Post-Game Talk (GBU): Sabres vs Leafs

[Jim Bob]

In TOI E-Rod was our #2 center at 16:57. I don't think even the biggest E-Rod supporter thinks he's a #2 center. I think E-Rod is an ideal 4th line player with PK responsibility. The problem isn't E-rod himself, the problem is we don't have anyone better in the line up right now to push him down and he's being forced to fill a roll that's too much for him.

I don't want to open that can of worms and bring up "he who must not be named" but we're really struggling to fill that #2 center roll effectively right now. This teams largest weakness right now is the middle 6 in general. Our 1st line can stack up against any other top line, our 4th line of GirgBergLarssons seriously tilts the ice in our favor and can hold possession even against other teams top lines, they're really our 2nd best line if only they could score any goals. But our 2nd and 3rd lines? I'm never confident when I see those lines out there.

They've got to keep Pilut up for good right? He's been incredible defensively so far.

ERod got the ice time because he is centering their #1 checking line and not because he's their 2C.

Housley has things set up with 2 offensive lines (Eichel and Middlestadt) and 2 checking/energy lines (ERod & JL).

There will be more than a few games where the #1 checking line will get more ice time than the #2 offensive line.

 

[Der Jaeger]

ERod got the ice time because he is centering their #1 checking line and not because he's their 2C.

Housley has things set up with 2 offensive lines (Eichel and Middlestadt) and 2 checking/energy lines (ERod & JL).

There will be more than a few games where the #1 checking line will get more ice time than the #2 offensive line.

I'm cool with this set up if one of the energy lines has a two-way aspect to it. Sort of like the HBK line the Pens used during their 2016 Cup run.

 

[Aladyyn]

In TOI E-Rod was our #2 center at 16:57. I don't think even the biggest E-Rod supporter thinks he's a #2 center. I think E-Rod is an ideal 4th line player with PK responsibility. The problem isn't E-rod himself, the problem is we don't have anyone better in the line up right now to push him down and he's being forced to fill a roll that's too much for him.

I don't want to open that can of worms and bring up "he who must not be named" but we're really struggling to fill that #2 center roll effectively right now. This teams largest weakness right now is the middle 6 in general. Our 1st line can stack up against any other top line, our 4th line of GirgBergLarssons seriously tilts the ice in our favor and can hold possession even against other teams top lines, they're really our 2nd best line if only they could score any goals. But our 2nd and 3rd lines? I'm never confident when I see those lines out there.

They've got to keep Pilut up for good right? He's been incredible defensively so far.

ERod is definitely closer to a 2nd liner than a 4th liner.

 

[Dubi Doo]

I thought we were the better team 5v5, which is encouraging. We just need to fill out the middle six, and we'll be good.

We're so lucky to have Dahlin. I've said it multiple times, but I cant get over it. The Leafs and Bolts would be running this division for the next 5 years+ if we didn't land Dahlin. Now that we have him the odds of contending aren't nearly as steep.

 

[RecycledEichel]

It’s just humiliating to see every time. Can’t they sell some other games instead?

And now Leafs fans in their postgame thread are talking about the “win in our house.”

I actually like that the stadium is 50% leaf fans 50% Sabres fans.

Have you been to one of these games? Is there anything else like it in the NHL?

The atmosphere is insane and it makes the stakes super high. No doubt the players feed off of it. You can tell what this game meant for both teams.

I welcome leaf fans (as obnoxious as many of them can be) anytime.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Still can’t get over how stupid that play Sam made leading to the Leafs goal scoring rush.

OT is all about possessing the puck. No one should ever give the puck away when you have possession. It was mind boggling stupid for Sam to throw a soft area pass towards the net hoping Erod could some how get to it. Then Sam changes and Sobotka has to immediately defend a rush.

Totally unforced stupid play by Sam.

