DarthEbriate

Yup. Just as we keep having threads about how Kane is coming home to Buffalo. Levi will sign with the Sabres and he'll look a lot better behind Dahlin-Muel-Power-Joker-Boushh in his April debut than he does behind a Northeastern lineup. Besides, Levi and Tuch are the direct offspring of the trades of Jackikin Eichwalker and Reino Samidala. It's pretty much his destiny to save the Sabres and restore freedom to the galaxy.

Legwand definitely was a sniper (in the 15-20 goals/season variety). Coincidental timing... until tonight, he was the Nashville Predators franchise scoring leader. Roman Josi passed him this evening by netting 2 points.

It's a party in the USA!

Perhaps in-game the lines were adjusted (and maybe the season-ending one vs. Detroit), but from my nightly lineups, he was on the ERod line for 3/31, 4/2, and 4/4. I did a little digging for the last 6 games: 4/6 v. DET 2 goals - unassisted, Dahlin; 4/4 v. OTT 0G, 0A; 4/2 v. NSH 1G (Montour, ERod); 3/31 v. CMB 0G,0A; 3/30 v. NYI 0G,0A; 3/28 v. DET 1A (on a Mitts goal; and then Eichel scored 41 seconds later from VO's 1st assist and Reino). I can't find the stats to show he got back on the top line.

Whoa. I totally misread something when I wrote that. 16 more wins the remainder of the season. Thanks for the catch. They were in 1st place in the league at Thanksgiving (U.S.) and missed the playoffs by 22 points.

Power and maybe Comrie.

Wow. That's fun. I wonder if they got to hear any thundersnow. And... in those conditions your tauntaun will freeze before you reach the first marker.

Only a -6? On that team? So you're saying he's improving defensively? In 8 years with the Sabres he averaged -20 per season. Veteran RHD. He'll hit people. Hey! We need a veteran RHD with a little more snarl who'll balance out our 3rd pair! This is exactly the move we need to make to shore up the defensive depth! Send 'em Savoie and their 2023 2nd they gave up for Risto back to them. 😇 Which reminds me... The Sabres still have that PHI 2023 2nd waiting for them this summer, too. Should be around Pick #38 or lower (numerically). What a nice trade that was.

Your memory serves you well. It was HCPH's last season... the team sat atop the NHL standings on 11/27/2018 after a 10-game winning streak... and earned 16 more wins (edited) the rest of the season. In early February 2019, it looks like Skinner was moved off the top line in an attempt to kickstart everyone again (it worked, they beat the Wild 5-4 in a shootout). Then it was back to business as usual. It appears (by my very incomplete records) that the true demotion of Skinner from the top line coincided with Eichel's 2-game suspension in March. 3/14/2019 vs. PIT - Sheary-Rodrigues-Reinhart / Skinner-Sobotka-Pominville Now that's a top 6! VO eventually was called up for a look-see and took over the top line LW spot to close out the season (and Thompson was sent to Rochester in a corresponding move). Skinner wrapped the season on line 2 with ERod and Okposo.

For sure. I am long on record saying don't trade for Kane for any reason. If he wants to be 2RW next season, he can sign a super Buffalo-friendly 3-year deal and help them win the multiple Cups. But no assets to be given away for him. Toews... as a rental... yeah, I think he'd be a decent fit given this team's needs and how the season is unfurling. But Toews has to approve the deal and I'm betting he wants to go to a "contender". I'm not giving up a 1st nor our top prospects for a rental of him, which is what Chicago would be asking. His rental is not in the team's timeline.

Tage is improving in his own zone, but that's the next stage of progression. Winning d-zone faceoffs so that we have fewer 3rd periods like last night, better defensive positioning and taking away space intuitively. We need to remember that Tage is only 100 games into playing center at the NHL level... even middling defense will turn him into a an absolute stud 1st/2nd liner tandem with Cozens.

Mitts + VO to Chicago for Toews + Kane straight up. Chicago gets to continue their rush to the bottom, but 1.5 seasons of a 2nd line. And Mitts is still an RFA and could still pop. And Chicago could still re-sign both of them in the offseason. Of course, we'd need to find new folks to complain about.

UPL and GM Sheevyn knew the score from the beginning of the season when they had discussions after signing Comrie. UPL needs playing time and lots of it, and he'll get that in Rochester where he's the #1. He's playing really soundly the last few games, but he's still #3 on the depth chart. In Buffalo, Anderson is still the guy (meaning: if you have a must-win game, he's in). Comrie has played 3 1/3 games with Samuelsson on the ice and needs to show what he can do. Now, if Comrie returns and the D is healthy and Comrie scuffles for 3 weeks while UPL starts consistently controlling the AHL and stacking wins (say .915+ with the Amerks D), then maybe switch things up at the All-Star Break.

It is a little odd that other teams aren't using their starter against the highest-scoring team in the league. I think the other starting goalies are just scared.

Now. Don't look back. Boston slaughtered Florida tonight so the Sabres take over 4th in the division.

VO didn't get a chance, just popped it out. Otherwise we've got more VO complaints that all he does is add insurance goals. UPL was fantastic. This team really misses Power's calm on the blue line.

Entertainment. A little spike in the heartbeats per minute. All good for a Monday evening.

Jost with a poor decision on that icing, then UPL can't see it for the screen. Alright... now get 2 ENG to put this on ice.

A penalty shot is so much better than a PK there... won't get tired, get some rest, and UPL just ate Marchessault alive.

Remember the Death Star! It only needs one shot to kill the comeback.

The Sabres still do need a center that can win some defensive zone draws. And Marchessault is thinking he's Tage from the dot. He is not. His shot is weak. UPL is anticipating and getting big and square. And... he doesn't seem to be leaning forward which was a major problem last year (defeating the purpose of being tall).

Sooooo.... the refs are only going to call Delay of Game from here on out.

Lovely! And no rebound.

We're just letting them stay close so we can add some empty-netters.

Excellent timeout, great chance by Tuch, and then a major guffaw. Well, the Sabres were waking up. Now stay away, get the response goal, and put the Knights to sleep.