DarthEbriate

This is where the fun begins. (Again, I'm on record that I wouldn't add Kane for this season, because if the recovery isn't full, then he's a slow non-defensive forward who has to be in the lineup because he's a star player/veteran. Adding Kane means we're still a perimeter team, without a lot of "grit", and still loses a vast majority of faceoffs which crushes possession on PP/PK.)

Just something I've always wanted to ask aloud: "How many upper bodies does this guy have?"

I didn't see the game and have no frame of reference. So I won't complain about any one player or event. Instead, I make sweeping generalizations. It is very difficult to stack wins, especially on the 2nd night of a back-to-back where you traveled, and especially against a veteran team that's jelled in their last few games. But if the Sabres want to make the playoffs, they have to start winning season series against the Caps, the Isles, the Penguins, and the Sens of the world. If you don't make some hay against them, you won't pass them in the standings.

Same game plan as last night. Play good 5-on-5 defense, possess the puck to draw some penalties, and this time when killing penalties, don't let the D get drawn out so high and give up that cross-ice pass twice. Road game with UPL? Score 5 and give up 3.

The best thing about JJP this season is he's performing with everyone. No Quinn, off-kilter Cozens, doesn't matter. JJP can go anywhere. When Quinn is back, you don't need to reunite them. If JJP works best with Greenway-Mitts, then Quinn-Cozens-? isn't a bad base for a 3rd line for a Rousek or Krebs (or sneak-peaks at Kulich and Rosen). It was right there in the name!

If Muel and Tuch can go tonight, I consider 11-7 --- take it easy on Muel, give EJ some minutes off on the back-to-back. Then after the game, I send Johnson the Younger back down to the Amerks to keep getting top line minutes. I put Tuch in and let Cozens rest up another game. And sit either Krebs or Savoie. Rousek plays for his all-around game. I also play UPL tonight and rest up Levi for the Bruins.

...So you're saying his ceiling is... unlimited? We saw Krebs begin to take that 4C role and be an Angry Krebs last year. It doesn't need to provide a lot of points (no one will produce a lot of points between Okposo and Girgs at this stage in their careers), but he's mishandled the puck, not cycled well, and certainly hasn't shown his anger yet this year. Unleash your anger, Krebs. Only your hatred can make you an NHL mainstay.

Fun stats line from the 11/10 3-2 win vs. Utica. Rosen, Novikov, and Prow picked up assists, but the rest of the scoring was Metsa and the ECHL injury call-ups. Goals from Metsa, Fiddler-Schultz, Brown, and Giroux. Other assists from Slaggert and D. Mersch (Mersch the Younger). Also: Let's give it up for GMTM for 2014 6th-round pick Christopher Brown (Doug Brown's kid) getting his first goal within the Sabres organization! He was essentially "signed" to the Amerks along with the ECHL Jacksonville affiliation where he's played the last few years. Also also: 2014 5th round pick Max Willman would have been in the game for Utica, but he was called up by the Devils. And the 7th round pick in VO could also have been in the game for the Amerks... or for the Sabres if Savoie wasn't getting his look. Considering Brendan Lemieux is still scuffling around (now with the Hurricanes) and Jonas Johansson is the backup with the Lightning, it wasn't a bad draft overall... it was just a very bad 2nd round of whom none did a thing for the Sabres.

But who's got time for that? You? You bet I could...

Good win. I was certain we were going to get the 4-2 ENG, but went for icings instead of playing the puck up off the boards for a forward to chase down.

It's the defensive team in their zone as of a few years ago.

Rousek out on the ice after the timeout.

The 180' backhand lob might not be the most accurate empty net shot attempt.

10,000 posts? I could almost buy my own ship for that!

I stand corrected. But then I would note that the refs could've call the initial interference of playing Bogo sans puck. Either way, Greenway can just tap that puck back to the D to dump back deep or tap it out of the zone and the Sabres are still up 3-1. The game-sealing ENG is coming shortly, though.

But it is one they're going to call while you're on the PP with the lead. Greenway had the angle and the position. He could've easily played the puck instead of playing Bogo.

Now would be a good time for a powerplay goal.

Power just ate Boldy's shot attempt alive and spat it back out of the zone.

Binks bank boom. JJ style.

If there weren't, the Sabres would've made the playoffs and won a few Cups in the preceding decades.

Cozens hasn't been right yet this season... but I do like the Concept of Savoie/Rousek - Cozens - Quinn as a 3rd line in the back half of this season. Or any team.

Holy hell, Cozens, what on earth was that? Please HCDG, "rest" him for the 3rd.

If you call Johnson the Younger, you've gotta call that... good. Sit down, Kaprizov.

Doesn't get much closer than Skinner's goal.