Sam was rattled by the pressure. Sobotka made a bad pass on that shift too, that wasted a prime breakout opportunity. While they did seem to maintain possession well for the first half of the shift, they made mistakes and weren't good enough to match the players TO had out there. Toronto's superior depth is apparent in the OT.

That said, I'm still impressed by how we play in OT lately and don;t really think we need to change anything except for eliminating mistakes and dumb decisions.

 

[hizzoner]

I went to the game last night expecting we would get smoked. When Nelson left the ice and headed straight to the dressing room I was sure we were cooked. I want to say that some of the guys getting hate on the team were really effective--Risto and Bogosian were terrific. Dahlin was excellent and so was Pilut although they made more mistakes than Risto or Bogosian. Beaulieu looked ok. Eichel looked out of it in the first period but really came on. Thompson showed me he will be a top six winger. His speed in catching Tavares from a standing start 2 strides behind got him into a goal saving position--and I thought it was a crappy penalty to call. Several cheap shots--a lot of hacking at Jack not called. Marner is so much like Patrick Kane. A lot of moving picks by Leafs to prevent Sabres from getting to the intended pass recipient. Ullmark generally good. Lower bowl was a sea of Leaf fans in Leaf jerseys--mainly Matthews. Very annoying.

 

[valet]

I got surprise front row seats to the game and wow, what an effort by us. We deserved to win that game and its unfortunate to see it end like that (3v3, lol).

G: eichel, risto, pilut, DAHLIN all looked fabulous last night

B: sobotka, okposo. Both were good at the start of the season but have been trash for the past 10 or so games. Can't wait for the youth to get involved from Rochester when the time comes.

The ugly speaks for itself. Tons of annoying leafs fans in the arena that don't know anything about hockey. I saw people getting escorted out by security before the game even started. Anyways, we were the better team. Just didn't get the win. Let's turn this one into a positive and blast through Philly on Saturday.

 

[hockeeyyy]

I know this probably doesn't help, but can I just point out that I don't think Sobotka did anything wrong on the winning goal? He played as close as he could despite Kapanen briefly blocking him. If you look at the replays, Sobotka got the stick down in the right spot, but Matthews tucked that puck in and out for a shot before anyone could react.

It just feels like the blame is on Sobotka when it looks like he played that perfectly as anyone could.

 

[Chainshot]

I know this probably doesn't help, but can I just point out that I don't think Sobotka did anything wrong on the winning goal? He played as close as he could despite Kapanen briefly blocking him. If you look at the replays, Sobotka got the stick down in the right spot, but Matthews tucked that puck in and out for a shot before anyone could react.

It just feels like the blame is on Sobotka when it looks like he played that perfectly as anyone could.

It was an amazing goal by an amazing player.

 

[Gabrielor]

I know this probably doesn't help, but can I just point out that I don't think Sobotka did anything wrong on the winning goal? He played as close as he could despite Kapanen briefly blocking him. If you look at the replays, Sobotka got the stick down in the right spot, but Matthews tucked that puck in and out for a shot before anyone could react.

It just feels like the blame is on Sobotka when it looks like he played that perfectly as anyone could.

I actually think the blame is largely on Housley for Sobotka’s inclusion in 3v3, which should never happen.

 

[RecycledEichel]

Another great part of this game:

This is game 1 of like the next 70 games between the 2 teams where both teams dont suck.

The rivalry has always been there between the fans, but I think a blowtorch has been taken to the rivalry between the players of both teams. It's on now! That's a very special thing to have when it's a rarity in this day and age.

 

[Moncton man]

Dahlin is going to be an 80 point defenseman in this league. There are no weaknesses in his game even as an 18 year old.

Impressed now but you’ll hate him for the next decade at least

Lofty goal. There have been exactly two such seasons since 2000-01 (Karlsson and Lidstrom). I'd love to see that reached of course but the game doesn't have the same scoring levels as it once did.

Still an outstanding player at such a young age. Hype was definitely warranted.

