GDT: Game 3: Golden Knights @ Sabres - 10/8 3pm ET (MSG-B, Sportsnet, WGR 550)

[Fezzy126]

One bad play by Eichel but otherwise he is showing he relishes being a captain and a leader. He is starting to make me a believer.

Not trying to nitpick, but I've read a bunch of posts about Jack's 'bad play'. You guys realize that the puck deflected off of Karlsson's skate, right?

Karlsson was forechecking, Jack opted for the conservative off the boards and out play, and Karlsson made a nice play. Sometimes you have to tip your cap, that was a nice play by Vegas pressuring the puck.

 

[Foppberg]

Good luck this season, rooting for ya'll.

 

[steveoath]

That last period exhausted me! Hutton is a God.

 

[Dingo44]

Loved Reinhart blocking that shot at the end of the game too. Guys are doing anything they can to win.

 

[Djp]

WEDG's Shredd & Ragan beat Colbert to that YEARS ago. Remember those billboards?

I haven’t lived in buffalo since 1995

 

[Sansbacon]

Hutton is a fitting goalie for this team. The third line kinda confuses me but this team is exciting.

I can’t remember the last time I heard a fan of another team call the Sabres exciting They’ve just been so bad for so long.

 

[sabres4ever]

Seems to me, we lost quite of few of last years matinee's at home. Maybe all of them? Nice to see them get off on a good start to the season...

 

[Royal Thunder]

Passing today was so much better than last year

 

[Dahlin 2 Eichel]

Dahlin has played so damn well. I don’t see him jumping into the play as I thought he would. Think this is because he is just adjusting to the game/speed or doesn’t have the confidence yet?

 

[Royal Thunder]

Dahlin has played so damn well. I don’t see him jumping into the play as I thought he would. Think this is because he is just adjusting to the game/speed or doesn’t have the confidence yet?

He's definitely still getting his feet wet and learning the speed of the game, but damn is he steady. He did join the rush for one great chance today

 

[tsujimoto74]

outshot 11-2 in the third? that is an ugly statistic. It hasn't felt that bad.

We're finally on the right side of score effects there, I think.

 

[26CornerBlitz]

Post-Game Report: 10/8 vs. Vegas


Final Score

	1st	2nd	3rd	OT	SO	Final	SOG
Golden Knights (1-2-0)	0	1	1	–	–	2	37
Sabres (2-1-0)	1	3	0	–	–	4	17

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Game Summary

Event Summary

Top Notes

• Today’s win improved the Sabres to 1-0-2 against the Golden Knights all-time.
• Carter Hutton stopped 35 shots today to improve to 2-0-0 against Vegas with a .957 save percentage and a 1.50 goals-against average in those games.
• With his goals today, Jack Eichel now has tallies in consecutive contests and four points (3+1) in three games this season.
  • Dating back to last season, Eichel has 14 points (6+8) in his last 10 games.
• The game was Eichel’s 16th career multi-goal game. The Sabres are 12-3-1 in those games.
• Sam Reinhart and Conor Sheary recorded the assists on Eichel’ssecond goal. Reinhart now has an assist in consecutive games and Sheary has three points (2+1) in his last two contests.
• With his goal today, Jason Pominville now has three points (1+2) in three career games against Vegas.

Today’s Goaltenders

Today’s Stats
Team	Goaltender	Decision	SV%	GAA
Golden Knights	Fleury	L	.765	4.13
Sabres	Hutton	W	.946	2.00

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Updated Season Stats
Team	Goaltender	Record	SV%	GAA
Golden Knights	Fleury	1-2-0	.841	3.93
Sabres	Hutton	2-1-0	.943	2.06

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Post-Game Audio
Sabres forward Jack Eichel
Sabres forward Jason Pominville
Sabres forward Sam Reinhart
Sabres defenseman Marco Scandella
Sabres goaltender Carter Hutton
Golden Knights forward Max Pacioretty
Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault
Golden knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury

 

[La Cosa Nostra]

Eichel has 52 goals, 125 points in 131 games since the start of 16-17. That is damn near elite center numbers. I believe this year he will finally finish with a 1.00+ ppg this year. We no longer need Jack to carry us to win games anymore but he will still rack up the production. We may end up with 10 guys with 40+ points.

Eichel
Skinner
Risto
Reinhart
Sheary
Berglund
Pominville/Okposo (I believe one of the two will end up with it)
Mitts (he will eventually get in a groove. And any injury in the top 6 will mean more ice time for Casey)
Berglund (low 40s)
ERod (low 40s)

Let's just say for the first time since the late 00s we have the talent to be a top 10 offense.

