The Sabres came back from 3-0 deficits in two straight games against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Atlanta Thrashers. That’s a positive sign for Lindy Ruff.
Yet, if you want to look at the other side, Ryan Miller has given up three goals in each of the last two games and has seen his goals against average go over the 2 goals a game mark while his save percentage is still a respectable 93%. Yet, there are a couple of goaltenders that are having better seasons.
In fact, in the last 5 games, Miller has given up 15 goals and was yanked out of games on two occasions.
Reason for this is that I had an argument Saturday afternoon with a die-hard sports fan. She argued that Miller is the best goal tender in the league. I countered with Martin Brodeur – though the talented Devil is at 2.20 with a save % of .920.
First argument in my favor? Brodeur has Stanley Cup rings and always has his team in the playoffs. Miller hasn’t been in a playoff game in three years.
Only time will tell how Miller will challenge the likes of Brodeur and Patrick Roy as one of the all-time great goal tenders in the league. Remember, last season he was sort of a middle of the pack goalie with a 2.53 goals against and .918 save percentage. So far he has exceeded those numbers.
Other noticeable items. Imagine that the Sabres have not sold out the Toronto and Montreal games. That’s a strange occurrence. Many complain that the prices are still out of reach out of John and Mary Doe.
Isn’t it strange that visiting teams keep bringing in former very popular Sabres? Jay McKee was the latest and it still baffles me why Quinn and Co. didn’t sign him when he left St. Louis. Certainly the price would have been right. Ask yourself would you rather have McKee or Lydman?
The other player who visited the arena for the first time was speedy Maxim Afinogenov. Remember how he was roasted by the media? Lack of goal scoring? Lack of assists? Lack of effort. Everyone couldn’t wait until Afinogenov left the team – which happened. So who is having the last laugh? Why it’s Maxim Afinogenov. If he was still with Buffalo, he would be far and away the top goal scorer and points leader. He is putting up points at about a point a game. He would be Buffalo’s top goal scorer by 5 goals. In 41 games heading to Sunday’s games, Afinogenov has 39 points on 15 goals and 14 assists. Check out the Thrashers web site and/or papers and see how the fans of Atlanta feel about speedy Max.
Good for him. Maybe they should aware comeback-players-of-the-year award to Afinogenov. He’s earning it.
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