Honest Question to BuffaloHoya

[hifigator]

I figured I'd play along.


Are the Sabres going to win the Cup this season? The western teams look a bit more dominant, but Buffalo has been surprisingly good during the regular season.

[Deleted]

hifigator said:

I figured I'd play along.


Are the Sabres going to win the Cup this season? The western teams look a bit more dominant, but Buffalo has been surprisingly good during the regular season.

1 - Buffalo has been "surprisingly" good to people who don't follow hockey. I really don't mean that to sound nasty, but there's no other way I can phrase it. Most pundits will tell you the Sabres had the best team in the NHL last year, and but for having FOUR of their six defensemen out with injury (as well as arguably their most talented forward in Tim Connolly) in the Conference Finals, would have cakewalked to the Stanley Cup finals against Edmonton. Remember, the Sabres were twenty minutes away from that spot during Game 7 of the ECF against Carolina last year, and that was WITHOUT Connolly, Jay McKee, Dimitri Kalinin, Teppo Numminen and our best defenseman Hank Tallinder. Even with guys like Rory Fitzpatrick and Doug Janik playing significant roles, the boys almost pulled it out... but it wudn't meant to be.

2 - The whole "Western Conference is more dominant" is hardly as cut-and-dry as it is in the NBA (if that's even true... I wouldn't really know). Remember, the schedules are unbalanced - so while I give the West credit for taking the season series 76-46-20, if you look deeper you'll see the Western Conference records against the Northeast division borders on .500, is slightly better against the Atlantic, and is TREMENDOUS against the pathetic Southeast (grabbing 70 of a possible 100 points). Also, I doubt you'll find anyone who thinks Detroit-Anaheim-Vancouver-San Jose is somehow measurably better than Buffalo-New Jersey-Ottawa-Pittsburgh. These know-hardly-anything sports writers just look at point totals and make dumb assumptions. Like I said, I give the West credit in that they've outplayed the East as a whole, but come April who really cares how the Kings or Avalance fared against the Maple Leafs or Panthers (all non-playoff teams)?

3 - Buffalo certainly can win The Cup, but so can 15 other teams. They are - top to bottom - the deepest, fastest, most creative team, goaltending I'd put against anyone (except maybe New Jersey), and a defense that can play lock-down when necessary.

But run into a hot goaltender, and I don't care if you're the early 80's Islanders, mid 80's Oilers, the great Habs teams with Boom Boom and The Rocket... you'll get beat. And that's the great equalizer. 8 seeds knock out 1 seeds often in the NHL and that's what makes it the best playoffs in pro sports (only March Madness is better... and I could possibly see the argument for World Cup). So while I think the Sabres certainly can (should?) win it all, there's absolutely no way I can say with 100% certainty they will.

EDIT: That said, I think they will.


EDIT 2: I take that back... Captain Clutch is the great equalizer.

[hifigator]

Nice analysis, and I admit that I guess I was a victim of the "western conference superiority" the media had presumed.

I don't follow hockey much during the regular season as I am much more into football and college hoops. I will watch a game now and than. But once the playoffs start, I love it. There is an intensity that is amazing with playoff hockey. I think I fell asleep 3 different times during that Canuck-Stars marathon the other night. I know all sports and interest multiplies in the playoffs, but in my opinion, it is more dramatic in hockey.

In any case, my team of choice has been the NJ Devils. One of my roommates in college was a big Devils fan and I guess it kind of stuck. Ironically they are matched against what would have to be my second favorite Lightning. I am nothing but a bandwagon Lightning fan who really only started taking interest when they won the title the year before the lockout. In any case, I guess I will root for the Sabres if they aren't paying the Devils or Lightning.

[hifigator]

Part of that didn't come out right. The point was that I am not a fan of Vancouver or Dallas and yet I had to fight sleep to watch the game because it was so dang exciting. When I said "I fell asleep 3 times" during that game, I don't think that conveyed the proper point.

[The Stig]

The Western Conference is deeper than the East, but the best teams in the East should have no problem holding their own with the best in the West.

I think the depth issue helps the Sabres. There's no such thing as an easy ride to the Stanley Cup Finals, but the East winner should have an easier time of it than the West winner, where the bloodbaths are already starting.

I for one want to see a Sabres-Senators series. The history there could lead to some fun stuff.

[tal1286]

Hockey Playoffs are probably the best playoffs in sports. I really wish they had VS on the university cable.

[Boz]

buffalohoya said:

Most pundits will tell you the Sabres had the best team in the NHL last year, and but for having FOUR of their six defensemen out with injury (as well as arguably their most talented forward in Tim Connolly) in the Conference Finals, would have cakewalked to the Stanley Cup finals against Edmonton. Remember, the Sabres were twenty minutes away from that spot during Game 7 of the ECF against Carolina last year, and that was WITHOUT Connolly, Jay McKee, Dimitri Kalinin, Teppo Numminen and our best defenseman Hank Tallinder. Even with guys like Rory Fitzpatrick and Doug Janik playing significant roles, the boys almost pulled it out... but it wudn't meant to be.

Wow, can I get you some nice Camembert or Brie, or perhaps some fine aged Gorgonzola, to go with that?
;D

I don't know about other cable systems, but anyone who has Comcast digital cable has no excuse for not watching the NHL playoffs. In addition to the games on Versus and NBC, Comcast is providing all other playoff games for free, even for those who didn't order the Center Ice package before or during the season.

And Buffalo's point #3 is dead on. In addition to the great in-game action, Game 7s and overtimes, the best part about the NHL playoffs is that any of the 16 teams really DOES have a shot to win the whole thing. Buffalo and Detroit are the favorites to be sure, but they are no locks to get there and they are going to have to go through hell and back just to win the first 12, let alone 16 (though Detroit really hasn't been tested yet).

And I'm pretty sure even God wants to see the Sabres and Sens face off.

Finally, as much as I don't like them and don't want them anywhere near Lord Stanley for ANOTHER 50 years, I think it's good for hockey that the Rangers are contenders again. I hate myself for saying that, but I can't deny it. Way to show up, Atlanta! (OK, actually Atlanta hasn't played half bad, just not good enough to win; I expect this series will still go 6)

[hoyatables]

Wow, I am really out of touch -- didn't realize the Rangers were competitive again! They've just been so bad for so long that I didn't realize they had turned it around. Who knows, maybe the Knicks will follow suit. Maybe.

[hifigator]

Boz wrote:

And Buffalo's point #3 is dead on. In addition to the great in-game action, Game 7s and overtimes, the best part about the NHL playoffs is that any of the 16 teams really DOES have a shot to win the whole thing.

You both bring up a great point. One of the few times that I remember consistently winning bets during my major gambling days in college was on hockey playoffs. For a couple of years in a row, I would take nothing but underdogs to win the series against the favorite. It seemed to always finish about even with as many underdogs as favorites winning, but by taking the juice it worked out consistently.