DarthEbriate

This. To get to 96, they need to go 23-7 in their final 30 games. And they have to 10-2 or better in their remaining games against TOR, TB, DET, NJ, NYI, PIT, & MON. A third four-point loss swing against one those teams basically ends the season that night. Now... 15 in a row, and they only have to go 8-7 in their remaining games. That's possible, however unlikely. No. But he's really good friends with Wayne Gretzky and Bo Jackson. They solve crimes together.

How about Zhitnik-stocky? 5'11 225#. Jeepers, Zhitnik's hockey-reference page has him at the same playing weight as Erik Johnson.

The bridge for UPL wouldn't be the issue. The issue is, if over the course of the bridge you get 2.5 seasons of above-average goaltending, you lock him up to a real starter's term/salary before he gets to UFA and can pick the best defensive team in the league and go win a Vezina. (While you're busy worrying about "blocking" Ratzlaff and Leinonen.)

Goalies are notoriously chaotic. Just look at Shesterkin's numbers this season in every column.... except for wins/losses. Re: Ullmark/UPL. I think Ullmark always had the higher floor and starting point -- he was always very good. UPL was a bigger project boom-or-bust type. Whose ceiling is higher (probably Ullmark by a bit) is still TBD and will also depend on the team around them. But one note to bear in mind in their comparison is games played in AHL/NHL. By the time Ullmark got his full-time NHL gig (2018-19, age 25) he'd played 127 AHL games and 26 NHL games. In contrast, UPL got his full-time NHL gig last year (2022-23, age 23) having played only 60 AHL games (he added 9 last year), 13 NHL games, and another 23 in the ECHL, impacted by COVID seasons. And then, he entered into silly 3-headed goalie rotations. Only this season has UPL eclipsed Ullmark's 153 NHL/AHL GP before going full-time. Goalies need development games and we're finally starting to see him "get it" at professional level. Next: sustain it, week after week, month-by-month. (That's what the bridge is for.)

Cozens keeps a big shot on goal at bay. Nice shutout, gents!

Mitts’ line is the top line.

Hooking, I believe.

Shields up! Double front! Luukkonen

Woohoo! That Benson goal had a slow-motion feel as soon as Bryson got the puck. The goal was happening no matter what, just a question of how long it took to go in.

LA looks lost. Some sort of king-in-exile stuff going on.

The Kid Line can smell blood.

Dahlin isn’t snakebitten anymore!

That… could be called a trip. Borderline.

Almost there… Tuch.

Will the Sabres score in the 1st period? Will the Sabres score more than one goal? Can the Sabres win a home game? Tune in tonight and find out!

As of 2/13, Quality Starts from with goalies 20+ starts (per Hockey-Reference): UPL is ninth in the league. He's been giving them a chance to win almost every game all season long. >.700 = Hill VGK, Montembault MTL, Swayman BOS, Ullmark BOS >.640 = Daccord SEA, Hellebuyck WPG, Demko VAN, Skinner EDM, UPL BUF That's a lot of very defensively sound teams and good goalies, including a guy who won 14 in a row. Every one of those goalies is at least +4 in their win/loss column except UPL who is -1 (Exempting OTL for simplicity)

Honestly, when the playoffs start, I'd root for the Latvian Locomotive to get a Cup regardless of his jersey colors. (But, you know, please move him to Vancouver rather than Toronto/Boston... so at least I don't feel conflicted.)

One thing I couldn't help but noticing yesterday is that Parayko looks like himself again. (For a couple years there were rumors he'd be moved, etc., because he'd clearly taken a step back and was overpaid long-term, blah blah blah). And then I realized he's a) 30 years-old and an established veteran, b) he's paired with a healthy and still super mobile Nick Leddy, and c) the Blues have a coaching staff that understands team defense and players who buy into it. Point production-wise, he'll never likely earn his cap hit (6.5), but minutes-wise and defensive-play, that's not bad for a top-pair defenseman (especially if the other guy is only making 4M).

Ah yes, the dreaded Adams' trade requirement of "wants to be here."

Benson's shot and speed will get better as he gains strength. In a few years he'll be fine, just like most top players who don't make it to the NHL until they're 21-22. Now, should he be in the NHL this season? He was really good in training camp. Should that have mattered versus say... Olofsson or Rousek or an experienced UFA grinder for the bottom 6 as the #12-13F? A couple games before the All-Star Break, JJP and (Cozens? probably? Maybe even Quinn) had a 2-on-1 break. JJP was ahead and dropped the puck back. Instead of driving the net and being available for a tip, rebound, screen, diversion of the goalie, and general chaos, he floated off toward the corner for a sharp-angle one-timer feed. He took himself out of the play except for a perfect pass. The defenseman was able to focus on the other skater. The goalie didn't have anyone near him. JJP is one of our best and brightest and has a future as a middle-6 20-goal/season guy, but it felt so gross to watch him just... float away. With the rest of the garbage.

Yup. The time to help now was 2.5 months ago (when, admittedly, it's tricky to find a trade because many GMs believe they're still in it, or they've already tanked going into the season). Case in point, UPL is giving them elite goaltending his last 10 starts (.937 sv) and they're treading water at 5-5 (and not the good 6-1-3 kind of 5-5).

Either of them would be an excellent contributor on that roster. But Boston's up against the cap... so what Bjork-level contract shedding would GM Sheevyn be taking this time?

I'm glad Skinner and Ellis and GM Sheevyn want to be here.

And that's why you shoot at the pad when you've got a teammate going to the net just behind you. Just like a pass.

Nice. We don't have to worry about seeing a SHG to close out the game.