playoffs together. They have handled game sevens, comebacks and playing when the stakes are at their highest. Besides the Flyers and Pens, no other Eastern Conference team can touch the Sabres playoff experience. Not only am I talking about the vets, but guys like Ennis, Gerbe, Myers and McCormick tasted playoff experience last year. Heck, you could make the case that #42 and #63 were the team’s best players last year. Gotta think that experience will help them this time around. I know playoff experience can be termed as overrated, but if there is one professional sport that seems to be day and night between the regular and post season, it’s the NHL. It matters. Look at the teams who have won the Cup over the last 4 years. Prior to their triumphant seasons, The Ducks, Red Wings, Pens and Blackhawks made it deep into the playoffs at some point. I assure you, they learned from their experiences.
4) Depth and balance: I know I’ve made several comments that the Sabres don’t have enough Batmans or Supermans on this team, but they sure do have a lot of Alfreds and Jimmy Olsons. As I wrote the other day, the Sabres have 9 players on their roster with 35 points or more (Including Derek Roy). That’s only two off the same total that the 05/06 season had (Wow. In two days, I’ve had two references to that season. That’s progress for me.). I don’t know if the Sabres really have a legit #1 line, but they certainly have balance. To me, this season has been about getting contributions from everyone. One week, it’s Nathan Gerbe, the next week it’s Thomas Vanek or Ryan Miller. You just don’t know which player is going to bring it on a nightly basis. That tells me that opposing coaches are going to have to watch out for all four lines (Excluding #20 and #25). Lastly, I keep forgetting that the Sabres recent surge has been done without #25, #36 and #55. That tells me they have a ton of depth.
3) Sabres are peaking: I’m sure we all have read that since Pegula day, the Sabres have the best record in the NHL. Hell, they have been hot since early January. Double-Hell, even Tim Connolly looks great. I think it’s very key to head into the playoffs with a lot of momentum. Case in point, look at the Sabres 05/06 team. At the time, the Sabres were riding into the playoffs; winning 7 of their last 8 games. It made sense for their recent surge because they were finally starting to get healthy (Remember the sports hernia issues?). The Sabres looked incredible in the first two rounds of the playoffs against Philly and Ottawa. On the other side of the coin, if you look at the President Trophy team, we all know that the team started the season like a bat out of hell. However, down the regular season stretch, the team didn’t have the same moxie. You could tell there was a difference with the way the team played against the Islanders and Rangers in the playoffs. Had they played the same way they did in October/November, who knows what would have happened in the post season? In other words, it’s way better to be hot in March than October.
2) The Miller factor: Yes, yes… I know, I’ve been on Miller’s case this season. He’s been average at best if you ask me. However, even with Miller being average, he’s still better than the goalies that the Caps and Flyers have. Of course, we have all seen what Miller can do when he’s on his game (See: Olympics and most of last year). When Miller is in the zone, he can be the best goalie in the world. I’ve been saying for months, if the Sabres can somehow balance the force between their scoring output and Miller’s play, they will be extremely deadly in the playoffs. At times this season, it seems like the Sabres get one or the other. Sorry, but i don’t recall too many 5-1 games with Ryan Miller making 40 saves and Thomas Vanek getting a hat trick. Use the force, Ryan. Let go, Vanek (Using my Obi-Wan voice). Bottom line: Miller should be the Sabres best player. We’ve seen him carry the USA to a Silver medal. We have seen the best of him. We all know that if your goalie gets hot in the playoffs, he can take you near the top. If you want a silver lining on Miller, its how he’s coming off a stretch where he was 7-4-2 with two shutouts. Plus, I think if it wasn’t for Enroth’s play, Miller probably would have been forced to play over the weekend at 75%. Maybe the rest will help him in the playoffs.
1) Last chance: I know a lot of fans have been on record to discus how wonderful the Sabres win/loss has been since the rumors started for Pegula taking over the team (33-16-7). The prevailing thought seems to be that the Sabres are playing so darn well because it must be motivating to play for an owner who really cares about the team (Unlike Billionaire Tom). That sounds splendid and all, but I’d also like to put out there that it may have served as a wake-up call for these guys. “Whoa. We have a new owner who actually cares about how we play. Maybe it won’t matter now that I’m overpaid and that it’s impossible to move my monstrous deal. Now, they can sit me in the press box or put me on waivers.” There was a new sheriff in town and Terry Pegula wasn’t respecting prior arrangements (See: Oil well investment quote). To me, this playoff series could represent the last chance for the Sabres core. I’m talking about the top six forwards and the goaltending. Sure, it’s not do or die, but the question will be asked if whether the core is a part of the solution or the solution to trade for other core players. This core has been together for the last four years and they know the skeptics are out there (See: Me). If the Sabres get bombed in the first round of the playoffs, you know they are going to hear all the same questions that they heard last season. A decent playoff run, could mean that the top six forwards may ride out the string for another year. I’m sure these guys have grown awfully close over the years, so, you’d think that they wouldn’t want their comradery to come to an end. Bottom line: This could be their last hurrah together and that may be motivation enough.
Honorable mention: Lindy Ruff, Derek Roy may return for the 2nd round, defensemen can score and the Eastern Conference blows.
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