DarthEbriate

The youth is working and the speed is beautiful. It's working and they're forcing turnovers on the forecheck. I also want to see a few more checks thrown simply because they'll need to condition themselves for the checking in the playoffs. It's better to stay healthy for now, but when they're in that final push, they'll need it, because the East is going to be a battle down to the wire this season. Finishing checks, being finished by checks, taking the hit to make the right pass, forcing and avoiding turnovers. When the opponent knows you're going to pull up and just stick check, they don't have to worry and can make the play. If you pop them, even once, they have to consider that you will hit them the next time. Could you imagine Mitts just crunching a d-man on his first shift of the game -- and what it would do for the tone, the team, and for him?

And Anderson is right behind him at #18.

Happy New Year, 'Spacers! It must be noted that the last time these teams met, the Sens won. But it must also be noted that the Muel was not on the ice. Boushh was on one leg. It was also the game in which Comrie got injured courtesy of Dahlin planting Joseph right into his own goalie. Season series tied 1-1. Both teams believe these are the games they should win.

I'm relieved the Sabres won because this one was so egregiously bad. Unmarked #7 is stepping on, too. The skater who brings the Bruins back to even is #4. You'd think 7 and 5 are the ones making the change, but really it's 5-6 and 7-4 (which is fine, it's a lazy change by 4 but has no impact on the play).

If there's fear in either of those locker rooms after the game, it's Boston knowing that they had to do everything in their power (including having refs use their playoff whistles) to earn a point in today's match. And they know the Sabres will only get better, and will soon learn to clutch and hold and get away with all the sneaky stuff, too, while the Bruins are relying on 1) an old guy who is fantastic but very close to retirement, 2) another old guy who already left the NHL for a season and is also close to retirement, 3) another old guy who is fantastic and also plays a ratty game and really needs 1 on his line whether for Boston or Team Canada, 4) a great D-man in McAvoy, and 5) a guy who is going to either get paid $10M+ or leave in UFA this summer. 1 and 2 are playing for a combined $3.5M this year on "one last ride" deals. That's noble of them and they're both great players, but this is a team that is "built" on Coyle, Marchand, and Taylor Hall next year up front. Fear is a great motivator. (It also leads to suffering.)

Huh. Bedard has 3 assists in the first 12 minutes vs. Sweden. Seems like he could be a first rounder.

Local is true. From a certain point of view. From where I live, everyone in southern Ontario, Ohio, and New York state is local to Buffalo. It's one of the biggest markets in the U.S. 😇

Live, I thought the Sabres got caught in a bad line change. But catching the highlights... no... it was simply Marchand jumping on the ice without a change at all. It was 6 on 5 for over three seconds and allowed a breakaway. I don't care for the offsides replay, but if you're going to have replay in hockey, then too many men has to be reviewable in an instance like this. Can you imagine if this were a playoff game and the Cup was awarded on a goal where the skaters were 7 on 5 (excluding goalies) while the puck was being carried across the blue line? The refs decided not to call anything but high sticks (except Jost) (or probably delay of game too) because those are the easy ones to see. But this was ridiculous. And I'm glad the Sabres won anyway.

Are these stats accurate? Amerks being outshot 34-13? I mean... sure, Comrie needed a conditioning stint, but it'd also be nice to let him ramp up to an outright shooting gallery.

With the caveat is that it's still too soon to look ahead yet... The good news is that there's no need to rush either of them. This roster is now strong enough (and getting better each day as the kids already on it hone their craft and improve their frames). Time will tell, but I can see Savoie getting 9 games and then going back the WHL next season and Kulich getting his first call-up next year but having to wait because the spots won't be there. My initial thought on who gets up first next season is Rousek in a Hinostroza-replacement style swap. Letting them continue to grow at the lower levels is how Detroit churned out 25 years of playoffs. The next guy up was always ready to go because they couldn't break a stacked lineup. We're on our way to that (at least with the forwards).

Bergeron -3 Power +3 Just putting that out there.

4 goals/game coming in against the best defense and team in the league. 4 goals/game going out. (though... they did need a few extra minutes for the fourth)

And TUCH! Right now I feel like I can take on the whole Bruins myself. I know what you mean.

Cozens strips Bergeron!

I start TNT, but the next over the boards is Cozen-Quinn for me. You know, unless TNT wires one for the winner beforehand.

Grumble grumble. He's lost his confidence. Gotta get him shooting on the PP to get it back. Or if not, then he's gotta get sat down for Hino or Asplund for a game. Cannot curl up and let it get tipped out there.

Cozens! And that Dahlin dump-in, the Tuch jump, beautiful.

That's two 3 kills.

That's one kill.

Need that Krebsie shorty now. Or... another penalty. Well... The composure is disappearing quickly.

Well, shoot. Bad change paired with Dahlin's pinch.

Good thing the Bruins have no finish outside of their top line.

Good. Now we can crush their hopes. And won't run the risk of going into Alamo Death Star mode.

He suffered the same against Boston in the first game. They won't give him space the way other teams do. He needs to immediately get it to the open d-man or get his feet going and lug it out before looking for any passes.

The Sabres' lone powerplay was gross, but otherwise that was a solid period of hockey.