DarthEbriate

Dahlin just a hundredth of a second too slow on the release.

VO is the spark that will ignite the fire that will restore the Republic!

Hmmm... elbow... more clothesline?

Jets are good defending their blue line against entries. Quick sticks over and over again.

Just came out of hyperspace... the Jets feed showed some turnovers and instant Sabres shots. Maybe don't just turn and fire by Hellebuyck will be ready. Turn, drive, and make him react.

I was super-skeptical of Jost based on his lack of point production and lackluster PK stats with the Wild and figured once the early honeymoon was over he'd be a JAG or we'd gripe about him as much as Mitts. But thus far... he's good. And it's starting to look like the only reasons he was waived were 1) their entire team started sluggish, 2) since then, they've been on a tear and he didn't fit in with the lines that had jelled (just like Asplund/Hino for us), and 3) that $2M price tag with RFA status and Minnesota's ongoing cap crunch from buyouts of Parise and Suter meant he was likely tradebait anyway and no one was biting. It's been a good pickup. Go Jost!

ESPN+ will be blacking out the game here in the Seattle market so I'll catch y'all on the flip side. Let's go, Buffalo! Treat the Kraken just as they did Boston and Washington and the Wild and they ought to do well.

I'm on record saying I'd have sent down Bryson and I stand by that; I think Fitz's scrappiness is helpful if needed (and if the top-4 are all healthy). But I do think that (pending clearing waivers, which he should like he's done before -- everybody's got a #8 like him) Fitz is much better for the Amerks than Bryson would be. They've already got Prow and Pilut for the power play. Fitz helps round out the defense with Bartkowski and Cecconi.

I have felt a great disturbance in the Concept of... Road teams are winning a collective 8-0 right now in the NHL across the three active games.

Glad the Sabres were able to re-group and start the 2nd with... 3 missed shots against, 5 shots on goal against, and 2 blocked shots, 2 hits against, 1 giveaway and 1 penalty taken in the first three minutes. Wake up, gents!

All wings report in. The shield is still up. That thing's operational!

I know everyone wants it to be Mitts or VO, but the goal is to bring back someone on the roster for them if either is part of an offseason move. GM Sheevyn is playing the patient game this year and into next, so the answer is Hinostroza. My guess is Savoie gets 9 games and if he's still too undersized, then it's back to juniors (weird in a D+2, but this is going to be a very fast lineup next season and it'll be tough for a rookie to crack). I've got Rousek as the 13 next year. Asplund is the sleeper -- you can clear him to bring in Savoie and clear Hino for Rousek.

Again it goes back to Comrie's sample size and who's been his defense corps. The team played much more composed in front of Anderson the last couple seasons, and they clearly trusted Ullmark and not Hutton. Too soon to say with UPL or Comrie yet, though they definitely know with UPL that they can (or have to?) go all-out attack all the time.

The Muel (and D-health) Factor I'm not going to do sv% or GAA, but here's the breakdown of each goalie with Samuelsson in the lineup. UPL had a couple great games (Colorado, Vegas); the sample size for Comrie is tiny. UPL can always come back up, but I've got to see the main UFA pickup of the offseason with Samuelsson on the ice. Anderson + Muel = 6-2-1 Anderson - Muel = 1-3 (the lone victory vs. CHI in OT; includes 3 losses in the 8-game streak) Comrie + Muel = 2-1 (the loss vs. FLA) Comrie - Muel = 2-6 (includes 4 losses in the 8-game L streak; Comrie got TB minus Dahlin, Joker & Muel; Comrie injured in L7 of streak) UPL + Muel = 9-2-1 UPL - Muel = 0-1 (final loss of 8-game L streak v. TOR) Goal Support Everyone's had the offense going including a some blowouts, but Anderson and Comrie got the losing streak and its decreased transition game. UPL has gotten unreal goal support. EDIT: Caveat, I just used goalie of record and final score, so all ENGs for and against are counted, as is Anderson's +1 shootout goal. UPL 61/13 = 4.69 g/gm Anderson 49/13 = 3.77 g/gm Comrie 39/11 = 3.54 g/gm

Gooooood. I can feel your anger.

I know I suggested JJP or Quinn could still go down for a bit, but I can't see it being both at once. I like the idea of Joker getting a conditioning stint, especially as HCDG it's somewhat about pain tolerance. As soon as he's medically cleared, you'd want Joker to be able to test it out for a bit without facing the NHL's best with several 3 games in 4 nights this month. Never tell me the odds, but I'd go with UPL and Bryson. GM Sheevyn spoke with UPL after the Comrie signing and UPL knows the deal this year: it's about playing as much as he can and a 3-goalie setup isn't going to give him the ice time he needs. He's not as good as Anderson and Comrie's the veteran. Plus, we can see UPL still has several things to work on. He's on the right track and had a great hot streak. The thing to watch would be how the team plays in front of Comrie when they aren't missing 2-4 defensemen (and Boushh on one leg). Clague has outperformed Bryson as the #6/7 LHD.

Krebs is more skilled (and angrier) than either player, but KO and Z also made Angry Larry look alright and even made Eakin into a tweener for a season (very limited time because Girgs broke a leg for Eakin's first year). Just think back to what Eakin looked like when he was between Bjork and Hayden. Of note: this is why I believe KO and Z both get extensions. They can take the next kid under their wing as well if need be. Savoie, stay with Krebs, etc.

The Sabres are 17-5-2 with Muel in the lineup. Muel-Pace is 1.5 points per game. That's better than every team in the league... except for Boston (which is having the most dominant season since the division names changed from surnames to regions [and metros... which I guess is an adjective]).

The Kraken have never faced the Muel.

I read this in the following scenario: I'm drafting a lineup to win a playoff series (or one game) right now. No ages concerns, salary concerns, no future development, etc.. Right now. I need 3 forwards and 2 D. Do I pick Tage for that lineup? Not a chance. In the top 10, meaning I'm picking 6 F and 4 D? No, probably not. I can think of at least 2 centers I'd take right now to win a game tonight in a playoff scenario where the opposition is going to match lines and be on the all-out defensive against him. Now... do I draft him within my top 10 centers? Yes I do. Now -- if you want to consider age, salary, term, and his future development -- then we're talking maybe top 10 skaters. And definitely in the very top of centers. He'll never surpass #1C in the league though. He's just not McDavid. His two-way game still needs a lot of progress and he'll get there. He's been a center for only 120 games. He'll improve defensively and get stronger on the puck, and his situational awareness will improve (you can't dawdle inside your own blue line 3-on-3 with Pastrnak -- their most dangerous scorer -- closing in on your back hip), and heck, he'll get better at faceoffs, too.

Kulich and Rosen have returned, so for Pekar it's back to Cincinnati is my guess.

Leave the goathead blank. It's an honor of the past and the current. It's just the evil buffalo.

While all eyes were on Sabres-Wild, it looks like Subban had a goalie fight after the end of the Amerks-Crunch game. 4-3 Amerks.

NJD/NYR 3-point game which is disappointing, but the Sabres are pulling clear in their division with tonight's outcomes. Then, it's just a matter of chasing wild cards (until, of course, Toronto falls completely apart and is overtaken for 3rd in early April).

Think about it.