Taro T

He did purposely hit Okposo. Not convinced he expected Kyle to cut back to the middle of the ice. If Kyle stays along the boards, it's simply a clean, hard check that the elbow isn't the primary point of contact and Kyle's chest is the spot where Cernak's shoulder hits him. And have no problem with people believing Cernak did that intentionally. He's been dirty before. Just IMHO he was going for a hard hit there, but not a kill shot.

You won't get disagreement with the bolded here. But it wasn't called a 5 and unfortunately it won't get reviewed by the league.

To the boled, yes, they could have done that. But at what point in the Granato era have they done that? Yes, they've had bad games and bad stretches as well. But they have never given up and have never simply sat back feeling sorry for themselves since Don took over. These guys don't let adversity simply bury them. That change in mindset alone has been so instrumental in making these past 2 seasons enjoyable to watch. This is the most fun Sabres team to watch since '06 by far. They aren't elite, and they can't consistently beat the GOOD teams, but they can compete with everybody. (There will be nights like Tuesday when they don't, but they don't quit, and their next game against the Loafs can play out much differently.)

He isn't referring to the Cernak hit on Okposo, he's referring to the Paul hit on Dahlin.

This late in the season, probably. At any point? They've been there in October in pobably each of the last 2 years. Also they'be been there in November and December in Housley's last year and Krueger's 1st before the wheels fell off both times.

Can't see any scenario where the refs call a major just to have the ability to re-review a play/call. Hated that they didn't call anything and also that they let Paul off so lightly on such an obvious intent to injure. Regarding the Paul hit: As soon as Perry went down, Paul made a beeline for Dahlin but missed him at the boards. Once he finally figurred out where Dahlin had gone he made another beeline for him this time crosschecking him in the back long after the puck was moved on. That was a blatent attempt to injure. But not convinced Cernak MEANT to injure Okposo. That should've been at least 2 of not 5 for the head contact, but it was at least a bang bang play. No way Paul's wasn't deliberate.

Actually, all 3 games that Comrie has started since his emergency start against Seattle the Sabres have played some of their best hockey. (The 2nd period vs Anaheim not withstanding.)

Wow. Hope whatever his demons are he gets a handle on them. That can't help the Swamp Cats chances of hanging on for 1 of the final 2 playoff spots.

Nope. Housley's parting gift to the GM that was about to fire him. He moved Skinner back to the top line the last couple of games to help him get to 40 goals and his massive contract.

Am ridiculously pumped to watch this game tonight.

Agree it should've been 5. But shocked it wasn't called that way? Was that your 1st NHL game watched? ;)

If he was concussed, surely he won't play. But if he wasn't, why wouldn't he play the biggest game of his tenure on this squad?

What does a 20 year old Andy Reid have to do with any of this?

Probably not repeat offender. It resets every 18 months a player hasn't been a d-bag.

We are talking about different plays. Thought you were referring to Paul's retailiatory hit on Dahlin for checking Perry cleanly behind the net last night. Didn't realize you were talking about the game ~4 years ago. Pretty sure GA was referring to the Paul hit.

The maximum fine ISN'T $5,000. It is 50% of a single day's salary. BUT a 1st fine can only be $10k or less. (Fines of $5k or less have less hurdles to climb to implement.) Players can be fined OR suspended. If they are suspended, they sacrifice their pay while suspended. 1st time offenders sacrifice a day's pay for each game suspended. Repeat offenders lose a game's pay for each game suspended. (So 1st timers lose ~1/187th of their pay for each game suspended and repeat offenders lose 1/82nd of their pay for each game suspended.) Fine money and suspension money go to the players emergency assistance fund. 2 minute cross check was called.

He's night and day from what he was in October.

It was. And it is a shame that Paul isn't getting a hearing today too. That's the sort of hit that give guys bad backs for their careers.

Samuelsson and Power have both slipped slightly defensively since the around the AS break. Them figuring it back out would be hugely beneficial towards this playoff push. Pretty confident Muel will get it back. Power could be reaching that proverbial rookie wall. More hopefully, its coaching asking him to do more offensively, which is putting more on his plate. If it's that they're asking him to make that typical leap in a non-simplified game that is usually asked of 2nd year guys that rookies aren't asked to do, it'll be noticeable next season. And he can go back to what's been working this year if necessary.

Personally would prefer Anderson as well. Expecting it'll be UPL. If he has his head into it, it'll be ok. Not positive it will be.

It was more than just not fitting in with Krueger. He didn't pass that well in Carolina nor under Housley either. His mindset changed upon getting back onto the top line under Granato.

Hinostroza likely would be better TODAY. Vinnie won't be here after this season, JJ will be. They're accepting the growing pains.

Peterka has had an excellent scoring chance in 3 straight games. Hasn't buried any, but the fact he's starting to get those chances so consistently is (mildly) encouraging. Been a while since he was doing that.

Ike ends up with his chicklets knocked out for kicking the snot out of her when they were married?

UPL. The win tomorrow needs to be in regulation to move into 8th.