Was he out there? For some reason, I was thinking it was Gaustad, Stafford and Grier at that point. I still think Stafford is better at shootouts/penalty shots than MacArthur though.Originally Posted by Thumper
Was he out there? For some reason, I was thinking it was Gaustad, Stafford and Grier at that point. I still think Stafford is better at shootouts/penalty shots than MacArthur though.
It was Goose, Mac, Stafford, Rivet and Butler. I know that for sure because when the ref signalled for the PS I looked to see who exactly was on the ice with fear that it was Ellis, Mair, Paestch, Montador and Rivet. (although I know Stafford and Mac were out there - it was an initial thought).
Really Mac and Stafford were the only two options, although I think pigpen would have used Rivet.
Pondslider (12-30-2009)
He was out there. Although, I haven't searched youtube for a clip to verify that, so it probably isn't the reality.
In all seriousness, when your 2nd leading goalscorer is on the ice and he's already scored a penalty shot goal this season in one chance, choosing Stafford isn't a no-brainer at all.
Choosing Stafford in that situation is good coaching. It's putting a struggling player into a situation where he controls his own destiny and can get the monkey off his back. Then he scores 2 minutes later. The results of good coaching are obvious.
Jiggle Billy (01-03-2010), MoSuaveA (12-30-2009), Pondslider (12-30-2009)
It wasn't his first solid effort. But yes, he has been wildly inconsistent. I don't disagree that he could've, and probably should've, been benched or demoted earlier. Of course, that wasn't your point in this surreally stupid thread. But I've seen you make that point in the past, and have agreed with it.
The problem isn't that you never make a valid criticism. It's that your a completely over-the-top extremist who will warp reality to fit your all-consuming agenda.
Pondslider (12-30-2009)
That's it in a nutshell. Me, you, and most everyone else will happily admit when we're wrong about a player or coach because we're Sabres fans. I trashed Tallinder for two years, and when he finally improved, I readily admitted it and was pleased about it. Pigpen, on the other hand, is more emotionally invested in his anti-Ruff agenda than he is in the team. It's sad and pathetic.
Pondslider (12-30-2009), Ralph Wiggum (12-30-2009), Thumper (12-30-2009)
piggy must have forgotten about this thread...Convenient.
Tallinder has produced. You would be crazy not too admit he's playing well. Ruff has missed the playoffs the last two years. 5 times in the last 7 seasons. There's been no production to prove me wrong. There's only been more evidence to prove me correct. He's a shitty coach.
"I broke that birdbath for you 'cause I knew how much you hated it 'cause we're the same. I hate that fuckin' thing too... A stork wrapped around a tree branch, that's the stupidest thing I've ever seen before. You know how the plague started back in the day, was from a little disgusting birdbath in someone's backyard that rats made sex to birds in it and created a whole new type of AIDS."
This thread will last the rest of the season, because Stafford playing with effort can't last more than a game at a time. Come to think of it, did he play vs Atlanta?
Seeing a player's potential once or twice per season is not an example of good coaching. If it takes benching Stafford to get a solid game out of him, he should be getting benched every other game. It took 40 games for him to get benched this year.
"I broke that birdbath for you 'cause I knew how much you hated it 'cause we're the same. I hate that fuckin' thing too... A stork wrapped around a tree branch, that's the stupidest thing I've ever seen before. You know how the plague started back in the day, was from a little disgusting birdbath in someone's backyard that rats made sex to birds in it and created a whole new type of AIDS."
Except this thread was not started about Stafford being benched. Quite the opposite. I understand why you'd want to change that perception now.
The real problem is that you couldn't find a solid coaching performance if it bit you directly on the ass.
LALALALALALAFONTAINE (01-05-2010)
The thread was started about why a player, playing like shit, was promoted from the 4th line to the 1st line during a game he had done nothing to warrant a promotion in. It was his play, after the promotion back to a scoring line, which contributed to Buffalo's loss and forced Ruff's hand to bench him for the rest of that game, and the next game. Ruff said himself, he was on the ice for two goals against. He wasn't on the ice for those two goals with Mair and Ellis, he was on the ice for those two goals with Roy, Kennedy, and Mac.
"I broke that birdbath for you 'cause I knew how much you hated it 'cause we're the same. I hate that fuckin' thing too... A stork wrapped around a tree branch, that's the stupidest thing I've ever seen before. You know how the plague started back in the day, was from a little disgusting birdbath in someone's backyard that rats made sex to birds in it and created a whole new type of AIDS."
Identifying solid coaching efforts is subjective. You can identify piss poor coaching efforts by swinging a dead cat. Look at the standings the last two years and separate out the teams who finished the year with a positive goal differential, and who's teams still missed the playoffs. Over the two years combined, 5 coaches did it. 3 of those 5 were fired either that offseason, or early into the next season. Only one of the coaches did it two years in a row.
"I broke that birdbath for you 'cause I knew how much you hated it 'cause we're the same. I hate that fuckin' thing too... A stork wrapped around a tree branch, that's the stupidest thing I've ever seen before. You know how the plague started back in the day, was from a little disgusting birdbath in someone's backyard that rats made sex to birds in it and created a whole new type of AIDS."
The Sabres didn't have the right mixture of talent last year or the year prior. You may have liked their top 6, and the fact that they only had 2 centerman and no real top pairing defensemen. But those are the reasons they ended the season outside the playoffs. When you look at what they have now that they didn't then (arguably the best bottom 6 forward collection in the league, 4 actual centermen, and Tyler Myers, it's no coincidence that they're a much better team.
I'm sorry, I don't necessarily disagree, but I just have to bring up Matt's point at Trey Day because it makes me laugh. Lindy Ruff does have the best position as an employee in the world. When the Sabres do well, it's because he's a genius. When they don't, it's because the team or GM isn't adequate enough. Credit for success, but doesn't really get blame for the failure. Where can I get a job like that?
Uncle Jesse (01-04-2010)
*cough*Obama*cough*
Except for the fact that he really was not promoted and was in fact benched, thereby ruining your entire premise, you might be onto something.
Well, and the entire being scratched and then coming back and factoring in three goals thing too.
LALALALALALAFONTAINE (01-05-2010)
The goals by Ottawa are on NHL.com. You can watch both of them. Stafford is definitely on the ice for them, and he definitely isn't on the ice with Mair and Ellis.
"I broke that birdbath for you 'cause I knew how much you hated it 'cause we're the same. I hate that fuckin' thing too... A stork wrapped around a tree branch, that's the stupidest thing I've ever seen before. You know how the plague started back in the day, was from a little disgusting birdbath in someone's backyard that rats made sex to birds in it and created a whole new type of AIDS."
Look at the fool.
One small problem: He was benched. Then scratched. Only in Pigpen's warped world could that be construed as a promotion.
I suggest you look up the meaning of the verb "to finish." Because he finished the game on the bench, as you finally (sortof) just admitted, and not on the 1st line, as your utterly false thread premise maintains.
The thing is I agree with you that Stafford should have been benched sooner, and more frequently. That's the thread you should've made.
Ralph Wiggum (01-04-2010)
Those goals were in the second period. Hockey games have 3 periods. You said he finished the game on the 1st line. Which is Verified Bullshit. Then you claimed he was scratched the following game because of injury. Also Verified Bullshit. Notice a pattern forming here?
Ralph Wiggum (01-04-2010)
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