Taro T

@Thorny you had to ask for the explanation about the earlier Nylander post, didn't you. ;)

True, but can't immediately think of an occassion where the D were patient and just let the forward stay below the goal line in a place where he could do no damage (especially with them both taking away options for him).

So close by Dahlin.

The D actually weren't chasing behind the net there. Who knew they could actually PLAY defense on this team? Awesome.

Guess whoever said Murray likes to give up 4 goals was right.

A Tuch led team NEVER quits.

Tuch!

"Cozens 1st career goal against the Maple Leafs and it's a big one." - Dan Dunleavy.

Cozens!

Friggin' Murray. Tage usually buries those.

Not a biggie.

Any of the other "big guns" for the Loafs would've gotten that shot on net and very possibly past Anderson. Nylander can always be counted on to not come through in the clutch. (And Marner is playoff disappearing act.)

Bryson actually accidentally caused Tavaras to put the puck into Anderson.

???

Tuch!

Thank God that was Nylander in behind the D. He felt the pressure behind him and choked.

A Tuch led team never quits. ;)

Maybe he's afraid Foster Hewitt trademarked it?

Dahlin seems to get stuck with Bryson, Power with Clague. Expecting if it were Jokiharju that were out instead of Samuelsson then Clague would've gotten the start.

Really annoying because he hustled hard to get into a position to cover him and then once he was within a sticklength of Porn Stache he just glided into the zone. 2 extra strides and the Sabres survive that rush.

Especially the ones that don't actually connect with the opponent's head? Female Dog Marner sold that one well.

GREAT backcheck from Tuch, saved a very likely goal.

What did 74 ever do to you? Seems a rather inoccuous number. (NHL numbers shouldn't be over 31 (unless you're Tony Esposito in which case 35 is acceptable) but that's besides the point.)

Perhaps. But they should give it to Tuch. ;)

For whatever it is worth, you really do seem to take disagreement more harshly than it is intended from several posters. That said, agree that all things being equal it will be far easier to get into the playoffs next year from a base roster than makes low 90's this year or even mid 80's than coming from a team ending the year at 82 or 83 points. But, IF they come into next year with legit NHL goaltending, that alone should be worth at least 10 points in the standings. Which puts the rest of the improvement to a 100+ point roster into a doable category simply from continued improvement from individual players as they grow 1 year closer to their primes provided they remain relatively healthy. And regardless of whether they publicly admit it or not (and expect they won't but hope they do) the MINIMAL goal next year needs to be 100 points. (Give themselves a point or 2 of a cushion to miss the goal and still get into the dance.) Anything less is unacceptable.