Losing Ryan Miller was a huge blow. (Getty Images)
(Note: Here's Monday's playoffs update.)
At this point, the teams have gotten quite good, but we aren't quite to the playoff teams yet. Today I'm covering the Buffalo Sabres, who missed the playoffs just barely, and likely because of an injury to their goaltender.
The Gist of it: Buffalo finished just two points out of the playoffs. With a final record of 41-32-9 and 91 points, it was a good season, but alas just not quite good enough. They performed well both on offense (250 goals for) and on defense (234 goals against) but that latter number was likely hurt by the injury to goaltender Ryan Miller that also probably kept them from the playoffs. The team also was pretty good on the power play at 20.9%. Derek Roy led the team with 70 points, and Thomas Vanek managed to net 40 goals even while missing several games with a jaw injury. Miller finished with 34 wins, a respectable 2.53 GAA, and a more impressive .918 SV%.
Highlights: Vanek took another step toward becoming one of the top snipers in the entire NHL with his 40 goal performance in 73 games. Drew Stafford also took a step forward in his career, scoring 20 goals for the first time and finished with 45 points. The most impressive offense season, however, may have belonged to Tim Connolly. Upon returning from injury, Connolly scored 47 points... in 48 games. The Sabres were actually quite loaded with offensive talent this season once Connolly came back.
Lowlights: The Miller injury really cast a pall on this season. It couldn't have come at a worse time either, as Buffalo was really coming into the playoff stretch when it happened. Miller missed over a month of action, and while he may have gone 5-2-1 once he came back, it was too late. In his stead, Patrick Lalime did his best, but on the season in 24 games played he only managed a 3.10 GAA and a .900 SV%. Also, while nothing is really expected from Maxim Afinogenov at this point, he was terrible once again, only playing in 48 games and only scoring 20 points. His NHL career is presumably over. Lastly, the Sabres are the only team that can compete with the Wild and the Predators for worst logo in the NHL. It's a shame too, because those third jerseys are tremendous. For the sake of all of us, just make the switch Buffalo.
In Conclusion: Unfortunately injuries are a part of the game, and it took just one injury to the wrong player to derail Buffalo's season. However, with better fortune healthwise next season, the Sabres should be contending for the playoffs once again.
For more information, check out the Buffalo Sabres Examiner.
Comments
As an Examiner, you are certainly entitled to your opinion, Chris. However, as a reader I'm entitled to mine too.
The new logo ROCKS!! One of the best moves this franchise ever made was returning to the traditional blue and gold to start the 2007-08 season and updating the logo. The updates made to the 3rd sweater to start the 2008-09 season were also very good. Definitely more continuity and it's great to see the old logo on a regular basis, as well.
As for the team, one word...frus
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