 

[GellMann]

Dahlin has played so damn well. I don’t see him jumping into the play as I thought he would. Think this is because he is just adjusting to the game/speed or doesn’t have the confidence yet?

He's biding his time and taking small, polite bites.

Someday he's going to take that next step and never look back.

 

[Tatanka]

Dahlin has played so damn well. I don’t see him jumping into the play as I thought he would. Think this is because he is just adjusting to the game/speed or doesn’t have the confidence yet?

I think his confidence is fine. I beleive he learned alot in preseason about the speed of the game and he now is building that mental library of who is who in the NHL and what he needs to defend against them and to beat them offensively. But I think the real reason he has been a bit conservative offensively, is that he senses that the team isn’t fully implementing the system just yet and the smart and correct play is to not gamble. This kid’s hallmark is his sense for the game and where the correct play is. As the team gels and he senses that risk/reward equation is in his favor he will press the play. But he is a defenseman first and foremost and so far he is more than holding his own.

 

[ZZamboni]

Compare him now ... to this January ... and tell me he hasn’t improved then.
The new prospect, who’s a kid, is just fine.
Why do some expect prime rib from a calf? Kid will grow. Slower than some with impatience apparently.

 

[Reddawg]

Super surprised that E-Rod wasn't voted as a star of the game, I thought he more than deserved to be up there with Eichel and Hutton. Sheary got it instead, which is doubly weird as E-Rod replaced him on the top line with Eichel and Reinhart late in the game.

 

[PatrikBerglund]

Haha, he's swedish alright. Hates being a nouisance and in the way probably is drilled into him since birth.

Jantelagen.

 

[Reddawg]

Super surprised that E-Rod wasn't voted as a star of the game, I thought he more than deserved to be up there with Eichel and Hutton. Sheary got it instead, which is doubly weird as E-Rod replaced him on the top line with Eichel and Reinhart late in the game.

Actually, it was Eichel, Hutton and Marchessault. I was looking at the Rangers game for Hutton/Sheary/Eichel

 

[gallagt01]

Anyone have a replay of the Eichel-to-Reinhart pass that ended with Sam hitting the post?

 

[UnleashRasmus]

I was at a concert and watched the game late, wow the first period was fun. They played a lot of up tempo hockey. I continue to be impressed by Dahlin's defensive prowess more so than his offensive game which hasn't kicked into high gear yet. There were a few chances (Skinner, Reinhart) that would have blown this game wide open. Hutton is FINALLY a goalie we can hang our hat on. Sorry Ullmark, but if he continues to play like this, enjoy every 5th start. I like Elie's game, he plays a strong two way game and offers so much more than we've had on the LW in the bottom six. I don't want Larsson back at this point. Trade him, keep Elie and let Rodrigues man the middle. I have been pleasantly surprised with Berglund too!

 

[littletonhockeycoach]

Very satisfied with the team's play and the victory yesterday. And I thought the way the guys reacted to Eichel's last shot with the empty net at the end was very revealing.......

(Jack grins and says "aw, sh*t" after missing the net and turning back to the team and several of the guys are kidding him and giving him the helmet pat. You could tell it was sincere and that he's their leader and that he has a sense of humor.)

I haven't searched yet for Gallant's comments/observations about his team's play. I know he was critical of their last outing. I think Vegas's speed and intensity was lacking some - not to take anything away from the Sabres effort mind you. I do wonder how much effect the matinee format and time might have had on them. Western teams traveling east have a harder time IMO adjusting to the time change.
MAF was steady and competent but not stellar. Certainly not all star caliber in this game like last season. Sabres quick puck movement on the PP that resulted in Eichel's 1st goal being an indicator. Vegas did not take time and space away from the opponent like they did last season. Eichel's 2nd goal from the slot was an example of that. Except for moments (just moments) in the 3rd period, I did not feel that the Knights were just going to up the tempo and take over the game.

Again, these comments are not intended to take anything away from the Sabres effort or win. Just wondering if maybe, perhaps, the "magic" of Vegas might be lacking a bit this season. Especially after so many people said they are stronger this season than last.

 

[Jim Bob]

Anyone have a replay of the Eichel-to-Reinhart pass that ended with Sam hitting the post?

 

[Dingo44]

The more I watch that Pominville goal and that play with ERod to Girgensons right back to ERod to a stick tapping Pommers - it's a thing of beauty. Just smart passing and a veteran finding space and a young guy finding him. That "fourth" line is just killing it. Good for all of them.

 

[26CornerBlitz]

Sweet pic!