The Buffalo Sabres at Mid-Season: Analysis and Awards

With the 2008-2009 NHL season more than halfway done, let's take a look at how the Buffalo Sabres are doing and then pass out a few awards in recognition of some of the high- and low-lights of the first half.  

Compared to their non-playoff qualifying run last year, their won-lost record is a little bit better.  On Jan. 15, the Sabres had a record of 21-17-5, good for 47 points and seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings.  On the same day in 2008, their record was 19-18-6 for 44 points.  That's an improvement on three points in one fewer game.

As far as goals for and against go, it's about the same.  This year, they have scored 121 goals while allowing 121.  A year ago, they had scored 119 while allowing 121.

Here are their top five scorers a year ago.

1. Jason Pominville - 35 pts.

2. Derek Roy - 30 pts.

3. Bryan Campbell - 29 pts.

4. Tim Connolly - 29 pts.

5. Thomas Vanek and Jochen Hecht - 25 pts.

Here are this year's top five scorers.

1. Derek Roy - 40 pts.

2. Thomas Vanek - 39 pts.

3. Jason Pominville - 31 pts

4. Drew Stafford - 25 pts.

5. Ales Kotalik and Jaroslav Spacek - 21 pts.

In their glory year of 2006-07, the Sabres earned a reputation as a balanced team that could count on scoring from all three lines, with eight players scoring at least 15 goals for the season.  

That scoring balance declined to seven players with more than 15 goals last year.  This year, their scoring has become even more concentrated, and they will be lucky if six players score 15 goals.  

Their big line of Derek Roy centering Vanek and Stafford has accounted for 43 percent of the team's goals.  That's not good news.  When the opposition only has to worry about shutting down one line, their task becomes much easier.

On a positive note, the Sabres' penalty kill has improved from 83.2 percent last year to 87.4 percent this year, while their power play has also improved from 18 percent to 19.7 percent.

They are also a less streaky team than last year, which is both good and bad.  Last year's team could get on a roll and put together five and six-game winning streaks.  This year's team has only been able to string together two four-game winning streaks.  

But last year's team could also get on a losing roll, going 10 games without a win in December and January.  This year's team has been able to limit its nosedives to a five-game losing stretch.

In goal, Ryan Miller has put up a 2.50 goals against average and .918 save percentage.  These marks are both better than his year-ending averages for his career as a Sabre.  But no one watching the Sabres this year could say Miller has been consistently stellar.  

Yes, he has been brilliant at times, but he has also let in a few too many head-scratching goals.  The good news is that Miller himself has stated that he has to play better, and his play of late has been better.

Having watched every Sabre game this year, there is no question this team has more potential than last year's squad.  They seem have moved away from the negativity of losing Briere and Drury.

That said, this is not a team that gives its best effort every night.  In the locker room after a losing effort, the players will say they need to come out faster and skate harder, but they often don't practice what they preach.  

• This team has not demonstrated with any frequency the inner strength and confidence it takes to come back from a deficit.  
  
• They are notorious for missing point-blank scoring chances.
  
• Miller gives up too many goals on weak shots from the point that he apparently does not see.  
  
• They cannot yet be counted on to shut down the opposition in the third period when they have earned themselves a lead.
  

That said, they have put themselves in playoff contention.  There are realistically 10 teams vying for eight spots.  If the Sabres put forth the effort every night, they will qualify.  If not, and management only threatens and does not act, they will be watching the playoffs on the TV in the lounge at the golf course for the second year in a row.

And now, without further ado, let's hand out some mid-season silver.

Best Game: Beating the streaking Bruins 4-2 in Boston on Jan. 3.

MVP: Arguably a toss-up between Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek.  Vanek started the season on fire, and while he has cooled off a bit of late, he still is third in the league in goals.  

Roy started the season ineffectually, seemingly being knocked down (diving?) every time he was touched by an opposing player and only scoring four goals and nine assists in the first 20 games.  In his next 23 games, he has 12 goals (including five game winners) and 15 assists.  Most importantly, he has been working his ass off.  The nod here goes to Roy.

Rookie of the Year: Chris Butler.  Since this rookie D-man was called up Dec. 17, he has been the Sabres' steadiest defenseman, going +4, and making himself known by the lack of attention his play caused.

Very few backhands lifted out of the rink (Toni, are you listening), very few clearing attempts fired at the opposing point man (that means you, Henrik), and very few unguarded men in front of the net (Teppo, close only counts in horseshoes). Gerbe, Mancari, and Kennedy may be the future, but Butler is bringing it now.

Charles Atlas Prize: Awarded to Paul Gaustad for being consistently the most physical Sabre.  Gaustad is one of the few Sabre forwards willing to consistently put his body on an opposing forward.

Harry Houdini Award: Awarded to Max Afinogenov.  The fleet Russian scored 23 goals in 56 games in 2007.  Two years later he has two in 34 games, perhaps the most amazing disappearing act in hockey history.

Bite Me Award: Andrew Peters.  No, he's not the greatest enforcer, and he's not much good at anything except dropping his gloves, but his reaction after the game that Ottawa's Jaarko Ruutu bit his thumb showed that Peters has a great sense of humor.

The Red Cross: Tim Connolly has spent more time in the doctor's office than Meredith Grey.  He's missed 34 games this year with cracked vertebrae and broken ribs after missing 34 games last year with bone spurs.  Give this man a flak jacket.

Seventh Cavalry Award: The hope here is that Darcy Regier will win this award, but the jury is still out.  In March of '03, Regier engineered a trade for Danny Briere, in '04 he brought in Mike Grier for a playoff push, and in '07 he traded for Dainus Zubrus.  If he could work a miracle and bring in some late season reinforcements, the Sabres might have a lot better chance.