GDT: Sabers v Canes

[Blueline Bomber]

Glad to see PK’s English is now good enough not to need a translator.

 

[Svechhammer]

It cannot be overlooked that Necas moving down to the 4th line suddenly has that line contributing on the scoreboard. Adam Gold pointed it out on the radio, when you have someone with his offensive upside on the 4th line, that's potentially a huge mismatch in our favor because the opponents ar likely going to be focusing defensive assignments on the top 2 lines, so he should have room to work.

We might have to keep this working long term. We look like a different team with these lines.


Also, I'm not the greatest lip reader, but I get the feeling Brindy didn't like the double minor on Aho...

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

The 4th was contributing with bunting before necas. Its necas that finally looks good on the 4th, not the other way around

 

[A Star is Burns]

It cannot be overlooked that Necas moving down to the 4th line suddenly has that line contributing on the scoreboard. Adam Gold pointed it out on the radio, when you have someone with his offensive upside on the 4th line, that's potentially a huge mismatch in our favor because the opponents ar likely going to be focusing defensive assignments on the top 2 lines, so he should have room to work.

We might have to keep this working long term. We look like a different team with these lines.


Also, I'm not the greatest lip reader, but I get the feeling Brindy didn't like the double minor on Aho...

That 4th line looked great with Svech on it the first couple of games or so when he returned and played on it. I think Bunting is almost wasted on that line 4th line because his super power is being an amazing sidekick to highly skilled guys. Putting him with a couple of other grinders doesn't do any good. But you put Bunting up on the top line and it hums. You put Svech or Necas with those grinders with that have a bit of skill and it creates some mismatches. It's something we really need for the times when the Staal line is just grinding another team's line to a stalemate and not lighting up the scoreboard.

 

[Svechhammer]

The 4th was contributing with bunting before necas. Its necas that finally looks good on the 4th, not the other way around

Oh agreed with this. Being away from the top defensive players on our opponents has completely opened up Necas' game. He has room to work and he's helping raise the bar on that line.

That 4th line looked great with Svech on it the first couple of games or so when he returned and played on it. I think Bunting is almost wasted on that line 4th line because his super power is being an amazing sidekick to highly skilled guys. Putting him with a couple of other grinders doesn't do any good. But you put Bunting up on the top line and it hums. You put Svech or Necas with those grinders with that have a bit of skill and it creates some mismatches. It's something we really need for the times when the Staal line is just grinding another team's line to a stalemate and not lighting up the scoreboard.

Agreed with all of this. I would like, but I shared a dick joke on the main forum and as such I guess I'll be able to that again in the new year.

 

[Borsig]

Buffalo isn't a good team.

Let's not get too excited using this as a litmus test.

But I'm blitzed and at a deadmau5 show in DC wearing my canes stuff so what do I know oye

 

[Stickpucker]

He's always one of the league leaders in penalties drawn. Love it.

The yin to Svechs yang.

 

[super6646]

@super6646 HE DOIN' IT

Idk what he did but he’s a f***ing beast

 

[Unhinged Finn]

Buffalo isn't a good team.

Let's not get too excited using this as a litmus test.

But I'm blitzed and at a deadmau5 show in DC wearing my canes stuff so what do I know oye

Litmus test tells if something is sour, neutral or bitter. I would say no one is sour or bitter about the end result so we can use this as a litmus test.

Jk. I get your point.

 

[AD Skinner]

Drury didn't go to Harvard to learn how to fight clearly

Fight fiercely, Harvard

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

ACCEPTABLE.

 

[hblueridgegal]

As the Canes and I embark on our year end work road trips, here's to them continuing to improve and escaping injury free with a few wins (and to me, a beachy boondoggle). Doesn't look like a big Banff getaway will be in the cards for them this time with the tight schedule. Curious to see how it plays out vs some healthy competition. During last night's talk show, DW said this is the toughest month on the schedule for them.

 

[Brad Meador]

I don't know why but I have a feeling this road trip will make or break us this season.

With how tight the division is right now (exception of the Rangers whom are playing like Boston was playing last year) if we have a poor road trip we'll likely out of the playoff race. If we have a successful trip we're likely a lock for the playoffs.

