GDT: Preseason Game 5: Blue Jackets @ Sabres - 7:00pm EDT

[Zip15]

Saw chunks of the 1st period and all of the 3rd period. Didn't look great. I think their last two games have been their worst performances. Not the direction I'd like to see with the season one week away.

 

[Gabrielor]

Saw chunks of the 1st period and all of the 3rd period. Didn't look great. I think their last two games have been their worst performances. Not the direction I'd like to see with the season one week away.

I’m in disagreement. Significantly better than Saturday, our top line dominated, a lot of veterans showed well, a lot of rookies made errors, and probably most importantly, the undersized ice surface gave the veteran grinder team a noticable advantage in taking away time and space.

 

[struckbyaparkedcar]

Saw chunks of the 1st period and all of the 3rd period. Didn't look great. I think their last two games have been their worst performances. Not the direction I'd like to see with the season one week away.

Their offensive zone coaching still sucks. Past individual efforts, this team’s objective appears to be a point shot into some shin pads, maybe a crowd in front of the net.

We also have laughably few data points on potential line combinations.

 

[struckbyaparkedcar]

I’m in disagreement. Significantly better than Saturday, our top line dominated, a lot of veterans showed well, a lot of rookies made errors, and probably most importantly, the undersized ice surface gave the veteran grinder team a noticable advantage in taking away time and space.

The Eichel line has produced one ES goal in 3 games. While they’ve been unlucky in terms of shooting%, they haven’t exactly scored at the rate required to justify keeping all the best offensive players together.

 

[labbatt]

We have literally never seen Reinhart play 2C in the NHL.

On the spittin chiclets podcast Eichel brought up how Sam had not played center for a couple years and how it really got into Sam's head. He also said how Sam preferred to play wing. Do you want first half Sam again or second half Samson?

 

[Gabrielor]

The Eichel line has produced one ES goal in 3 games. While they’ve been unlucky in terms of shooting%, they haven’t exactly scored at the rate required to justify keeping all the best offensive players together.

If Sheary returns, id love to see him replace Skinner. I personally don’t want to see eichel and Reinhart split at all this season.

 

[Duddy]

They better find a switch or this season is going to suck.

 

[Dubi Doo]

Saw chunks of the 1st period and all of the 3rd period. Didn't look great. I think their last two games have been their worst performances. Not the direction I'd like to see with the season one week away.

The game was pretty even 5 on 5 mostly due to Eichel's line dominating. The PK, how ever, was dreadful, and the youngsters made some critical errors.

 

[EichHart]

They better find a switch or this season is going to suck.

Agree, they do not look good from my viewings. Going to be another long season. If it gets Housley fired it will be worth it.

 

[sabrebuild]

Of course they are. The preseason is garbage, you think these guys are out there putting their body on the line in the preseason? Sure, maybe some of the bubble roster guys are, but for the most part, these guys are just getting the cobwebs out. Jumping to conclusions in the preseason is idiotic. I will save mine for the first quarter of the season.

True. This is a veteran team coming back from a playoff run that just needs to loosen up before the season starts...

 

[debaser66]

I rather have Eichel with Reinhart than with Skinner if they split them up.
If Housley doesn't use the obvious chemistry I don't know what.
Dahlin played well yesterday.
Mitts looked better.
Borgen was steady and McCabe looked good.
I get the historic rink stuff but in preparation for the season it was not very suitable to play on such small ice.

 

[old kummelweck]

The game was pretty even 5 on 5 mostly due to Eichel's line dominating. The PK, how ever, was dreadful, and the youngsters made some critical errors.

The PK failed them, but it wasn't dreadful. I thought it was decent with a few catastrophic episodes. But when do you want to evaluate players in different roles?