Jersey # | Position | Player | Game #1 |
6 | D | Scandella | 0 |
9 | F | Eichel | 1 |
10 | D | Jokiharju | 1 |
13 | F | Vesey | 0 |
17 | F | Sobotka | 0 |
19 | D | McCabe | 1 |
21 | F | Okposo | 0 |
22 | F | Larsson | 0 |
23 | F | Reinhart | 1 |
26 | D | Dahlin | 1 |
28 | F | Girgensons | 1 |
33 | D | Miller | 1 |
37 | F | Mittelstadt | 1 |
43 | F | Sheary | 1 |
53 | F | Skinner | 0 |
55 | D | Ristolainen | 0 |
68 | F | Olofsson | 1 |
90 | F | Johansson | 1 |
| | | |
35 | G | Ullmark | - |
40 | G | Hutton | 1 |
I am not agreeing at all with what he is saying but let's try to keep it on topic and not the person behind it.I am not even sure how such a hot take can come to fruition in a human mind.
Seriously...his outlet passing was a revelation, something this team has been badly missing for years now.
He looked more engaged last night than literally any game last season. Had a couple of nice hits that made me do a double take to make sure it was 17.I still can’t believe Vlad looked like an actual NHL player. Amazing
This kind of hits the nail on the head. The big difference between games that we were winning last year and last night's game was the lack of panic. Under Housley, whenever we managed to have a lead, the team would inevitably panic and make dumb decisions and stray from whatever semblance of a system housley had in place. Last night, the team seemed calm, confident, and grounded for the entire game. There were points where the pens applied pressure, but that's how a normal hockey game looks where momentum ebbs and flows. Evidence last night suggests this is a very different team. I hope that we'll be saying the same thing in a month.I heard some of the Penguins post game and their announcers had some interesting things to say. They were saying it looked like the Penguins were just hanging around and waiting for the sabres system to break down, as it always does. Last night it didn't happen and they were praising Krueger for that. We have seen so many games in recent years where the Sabres will go into Pittsburgh, start out hot, but then get absolutely swamped in the second half of the game. Really encouraging that we didn't see that yesterday.
He looked more engaged last night than literally any game last season. Had a couple of nice hits that made me do a double take to make sure it was 17.
Nitpicking, but I hope they find a little more touch. Created tons of chances with their speed and puck movement, the only letdown was only scoring 3 and not 5-6 like the game felt it should have been
Honor and organisational accountability hasnt been seen in recent years.. Excellent newsThis kind of hits the nail on the head. The big difference between games that we were winning last year and last night's game was the lack of panic. Under Housley, whenever we managed to have a lead, the team would inevitably panic and make dumb decisions and stray from whatever semblance of a system housley had in place. Last night, the team seemed calm, confident, and grounded for the entire game. There were points where the pens applied pressure, but that's how a normal hockey game looks where momentum ebbs and flows. Evidence last night suggests this is a very different team. I hope that we'll be saying the same thing in a month.
Also - just a comment on sobotka. All of his whining during the off season about being mismanaged and used in areas of the game that aren't his strong suit. Did anyone with a sharper eye see a difference in game time situations/match ups/whatever that would lead credence to Vlad's gripes?
Miller struck me as what they thought they were getting in Bogo. I'm actually excited to see what he does when he gets back. In the past I've been disappointed but reluctant to write him off because I believe he was asked to do things he shouldn't be.
The top line in particular had some beauty plays that resulted in some great chances that if it continues will find the twine. The seems they found and finessed the puck through in the first and second resulted in some great looks. All three of them will convert.
Is it possible Pittsburgh is that bad? I know Crosby/Malkib/Letang... but other than that?
Things like Psyche and being in the right frame of mind are typically short term factors. Much more important in a seven game series than over an 82 game season. Sure, a good coach will have his finger on the pulse of the team and will make tweaks to keep things going in a certain direction (for example knowing when to give the team a break vs when to hold a tough practice). But, over 82 games, all teams are going to have ups and downs. Typically, knowing how to get through those slogs is part of having a good veteran leadership group. I'm not discounting what you are saying as being important, but over 82 games, talent and a good system typically will overcome team psyche.
Alright, 1 little raincloud is that the stats in last year's opener were similar, they just didn't get bounces and boston did .
Looking at last year we had 15 games where we had as good of corsi as last night, only 2 games we had as good xgf%
Good:
Team work.
Bad:
Impossible to get a read on Pit. They were awful. Is this early signs of impending mediocrity or were they unable to scout what Buf were about and prepare accordingly.
Saturdays game will give more insight.
It’s true, I really felt that we did actually fairly well against Boston in that game but as you said didn’t get the bounces and were beaten by a better team.
Not only was that bruins team good (one game away from the cup) they got smashed something like 7-0 in their home/season opener the night before And desperately wanted to erase that feeling and had their legs going from having played the night before. It’s funny because buffalo did a lot of things well that night but the score didn’t show it and by the time the buzzer rang the fans didn’t care about a “a decent effort.”