Dude, Really? What Are You Like After A Loss?

The set-up:

The seventh-seeded Buffalo Sabres go into Philadelphia for the first game of their series. Due to a relentless forecheck the Sabres are forced into a Muhammed Ali-like "rope-a-dope" battle. The officiating "tilts" towards the Flyers as they have a 5-1 advantage on the powerplay.

This is the type of scenario that in the past would have lead to a sure Sabres loss. Instead the Sabres PK unit shuts down the Flyers, they hold them scoreless throughout the game and take Game One, 1-0.

Nothing really to complain aboput right?

Leave it to this "fan" to find something (many things) to whine about:


http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/sabres-nhl/article394072.ece

Here's an unbelievable line from the above article:

"Ice time was a factor, with Vanek and Ennis getting only 13 minutes because of the Flyers' 5-1 power-play edge."

Doesn't Vanek earn over 7 MILLION DOLLARS a year? I know our new owner isn't as concerned about his bottom line as the previous owner, but talk about getting laughably little for your money!


Nobody wants to criticize Lindy right about now, and I get that. However, why do other teams double shift their stars earning that much money, while Ruff not only never double shifts Vanek, but also allows him to sit even longer on the bench in a playoff game due to "game circumstances." ?


At the same time, Ruff has thought nothing about over-playing his star goalie who earns about 2 Million a year less then Vanek, to the point of exhaustion year after year. Is it just me, or shouldn't Vanek be killing penalties sometimes, as well as double shifting regularly? Especially now at this point in his young career, as he seems to be taking on the role of leadership more and more?


I bet Edmonton would have used the heck out of him had the Sabres not matched that insane contract the Oilers handed him a few years ago. Of course I have no way of proving that take, but I see almost every other team double shifting it's star players and using them on all special teams. Why doesn Vanek get used so sparely on Buffalo?

Every Sabre on the team did what they needed to do on Thursday night. They won.

DOWN GOES FRAZIER!!!