DarthEbriate

They have several high-end talent players who are still young. But the issue is that they don't apply it. And it's not even the dreaded inconsistency of young players. Peterka was inconsistent until last season - this season he's gone. Quinn isn't inconsistent, he's disappeared from who he was as a rookie. Power isn't inconsistent -- he's good in transition offense, and maddeningly passive in his own zone. Benson is talented and a pest, and not playing. Byram is talented, but not a stud. In the AHL, their high-end talent is basically Helenius and Mrtka. And maybe Östlund.

This is the most likely outcome. But there's a part of me that remembers O'Reilly. If Tuch says the wrong thing or looks like he's lost the love (thus far he hasn't - he still says he wants to be here), then Terry's purse strings tighten up instantly. He traded ROR before that bonus kicked in to avoid paying him. He could flip on a proverbial dime and demand Tuch gets moved. Sadly, through 3 games, one of their best players has been in full self-preservation mode. He should be playing like mad in a contract year --- but he isn't which leads me to believe he's really isn't interested in the open market, just in getting the deal done with the Sabres. He doesn't look like he's auditioning for the league. He looks like he's settling in and waiting out the Adams Gravy Train payout.

Don't look now, but he has as many goals as the Sabres team. Doan was needed to replace Quinn. Peterka's absence could easily be managed if Benson returns to health with a vengeance and plays to his potential (entirely possible this very season).

I'm not sure you can hire another team's assistant coach in-season while under contract. There are probably some tampering issues with that. You probably could trade for them, though.

Looking at Episodes VII, VIII, and IX... uh, somehow Sheevyn returned?

Timmins was in the box. Dahlin and Byram are going to the play the rest of the period with the net empty. The only other guy is Johnson, who Ruff doesn't trust. It made sense.... at the time. Good game, 'Spacers! Love the effort. We just ran into a good team today!

Always two there are. A master and an apprentice.

Olofsson v. Power for a loose puck. No contest.

They played a good first period...

He's gone from Wedge to Biggs. We know what happened to Biggs....

I'm less worried about Dahlin's turnover than I am about the weak backcheck on the tap-in goal. But elite offensive defensemen turn the puck over. Last season: Dahlin 105 giveaways Makar 113 giveaways It's what happens after the giveaway that matters.

All too easy.

Cool. The fans can boo Dahlin when he comes back sporting a Cup and another sweater.

Uffda, that was all Dahlin.

Dare I say it... good period. Dahlin had a great chance on the early power play and shot it wide. The Avalanche have played well and got one excellent video-game type turnover to MacKinnon that became an instant goal for when the AI wants to tie up the game. They have a pulse!

A goal? I don't believe it! That is why we fail. TNT!

Too many men! What poor coaching! You can't give the Buffalo Sabres opportunities like this.

Pegula should. Easy money to pay off Skinner and Ehrhoff.

Sabres skating to start. That's good. MacKinnon is slick. It'd be nice to have one of those top centers in the league.

Avs broadcast having fun. Making jokes about the start time and getting bacon. It's lame, but it's trying. One thing folks should tell Pegula. Other teams don't broadcast the anthems. They show commercials and generate revenue during those 3 minutes.

We knew Norris and Muel would miss games this season. But it's game 3 and they're already both out. Norris has started 4 games for the Sabres, and finished 2.

He's going to play 500 games for the Sabres. Go goathead. Add an A to it, just to be safe.

Here we go again. Even the suggestion of the open-ice hit got him injured before the game started. I guess at least Johnson will dress, then. Novikov should make his debut within the month.

"This is a trap game if ever there was one." - Avalanche broadcast crew. "The longer you let Buffalo hang around in this game, or let them score first.... the worse it is." The Avs should go for the kill shot immediately. Skate hard for 10 minutes, net 2 or 3, and coast the remainder of the day. Add some empty netters to pad the stats.

That's sports radio/tv though. And we here at Sabrespace don't seem to get tired of the same thing non-stop....