R_Dudley

Cross check to the face. Somebody needs to say something the officiating office. i have seen way too many penalty's last bunch of games. Blatant variety

What happened to Skinner?

Yeah but I am not sure I like that since he has been making some really questionable decisions out there.

Yeah, i'm also not a fan of his and Nelsons defensive play, I really can't wait till Scandella gets back and we can cut that liability in half.

Yep whats even crazier is that is considered their 2nd line and its stats I believe are better than the Stamkos 1st line.

Well my routine of watching NHL channel after work to unwind went into watching movie Youngblood from 1986. Hockey sure has changed from just 30 plus years ago although some people still think fighting should have its place. Any of you who have never seen it should check it out on netflix, there is even a gratuitous mention of Buffalo. Any who, everybody likes the classic theme of newbie upstarts (Sabres/Dahlin) taking on the bad boy perennial conference champs(Lighting). Time to ground the Lightning. Let's go Buff-a-lo!

All really good information for contrasting whats different especially the banishment piece. Forgot about Antipin, Tennyson, Gorges, and Falk and how many games they actually played. Yeah definitely see the differences on the ice. Between these, GA's points and the eye test of watching these games I am in the Much better camp. Thanks for the discussion..

Ha, also originally a lurker who joined March 4 2007. In the Deluca, Bambam, eggsbenedict days. Yikes I have been here for 11 years... Welcome new comers. Warning this is addictive when they do well and a test of your meddle when they don't.

GASabres.... "To me this smells like improved goaltending more then improved defense, except 2 major factors health and offense." Randall.... "And yeah, the offensive side is a million times better. " Interesting question and comparison. I don't have access to the Athletic and admittedly I am not a stats guy like both you and Randall but you both acknowledge much improved offense so pardon my ignorance with Corsi, shots/quality shots allowed but I have a few questions around that. Do those stats factor in or reflect the improved offensive output? Does improved offensive output imply more risk and situations that would typically negatively effect the Corsi/stats numbers because they are caught out of position? So those questions considered and the fact the numbers are relatively the same given the higher risk factors and improved offensive production, can one not also infer that the defense is better? There is an analogy that the best defense is a great offense so there's also that.

I didn't realize why I had trouble sleeping last night till I just read PA's post and this thread. Well spoken as usual sir and a great thread. I agree with all the sentiments in this thread. Sports are considered an escape. Having hung in here through the tank years there was very little for us to escape too and lost hope is a terrible place to be. But many here persevered and we complained and debated and did all we could to keep our hopes alive. And when you see it finally happening it can almost feel unreal, sharing and caring isn't easy when hope is hard to find. Frustrations being released, demons being exorcised, hopes being realized, camaraderie being reinforced in shared passions, those are the things tears are made of. And yes I did tear up as well several times during yesterdays game and it felt great. Thanks for this thread PA I knew there was more behind that Curmudgeon exterior......... Oh and yes I am going to go there, don't forget that Thank you letter to Mr. Pegula... ?

As a parent with 4 kids I was and still am very conscious about swearing in front of my kids or in public. I apologize if I may have slipped here in a post or two over time. I have a little lessons learned story for other parents. I am a bit of a passionate driver and we have all seen people in various states of road rage. Mine is a mutter to myself when driving and running into terrible drivers on the road. In a conscious effort to not swear in front of the kids and when presented with bad driving tactics around me I would say things like " Hey Sparky watch the road" , "Sparky that's what turn signals are for" , "No you don't Sparky", etc.. You get it "Sparky" became my go to word for bad drivers. One day after Sparky cut me off and I of course ranted, out of the car seat in the back my then 4 year old says to my wife, Mom how does Dad know that guy's name is Sparky? My wife turns to me and says, Dad please go ahead explain to your Daughter how you know that guy's name? That's when I learned that those little ankle bitters listen too and watch everything we do and we have more influence on them then I had paid attention too. Good rule SDS and I am in.

I'm glad to see you back.... along with exciting Sabres hockey... Now that's a peach of a pair.....

I said it in my first post tonight and 'll say it again, I have enjoyed the last month of Sabres Hockey more than the previous 3 years. This team is fun and exciting to watch again and i forgot just how much fun this was till now... Hockey is a lot more fun when your favorite team is winning

I do not know if my cardiac health can take this season if it keeps playing out in games like this...

Skinner skins the sharks.... Yeah baby

Were going to Overtime...... Ok why not another extra period win... 3 on 3 should be our cup of tea..

Why did we start backing off and conceding ice too easily to these guys... lets Go Buffalo

Shaught....wrap around...

True that, but the ice has looked tilted against our Sabres last couple of games.

oh no penalty..... time for the most important kill of the game

Ok when you play with fire you get burned.

Oh jack why don't you shoot when they least expect it.. Like more often

Whoa Bogo a gogo

I gotta say the best off season move may have been adding Steve smith as the defense coach. The scoring from the back end, the penalty kill. Read that they scout and prepare for the opposing teams penalty kill and the overall break out of their zone. I just love how this team is maturing...

Oh yeah