I defended the play in question because he played it correctly. Blind squirrel and all that.
The blind squirrel theory, I'll buy that. I can spin it to say Mez sorta locked up, but coincidentally in a position where he was taking the passing lane. Because 41/61 are my favorite whipping boys this year.
Immediately turned around to look for the puck after the shot instead of tying up a stick or something, that's why he got trucked. If it had gone off the post and was lying there, he still have probably gotten trucked before being able to make a play. That might be coaching, might be just Mez Mezzing, I don't really know or care. He'll be long gone by the time the Sabres are on the ascend, he's serving a purpose here this year, and in 10 years we'll talk about him like we talk about An y elmore today