In Toe Tag Mode

This is the funny thing about hockey. As a fan, writer, player, coach or team executive, you are either witnessing a team making good progress or getting an all too real glimpse of a total meltdown. There is no middle ground or grace period. The team needs to be winning, needs to be in collection mode when it comes to points in the standings. Those are my points. No? Pay up. POW. Thank you.

Instead, everyone sees the team through bloodshot eyes. It hurts to see a struggle. Losses pile up and and suddenly it's hard for the eyes to close at night. Put together a few victories and sleep is fast and deep.

Bubble teams (Los Angeles, Minnesota, Dallas, Colorado, Pittsburgh, Washington, Toronto and Winnipeg) have limited room to dream. The Wild appears to be in a death spiral. The Kings have picked up a lot of points in overtime and the shootout, which means they are skilled in sessions that will not exist during the playoffs. Toronto needs Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul to stay healthy amid the added physical play the two seem to be drawing lately. Winnipeg needs to win on the road. But like I said, teams like these still have some hope for hockey in the spring.

The above Mayer Hawthorne song appears written just for the Sabres and Canadiens. We'll be playing it again every time you two hit the ice for the rest of the season. I've seen enough of you. I've heard all the whining and rationalizations. You two are done.

My Short Shift Proves Productive

I spotted this comment deep in a Blue Line column from The Hockey Prospectus. The subject was why scoring is down in the NHL.

Now go back and watch the first three goals by the Flyers. Relax, I will wait for you to come back.

Good to have you back. Ready? Well you must keep in mind this was posted on Wednesday, well before the Sabres would play host to the Flyers.

Here's the item of note:

"We also need to look at goaltender's numbers differently. For example, Ryan Miller's save percentage was .914 in 2005-06, which was 0.13 above league average. If he had the same save percentage now, he'd be below average. While .915 used to be good, now it's average. Adjust accordingly."

OK, so the author, Matthew Coller, was talking about the overall improvement of goaltenders' play this season, but he could not have seen the extent to which we needed to adjust our view of the Sabres' Miller. To add insult to injury, NHL.com has as its Frozen Moment of the day the photograph of Scott Hartnell scoring on Miller in the Flyers' 3-2 victory. It was a short night, and therefore, a long night for Miller.

Now, will the Sabres adjust the starting lineup for Friday's visit by the Flames? Hmm......

And the next time Mr. Coller writes something about your team's goaltender BEFORE the game begins, take note.

Atlanta Swaps Picks for MacArthur

Left wing Clarke MacArthur is joining the Atlanta Thrashers, who have sent a third- and fourth-round pick to the Buffalo Sabres.

Another body for Atlanta, which is trying to survive the departure of Ilya Kovalchuk.

Buffalo Grabs Raffi Torres

Defenseman Nathan Paetsch and a second-round pick are now property of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who have sent forward Raffi Torres north to help the playoff drive of the Buffalo Sabres.