GBU The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Big Dubs; Win 6-4 in Ottawa

[TageGod]

G :
- Skinner is feeling it this year, probably less pressure on him to not have to be the only goal scoring option
- This felt like a throwback game to 05-06 energy-wise
- Samuelsson was literally perfect, I watched him make at least 3 just incredibly sound plays. So lucky to have him
- Mitts was great. I hated his game against NYR and he's been incredible since then
- UPL played as good of a game as you can expect from him but I still feel better w/ Comrie in there for now
- Benson on the bench messing w/ Tarasenko, he's destined to be a fan favorite for years

B :
- We've all heard about Stutzle's dives but even without that he looks to me like a puck hog.
- Chabot kinda sucks too, Sanderson looks 1000x better than him
- I'll admit he made some good plays but my blood pressure shoots through the roof every time Clifton touches the puck.

U :
- Refs didn't know what they were doing, didn't have things under control at all. Doesn't matter too much now but we can't have this in the late season

He played god awful. Redeemed himself with the two assists but his first period may have been the worst hockey I have seen from him in years.

I think he has been our worst.

Power has been a bit hot and cold this season. There was a game in there he was our clear best D.

 

[Reddawg]

In this thread:

A minimum of five different misspellings of CatChuck's name.

 

[oldgoalie]

In this thread:

A minimum of five different misspellings of CatChuck's name.

guilty as charged.

 

[Jim Bob]

Whatever you think of Joker, I think he has to do the starting lineup for every UPL start from here on out.

 

[Jim Bob]

That was the most UPL game ever and seems to happen to him quite often. Plays great for 50 minutes and then gets multiple goals scored on him late. Went from a .930 sv% in that game to a sub .900. Did he have a good game? I have no idea.

This tells me that he stopped all the medium and long range shots that you want stopped, he was good on a lot of high danger shots in the slot, and you want him to be better on those low angle shots.

So, more good than bad. But, like most things, there are areas of his game to clean up.

 

[TheMistyStranger]

The one thing I'd like to see UPL work on is his side to side speed. He has all the tools, but it's this weird thing where he doesn't make use of his size in some situations, and then appears to rely on his size for side to side and he's not as big as he thinks.

Was nice to see the team jump out to a big lead. Before the season started I was thinking I wish they started with a road trip instead of a home stand. Hopefully last night was a turning point.

 

[HOOats]

He played god awful. Redeemed himself with the two assists but his first period may have been the worst hockey I have seen from him in years.

Hmm I guess a meh first period, but Mitts was our best forward by the eye test and by the fancy stats... He's been our best forward (player tbh, he's been more consistent than Dahlin) through seven games and it's not really that close even with Greenway's excellent defensive detail and possession game.

 

[LetsGoBuffalo1126]

For a team that desperately needed a win, and a fanbase that desperately wanted to see said team win, there are a whole lot of "they won, buts" in here!

 

[Jim Bob]

For a team that desperately needed a win, and a fanbase that desperately wanted to see said team win, there are a whole lot of "they won, buts" in here!

Pre-game: Just win, baby!

Post-game: Just win without the meltdown over the last 5 minutes, baby!

 

[Tatanka]

Lol what a rude ass comment

He was really bad last game but I think he’s been our most consistent defender.

Then you are not paying attention.

 

[lecherous]

Benson hasn't been a liability but he hasn't been a factor largely either. I don't think he should stay. I wouldn't mind signing Kane for a year to take that spot and then Quinn take Olofsson as we ship Olofsson out.

I can see your point (though I don't want Kane at all), but since he's not a liability I think you have to keep a dynamic player like him around. He seems to fit in really well with this squad so I think a year up getting used to the rigors of an NHL schedule & bonding with the team will be a lot better for his development than torching the WHL again. In a perfect world him and UPL probably belong in Rochester but we've gotta adjust.

 

[debaser66]

He played god awful. Redeemed himself with the two assists but his first period may have been the worst hockey I have seen from him in years.


