Temper That Enthusiasm Young Padawan
October 27th, 2009 | by Vance |We’ve sung this song and danced this dance before. Why, it was a mere year ago, I remember like it was just yesterday. The Sabres shot out of the gate, 6-0-2, rose to the top of the Northeast, looking like they had finally gelled into the unit our high expectations held them to. Then the injuries arrived, then the inconsistency, then the streaks, then the West Coast road trip, and before it was all said and done, those hot starting Sabres faded through the middle of the season and were left outside looking in on the playoff picture for the 2nd straight season.
Fast forward. 2009-2010. The Sabres have shot out the gate, going 6-1-1, rising to the top of the Northeast division, looking like finally they’ve become the cohesive group that’s been missing the past couple years. Then reality arrived. These are the Sabres, this is Buffalo, we need to look at what’s really going on here, that is, they haven’t been tested.
Let’s compare the schedules between this season and last.
2009-2010 2008-2009
Away – Home – Record Away – Home – Record
MTL (2) – BUF (1)(SO) – 0-0-1 MTL (1) – BUF (2)(SO) – 1-0-0
PHX (1) – BUF (2) – 1-0-1 BUF (7) – NYI (1) – 2-0-0
BUF (1) – NSH (0) – 2-0-1 BUF (3) – NYR (1) – 3-0-0
DET (2) – BUF (6) – 3-0-1 VAN (2) – BUF (5) – 4-0-0
NYI (3) – BUF (6) – 4-0-1 BUF (2) – ATL (3)(SO) – 4-0-1
ATL (4) – BUF (2) – 4-1-1 BOS (2) – BUF (3)(SO) – 5-0-1
BUF (5) – FLA (2) – 5-1-1 BUF (4) – MIN (3)(OT) – 6-0-1
BUF (3) – TBL (2)(SO) – 6-1-1 BUF (1) – COL (2)(SO) – 6-0-2
(Sorry about the terrible formatting, I’m trying to get this up quick)
This year we’ve played 5 home games to start the season, last year just 3. This year we’ve got the likes of the Isles, Panthers, and Lightning, the best teams we’ve played this year? Phoenix and Atlanta? Seriously? You can look at those schedules and see.
I’m not saying this team isn’t different. I’m just saying don’t start buying into that TSN.CA power ranking quite yet. Once this schedule moves into its heart; more back to backs, more Lalime starts, more injuries, tougher opponents; we very well may see the same Sabres team that we saw in the middle of last season. Inconsistency, off nights, defensive miscues, you remember it all.
Let’s just keep the bandwagon a little less full, after all, the Bills have won two in a row.
By Matt on Oct 28, 2009
“the best teams we’ve played this year? Phoenix and Atlanta? Seriously?”
Umm, Detroit?
They may have stumbled out of the gate, but Detroit is still a very good team, the reigning Western Conference champion who came within one game of their 2nd straight Cup a few short months ago.
And the Sabres crushed the Wings.
By Vance on Oct 28, 2009
I know, I was going by how teams were playing when we played them, not the general perception of how good the team actually is.
No Datsyuk when we played Daytwa, less of a threat than when they’re fully locked and loaded (let alone missing Franzen)
Point still remains; lots of adversity left to deal with.