DarthEbriate

I have a Dominic Zombo Toledo Walleye "Don Cherry Night" jersey for exactly this reason.

When Skinner scores... remind me to post this:

It's where you realize that, yes, the GLO line was great and scored a tiny bit. But Okposo is capable of more, and if you take the Girgs-Larry and make them a 4, and bring Okposo up for more minutes it will all work out. Mitts-Cozens-Okposo as a 2nd line isn't great, but it's a line capable of playing against the opposition's top line and winning the battle. Then you get a dynamic 3rd (Asp-Krebs-VO) and an energy 4th (Hayden-Girgs-Hinostroza to end this year, for example... although it's more likely Girgs-Eakin-Hino/Hayden) and you can see the progress being made. If ex-HCRaKru is reading this thread... you done messed up, RK. You were as inept as any Imperial Star Destroyer Captain. Never regret a bit of Cyrus. They say Cyrus is the one and only. Can you dig it!

That Mitts shift with 2:30 to go where he braced for the Spurgeon hit and sent him sprawling... then stuck with the puck, then absorbed a retalitory charge from Kaprizov, then another crosscheck attempt from Spurgeon.... That was beautiful. That's the Mitts we love and need. Totally wish he'd have buried the empty-net chance he had. If Mitts and VO get back to what they can be, this is a legit up-and-coming team next season.

As an RFA who should get a good paycheck but probably won't break the bank... If you get a 1st? maybe. Plus, his salary is going to be necessary for the floor after Boychuk's contract expires. But I think a third line next season of Asplund-Krebs-Olofsson, with all three on special teams, isn't necessary a bad thing. The good Stafford. The one who was the first at Neil after his hit on Drury, and who was occasionally capable of a hat trick. But... more consistent than Stafford.

Re-watching my dinnertime: Shaw should never have gone for a fight after a raised elbow from Fitz. Terrible undisciplined penalty to take with a 1-goal lead. Then Fitz took him down and the Sabres were all over the Wild from that point forward.

Nor should they. We're still 2 easy points for any team out there. Or so their overconfidence will tell them. Great comeback. The lead going into the 3rd is something that really needs working on. Good teams are like 20-2-2 going into the 3rd with a lead. The Sabres are like 12-10 this year leading after two. With 8 more wins? We'd be saying the Sabres are on their way.

I like Hartman as a player. But it's time for you to go home now. And I'm ecstatic that Cozens was under his skin at the end.

Great game. And now giving them some extra business.

Mitts is not the 3-point shooter that VO is. He had more time, too.

We don't talk about that film. Return of the Sabres, please. Ewoks, y'all. Little furry balls of destruction.

Eakin, Hayden, and Skinner. Not your best forward group for defensive zone coverage.

Skinner out. Get him the hat trick! Damn.

Yes! Out to finish the game... not Eakin. The Asplund-Krebs-Olofsson line. And automatic from downtown, VO.

And I've got to see a replay, because maybe with a helluva flagrant uncalled elbow.

Mitts with a helluva shift

Great fight by Tuch on the boards. Puck pops to Skinner. To the middle. Now let's get a few empties.

Good. Goooooooooood! Let the Party flow through you!

It can never be said enough

I'm baaaaaack!

I was making/eating dinner. Whatever happened is on me. But I'm back. Let's tie this one up!

Third period. We're going in. We're going in full throttle. That ought to keep those Wild off our back.

Freakin' Eakin!

As Thompson gets experience at center and improves defensively, his stick length is going to become such an asset. We're seeing it already. But imagine a Brian Boyle type in his own zone, but with 30G+ potential.

2 more inches to the left, Krebs. Sabres finally waking up at even strength.