Double minors – Game six

Game six seemed to be the culmination of everything that the Sabres have been doing poorly in the series with the Flyers.

Since game one Buffalo has been weak along the boards and has been unable to clear their zone with ease. Aside from a few bright spots the defense has been beyond spotty. Lastly, just like in the regular season, the Sabres have not played well with a lead and haven’t been able to finish off the Flyers when they had their foot over their throat.

All season the Sabres have played poorly with the lead. Really poorly. Game two and game five were great examples. Yesterday was even better. Michael Leighton gifted Buffalo three goals in the first but the Sabres were unable to get this one in the barn. I think back to something Lindy Ruff said about needing to keep the pedal down when their opponent was on the ropes. Strangely enough, the minute the Sabres have gotten a lead in the series they have stopped pushing and just hoped to run out the clock. Pretty much the opposite of Ruff’s statement.

It seems to me that Buffalo gets a lead (in any game) and assumes that it is time to relax and enjoy the ride. Obviously this is not the case but they haven’t learned it yet. Time after time they soften up and try to trap their opponent (poorly) and quite often they yield a tying goal and the momentum to boot.

Giving all of the momentum to the Flyers in just about every game has been a recipe for disaster, game six was when it all blew up.

What might be the worst part is that the Sabres are squandering a great performance from Ryan Miller. He wasn’t good in game two or three but he stole two games for them and was phenomenal in game five. He was up to the task again yesterday, especially early, but I don’t think Hasek would stop all of the point-blank opportunities the Flyers have had this series. Looking at the five goals scored today, only the Leino winner and perhaps Hartnell’s tying goal could be saddled on Miller. Leaving Danny Briere and JVR in the slot with time to shoot is just about automatic. Of course, there are scores of ignorant fools in Buffalo who have never played a minute of goaltender who seem to think each of these shots should have been saved. New flash morons, learn a little about the game before you spew off on it.

When the series is decided on Tuesday a lot of focus will need to be directed at the Sabres’ inability to lock down a lead and their horrific play in their own zone. There have been countless (no hyperbole) occasions where a defenseman has thrown a weak pass up the boards to a winger who doesn’t get the biscuit out of the zone. There have been times where forwards have the opportunity to make an easy pass or take a few strides to clear the puck and they try to force something that results in an extension of the Philly possession. This is no way to win a hockey game, particularly in the playoffs. It is also a major reason that goal scorers are finding themselves wide open in front of Ryan Miller.

JVR’s goal is a perfect example of this horrendous play. Both Thomas Vanek and Brad Boyes blew the zone expecting an outlet off the faceoff win. Of course, the defenseman lost the puck and JVR could have picked two spots to put the puck.

I have no doubt that Buffalo’s inexperience on the blue line and weak play in the defensive zone will be a major difference maker in game seven. It tops my list of reasons I don’t see the Sabres advancing.

What everyone needs to keep in mind here is that the Sabres are still playing with house money. I’m not even talking about the heroic surge from 30th into a playoff spot. I’m talking about the fact that they are far worse on paper than this team and have given them all they can handle, and more. Philly was supposed to breeze through this series and that hasn’t been the case at all.

The Sabres have shown the ability to score some goals. Vanek has been Mr. Atlas and Nathan Gerbe continues to impress. The Niedermayer/Stafford/Ennis line has been effective, although Drew Stafford needs to wake up and fast. The powerplay has been much better than the 0-19 embarrassment from last year. The Sabres have also shown they aren’t as frail as some previously thought. Now, it is painfully obvious that most of the forwards still won’t get dirty nearly enough, but they have shown a grittiness that I wasn’t sure existed.

Of course, Ryan Miller has been Ryan Miller. He had two shaky games but he is the reason the Sabres are alive at all in this series. Even in allowing five goals yesterday he was stellar. You can’t tell me that game doesn’t get to overtime without Ryan Miller in net.

I’m sorry to say that I don’t see the Sabres closing out the series on the road Tuesday. I’m not trying to be a jerk, I just think their shortcomings have finally caught up with them. Aside from another 1-0 robbery I don’t see a Buffalo victory on the horizon. But at the end of the day that doesn’t really mater. This series has afforded me the opportunity to enjoy much more hockey than expected this spring.