DarthEbriate

Peterka redemption for missing the initial shot.

Because Kulich. I think Joker should take a turn as the PP pointman. Dahlin has absolutely no pace right now. JJP!

It's definitely close. And I doubt the Hawks trade Bedard in 2028 to start another rebuild.

Here we go again again

Muel beat to the net and the rebound. Sit him, Coach.

Getting outworked and outshot quite handily now. It'd be awfully nice to regroup and take over the game for a bit coming out of this TV timeout.

Darth Pegulas the Wise loves him some yes-men. This isn't a problem if your yes-men and yes-women are supremely competent and motivated.

To the powerplay. Here we go again... You know, it'd be nice to at least be a net 0 in scoring on the powerplay this season.

Can’t they bring in at least one experienced NHL assistant whose coached a power play at this level?

Is this the one?

It's already past noon over there in the Eastern zone. We're slacking off. Something, something, this is where the fun begins.

And he would stand in front of the net on a powerplay and get deflection and mop-up goals. Really, really solid player who isn't the star, but is the straw that stirs the drink.

Too young to be in Rochester this season until the end. Besides, the T-birds need him. Which reminds me I need to go to a game soon. Alas, Panocha's dismissal from his WHL squad means there's no Sabres head-to-head prospect games to check out.

Mitts was so poised on that breakaway. That's nice. The Avalanche won their first game last night, but Georgiev was still awful. His best save percentage in a game so far this season is .861. Colorado has enough talent to overcome that on occasion, but this is trending way worse than NJD from last year. It's coach-firing, playoff-missing level.

The power play % will improve. At some point.

Lead... blown. 2-0 became 2-4. And just like the parent squad, the Amerks have no PP goals on the season.

Nylander ties it up at 2 after Sandstrom gets caught playing the puck.

Helenius collects his first of the season and AHL career.

Wahlberg scores on the short-handed breakaway. 1-0 lead.

And if these new droids captains (and alternates) don't work out, I want to transmit my attention to the Americans this year.

Need some distraction from the Sabres? Rochester starts a back-to-back home-and-home with the Marlies. Some Marlies you might know? Alexander Nylander and Matt "once-refused-a-trade-to-Buffalo" Murray. Speaking of Nylander (who could get a callup and play with his brother now)... Jokiharju is quietly having another calm, steady, if not overwhelming season. He has more goals than Dahlin, more hits than Power, more shots through to the net than Byram, fewer goal-producing turnovers than Samuelsson, and the best defensive +/- on the roster (mainly because he isn't on the ice for PP and when the goalie is pulled).

The central center issue is a massive problem for this roster. I don't know that scratching anyone else is necessary yet, and based on practice/response, I want Quinn back on the ice ASAP to see if he's gotten right. The first 10 games they need to get as much consistency and learning how Ruff needs them to play as they can get. But, I am ready for Ruff to start shuffling lines to get someone going. I'm ready to see Cozens on a wing so he can simplify his responsibilities for a week or so. Put McLeod or Lafferty (I'd go the latter because the 3rd line actually looks like a hockey line) in his place. Is Lafferty a top-6 center? Nope! But, maybe he and any two of Benson/Kulich/Quinn/Cozens look competent in all zones.

No Jenner, no Gudbranson. Heck, no Gaudreau. No problem against these Sabres.

Per Tankathon, the Sabres are already in 4th place. Everyone in the league except the Devils has between 1-4 games in hand. Do you think that Colorado, Edmonton, and Nashville will get more points than the Sabres this season? I do, too.

Dahlin and Greenway ... neither even gets a shot off a good feed. But Power scores. Unlimited Uncle Owen!