dudacek

Hutton has actually looked pretty good.

Mitts showing some speed on a partial breakaway. JJ with the save.

Rieder with a nice finish on another breakout turnover. Not sure who coughed it up that time.

"A world of hurt" (zemgus)

Staal's long stick is awesome. Skinner not showing much chemistry with the other two, but when does he?

Samuelsson adn Fitzpatrick, who have been quietly solid. I think it's 88 and 44? Davidson (OK) and Irwin (invisible)

I think we are going to have get used to the Hall 1-on-3 turnover.

He and Tage are taking advantage of playing with Hall, who has been quietly very good.

Was that Murray, 57? Thompson picked his pocket, sets up R2 to make it 3-0

Lazar line got worked there by the Eakin line. Best shift by the EGO line so far. Sheahan has to shoot it. Good forechecks wasted there.

Mitts actually hasn't looked bad on a pesky unit with Rieder and Lazar. Brett Murray is an enormous human being.

Staal and Reinhart again. Carter Hutton making saves.

Staal is noticeable every shift and he and Reinhart are showing chemistry

He's had the puck on his stick more than anyone else, I think. He hasn't really coughed it up and he's moved it smartly for the most part. I think he went to the net for both goals. Thumbs up so far.

Oh boy, JJ looks bad

I switched to the FB page and that seems to be working fine too.

Anyone else having their feed repeatedly freezing?

Housser and Johansson must be the stuff of dreams for Hall and the rest of the Blue team. Then they remember they've got Tokarski and Hutton. I predict goals.

Remember last year during the 40 minutes Jack wasn’t on the ice and the best you were realistically hoping for was not much to happen? The Skinner/Staal/Reinhart line should make watching the games that much more enjoyable.

No. There are essential service exemptions. Not sure if living legend qualifies.

Stutzle doing everything he can himself to push Germany through a tough Russian defence, to the point he’s hurting the team sometimes by turning the puck over. Peterka looks like he’s faded a bit outside the PP. Not quite as quick or as strong on the puck. He’s been playing 26 minutes a night and it’s his fifth game in seven days.

Krueger on Casey Mittelstadt: “He was our best finishing forward in Rochester in March... He’s embracing the challenge of being a depth player that can play on any line... he’s increased his speed and he’s increased his fitness.” #Sabres @WKBW PHam saying Casey stayed out after practice finished and was the last guy off the ice.

Sometimes. It’s really looking like those three, plus Cozens, R2 and maybe Sheahan will operate as a new kind of bottom six, rotating through the 4th line and spotting into the top nine as injuries, play, matchups and the condensed schedule dictates. At least to start.

One of the more interesting things to watch will be the play of Eakin. Most fans on the internet: “Larsson was a defensive force and the catalyst for the LOG line, which was our second best line last year. Eakin might be a bit better offensively, but he kinda sucks. That line isn’t going to be able to handle the tough minutes and is worse than it was last year.” Ralph and Kevyn: “Larsson was dependable defensively but had hands of stone and was an absolute anchor in the other two zones. Eakin is also good defensively, but he is also way faster, a better penalty killer and has at least some offence. That line goes from shutdown-only to a legit 2-way 3rd line and will be better than it was last year.” Huge test of the player evaluation skills of our new hockey department.

Somewhere there is a sweet spot where Risto plays the majority of his time with four players that are as good or better than the five they are playing against. Maybe we are an expected Dahlin stride away.