GDT: Buffalo @ Washington 7pm EST TV: MSG and WSPN+

[Zman5778]

My harshest criticism about Adams and goaltending is anointing Levi as the starter.

Yep. UPL and Comrie have shown to be quite average in net behind better D play.

That's all we need. But Levi isn't ready. He needs to be in Rochester

 

[DapperCam]

Duane from Buffalo’s rant was almost 4 years ago. I wonder if he still watches the games?

 

[debaser66]

one issue I am concerned with is playing Dahlin up to 28 min again even with 7 D dressed.
basically there was a top3 and the other 4 just played each around 12min.
Can anybody who has seen the game explain this development?
(if you just got histrionics please don't answer, thank you)

 

[debaser66]

Benson first goal was a beauty!

 

[Sabresbyswords104]

Hire a proven coach? And if he cant make the playoffs then the players are a big problem

 

[Sabresbyswords104]

next season they really need to ice a team that make the playoffs. Cant just wait it out when they have so many Young good players anymore

 

[sabremike]

one issue I am concerned with is playing Dahlin up to 28 min again even with 7 D dressed.
basically there was a top3 and the other 4 just played each around 12min.
Can anybody who has seen the game explain this development?
(if you just got histrionics please don't answer, thank you)

This is a very shrewd and important observation. One of the reasons McDavid is having issues is that he's been leaned on so hard to overcome all the roster flaws. Playing stupid amounts of minutes eventually leads to guys breaking down because even the best guys are only human.

 

[SabresFan26]

Jack and ROR have Cups. ROR has a Smythe. Jack should have had one.

Is the objective good citizens or winning hockey games?

Both

 

[sabremike]

Jack and ROR have Cups. ROR has a Smythe. Jack should have had one.

Is the objective good citizens or winning hockey games?

It's interesting how you don't hear stories about Eichel being an immature jerk these days. It's as if getting away from Hockey Love Canal made all the difference in the world. Don't forget that the second we knew he was coming here the raging sociopath of a GM was on TV acting as if it was some unthinkable catastrophe that we were stuck with him.

 

[SabresFan26]

It's interesting how you don't hear stories about Eichel being an immature jerk these days. It's as if getting away from Hockey Love Canal made all the difference in the world. Don't forget that the second we knew he was coming here the raging sociopath of a GM was on TV acting as if it was some unthinkable catastrophe that we were stuck with him.

Ah yes good old GMTM. Is he still unemployed?

 

[Havok89]

We talked about this all summer. Levi would have to be a once-in-decades anomaly to assert himself as the starter. And here we are.

Sucks to be right.


All true. Also true that the game doesn't even get to OT without his goal.

I would have preferred to see VO on that 5 on 3, Cozens took 3 brutal shots before scoring

 

[SundherDome]

If the Sabres want any chance of not being eliminated before All-Star break they need to string together a 5 game win streak at least as of right now and hope the teams above lose at least 2 or 3 in their next 5.

That is a bit drastic, they have 63 games and are 3 points out of the wild card and 5 from a division spot.

 

[Sabre the Win]

That is a bit drastic, they have 63 games and are 3 points out of the wild card and 5 from a division spot.

It's not hyperbole or being drastic.. there is no 'its too early' anymore, every game matters.

Also playing from behind is hard for any team, even 3 points can be a mountain. If Sabres hot streak comes when the teams 3 points above them as well, they gain no ground. For every win Sabres need to rely on other teams to beat the teams above them just to gain ground.

How do the Sabres expect to do this when they can't beat the teams above them and the teams above them aren't losing.

 

[MOGlLNY]

It's not hyperbole or being drastic.. there is no 'its too early' anymore, every game matters.

Also playing from behind is hard for any team, even 3 points can be a mountain. If Sabres hot streak comes when the teams 3 points above them as well, they gain no ground. For every win Sabres need to rely on other teams to beat the teams above them just to gain ground.

How do the Sabres expect to do this when they can't beat the teams above them and the teams above them aren't losing.

Because so far the East has generally been very average. That’s why we are still in it despite playing terrible.

Or maybe we are just terrible, who knows.

