Sabres or Flyers - Who's the better 0-3 team?

[brelic]

Thought this was an interesting blog post by GARTH. Don't agree with everything he says, and it's not very well written, but... he does make some excellent posts.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/GARTHS-CORNER/Better-0-3-Team-Sabres-Or-Flyers/6/54600#.UlKdz9Ksh8E

The Eastern Conference cellar has a new dweller.

Move over Buffalo Sabres. The Philadelphia Flyers lost to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday afternoon. Both teams are all alone in the dungeon, looking for winning solutions to their respective plights.

Makes me wonder:

Which of the two teams are the better of the two win less teams?

Its an interesting debate.

One team is involved in the throws of a youth movement and an extreme roster makeover.

The decision to trade away high priced vets was made late last season. The management and coaching staff are playing the young prospects and integrating them into a lineup that is being back stopped by outstanding, exceptional goaltending.

The other team is struggling to blend its veteran core with some of its organizational prospects, all the while trying to identify its #1 goaltender.

In this corner, the rebuilding Buffalo Sabres. Winless in their fist three games, the Sabres are failing in two key areas right now: goal scoring and power play goals.

The Sabres have only scored two goals in their first 9 periods of regulation hockey this season. Rookie Zemgus Girgsenson scored late in the third period in the season opener, however, Jimmy Howard and the Red Wings held on to win 2-1. On Friday night, the Sabres were stymied and shutout by Craig Anderson and the Ottawa Senators. On Saturday night in Pittsburgh, Sidney Crosby and the Pens handed Buffalo its third loss to the tune of a 4-1 score, however, the final score was misleading in that the Pens scored on a a debatable penalty shot and added an empty net goal. Thomas vanek scored the only goal for the Sabres in The Burgh.

Ryan Miller and Jhonas Enroth have been Buffalo's most valuable players, providing some of the best goaltending in the NHL at this point in the young season.

While playing 5 on 5, the Sabres' are competitive. For the most part, they are adhering to and executing rookie head coach Ron Rolston's system. Poor zone time and multiple ugly turnovers per game are dooming the flow game. Buffalo shooters are getting chances, however, they can't bury them. The first and second PP units are a combined 0-13.

Buffalo Sabres:

Record: 0-3

Goals For: 2

Goals Against: 7

Goal Differential: -5

Home Record: 0-1-0

Road Record: 0-2-0

PP Rank: 28th (0-13, 0%)

PK Success Rate: 100% (8 kills, 8 PP opps against)

GAA: 2.33 (9th)

In the other corner is the

After three games this week, the Flyers remain winless. Flyer Fan is face-palming himself. "Fire Flyer Peter Laviolette" tremors are beginning to rumble once again. The head coach is waiting patiently for a #1 goalie to emerge from the Steve Mason-Ray Emery contest. Time is running out on Laviolette and on the Flyers goalies.

Like the Sabres, the Flyers are having a tough time burying their chances.

Unlike the Sabres, the flyers offense boasts of several form 20 and 30 goal scorers who just can't seem to put the puck in the net. Thats a big problem. The Flyers have been dreadful in 5 on 5 play and on teh power play.

Jakub Voracek, Scott Hartnell, Claude Giroux, Brayden Schenn, Wayne Simmonds, Matt Read and others have been silent. Too silent.

The Flyers are being out shot and their high priced veterans are not getting the job done.

Uncharacteristic turnovers. Ugly neutral zone play. Passive D zone coverage. Lack of support by the forwards. Power-less man advantage units.

Add the factors up. The Flyers are a train wreck right now.

Philadelphia Flyers:

Record: 0-3

Goals For: 3

Goals Against: 9

Goal Differential: -6

Home Record: 0-1-0

Road Record: 0-2-0

PP Rank: 20th (1-14, 14.3%)

PK Success Rate: 17th ( 15-18, 3 PPG against, 80%)

GAA: 3.00 (19th)

My take:

The Sabres are the better of the two teams right now. With a little puck luck and a PP goal here or there, they could easily be 2-1 or 1-1-1 right now. Ryan Miller has been a difference maker. Jhonas Enroth has been tremendous. The Buffalo PK is 8-8 right now. They have tamed PP beasts Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Spezza, Ryan, Crosby, Malkin and Kunitz.

The Flyers are simply a dumpster fire right now They remind of the 2011-12 Washington Capitals team that played so badly that their head coach Bruce Boudreau was fired. I'm not saying that the Flyers are trying to get Laviolette fired, but it looks that way. its reminiscent of the final stages of the Ken Hitchcock era in Philly. Ownership can't fire 23 players. However, it can fore the head coach and/or the GM.

I can see the blueprint in Buffalo. I see young kids working alongside veterans. I see continuity in the message that the head coach is sharing with his team. I see progress. The Sabres are close to putting it all together.

I can't say the same thing about the Flyers. Their outspoken owner, Ed Snider, scratched huge "get outta my life" checks to Ilya Bryzgalov and Danny Briere 90 something days ago. In that time, the Flyers invested fat money in Vinny Lecavalier, who hasn't paid the immediate dividends that Snider was banking on. The Flyers are a yard sale right now. The forwards can't so much as break the puck out of the Flyers end of the rink. The defense is porous and soft. Snider's patience may be about to meet its end.

