Why the Slow Start for Myers?

There is probably more than one reason Mr. Myers isn't replicating last season's magic at this point.

Tyler Myers has had a weak start to his sophomore campaign. Not helping matters much, is that the Buffalo Sabres are dying by his sword right now, just as they lived by it last season. His 48 point plus-13 rookie season was a great treat, but his 1 point, minus-7 start to his second has been a crappy trick.

I would say that the theories I have heard to explain his slow start are relatively reasonable. So far I have heard that off-season personnel changes, increased league exposure, poor all-around play by his team, and increased pressure from his new role as #1 D-man are legit probabilities.

One factor that hasn't been brought up here is his increase in weight/muscle mass.

Myers is noticeably larger now than he was last spring. Just look at his neck now compared to last season.

Ask a hockey player who has ever gained/lost a lot of weight in a relatively short period, and they probably will tell you that there is an adjustment period. One thing that is often compromised when weight is put on is agility.

Could this be part of the big soph's problem?

Get a Load of This

Puck Moving Defense is Questionable in Weekend Play

About 10 minutes into Saturday night's 6-3 stinker, right about the time that Tyler Myers put one past the outstretched leg of Ryan Miller and into the back of his own net, you got the feeling that this one was going to get ugly.

It didn't get much better when shortly after, Myers blew a tire behind his own net and turned the puck over. Brandon Dubinsky put that one away to make it two-nothing.

The Rangers 5th goal came when the tall sophmore and his center Derek Roy got caught chasing the play behind the net and left the slot open.

The blame for the lone goal scored by the Ottawa Senators in Buffalo's 2-1 win on Friday was also on the defense. Jordan Leopold was overpowered by Ottawa tough guy Chris Neil at center ice. The puck was turned over, and quickly converted into a score to send the Senators into the dressing room with a tie and some momentum, after getting smoked most of the 1st and 2nd period.

The defense is supposed to be one of the strengths of this team. Last season, the Sabres were 4th in the league in goals allowed per game. While Miller played a big part (after all, your goalie is your last defense man), the blue liners were also responsible. It was one area on the team that got addressed in free agency this summer as Leopold and Morrisonn were brought in to replace the departing Toni Lydman and Henrik Tallinder.

Lindy Ruff is going to have to talk to his defense and get them to pull it together. There needs to be better communication. There needs to be smart and accurate outlet passes. No more of this trickster action skating the puck all over your own zone to find some room.

We'll see what happens on Monday night when the Sabres play the heavyweight champions of the world, the Chicago Blackhawks. Were this weekend's miscues just part of a bad dream, or are they part of the reality of the next 80 games?

Let 'em know you're there!

Get that fuckin' stick in their side. Let 'em know you're there!
- Reggie Dunlop

Watching the Sabres tonight I'm astounded they continue to let the opposing team harass Ryan Miller. I hate to endorse violence, but we need to give notice that the price for anyone who wants to get familiar with Ryan Miller is pain. Pain and blood.

Other thoughts from tonight's game:

This team hustles. It's fun to watch, but offensively we continue to have trouble finishing. I've seen a lot of good chances missed.

I've noticed a few too many sloppy giveaways in the transition game. Hopefully it's just a bad night, but if we continue to give the opposing teams this many chances, Ryan Miller will start to look human.

Down 4-1 at the end of the second period. Ugh. I'm going to switch over to some playoff baseball, maybe my absence will bring us some luck.

Putting on the Foil

Can you feel the electrons buzzing a little faster today? Hockey starts tonight. Real hockey, where the winners get two points, and the losers get to go home and think about missed opportunities (and also possibly a point, but that's another post.) The Buffalo Sabres have had a few months now to consider all of the missed opportunities from last season, when they won their Division, but failed to make it past the Bruins in the first round of the playoffs.

Even though this year's team is full of familiar faces (the primary offseason acquisition being Shaone Morrison), how they will perform is a complete mystery. Will the team that won the Northeast division show up ready to play? Or will it be the team that got pushed off the puck again and again in the series against the Bruins? I don't claim to know how this season will turn out, but the beauty of any new sports season (even for fans of teams from Buffalo) is fresh hope.

I've got a feeling....

Gross Injuries Keep Rivet off the Ice

Last spring, shortly after the Buffalo Sabres took a butt slide out of the playoffs, we found out that Craig Rivet had been playing injured for most of the season. It appears that Captain Bad Bod was suffering from a double labrum tear. The 36 year-old had to undergo surgery.

In two seasons with the Sabres, Rivet has struggled to stay healthy. When he first arrived in 2008 he had to have knee surgery early on. He quickly returned after surgery and finished the season with 24 points in 64 games.

Last season, the grizzled veteran played in 78 games, mostly while injured. Season highlights included 6 fights (2 with that dirty little man Daniel Carcillo), a playoff goal, and a face-off with Lord Vader presiding.

To say that Rivet has slowed a bit since his days with Montreal is probably accurate. But you might have to say that he has gotten tougher with age, just like an old beef bull. The man danced with a few nasty characters last season while wearing a brace to support his injured shoulder.

His latest boo-boo is a throat contusion. Rivet says that he was clipped in the throat by a teammate's shoulder pad during one of the first practices of training camp, and five days later he felt a pop. A blood vessel had burst. Gross.

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