 

[Mattilaus]

So when do we get serious questions in post game? Do we need to be dead last before they start asking real questions?

 

[OkimLom]

It's the one reason why I'm not as down on this team as most. If we were hovering around .500 with our best players being our best players.....we'd be in big big trouble.

But we're hovering near .500 with Tage and Cozens playing as poor facsimiles of themselves. If those two get going and everyone else plays as they are now, we will make a push.

I wonder if there’s an exchange rate or exception in the standings if your best players aren’t playing well, which causes you to miss the playoffs. Do we get an extra 9 points on the season? Do we have to write a letter to the league to let us in? Or is it like any other sport, and your organization faces the consequences of your best players not being your best players?

Leaning on a limited amount players to carry the organization, where if they don’t, the team sucks, is why we are in our 3rd or 4th rebuild in a decade. Don’t come back with the same failure of a roster, improve upon it. Otherwise you leave delusional hope for the fans.

 

[Mattilaus]

It's the one reason why I'm not as down on this team as most. If we were hovering around .500 with our best players being our best players.....we'd be in big big trouble.

But we're hovering near .500 with Tage and Cozens playing as poor facsimiles of themselves. If those two get going and everyone else plays as they are now, we will make a push.

I view this as worse than the alternative. If the core group was doing what they should but we were losing due to goaltending or a poor bottom of the roster then at least we have the correct core in place and we can fix the rest. Them not performing is far more concerning to me because if we don't have the correct core in place we are screwed for a long long time.

 

[BowieSabresFan]

It's the one reason why I'm not as down on this team as most. If we were hovering around .500 with our best players being our best players.....we'd be in big big trouble.

But we're hovering near .500 with Tage and Cozens playing as poor facsimiles of themselves. If those two get going and everyone else plays as they are now, we will make a push.

Again, while I agree with that part, I think we're just as handicapped with the way Skinner and Tuch are playing. The vets have to start carrying their weight, and those two are causing a lot more harm than Okposo in the lineup.

 

[Beerz]

Again, while I agree with that part, I think we're just as handicapped with the way Skinner and Tuch are playing. The vets have to start carrying their weight, and those two are causing a lot more harm than Okposo in the lineup.

Skinner is basically the only vet producing as normal

 

[slip]

Both

And when those guys were here, we had neither.

 

[Zman5778]

Skinner is basically the only vet producing as normal

If you count Greenway as a vet, he is on his normal "High 20s/Low 30s" point production pace as well.

But your point still holds.

 

[Zman5778]

It's not hyperbole or being drastic.. there is no 'its too early' anymore, every game matters.

Also playing from behind is hard for any team, even 3 points can be a mountain. If Sabres hot streak comes when the teams 3 points above them as well, they gain no ground. For every win Sabres need to rely on other teams to beat the teams above them just to gain ground.

How do the Sabres expect to do this when they can't beat the teams above them and the teams above them aren't losing.

I know it's MoneyPuck. But at 38.6% odds to make the playoffs....9th best in the East......and given how we've played.......I'm still nowhere near done with the season.

We're by no means cooked.

 

[SabresFan26]

And when those guys were here, we had neither.

That’s why Miller and others were so likable.

View attachment 772294

I know it's MoneyPuck. But at 38.6% odds to make the playoffs....9th best in the East......and given how we've played.......I'm still nowhere near done with the season.

We're by no means cooked.

No Tage and Quinn for another month plus.

A coaching staff with zero playoff experience and a GM who’s never built a playoff team.

Eh I’m not putting a lot on 38.6 percent odds.

 

[slip]

That’s why Miller and others were so likable.

In the land of coulda, shoulda, woulda, I wonder where this franchise would be today if Lafontaine won out over pee pee slappin Murray over the debate to keep or trade Miller.

Granted the curse of Pegula is strong and it’s debatable if any one single trade/ player can overcome this sinister force.

 

[Beerz]

View attachment 772294

I know it's MoneyPuck. But at 38.6% odds to make the playoffs....9th best in the East......and given how we've played.......I'm still nowhere near done with the season.

We're by no means cooked.

Capitals are what 10-4? And they are only 24% or something...