Which team is the best or the winless teams?

Buffalo or Philly?

You make the call.

[DaGreatGazoo]

That's like asking. "who's the prettiest ugly chick?"  

[ruxpin]

Who is more dead:   JFK or Lincoln?  (too soon?)

[iban3z]

Who is more dead:   JFK or Lincoln?  (too soon?)

That one is a shot in the dark......

[ruxpin]

That one is a shot in the dark......

 

LMAO!   Where do I send the bill for shorting out my keyboard with spit up coffee?

[Commander Clueless]

LMAO!   Where do I send the bill for shorting out my keyboard with spit up coffee?

 

Hahaha. I read that as "snorting out my keyboard" and thought, "Dang! That must've been one heck of a laugh! And painful! How did you even get it in there?"

Edited October 7, 2013 by Commander Clueless

[blocker]

You make the call.

 

It's easier to cut slack for young kids who are eager to learn. 

 

Not much fun to watch older guys flounder. 

 

So far, I think Buffalo is taking the wiser approach.

[Haliax]

I think people are putting too much stock into the first three games of the season. There is a ways to go before you need to worry about either team.

[Commander Clueless]

I think people are putting too much stock into the first three games of the season. There is a ways to go before you need to worry about either team.

 

Agreed, way too much hockey left to be played to determine anything. So far, from what little I've seen, both teams look like they have another gear they aren't showing yet. But hey, where's the fun in NOT panicking? Way more exciting.

 

Also, apparently Philadelphia disagrees with you.

[Polaris922]

In the Flyers' defense, the Buffalo vs Pittsburgh game was more one sided against the Sabres than even the 4-1 score suggests. Enroth was lights out and got some lucky bounces. The ice was tilted strongly against Buffalo and the score could easily have been 6 or 7 to 1. Kudos to Enroth. I say there wondering to myself where the Sabres of last year went that played so well against us and won the season series...

[radoran]

I can see the blueprint in Buffalo. I see young kids working alongside veterans. I see continuity in the message that the head coach is sharing with his team. I see progress. The Sabres are close to putting it all together.

I can't say the same thing about the Flyers. Their outspoken owner, Ed Snider, scratched huge "get outta my life" checks to Ilya Bryzgalov and Danny Briere 90 something days ago. In that time, the Flyers invested fat money in Vinny Lecavalier, who hasn't paid the immediate dividends that Snider was banking on. The Flyers are a yard sale right now. The forwards can't so much as break the puck out of the Flyers end of the rink. The defense is porous and soft. Snider's patience may be about to meet its end.

 

 

If you don't count "being involved in 2/3 of the team's goals this season" as "immediate dividends."

 

I think people are putting too much stock into the first three games of the season. There is a ways to go before you need to worry about either team.

 

Ed Snider and Paul Holmgren apparently disagree...

[Haliax]

Ed Snider and Paul Holmgren apparently disagree...

Or Laviolette was already on thin ice. 

 

But I'm not too fussed about it. If you feel like panicking over 3 games, go right ahead. 

[radoran]

Or Laviolette was already on thin ice. 

 

But I'm not too fussed about it. If you feel like panicking over 3 games, go right ahead. 

 

Not panicked at all.

 

Clearly Holmgren and Snider are. 

 

Laviolette wasn't on thin ice. He was waist deep in water.

 

Berube's about ankle deep and he hasn't even coached a game yet.

[blocker]

Talk about "getting your feet wet".

[sarsippius]

In the Flyers' defense,...

Uh oh, now I know we're screwed : )

[Polaris922]

Uh oh, now I know we're screwed : )

Yup! Lol

[Haliax]

Not panicked at all.

 

Clearly Holmgren and Snider are. 

 

Laviolette wasn't on thin ice. He was waist deep in water.

 

Berube's about ankle deep and he hasn't even coached a game yet.

Don't really like Holmgren or Snider's management style. But firing Laviolette is probably a case of better late than never.

[TretiakCCCP20]

How is this even a debate. Clearly the Sabres are better. The Flyers have so much to be desired. It's just a mess in Philly right now.

[Polaris922]

I believe Buffalo played good enough to win in the Ottawa game for sure.  The Detroit game they found ther legs later but their youth were able to outskate the big bad Red Wiings later in the game.   We could have had that one too if not for a post by Vanek.  the Pittsburgh game was very predictable following a heartbreaking loss the night before when they played very hard and the Penguins were home watching and rested.  So I do not read much into that game.  I did not see all of any of the Flyers games but I did tune in for parts.  I do not think we deserve to be 0-3.  I think we should be 1-1-1.  The Ottawa game was bad luck and Weber with more of his nonsense with a minute left.  I say both teams win tonight and I really like thier chances.  They are both pissed off and desperate.  And are hosting Florida teams coming up from sunny climes.  Who do you think is better between Florida and Tampa?  Now that Lecavelier is a Flyer, its close.  I really could not answer that except that Thomas is better than anyone Tampa has.  Vanek scores tonight.  Sabres and Flyers both win.  And if they win by more than a goal, I get some money

 

 

I still think Tampa has a much better roster than Florida... the question is will they play to their capability or play like last season.  I think they're actually better without Lecavalier myself.