DarthEbriate

The Canucks and referees have planes to catch and the sooner the better. Expect this one to whistle-free and be fast and open (which benefits both squads).

Cozens scored an ENG for the trio's lone goal against Ottawa this season. Otherwise, they've been a TIE fighter explosion against the Sens. Cozens 3 GP 1-2-3 -3 (and if 2 more seconds expire before he shoots the ENG it reads 0-2-2 -4) JJP 3 GP 1-0-1 -5 Quinn 2 GP 0-1-1 -5 Again, I especially didn't like the decision (with last change, mind you) after the TV timeout/ice scrape mid-3rd period to send them out against a double-shifting and buzzing Giroux-Tkachuk. Quickly turns into a Sens forecheck and a goal to make it a 4-3 game. Either the Krebs or Greenway line should have been out there to negate the top line. (Bonus note: this was after the buzzing Giroux-Tkachuk line scored against the Cozens line to make it 4-2.) Situational matchups matter, even midseason, when you're trying desperately to get back into the playoff picture.

I think my contention would be, knowing the holes in the lineup going into the season, this shouldn't be the given roster. So my shakeup is simply that Comrie never makes a start for the Sabres and we divide his 1-5 record out to Levi 8-9 and UPL 9-10. Say... 2-3-1 in those games. 19-18-5, 43 points, 4 points out. Alternately, they get playoff-experienced NHL bench assistants, get the 2nd line winger they needed to replace Quinn - which then makes the Cozens line a 3rd line for the 2nd half of the season, get the legit in-his-prime top-4 D-man they desperately needed*, and a tried-and-true 1B NHL goalie (like a Cam Talbot type) to be the bridge guy for UPL while Levi works a season in the AHL. But that's an alternate reality. *Look what Colorado did when they got Devon Toews (for nothing!) and paired him with Makar. Much higher cost (perhaps too high), but look what Vancouver did to get Hronek last season from Detroit and paired him with Hughes (the Quinn one).

The Kraken being the team specifically designed/coached to defeat offense-only teams like the Sabres and riding a 6 (now 8-game winning streak)... the Sabres streak was going to be a very tough ask. Now, another red-hot PNW team in the Canucks.

Yes, in his first season, Reinhart was in the lineup as the 2C (Hodgson-Reinhart-Gionta) before slipping to 4C (Deslauriers-Reinhart-McCormick). And he just didn't have the strength or game speed to be effective, even when he was able to get to the correct locations. Then, back to juniors. Then, for his rookie season 2, he started with Eichel, bounced around a bit (a couple games at C [Moulson-Reinhart-McGinn] and random configurations [McGinn-Legwand-Reinhart], before settling in on ROR's wing on the top line for the bulk of the season. And we haven't had a go-to-the-net and get deflection goals since Reinhart left. (And he's still doing it with FLA. Reinhart had a beautiful, effortless deflection in their recent dismantling of the Avs.)

Novikov and Strbak have a future in the NHL. (Komarov and McCarthy... maybe.)

In the first game of the post-Cederqvist era (shush, I know he was already in the ECHL for Jost), the Amerks stave off 37 of the Charlotte's 39 shots for a 3-2 victory.

You had 3 months to prepare for it, ample cap space, or a trade piece in VO (expecting he'd be moved) that could have been a goal-scoring bridge to a "rebuilding" team that needed some scoring (but not too much scoring) or wanted to get out of a slightly higher-priced contract. Lots of options. You had the foresight, the need for a top 6 forward, and the money/goods to make something happen, and then GM Sheevyn did this: In case anyone needs the Star Wars equivalent.

Jef Solo: Keep your distance, Tagey. But don't look like you're trying to keep your distance. Tagebacca: Growl, growl. <0 shots, 0 points, -1 vs. Seattle> Jef Solo: I don't know! Fly casual. Tagebacca: bark,growl,grrrr <5 shots, 2 goals vs. Ottawa>

I'm really happy Cozens was able to add the empty-netter. Needed that +/- bump tonight.

It was probably Skinner from the press box.

Was there an icing? Because you have last change and you put the kids out for a defensive zone faceoff against Giroux-Tkachuk. That's bad coaching. (unless there was an icing.)

Benson makes every line better. For myself, I need Benson getting more ice time than I'm willing to give Robinson-Krebs-__

Giroux is 35 and about to be 36, but he's got a higher gear he can still reach when his team needs a boost. Gotta put a few checks on him (and another insurance goal) to put them away.

EJ back out there.

Oooff. Krebs boarded quite neatly. And look at that, good non-call by the refs for the additional shot from Girgs. Another weak powerplay with no movement. Good stops by UPL to hold off the Ottawa top line push.

Poor start to the period. Hope EJ is able to shake off the puck to the ribs. But Mitts almost has an instant response.

Some good PKs. One where the Sens barely even ever got set up. Seems like the crowd should be louder on those clears and blocks... but maybe it's just the mics.

He and Faber have both been excellent as rookies this season.

Oh! Misfire pass or Benson gets to skate in alone.

Thompson looks different tonight. Goatheads.

And a very delayed: They can't repel firepower of that magnitude!

It was, but their skater was barely back on the ice. TNT again!

Giving TNT all the space in the world to get that shot off.

Odd that the only way the Sabres were able to score on the PP (because all they do is stand around) was to turn it into a rush chance. Nice goal, though.