Good rebound game by Kochetkov.

I'm hoping he's learned from the Islander game and move on. He is human after all and every goalie is allowed a bad game or 2 during the season. At least we got a point out of it (thanks to Aho scoring in final seconds) because there have been enough games where we've dominated the opponent with SOG and overall play and NOT gotten a point.

The good news is that since that 2-4 road trip to start the season we've actually played better on the road: 4-2 in our last 6 road games.

It was this exact time last year when we went on an unbelievable run of 14-0-1 in our last 15 games.

Still waiting for that time when we go on a hot streak. We haven't won more than 3 games in a row all season yet; although we have played better overall.

Since we started 3-4 we're 11-4-1 in our last 16 games. That has propelled us to 2nd in the division behind the hot as a firecracker Rangers.

Defense is much improved overall too (with exception of TB game) when they just blew us out of the building we've been in every game.

I know we gave up 5 vs NY Islanders but that was not on the 'D'; D did their job giving up 16 shots but our goalie gave up 5. Can't blame the D on that.

I didn't watch all of the Lightning game but my dad did and with what he saw it appears that was on the D because even though TB only had 14 shots he said our D let our goalie that night (Raanta) out to dry way too many times.

I did watch until the 2nd period and the wheels came off that period.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

I don't know why but I have a feeling this road trip will make or break us this season.

With how tight the division is right now (exception of the Rangers whom are playing like Boston was playing last year) if we have a poor road trip we'll likely out of the playoff race. If we have a successful trip we're likely a lock for the playoffs.

Good rebound game by Kochetkov.

I'm hoping he's learned from the Islander game and move on. He is human after all and every goalie is allowed a bad game or 2 during the season. At least we got a point out of it (thanks to Aho scoring in final seconds) because there have been enough games where we've dominated the opponent with SOG and overall play and NOT gotten a point.

The good news is that since that 2-4 road trip to start the season we've actually played better on the road: 4-2 in our last 6 road games.

It was this exact time last year when we went on an unbelievable run of 14-0-1 in our last 15 games.

Still waiting for that time when we go on a hot streak. We haven't won more than 3 games in a row all season yet; although we have played better overall.

Since we started 3-4 we're 11-4-1 in our last 15 games. That has propelled us to 2nd in the division behind the hot as a firecracker Rangers.

Defense is much improved overall too (with exception of TB game) when they just blew us out of the building we've been in every game.

I know we gave up 5 vs NY Islanders but that was not on the 'D'; D did their job giving up 16 shots but our goalie gave up 5. Can't blame the D on that.

I didn't watch all of the Lightning game but my dad did and with what he saw it appears that was on the D because even though TB only had 14 shots he said our D let our goalie that night (Raanta) out to dry way too many times.

I did watch until the 2nd period and the wheels came off that period.

This post is all over the place. Gives a "Written by AI" kind of feel. I'll try and address it in order:

1. Barring an absolute disaster of a trip, we should still make the playoffs. Even breaking even on the trip should keep us in.

2. PK was a solid as he needed to be. Both goals against involved exactly 0 defensemen between him and the shooter (though that 2nd goal was wild), but breakdowns happen.

3. I'm not sure how you can say we haven't been on a hot streak, then follow it up by saying we've gotten 11 wins in 15 games. Also, an 11-4-1 record in 15 games is impossible.

4. The Lightning game started great, and was salvageable after the 2nd, but after the 4th (and especially the 5th) goal, it was clear everyone had given up on the game. Anything past that shouldn't be reflective of the way this team plays.

 

[AD Skinner]

We may not catch the rangers but I don’t really think barring any more injury issues or trades by these other teams that anyone else in the metro is catching and staying ahead of us. I’m wrong a lot though so who knows

 

[Sigurd]

We have missed at least 3 open nets

So, basically a typical Canes game.

Glad to see some of the doom narratives had a bad night. Aho looked good. Kochetkov looked perfectly fine. In general, a good night of globetrotting. The Sabres are bad, and I don't love giving up the third period goals, but the Cnaes were all hearing Sweet Georgia Brown in their heads, so I forgive them for feeling it too much and having some breakdowns.