 

[Chainshot]

I actually think the blame is largely on Housley for Sobotka’s inclusion in 3v3, which should never happen.

That's my beef with it as well. What he's doing to earn Phil's trust in OT vs. what Mittelstadt offers is the question only Phil can answer.

And if it had been Mitts who made the bad zone pass that Reinhart did or was the guy covering Matthews when he scored the OTGWG, it would be no worse (and I would assert better) than having established players making those plays.

 

[Team Cozens]

Lofty goal. There have been exactly two such seasons since 2000-01 (Karlsson and Lidstrom). I'd love to see that reached of course but the game doesn't have the same scoring levels as it once did.

Still an outstanding player at such a young age. Hype was definitely warranted.

Maybe you missed the 9-6 Calgary game last night. Goals are trending way up.
Look at the number of PPG players over the last 10 years and how many are on pace this season.

 

[Gabrielor]

That's my beef with it as well. What he's doing to earn Phil's trust in OT vs. what Mittelstadt offers is the question only Phil can answer.

And if it had been Mitts who made the bad zone pass that Reinhart did or was the guy covering Matthews when he scored the OTGWG, it would be no worse (and I would assert better) than having established players making those plays.

I had mentioned this to Jame, but if Housley’s idea is play a defensive minded center with a guy in OT, why isn’t he using the one that is strictly better at pretty much all aspects of the game (Larsson) ?

 

[Chainshot]

I had mentioned this to Jame, but if Housley’s idea is play a defensive minded center with a guy in OT, why isn’t he using the one that is strictly better at pretty much all aspects of the game (Larsson) ?

IKR? It's a weird deployment since it's not like he isn't gunning for the win on other lines. They seem to have figured out possession wins in OT, and Larsson-Girgensons are much more of a chip-and-chase tandem that flies in the face of playing keep-away. And is Sobotka really all that much faster than Larry?

 

[pf8363]

ERod is definitely closer to a 2nd liner than a 4th liner.

E-Rod is a 2nd line winger on a mediocre team and a 3rd line winger on a good team.

 

[debaser66]

well good news is we don't play until Saturday, hopefully scandella and mccabe are good to go by then

The way Scandella played lately I rather have Pilut instead of him on the ice but I am afraid they ll send him down even he is easily top4.
One of Beaulieu, Nelson or Scandella should sit for Pilut.

 

[tsujimoto74]

That's my beef with it as well. What he's doing to earn Phil's trust in OT vs. what Mittelstadt offers is the question only Phil can answer.

And if it had been Mitts who made the bad zone pass that Reinhart did or was the guy covering Matthews when he scored the OTGWG, it would be no worse (and I would assert better) than having established players making those plays.

Reinhart's inclusion in OT is another decision that's starting to become baffling. He's been putrid there all year. It's like he suddenly forgets how to manage the puck and make good decisions once there's all that open ice.

 

[sincerity0]

Lofty goal. There have been exactly two such seasons since 2000-01 (Karlsson and Lidstrom). I'd love to see that reached of course but the game doesn't have the same scoring levels as it once did.

Still an outstanding player at such a young age. Hype was definitely warranted.

Extremely lofty. After about 30 games of watching Dahlin it’s quite obvious he is like having an additional (elite) forward out there. With scoring ticking up over the last two years I don’t see Dahlin struggling to put up points. If he played forward we’d be talking about him being a potential 100pt guy on a regular basis.

Everything Dahlin does is cool and calm. Even when he’s deaking out opposition the moves don’t look quick because he’s so fluid and precise. Always in control.

 

[msgrmartinez]

It was an amazing goal by an amazing player.

I like that our fan base is able to admit this rather than just a sea of "f*** Auston Matthews" comments...

 

[oldgoalie]

It was an amazing goal by an amazing player.

that was a frigging amazing shot. had eyes, for sure.

 

[joshjull]

 

[joshjull]