mjd1001

Yeah... I posted this about an hour ago but to get to the point percentage of the last playoff spot, they have to win six games in a row. Not five in a row, not five of the next seven... Doing that would still have them out of the playoffs. From right now they have to win six in a row just to get to the 8th and final spot.

Or you could look at the standings and say to get that last eighth spot in the conference, you need a .600 Or better point percentage. Starting today, what do the sabres need to do to get to that level so they could be the last team in the playoffs? It's a six-game winning streak. If they were to 'only' win the next five in a row that brings them to .577..... Which would still have them outside a playoff spot.

100% Beat Carolina and Pittsburgh the next 2 games.

Why does it look like Quinn was upset to score that goal and no one else on the ice was really all that happy either?

Samuelsson 5 goals in 19 games. Thats almost a 22 goal pace.

UPL sporting the early .800 save percentage tonight.

Do they not have anyone else? McLeod has been awful on the PP. His game is speed, skating, always moving. Not exactly a guy who is good at setting up in the offensive zone.

The issue with Quinn is almost 100% consistency and effort. We know he has the ability to make really nice plays in the offensive zone. He just has to have as many good games as bad ones.

Maybe Chicago is having some fits of bad defensive coverage, but it is infuriating the Sabres can be up 2-0 and looking good after playing so bad against Calgary.

I'm not sure about winning board battles, but I would put Zucker there.

You are probably correct in the long term regarding Doan, but often times its not how much talent you have, but rather how you compiment the players you are with. I think most will agree that Tage Thompson is the most talented offensive forward on this team, so how does Doan impact him when they are playing together: Tage with Doan: 1 goal every 16 minutes ES. Tage with anyone other than Doan: 1 goal every 18.7 minutes That is actual goals, how about how well they generate chances? (expected goals) Tage with Doan: 1 expected goal every 17.8 minutes. Tage with anyone else: 1 goal every 22.5 minutes. Small sample size, but in the 65 even strength minutes Doan has played with Tage, they produce, and generate chances better than Tage with anyone else other than Doan. Just like last year with Kulich and Tage...maybe it won't last, maybe it will, but it deserves a bit more time to find out.

I think Malenstyn was pretty bad early in the year, but the last week or two I think he has been one of the better forwards.

He might know what to do but he doesn't want to. Hire a proven hockey guy, maybe a couple. Pay up to get them to come here, and sweeten the job by telling them its their show to run, all Terry asks is he be notified when money is going to be spent. Pegula needs to tell those guys he wants to hear the explanation behind their moves, but that he won't override their decisions. It seem to have been a while since he was willing to give control to competant members of a front office and give them control/money/power to make their own decisions.

It is the most likely scenario but from a Fan's point of view there is.. not one a few but one really big major flaw I see. If it plays out that way, Kekalainen is the new GM. Where is the exhaustive search for the new GM? Where are multiple interviews, where is the chance to see different points of view? If it does play out that way, and I think it's the most likely scenario at this point, it's another case of Terry pegula not taking any chances, going with someone he's comfortable with, rather than the best person for the job.