DarthEbriate

I'm guessing there was no one who set the tone for the Sabres early on. No outracing a Predator to the puck, no solid hit, no desperation. Meanwhile, I'm guessing that the Predators were lining up to show their teammates and their coach that the previous game was a fluke.

I missed this one. Both of these teams were embarrassed 7-0 in their previous game. One team, with one of the top offenses in the league, mustered 5 shots in the first period and then had its goalie chased in the 2nd. It appears the Sabres missed this one, too.

It looks like I'll be sitting in traffic until into the 3rd period. Hopefully by the time I get home the Sabres will be giving me a reason to tune in. Granted, the Sabres showings in recent home games means I won't even have to worry about it by the time I begin sitting in said traffic.

On the next shift... the puck is in the net in 15 seconds. RJ sighs, "It's over."

I think Dahlin could've had a very strong case for #1 if he topped 90 points with the Sabres making up 30 points in the standings and making the playoffs this season. Especially since Karlsson's epic season might end with a Bedard pick. But it's moot at this point. Dahlin (and the team's) fade means he'll be lucky to get a nomination as a finalist. Top 10 though.

And now we know. 2 losses to Boston by a combined 14-1. The 3-game road trip at the end of the stretch required a comeback against TOR (their best game by far), 3 blown 2-goal leads against WSH, and a no-show vs. PHI. The forwards didn't skate a whole bunch of times. 3-7 or worse? They did worse. 2-8. They didn't wear the goatheads enough. They did win 5-3 vs. TB in the goats. VO didn't get his hot streak. He was scratched instead. He did score 2 meaningless goals against PHI though. They came out flat repeatedly --- no one ever started anything. They didn't win those games. I was wrong.

Muel-Power is real. Their record with him in the lineup is amazingly different than without -- whether the top line is scoring or VO is scoring or the goaltending is one of those give-up-4-and-win or not. But of note in his importance: it's Mattias.

I figured Dahlin winning the Norris was dependent on making the playoffs. This stretch of games since late February... Dahlin's Norris case, like the Sabres' playoff chances, are over. Disappointing given where both opportunities stood just a couple weeks ago.

It's one thing to get beat and have Dahlin playing through an injury. But for a couple weeks now and for months in home games... It's quite another thing to look like....

Oh crap, I'm going to give the kid a complex. The complex of The Concept Of Tuch: The Concept Of is strong in my core trade. My trade-father has it. I have it. And my trade-brother has it. Yes... it's you, Levi. Levi: I know! Somehow I've always known. And our other trade-brothers have it, too: Krebs, Kulich (and... maybe... Greenway... in some capacity.)

Skin Solo: How are we doing? Tuch Icewalker: The same as always. Skin: That bad, huh? Where's Levi? Levi (chained to the bench): I'm here.

The puck did not bounce over the Flyers' stick. RJ yells: "It's in the net!"

Losing a faceoff in the offensive zone shouldn't lead to a goal within 3 seconds....

And that's just it. Last game he learned how to use the timeout. It worked -- they settled down and Krebs/Girgs combined to regain the 2-goal lead. This game, it's time to learn how to pull a goalie. (See if he learned from the 10-goal debacle.)

Anderson should not be on the ice in the third. But he absolutely should have been pulled at 3-0. This team needed a kick in the rear at the first intermission and instead they got more lackadaisical.

Keep your distance, Sabres. But don't look like you're trying to keep your distance. I don't know... play casual!

Okposo, Girgs, Tuch, Dahlin... now would be the the time to show some leadership and fire.

One of the top scoring teams in the league now has a negative goal differential on the season.

Tortorella is a bit of a grump, but he's a good coach when it comes to structure. Structure can get you a lot of wins in this league.

Granato learned how to use the timeout last game. Pull Anderson. Wake 'em up. Not because Anderson has been all that bad. But the team needs to see him chased.

And they stopped skating... just gliding... goal. All too easy.

I guess the Sabres are starting to skate a bit more now... after spotting the Flyers 2 goals and over halfway through the game. Levi can't save you this game, gents. You're going to have to do it yourselves.

1st period: Is it me or does Power have the puck bounce over his stick just a bit more frequently than other Sabres? A disadvantage of extra height? You could see the Skinner penalty coming a mile away. He took that extra stride to get alongside the Flyer and that was it. Once the Flyers got the PP goal, the Sabres lost all energy and everything was nicely clogged up in the neutral zone. And.... there's an insurance goal.

Regarding the lines... Exciting is hardly the word I would use. Last chance for VO to get hot.