DarthEbriate

Now, take away all their "home" wins in outdoor games, big "get-up-for-Toronto" games, and black goathead games.

My cynical side says any offseason change is dependent on whether Darth Pegulas the Wise is watching the playoffs and some UFA catches his eye that will put this team over the top... the Ehrhoff, Leino, or Hall type that could get him to open up the wallet for someone.

But WJC games are often super entertaining because a) they aren't all about playing defenses and systems yet, and b) they're often trying so hard they take themselves out of position or lead to chaos, or just make beautiful things happen.

When is the draft lottery? It's usually midweek during the first round of the playoffs. Why a random weeknight instead of Saturday night on HNIC? It's the NHL and they don't want to make a big deal out of it. Why do I know the general timing of the lottery draft? Because I'm still a Buffalo Sabres fan.

Enough harmonicas/harps. It's late at night. Time to let whatever will happen happen because everything works with the groove of Cosmic Slop.

There's a parallel to Vancouver this year with that Sabres season. In 2018-19, the Sabres had just traded ROR, drafted Dahlin, and traded for a rejuvenated Skinner to pair with budding star Eichel. The Sabres got off to moderate start and then went on a streak to get to 16-6-2 at Thanksgiving. 1st in the NHL. But the underlying metrics said, "This team isn't that good. Regression is coming." It did. Berglund went from injured to retired. They got hit with D injuries: notably McCabe, but also Scandella, and 7D Nelson missed time. But they righted the ship a bit... they were still 21-11-5 on Christmas Day. They needed a GM (or owner) willing to do something. And GM JBott didn't reward them. At all. No acquisitions. None. Instead of getting a veteran to pair with Risto or hold over for Scandella during the injury, they called up Pilut & Tennyson. Instead of trading for a veteran to replace Bergland, they dressed 13th F Remi Elie. The roster had gaping holes and inexperience (baby Mitts, baby giraffe Tage who were the future -- not the present -- and could have been easily sent to Rochester if a veteran comes in). I understand the patience., because it's perhaps a season too soon. But...throw your players a bone when they're in 1st place. Show them some confidence. Eventually, after the season went off the rails for 2 months. At the deadline, JBott traded for Montour and sent out Beaulieu and that was it. (Montour would've looked awfully good in December!) The Sens were going nowhere all season. A Brannstrom/Lindberg/2nd equivalent for Mark Stone at New Year's when Ottawa's season was already over? Contrast that with this season. The Canucks were off to a blistering start with the overhaul to last year's squad (no ROR or Skinner trades/Dahlin draft, but several shrewd moves to close last season and in free agency: Hronek, Soucy, Blueger, etc.). Everyone screamed "Regression is coming! A team can't sustain 20% shooting percentage or whatever absurd number it was." But the Canucks GM knew the gaps in the lineup were fixable, and even with regression... It was worth it because the team kept winning. Right after TurkeyDay: Zadorov. As a reward, filling a hole at RD. Fast forward another 2 months: still going: trade for Elias Lindholm. And Vancouver will add some patchwork/depth pieces at the deadline, too.

Huh. The Pens-Isles game went to overtime. How surprising. Just two veteran teams sloggin' through another February. Neither really a threat to make the playoffs anymore, but still capturing loser points because that's what they do.

Add in Minnesota. They started poorly, made the change, and are 21-13-2 since. They're 2 points back of a wild card (LA being one of the teams they're chasing down).

The team has problems attracting veteran free agents who want to be here so now the proposal is to waive a veteran who’s been here and continues to play hard? Trade him to a contender at the deadline for a pick and watch him contribute just fine for a real coach and team that has confidence.

Oh, good. The ol' 1960s-80s television show amnesia twist. The last game of the season, they'll get hit on the head AGAIN and that will make them remember how to score. Glad that there's a plan in place now.

Who's the more foolish? The fool or the fool who follows (the team)?

It's not like the Ducks flew in last night. They've been touring the northeast and have been in the Eastern time zone for the last week. The only folks the early start for out west are the fans.

Easy solution: just keep losing at home until the story and 'Space thread are forgotten.

4 goals on 15 shots is not the UPL we've come to know these past 2.5 months. But he was hung out to dry on turnovers twice if not three times today.

Um... they're in the lead. Eventually, they'll take the That's a damn fine save right there. the bus to the airport and go away to their next destination.

The Terry-Vatrano line loves seeing Skinner-TNT-Tuch on the ice (granted, TNT at the end of a shift this last matchup).

Yup. Just called him Haysie.

Brian Hayward? Had to look it up. Not sure if he's the guy today or not.

Mainly the way too loose defense and the Jekyll & Hyde game from one period to the next.

He had to outskate Radko Gudas to a loose puck, with a head start, and with Gudas having already lost the angle. (You know, Gudas, the notoriously super-fast mobile defenseman, often compared to Scott Niedermayer, Brian Campbell, and Cale Makar because of his wheels.) And Skinner elected to pull up and... get grappled by Gudas.

VO has been much better defensively this season than TNT has. Granted... small sample size.

"I now understand why the Sabres are where they are in the standings" - Ducks color commentator

UPL just dribbling through everywhere. He's been so consistently good, and... laying pucks like eggs today.

Good. Maybe that'll wake Skinner up for a game.

Nah. They're too tall to go to the net.