dudacek

At this point in his career, Fleury is probably worst than Linus and better than Carter. At his salary, the idea of acquiring him expecting a better team is a reach. However, if either of our current goalies (or god forbid both) is going to be out, by all means.

Vegas couldn't get a team to take Fleury and a 2nd for free, which is why they ended up moving Schmidt for only a 3rd instead.

If you're worried about production (IMO it's too small a sample size, but for the sake of discussion) the issue is the middle of the lineup: Thompson, Cozens, Skinner and Staal: zero goals. Eichel Hall, Olofsson and and Reinhart have five.

The bottom 4 players (Sheahan, Reider, Lazar and Eakin) have combined for 3 ES goals in 4 games — pacing for 60 over an 80-game season. They've also won faceoffs, allowed just 1 PP goal against and been plus players at ES. Exactly what were you expecting?

I'm glad someone else watched the same four games I did. No issues whatsoever with the way Eakin Rieder Lazar and Sheahan have played. Eric Staal has been very disappointing. We may have to move Hall beside him to create a second line.

Toronto waived Dell and he was picked up. I think the same happened to another goalie as well, but I can't remember who. Do we have any clarity as to the availability of Hutton or Ullmark?

A few leftover thoughts: After starting god-awful, then progressing to poor, then OK, Brandon Montour actually had a good game. That unnecessary goofy flash he has seemed channelled into positive areas. He was getting pucks out of our zone, keeping it in theirs and playing with pace. In a game where the Flyers were working hard to keep us outside, I thought we could have used Tage's size and reach. I knew Taylor Hall was really individually skilled, but what has surprised me a little is his strength on the puck. He's been a very complete player. I'd like to see he or Jack add "snipe" to their resumes. Is it possible Curtis Lazar might take a step up this year from utility guy to actual third-liner? He's been noticeable. Sheahan lacks skill and flash, but he works and he knows how to play the game. Eric Staal is really scaring me. He seems to be trying harder and the brain is there, I'm just not sure he can keep up. Dahlin had his best game last night. He just seemed more poised. Not happy he seemed to be dropped from PP1. Also liked that Henri Jokiharju was trying to impose his will on the game more. We need to see growth there. When he's not tossing up hand grenades and trying to do the jobs of three men in the defensive zone, I love what Risto brings. Right now he's a treat to watch. What the heck was Colin Miller doing on the 2nd goal? He pushed it softly to the net in what was essentially a giveaway, and then he got all tangled up on the blueline instead of peeling back to protect the rush. Most goalies either need work technically, or athletically. Johansson looked terrible in both areas on what was a tough but very saveable 2-0 goal. Hutton played well. We cannot afford bad goaltending. If either he or Linus is out for any length of time, Adams needs to make a trade today.

We weren't as fast as the game before. Philadelphia actually came to play tonight and got in our way. I'm not a fancystats guy, but they support my eyes: Expected goals charts had the Sabres way ahead. We were also way ahead in zone time, the shot clock, and corsi. Philly was kept mostly to the outside and their scoring chances were limited to fairly easy shots and few rebounds. And I didn't say we were the better team, although if pushed to pick one, I would say it was us. It was up for grabs. They won.

I guess if it's retroactive to Jan. 12, that's not that much longer, and there is the question of salary cap gamesmanship. I'm with Swamp, we're better with Kyle.

LTIR means 10 games or 24 days, right? Or has that been prorated by the shortened season? These day-to-day Sabres injuries that blow up into extended issues are frustrating.

We did skate hard, but we were not shut down. Not by the eye test, not by the shot clock, not by the fancystats. You've watched a lot of hockey. You know the better team doesn't always win; it's the nature of the game. No one on here thought they were anything other than a playoff bubble team and nothing we've seen in four games should have changed minds. Nobody should be getting too high or low about a small sample size; Jack Eichel is not going to get 100 assists this year and Jeff Skinner is not going to go scoreless. We played well. They played well. It was a good hockey game. They won. It's frustrating, but it happens.

Pretty small sample size, no? How does this compare with other teams?

If we just saw the best effort from the best team in our division, I think the playoffs are within reach. Assuming we have a goalie.

Good start against a much better Flyers showing. It feels like the Flyers want to be bullies, but they can’t catch us. And that we don’t give a *****.

2nd game of a back-to-back, on the road, against a good team, after embarrassing them last night, starting the same goalie again, who is Hutton. This should be a guaranteed loss. Show me this team is different boys.

You can’t be talking about last night. They allowed 22 shots and minimal stretches of zone pressure.

So Tage, not Dylan is the “evolving player” being rested.

I'm not saying Dahlin should fight him, although that would be clean and simple and preferred. I'm also not saying he should put the team in a hole by selfishly running around seeking retribution. I am saying he should take his number and at the right moment give back to him what he took: via clean hipcheck, vicious crosscheck in the crease, sneaky elbow or butt end Messier-style. It's not about revenge, it's about setting the tone for the next ten years that Dahlin is not someone who can be intimidated. He's already got his nose bloodied. Bloody it back. I've always thought he had it in him. I'd like to see it.

Dahlin should be no more worried about Aube-Kubel than Jack or Hall would be. He needs to rid the league of the idea that is even an option.

I'd like Dahlin to take care of his own business tonight. He's got 4 inches and 20 pounds on Aube Kabel and it sends exactly the right kind of message.

Hear something? I can't remember Jeff Skinner being so effective without scoring. Zero points and he's still a plus. And the goals are going to come. PS: he's a 4th-liner in name, but he's 7th among forwards in ice time with just over 15 minutes per. You can't say he's been benched.

Definitely. They are moving pucks along the end boards more, almost like they would be if they were cycling at even strength Probably. I was impressed yesterday though how the guy on the half wall would gum things up just enough for one guy to rotate behind him to protect against the breakout and a second guy in to support the puck.

What do people think about the changes in the power play? I'm liking the active rotation between slots: Sam sliding up to the half-wall, Jack and Vic switching sides. It's much less predictable. Also, Hall's power and passing ability are adding options from the bumper that Skinner/Risto etc. didn't offer last year. Finally, the 2nd unit looks like it has some juice too.

‘”The important thing is going to be to monitor the energy and use our depth appropriately,” Krueger said. “So, if at any point in time Dylan plays two of three games or three of four, and we get a little rotation going – I’ve mentioned this to you already in the preseason that that could happen. Three forwards share two spots for a stretch. It’s going to be very important to get that right, and then it’s not easy because we’ve never quite been in this territory before. But a scratch of a Dylan in the future or of any of our other evolving players shouldn’t be a surprise to anybody.”

Not sure where else to put this but Sabres are 10th in the league on faceoffs so far this year at 53 per cent. Sheahan 86 Eakin 61 Lazar 54 Staal 54 Eichel 46 Jack is taking way too many draws 😋