Power has been a bit hot and cold this season. There was a game in there he was our clear best D.

yes 1 game but certainly not the best/consistent D through 7 games like on poster proclaimed earlier

 

[WiHockeyGuy]

Nice to see the team not get pushed around. They stood up to the Isles goons and the Sens slimy play.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Hmm I guess a meh first period, but Mitts was our best forward by the eye test and by the fancy stats... He's been our best forward (player tbh, he's been more consistent than Dahlin) through seven games and it's not really that close even with Greenway's excellent defensive detail and possession game.

I think he got the most ice time for fwds last night

 

[DapperCam]

I think Mitts is our best forward right now. It isn’t easy centering Tuch and Skinner at 5v5 right now. They are still trying to get in their groove.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

The fact that Granato seems to plant Benson on the bench for most of the 3rd periods tells me he'll be sent down after the 9 games.

 

[HOOats]

yes 1 game but certainly not the best/consistent D through 7 games like on poster proclaimed earlier

He's been much closer to our worst D than our best D imo. He's got a ton of development runway left. It's a credit to him that he's such a serviceable NHL player in such a raw form still.

 

[michaelsaas]

I turned the game off with ~ half the 3rd left when my wife got home and it looked like the win was secure. We were up 5-1. I know we got the win but, what happened?! Was it the team's ongoing struggles with focus in the waning minutes? UPL being bad after a great 50 minutes? Both?

 

[TageGod]

Hmm I guess a meh first period, but Mitts was our best forward by the eye test and by the fancy stats... He's been our best forward (player tbh, he's been more consistent than Dahlin) through seven games and it's not really that close even with Greenway's excellent defensive detail and possession game.

That's why it was so noticeable, everything exploded on his stick. Turnovers as well.

 

[Zman5778]

He was really bad last game but I think he’s been our most consistent defender.

Nah. He played better against the Sens.....but taken as a whole over the first 7 games, he's been our worst defenseman and it's not particularly close.

Which is a good thing. It means that our other D are actually playing well. And it's not like Power has been AHL quality or anything.....he's just doing young guy things mostly.

 

[Royal Thunder]

Nah. He played better against the Sens.....but taken as a whole over the first 7 games, he's been our worst defenseman and it's not particularly close.

Which is a good thing. It means that our other D are actually playing well. And it's not like Power has been AHL quality or anything.....he's just doing young guy things mostly.

I am on the side that Power has been one of our best D. Mistakes are glaring for sure and the Montreal game was dreadful but he has mostly been steady with good underlying #s. Particularly have enjoyed his work in transition and the O zone.

Overall the D have all been pretty good, EJ and Sammy are a beastly PK duo and shoutout to Joker who is playing some of his best hockey in a Sabres uniform (playing with Power helps).

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Stutzle already had the reputation among refs last season as a diver. I guess the crew last night hasn't been burned by him yet, but I expect he'll have to lose a couple teeth to get a call for a while now. You just can't go that long embarrassing them, unless there's a lot of turnover with new refs working games a lot.

Greenway is such a great addition right now, and I expect he'll keep playing like this. Easily worth a 2nd and 5th, and maybe even making it hard to not re-sign him in two summers.

UPL was really good so I can't figure out what the critics were seeing. A couple TEAM breakdowns at the end ruined his numbers, and even two of those were PK mistakes brought on by shit calls. The issue is whether he can improve and be consistent, especially with a 3-man rotation.

Great to see an apparent focus on getting in the slot and causing some net-front havoc. Can't remember the last time they scored three tip-ins.

Mitts is still proving himself as a guy they need to keep.

 

[TageGod]

I turned the game off with ~ half the 3rd left when my wife got home and it looked like the win was secure. We were up 5-1. I know we got the win but, what happened?! Was it the team's ongoing struggles with focus in the waning minutes? UPL being bad after a great 50 minutes? Both?

No chance on two of the goals. UPL played well.

 

[Sabre the Win]

Great to see an apparent focus on getting in the slot and causing some net-front havoc. Can't remember the last time they scored three tip-ins.

Sam Reinhart probably. I still remember the silly debates how he can only score on tips.

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

The fact that Granato seems to plant Benson on the bench for most of the 3rd periods tells me he'll be sent down after the 9 games.

I thought it was more so him protecting Benson since the game was getting out of hand.