nfreeman

Well, I seem to recall Howie getting pretty animated and celebrating GWGs.

He also looked pretty happy in the OT celly. I hope he stays. It would be really nice for him, Reino, Eichel, McCabe and the other holdovers from the tank era to hang together and right the ship.

I too have been reasonably happy with Vesey. He was ineffective along with Mitts until Sheary returned from injury, but since then has pulled his weight on that line as it has raised its game considerably. He's not scoring yet, but as @Taro T noted, he's winning board battles and being quite defensively responsible -- probably best on his line in those categories. I wouldn't be surprised if RK, in keeping with his balanced offense/defense line construction philosophy, has instructed Vesey to focus on defensive responsibilities and free up Mitts and Sheary a bit on O.

I didn't ban anything. In fact, I'm working with the #Resistance on this.

I thought it was a pretty good article. As a related point, I've noticed that RK is pretty impassive on the bench -- very little reaction to goals for or against, wins, etc. I think it's of a piece with his "stay calm" mantra that he clearly believes in for both players and coaches.

The main point he made that the NHL Network guys missed was that Mitts recognized that SJ was changing, which would leave Risto open, sold SJ that he (Mitts) was just going to change as well, and then made a quick pass to Risto to spring him for the GWG. It was a really good breakdown. Fight the power!

It's great to see Mitts getting some love from the national NHL media, but I'll note that Marty had a better breakdown (and the MSG crew had a better camera angle) of the same play on the Sabres' post-game show last night.

Couple other game notes: - Mitts’ line looks like it has moved ahead of Larsson’s line in the rotation. - What a great play by Mitts in the OT to hustle back on D, intercept the SJ pass and then find Risto to set up the GWG. - I know some were criticizing VO upthread but I thought he had a nice bounce back game, with good strength on the puck and better decisions.. - At one point in the 2nd (I think), Risto tried to hit Marleau and Marleau braced himself and sent Risto the other way. - Scandella is a large dude. - The Sabres are on pace for 65 wins.

That was a great hockey game. I hope I look half as cool as Rick Dudley looks when I’m his age. Eichel made a few mistakes, but he still made about 20 amazing plays in that game even without the scoring plays. The skill with which he (and Dahlin) controls the puck is really something. Reino and Skinner also played very well and created a ton of chances. I don’t blame the fans for not selling out the building after this long in the desert, but I hope they start soon. The Sabres are finally putting out a product worth the price. Say it loud: Ra-Kruuuuuuuuuuu!!!

BTW, if the Sabres are able to get, say, a 2nd-rounder for Scandy at the deadline, that will be a nice restoration of value by RK.

On the first bolded -- not sure what this means -- Pommer wasn't re-signed and isn't going to be. I don't think any of the other bolded guys will be re-signed, with the possible exception of another cheapo one-year deal for one of Larsson and Zemgus. As to the broader question of JB's cap management performance, while I agree that it's still too early to tell, I think there has been a consistent series of competent, logical moves, plus a few excellent moves like the MoJo contract and the Reino bridge deal (understanding that YMMV on that one), and an absence of GMTM-like blunders. So the early returns, while incomplete, are still good IMHO.

Well, it all depends on the trade that's available, innit?

I'm guessing Hutton will start?

I plead guilty! Seriously, if they can win a game like they did last night, where they legit earned it for 60 min on the road against a good team, and kept it coming in the 3rd period in the face of fatigue and adversity -- it could be a great season.

Couple other game notes: - Evander looked like a highly motivated monster last night. I'd still rather have Skinner, but I'd really rather have both. - Just to stir the pot, I'll note that Evander was much more effective than Reino last night, and if the Sabres have to give Reino a huge contract this summer, it'll be questionable as to whether that $$ might've been better spent on Evander (although we of course don't know whether that option was available to JB). - Guess who the only team in the EC with 7 wins is? - Another encouraging showing from Mitts' line. I thought all 3 of them played pretty well last night and that line has been pulling its weight and contributing offense for the last few games now. - So was the whole D pairing shakeup just a misimpression that one of the Sabres beat guys reported and then a bunch of people repeated? - Overall, a good, balanced game throughout the lineup. - That Sharks goal that Sorensen banked in off of his skate was pretty close to a kick, although it was an unusual backward kick. Still probably the right call though, and the Sabres certainly got the benefit of the doubt on Mitts' goal.

I dunno -- it still seems like it's missing something...

I've been thinking about this over the last couple of days. I like Ehlers, and would've said yes immediately over before the season started, but they are 7 and freaking 2, with a number of quality wins, and they look great, and Risto is a huge part of all that. RK is leaning on him quite a bit. I think I'm at the point where it needs to be more than Ehlers and maybe needs to be such a good offer that no one would make the offer. And I'm definitely not trading Risto just to avoid healthy-scratching Scandy or sending down Joker, either of which would be only until someone else gets hurt.

This is either going to be a very ugly win or an awful loss.

Sweet victory for @PASabreFan here.

Best win of the year IMHO. Worth the brutal late bedtime.

I agree with all of this although I would probably say Eichel has been their best forward. It’s close though, which is a good thing.

I’ll be interested to see which of the 2 new D pairs gets more ice time.

I don’t hold this opinion, but he has been an important contributor overall and especially on the PP, which has been a huge difference-maker for the team’s getting wins.

outstanding. There is NFW that Casey Nelson should ever get called up before Borgen again.

Interesting and quite possible.