DarthEbriate

Egad. Mrazek rocked a .200 sv% tonight. That's how you work on your draft lottery odds.

The bun is in your mind. And it's about time the Sabres dial up one of those 7-3 walkaway games as the other team is forced to open up. Nashville has shown they're not very good if they get unstructured.

Dang. They've kept their composure through ups and downs most of the season, but tonight not so much.

Muel negates so many shots.

Ohhhh... that almost snuck through. I thought for sure Tage saw Power trailing and was going to tee it up in the slot for him.

Goalofsson! All he does is add insurance goals.

That's the right call. But then, shouldn't there be a penalty against Jeannot for interference?

Ref just set up a Sabre to get drilled by kicking the puck back toward him as a checker was bearing down. Joker got buried.

That OK-Asplund-Hino line worries me. It just seems disjointed since Asplund has yet to look like a center. Hopefully that jinxes them into a couple goals tonight to wrap this one up.

Great shot, Kids, don't get cocky!

About time, Kids!

The Kraken are crushing everyone right now. The Sabres last 7 games have included BOS, MIN, WSH (all on terrific runs at the time) for wins, and PHI (6-1 in their last 7), SEA (7-0 in their last 7), and WPG (7-1 in their last 8). It's not always who you play but when you play them. And the Sabres have weathered a vicious, vicious schedule. Gotta get back to playing some teams that aren't just ripping everything up. (Especially as you try to work a goalie back into NHL shape and speed.)

Disappointing to have that period end up tied. Poor on the powerplay, penalty that looks worse from the referee's POV than the TV angle, then UPL lets an unscreened shot that we was fully in position for get through. But the Preds broadcasters were very worried until the penalties started getting called. The Sabres speed was winning handily.

Need some more PP practice. Nashville is reading the obvious pass but back to the point or whipping it around the boards to the far D was open.

If you're going to throw the elbow, try to catch more than the glass. UPL should've had it, then gets spun down. Let's set up a one-timer here like Josi had. But instead of dribbling through... just let Thompson send it past Saaros' ear at 102 mph. Or break a stick.

Skinner... classic case of a lazy backcheck right there... for the goal.

Lots of delaying before shooting and no one to screen the goalie.

The 7s draw a penalty (and could've drawn two).

Pull a Marchand 6-on-5 breakaway?

Decent start.

In addition to the pipeline, there's always the question of which leaders might want to come back (or be brought in from other AHL squads). The kids will need at least a couple of Merschs and Malones on AHL deals.

Welcome to the 'Space! Just want to check on the intent of the bolded. UPL was the 2nd goalie taken, but only Oettinger was in the 1st round or near it. UPL was drafted 54th, two-thirds of the way through the second round, with the pick the Sabres got from Minnesota for Chris Stewart as a deadline rental. Edit: Note, the Sabres had the chance to take UPL almost 20 picks earlier with their own #37 pick, but took Marcus Davidsson instead.

At the midseason point, here's how the interesting names are shaping up, neatly broken down by skater/goalie and continent. Thanks, NHL CS! Forwards NA - Quentin Musty, Hunter Brzustewicz, Gracyn Sawchyn, Aram Minnetian, Owen Outwater, Florian Xhekaj, Kai Uhacz, Anton Topilnyckyj, Ryan "will be" Fine, Valentin Zhugin, Marcel Marcel, Forwards EUR - Dalibor Dvorsky, Danil But, Zeb Forsfjall, Emil Pieniniemi, Elis Rix, Rainers Rullers, Hugo Hell, Otso Ylitalo Goalies NA - Hampton Slukynsky, Jack Spicer Goalies EUR - Aksels Ozols

Just a midseason perusing of points-per-game and Sabres prospects... No surprises for Richard leading his team in the USHL, Savoie, Bloom... and then there's Viljami Marjala, posting 1.83 ppg in Finland's U20 Liiga (and 2 points in 4 games for TPS in the Liiga). That is a bit of a surprise. Two OK seasons in the QMJHL, went back home across the pond and is among the U20 scoring leaders. While he might never come back across the Atlantic, it's good to see that they identified some talent for a forgotten 5th rounder, and he could carve out a solid Liiga career.

Got out of a jam there. Desperately need the next goal though, despite outshooting them.