Neo

I alluded last night ... I don’t think they were out “gritted”. They went toe to toe with Boston, but didn’t finish. Now, this is a problem and not just bad luck. They aren’t scoring goals. If/when Eichel’s shooting percentage revert’s to his career level, well, uh oh. Sheary, Okposo, Girgensons .... I just don’t lean forward when the puck’s on their sticks. All that said, I want that effort much more regularly. Imagine if we’d hit on Nylander and Mitts. This team is better, but it’s stuck.

I’m ready to be flamed ... but I still like the effort, tonight. The finish, not so much.

Sam! LOL!

I am a fan of culture and the process. I’m just not sure what it is in the NHL. We see Tre White dancing, Shaq and Jordan Phillips hamming it up, Allen flexing, Oliver lighting the place up with his smile, Gore mentoring ... Duke Williams GRATEFUL to be here. Kids from Louisiana get comfortable and gel more quickly in Buffalo than kids from Ontario or Minnesota. How does that happen? Think you could get into a tustle with a Bill and not have 49 rabid dogs on top of you? It doesn’t have to be fights .. but it does have to be a feeling.

Who are the Pegulas? The Bills or Sabres? I believe they want JBot and RaKru to be Beane and McDermott, obviously. It’s just harder in hockey. The draft is different, free agency’s different, etc. Maybe, a Beane/McDermott approach doesn’t work in the NHL. Musings and questions ... I’ll be valuable when I have answers.

That was a beloved team.

Sam’s got 30 pts in 38 games, more than respectable. I’d like to see him find a next level. He’s been on the cusp, it seams to me, for a year and a half. I’m ready, Sam.

Being a Sabres fan is almost a habit ... I like it, but could break it if I tried. That wasn’t true years ago. This vexes me. I know no more tightly knit, passionate, sports fans (honorable mention to Saints fans ... who dat, indeed). You’d think, given time, an owner, GM and coach could all get on the same page. “He’s our kinda guy.” I had great hope that Pegula, of all people, would get it, after the carpetbagger era.

YES ... get it in the center’s feet, away from waving defensemen sticks ... and you had the one on one. Always, those frantically waving defensemen sticks!

What I like about the Bruins ... they’ve been a great team for a long time, have talent and skill, and never lost that tough as nails, working man, identity. If I envied, and I don’t, I’d envy that.

Progress means different, necessarily. It doesn’t mean better, necessarily. If any of my SabreSpace friends stayed up late with the boys, from middle school through college, with games and series, tournaments and Cups, as I did, you’ll know what I mean. Playstation, schmaystation. Running play by plays and metal players. Always some lame guy, some crooked guy. Bliss .... ”Robert, up and down the wall, spins, spins again ..... .... infronttoPerreaultHESCORES!”

It’s early, and I’m no scout, but the effort is satisfying ...

I get worked up for Miami, New England ... our neighbors to the north .. our cold war rivals ... imagine a Prague Spring in our history. For you youngsters ... google Soviet Hungary Water Polo ...

Canada 6, USA 4 ... empty netter in a back and forth battle decided in the 57th minute ..

Well, the third is nothing less than history promised ... US ties after being down two ... and Canada regains the lead 8 seconds later ... with 3 minutes left.

USA parade to the box continues, a dangerous habit. Missed Russia vs Czech this morning. The Czechs won a tight one in front of berserk home town fans. The Russians against a nation they occupied, effectively, for two generations. Imagine that arena ...

Both of you ...PM me your providers and account numbers .. your commentary means enough to me that I’ll get you an upgrade for the billing period! 3-2 Canada after three straight period 2 goals. Do these two EVER play a boring game?

USA 2, Canada 1. I am using NHL Network (my NHL TV App subscription doesn't carry this tournament). Ooopps, 2-2.

I had to login to my streaming service, buy an upgrade “through the end of this billing service”, and pre-cancel for Jan 9! I woke up and scrambled!

BUMP! It’s the most, wonderful time, of the yeeeaaaar! 2020 IIHF U20 World Juniors!

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord ... Merry Christmas to all ... enjoy friends, family, and faith traditions that are your own.

The Force is not with us.

Tre White Goalie Academy of Louisiana...

Had you told me, 25 years ago, that my son would be in Sports Illustrated, I’d have thought you nuts ... that’s my boy, with some football player at an airport. @Neo's legacy 61

Had you told me, 25 years ago, that my son would be hanging in The Albright Knox, I’d have thought you nuts ... that’s my boy, with some football player at an airport. @Neo's legacy 61