LTS

I disagree. I think intent is there because players know exactly where their appendages are. Sammy did not skate into his elbow so much as Timo made a calculated decision that to drive through "high" would result in a low chance of a penalty being called. "We" provide the benefit of the doubt, but then we read stories about how professionals understand the "minutia" and I think that applies here. Glad he's okay.. strange routing for him, but he has been very good. Even if he did get the proverbial officiating finger tonight on the penalty called against him.

Hold. Whether it should or should not be, the growth of power needs in the US because of AI processing necessitates the cheapest power available and nuclear is currently that power. There are a few states who are very nuclear power friendly and it's no surprise they are seeing unprecedented growth because of their cheap power costs. Power generations continues to suffer a negative consequence, regardless of the medium. It's just a byproduct of our evolution. We need to understand how the most efficient way to harness energy resources. We haven't done it yet.

Drinking trumps common sense. The NHL does not have that benefit.. and here we are.

It's these moments that cement the best stories. There's no great play by Palmieri here. He's a forgotten man but on his way to the end of his career he makes what likely becomes his career defining play. I love it because while it's a once in a lifetime moment, he made it happen. I hate it because I don't like seeing players end their careers on injuries. I'd love to think he'll be back but he's pushing the age. He's 34 (I had to look it up). I wish him the best, but if this was his moment.. damn what a moment. He's from Smithtown, NY. It's Lon Gisland... but I'll throw him some love for this moment only. 🙂

I look at the roster and I see: Östlund, Benson, Malenstyn, Dahlin, McLeod, Doan, Timmins, Samuelsson (small sample size), Zucker, Bryson, Kozak. I think Bryson remains a serviceable 7th D, Timmins a 3rd pairing D, Kozak does his job as does McLeod and Malenstyn. I think Östlund is showing promise. Why no Thompson? He's a one-trick pony at the moment. He can't win board battles and he doesn't do great in contested space. I like him, his skill is immense but the book on him is close his time and space and he's a turnover machine. No sample size on Norris. Quinn hasn't made it happen. Tuch is... who he is. Zucker is an established vet. Dahlin covers for others. Sammy is getting it done this year. Doan is the real deal. The Sabres continue to not have a great first line simply because they keep trying to inject youth into it. If the Sabres get one more top line forward who can pull attention from Thompson I think they will do very well.

Ellis is still a bit too busy with his movements, but I'll take it for now. They managed a win. I don't really care too much other than a dub is better than the L. Find a way to make it happen more consistently... reminder this is only their second road dub and they are about to embark on a long road game stretch. I don't miss Greenway. I like Greenway, but I think the game has passed him by. Still puzzling over giving apples on Doan's goal... that does NOT go in unless Zuccarello plays it.. that should be a straight no apples play... but I guess the NHL stat keepers are tasked with keeping Sabres fans engaged... (hah)

I understand why it could feel that way but I don't think so. Coaching affects performance, certainly. But the effort a player puts in on the ice is 100% attributable to the player. I see a lot of lazy players on the ice who don't want to win puck battles, make good passes, and skate hard. Even if the system is bad the point at which a player decides to make a pass whether it's the right pass or not, that's on the player to execute. The desire to win a puck battle in the moment is on the player. The coaching on this team is laughable. I think the players don't want to put their full effort in. They are both contributing to the problem but while the coaching won't get better the players can play better. I see some of them still working hard. I watched McLeod swing by the net after a shot on goal the other night. You could point to coaching and say they aren't forcing the players to go to the net when the shot is on goal. You could be right, but I watched Benson go to the net. Every player is taught from the moment they begin playing, you go to the net after a shot. You don't fly by, ever. We saw it happen in OT earlier this year. They didn't go to the net to force a whistle. The goalie put it back in play and whoever they were playing went right down the ice and scored because Buffalo was caught sleeping.

Tage Thompson has also seemingly stopped doing all of these things again. It was like he was motivated when he heard he was a bubble USA Olympic team option and decided to show he could actually care and play stronger. I also believe the Sabres do not emphasize physical play and instead emphasize stick work. It's why they attempt to poke pucks free more than separate player from puck through checking. It's why they leave players open in front of the net because they believe by standing in front of the player they can intercept the pass or shot. Some players are good at the puck poking, they all seem to fail at intercepting the pass before the player in front of the goaltender can have an impact. Meh..

Confusing statement. Does the coach get on the ice and push them around faster? I think a coach can help take motivated players to the next level but regardless of what is said in the locker room or on the bench the only motivation that really matters is when a player steps on the ice. Either they are going to put it all out there or they are not. A coach does not make Timmins make a bad pass, even Herb Brooks wouldn't have prevented that. Even if a coach does not hold a player accountable (and yes, that's on the coach) a player needs to hold themselves and their teammates accountable. Coaches can certainly negatively impact a team, but I don't see how it negatively impacts a player's willingness to spend their own energy. Even if they don't like the coach they should be doing it to spite the coach and because they hold themselves to their own personal higher standard.

I watched the first two periods. If I were to use recent social media speak I would classify it as "Tell me you have no interest in this game without telling me you have no interest in this game." They were soft, slow, and disinterested. So.. I turned it off. I'm now on my fourth black manhattan.. I'm happy; just as I predicted earlier today. Because.. why on Earth would I care about this game if the team that gets paid stupid bucks to play it does not?

Not the one's who starve to death.

I get ghosted by a lot of people... so yes?

If they win, I'm happy. If they lose, I might throw up. If I throw up I will have more room for Thanksgiving indulgence, so I'm happy. Either way. I will be happy.

Maybe... and believe me I might already have seriously kicked into the holiday weekend drinking festivities.. but maybe.. The Sabres can help facilitate a 3-way trade that puts Hughes in NJ and shakes free a NJ player? I mean, I understand that Kevyn Adams might be the only person who doesn't like a 3-way... but perhaps Jarmo is open to it? Wow, that post is going to read strange later on. Especially since I've actually been working all day and haven't jumped into drinking yet.

Yes, what an appropriate punishment that would be. 🙄