I mentioned a few weeks ago I thought Drury was this year's Koko in that I thought he had played well enough to have several more points than he had at the time. He's starting to come on and I hope he can keep it up so he can become what I thought he could be as a prospect

It's a tough road trip coming up but we managed to put ourselves in a pretty strong position heading into it.

Yes, I'm happy Drury seems to have upped his game while getting consistent playtime in the NHL (I've been a fan of his; especially since last season including the playoffs), and I'm sure he's been feeling confident.

That 4th line looked great with Svech on it the first couple of games or so when he returned and played on it. I think Bunting is almost wasted on that line 4th line because his super power is being an amazing sidekick to highly skilled guys. Putting him with a couple of other grinders doesn't do any good. But you put Bunting up on the top line and it hums. You put Svech or Necas with those grinders with that have a bit of skill and it creates some mismatches. It's something we really need for the times when the Staal line is just grinding another team's line to a stalemate and not lighting up the scoreboard.

Great points. I agree.

We'll see how long this line combination lasts, but for the reasons you stated, come playoff time, it'd be a good card to play if/when the lines need a shakeup.

 

[Brad Meador]

This post is all over the place. Gives a "Written by AI" kind of feel. I'll try and address it in order:

1. Barring an absolute disaster of a trip, we should still make the playoffs. Even breaking even on the trip should keep us in.

2. PK was a solid as he needed to be. Both goals against involved exactly 0 defensemen between him and the shooter (though that 2nd goal was wild), but breakdowns happen.

3. I'm not sure how you can say we haven't been on a hot streak, then follow it up by saying we've gotten 11 wins in 15 games. Also, an 11-4-1 record in 15 games is impossible.

4. The Lightning game started great, and was salvageable after the 2nd, but after the 4th (and especially the 5th) goal, it was clear everyone had given up on the game. Anything past that shouldn't be reflective of the way this team plays.

No AI here, I assure you..

You must've been writing this before I edited the post because I put 11-4-1 in 16 games after an edit, although I did have 15 games prior to the edit.

Also, by hot streak, I meant more of a winning streak type hot streak.

Yes, 11-4-1 is great and is a hot streak in it's own right but I'd like to see this team win like 5 or 6 in a row. You know like they did last year when they won 11 in a row and then had a couple 5 game streaks. That type of hot streak; they haven't been hot like that yet.

Not taking anything away from how they played the prior 16 games though because the team is finally playing the way we all know they can play, just want to see that one good winning streak.

The second goal was wild. I don't know if it was just a bad poke check of the puck by Kochetkov and too much chaos around him or what; either way it ended up in the net. Just glad nobody got hurt on the play, especially Chatfield since he went flying.

No intent for my post to have an 'AI Feel'. I've been away from the boards for a while and wanted to post my opinion on how this team has played of late.

 

[Negan4Coach]

Holy dog crap the Buffalo defense is worthless. Sad.

 

[VaCaps Fan]

Saw buffalo against Washington, they are aren’t good.

 

[Brad Meador]

Saw buffalo against Washington, they are aren’t good.

The Rangers must've stunk in their game because Buffalo trounced them in NY.

 

[VaCaps Fan]

NY rivalry game?

 

[Surrounded By Ahos]

I forgot to post this last night.

I'm slipping

 

[hockeynjune]

So son and son in law were at the game last night. USMC had the pull up booth going. We were down to the Buffalo fans by 5. Son (USMC)said “Oh Hell No” and put 25 on the board.

Still working on the video.

 

[tarheelhockey]

With how tight the division is right now (exception of the Rangers whom are playing like Boston was playing last year) if we have a poor road trip we'll likely out of the playoff race.

They’re currently on a 103-point pace. Even if they got zero points on the road trip (which would be an absolute disaster than their worst streak since January of 2017), as long as they went back to normal they would still finish around 97 points, which is typically the exact cutoff mark for a playoff spot.

This road trip can’t make or break the season all by itself. It’s much, much more about how they play through the remainder of the season. Wins on the road trip would just make it less critical to get wins later.

 

[Tryamw]

anyway given our goaltender woes.. I'm surpised that no one has brought up Veteran netminder Chatfield rocking the 0.000% Save percentage..