DarthEbriate

Bad penalty by Gallagher. Fitz wasn't going to get back across to prevent that entry.

Ha. And then Dahlin takes a sloppy penalty.

Dahlin made 2, maybe 3, tiny little moves/passes on that shift that just casually cleared the zone, negated a breakout to restart a rush... MTL's announcers are impressed.

Jankowski's been a reliable 4C/3C for awhile now, and somehow couldn't find a gig this summer. Rochester signed him to an AHL deal and the Sabres signed him once the injuries all hit. Hayden's been a 4W for a bit and has hands of stone (and not really a good fighter, either) but he does battle. Jankowski is showing enough to replace Eakin. Except the faceoffs, of course!

More excited for this morning's Sabres game than the Super Bowl. Although I'm making baba ghanoush for the first time so it'll be fun to test it on friends during football. Let's get the coffee and doughnuts going for some goals!

What is this!? This Canadiens head has already been crushed!

That's true, they did give open spending on recent playoff performers (Leino, Ehrhoff) the old college try before blowing it up. Not sure if the final sentiment is for myself or Darth Pegulas.

Exactly. You don't expect to eat the Olympic pancakes without putting on your maple syrup!

That reminds me I need to go see the Winterhawks and Kozak when they visit the T-Birds on 3/11.

This current contract is looking pretty good.

Lots of great points so I omitted and summarized a few responses: Gotta be ready to play in the 1st and gotta be able to close out the game in the 3rd (especially when we score in the first minute). The refs also blew a quick injured-player whistle when whomever-it-was whiffed on Fitz. Tuch and Skinner is a good combo. I'd still put Mitts with them and put Thompson with our Swedes if Krebs can't stick around to build chemistry with them. Let the Euro kids have their music! Krebs was a badass on the forecheck last night. Toker played well the first two periods, but had two he needed to stop. That's where a bona fide NHL-caliber goalie is holding this team back from the next level up (on par with the Detroit/Ottawa/Columbus of the league). Bjork should be gone. It doesn't matter if GM Sheevyn got him in the Hall deal. It doesn't matter if he's from Wisconsin or that Skoren de Goalen is a great meme, he's a mid-round pick talent and doesn't use his speed enough to his advantage. He's got to go. I'd waive him and keep Krebs in the lineup when it's time. Others can learn to kill penalties. And if this season is a write off for learning (I mean, if Dahlin/Joker is a PK tandem) then other forwards can kill penalties. Bring back Caggiula (when healthy). But Hayden also has hands of stone. Jankowski is the best 13th forward they've got. Olofsson's wraparound was almost in and almost an assist for Asplund. Keep them with Krebs (and play Mitts elsewhere). The hopium says they just need one to get it going. The Sabres have been rocking deconstructionism as their preferred approach of franchise-building since the Pegulas purchased the team. Maybe they're just really big into art theory.

Our lightsabers might glow blue when Marchand is nearby, but at least he's honest about the crap image that Arizona projects on the league and the negative impacts to his (and his fellow players') income that the Coyote ownership is providing.

This isn't an exciting answer because it's not an all-caps take and therefore not helpful for the Interwebs... it's gray like the world. Both teams can win this trade. The best way to review a trade is what was the intended outcome of each team's GM at the time of the trade. I say "GM" because they're often shuffled about within 7-8 years if they aren't winning the Cup, and "at the time" for the desired impact in the next 3-4 seasons meaning that particular GM's probable lifespan with the team. From Vegas' standpoint, Eichel is supposed to get them over the top. They've been to the Final and are a Western Conference contender every year. They gave up 3 important pieces for another chance at the Cup. If they do not win the Cup, this is a failed trade. [Edit: Particularly with a $10M NMC kicking in that will limit their ability to keep this version of the team together.] They're selling out already on the strength of their start and because Vegas is an attractive getaway stop for any visiting team's fans, so the simple draw of a superstar potential player is not the goal of this trade for them. From Buffalo's standpoint, they needed competitive players who could lead the new core out of the depths. They needed multiple top-six potential players and additional pieces that could provide depth. If Tuch and Krebs stay healthy and play as they've played (with Tuch playing this way for a year or two and Krebs improving in the next 2 seasons), then Sabres already won this trade from their perspective. Then that late 1st becomes gravy.

If I'd been told before the season they'd have led after two periods in 19 games this entire season I'd probably be pretty OK with that given the roster questions at the time. To have a lead (after 2) in almost half the games played thus far makes me very hopeful. Better goaltending wins more of those games. Another year of strength building, stamina, and experience playing for all the young players will win some more of those games. And finally, an offseason where half the roster isn't being replaced... should win a couple more of those games. In the future. In the present... another really disappointing outcome when it should have been a solid restart to the season.

What is the Sabres record in games they've taken a 2-goal lead this season? Edit: Then take out any 2-goal leads that came from scoring an empty-net goal.

Annnnd... that was easy.

1 win in OT, 7 OTLs this season so far. Here's a chance to work on the 3-on-3 Edit: Ray just said 6 OTLs. Must be the 7th was a SOL

The Sabres need to stop taking 2-goal leads with time for the other team to come back. I've got a bad feeling about this.

What a piece of junk.

Back to Jankowski --- I do hope that when I think that's a trip. So did the Jackets. when Girgs is back, we see a Girgs-Jank-Okposo line. From the LOG line to the JOG line.

Ouch. But good stop by Fitz.

Stay on the attack.

Wooooo!!! Tuch, Tuuuuuuch! If you score a goal be sure it speaks Bocce looks pretty! It doesn't look he'll have much of a choice, but I'll remind him.

The hopium is beginning to kick in.

Oki-wan-posi!