First half look back

It has been a while since my last post and I have not commented on the Sabres sterling December or Marty Biron's consecutive win streak. This is an exciting time to be a fan and there is a lot to like about this year's model.

What's Gone Right:1. Goaltending: Long the bane of the post-Hasek era, Ryan Miller, Marty Biron and occasionally Mika Noronen have provided the type of goaltending that inspires confidence in the team in front of them. Miller has been able to carry over his AHL success to the NHL level and Biron has been able to sustain consistency in the level of his play. Miller still needs to prove himself over a full season before he can be anointed a legitimate starter (eg Andrew Raycroft) but the foundation is there. Biron has never been this hot in the middle of a season before and usually suffers a let down at the start of the season. We will wait and see what happens down the stretch but right now improving the goaltending is not a concern of Darcy Reiger.

2.Special Teams: Being in the top ten in PK is old hat for the Sabres but having a top notch power play unit is something new. Having a wealth of players on the roster that can contribute in some role on special teams keeps the units fresher and avoids some of the mistakes that occur when fatigue sets in. The bounty of power play goals has propelled the Sabres to an elite team. Hopefully they can keep it up.

3. Emergence of Tim Connolly: No one ever said the kid lacked skill. That was apparent in his early seasons in the NHL. At 24 TC has finally brought some heart to the table and is making strides in all areas of his play. It would be nice to see him shoot more often and not think pass first but these are small qualms for a player that many felt (myself included) should have been sent packing. Reiger made the right call.

Things I am concerned about:
1.Relying on the Power Play too much: The NJ game was a perfect example of the problems that Sabres have while playing at even-strength. While the powerplay scored on it's only opportunity the rest of the offense didn't seem to generate any real sparks until the last 5 minutes when desperation set in. That desperation needs to be carried over the the first 55 minutes and used not just when the team is on the power play.

2. Goaltending: Somebody needs to go. It's not fair to any of these guys to put their NHL careers on hold while fighting for playing time. There are only two nets at practice and somebody is always going to miss out on a full workout. This one area that Darcy needs to address in the second half.

3. Injuries: Daniel Briere, Toni Lydman, JP Dumont, and Chris Drury all missed the recent NJ Devils game due to injury. No offense to the Rochester call-ups but these are players the Sabres can not replace. They have the experience and skill that only comes with playing and suceeding in the NHL. Briere and Drury are the emotional backbone of the team. Briere is a goal scorer and Drury is big on faceoffs. Come playoff time there contributions will be key.