mjd1001

Cozens led all forwards in ice time in period 1, and had the most shifts. Jokiharju tops among D-men in both ice time and number of shifts.

Even if you aren't a great coach....watch video of every single entry and set up of the top 5 teams in the league on the PP. What are they doing that you aren't? Whatever it is..there have to be SOME tendencies.....just find out what they are and try them. I posted this earlier...my wife and I went for a quick walk and a trip to the store...I rushed back because I wanted to see the beginning of the game. So we got back right in time at 6:55pm. Um...I forgot it was an 8pm game, not a 7pm game. Rushed home early for no reason (no jokes about the way the sabres are playing, rushing home at ALL to see them is for no reason)

I actually think he was just in the wrong place and they fell, nothing wrong....Kinda feels stranger saying something about Cozen without it being too negative.

What happens first? Cozens or Quinn score any goal? Or the Sabres score a Power play goal?

Honest question...when you hear a penalty against the other team, do you think its a good thing or something you dread thinking we know the outcome already? I'm almost seriously at the point I enjoy 5-on-5 more than the PP.

At least the sound is synced and perfectly fine on commercials. Glad to see that got the important stuff right.

4 in 7 for Tage and getting good chances. He's heating up after a slow first couple games.

That might be a new thing during a really bad game, or on an off day.....have everyone show a picture of their preferred location/view to watch the game. If the season gets any worse, we might have to start doing things like that.

When Foligno had that hit on the near boards, did Dunleavy call him "Mike Foligno"? Maybe not, I'm 'half' listening to the game, but I thought I heard Mike Foligno

Anyone ever watch a Rangers game or a Devils game on MSG out of NY city? do they show the shots? Wondering if it is just a Sabres thing...or an MSG network thing?

an every-so-slightly better start than against Columbus. They are skating 2% faster than against C-bus. Not much else, Tage looks to have beat the goalie but hit a post.

Only 3 minutes into the game but they look like they are skating a bit faster...or at least Chicago is letting them get through the neutral zone better. Maybe its a trick to help Ray and Dunlevy look better, it won't seem like they are as far behind the play.

-I think the defense unit (yes, including Samuelsson) hasn't played as bad overall as many think. Sure, some bad mistakes, but overall, i'm kinda happy with their play. I think Dahlin is the biggest issue. The difference between what I expect of Samuelsson and how he has played is less than the difference between what I expect of Dahlin and how he has played. However, overall I'm not at panic mode with the entire defensive unit. -Up front. I think Thompson has been decent-to-good. Not great, but I'm ok with is play. Peterka and Tuch too. I think the issues right now are Quinn and Cozens. If you just get those 2 guys going and nothing else changes up front, and goaltending returns to 'league average' the team is OK going forward. -Cozens, I'll even accept lower expectations. Just get to, and maintain 10% shooting percentage for the year. Just 10%...that is all I ask in the offensive zone. -Ruff I have no problem with also. PP is an issue, but lets just see you try different things. -All of the above is 'do-able', and I would be surprised if they can't start to take steps to get there. It SHOULD happen. -Tuch, Thompson, and Peterka is your top line. Between them, you have 8 goals in 16 games (cumulative). Thats pretty good. Even with Peterka missing some games, that is 1.33 goals per game played by the team for that line. 1.33 goals per game by one line? That is legit 1st line production in this league. Between those 3 guys, you also have 8 goals on 42 shots...collectively shooting just over 19%. First line is producing (no assists, but overall I personally consider assists more 'noise', as long as the goals are going in, I don't care for assits) 3rd line is playing well. 4th line is 'ehh' but they don't get much ice time. Just get that 2nd line going and your forward are producing pretty well.

We went out, told my wife that I wanted to be home to at least watch the start of the game. So we stopped at the store and kinda rushed home. 8pm, not 7pm start. Oops! I really like east coast start times so much.

He "lost favor" in NJ because they wanted to try anything to salvage a season. 2 years ago when they were healthy, he had them near the top of the conference. Last year they were destroyed by injuries to key players and had no quality goaltending. Still even after he was fired, the team played WORSE after he left than they did when he was there. The past few years, if anything, actual results show the opposite that he has 'lost touch with the way the game is played today'

Yeah, but Thompson is shooting 15.8% this year. Small sample size, but he's where he needs to be in terms of percentage. Cozens at 0%. So if you are going to say that more skilled players tend to score when given the opportunity...Thompson was at 15.0%, 15.9%, 11.8%, and back to 15.8% this year. He is doing what I want him to do.

Wish the Amerks were on MSG. I'd watch. Not appointment television, but I'd probably have at least half the games 'on'. I just don't want another expensive subscription.

That makes sense. I think you need 2 guys like that. One on the blue line, and another on one of the boards. The guy on the blue line you have in Dahlin. The problem is this year, he just doesn't look right. His puck handling, passing, skating, everything seems off this year. The other guy on the boards you want someone who 1.) doesn't let pressure get to him 2.) great hands to control the puck when pressured 3.) good vision, passer. Kaprizov from MN is one of the best guys I have seen for that role. Kucherov is good. Jack Hughes. Mitch Marner. Buffalo has no one close to those abilities on that level I might consider putting both Byram and Dahlin out there, one on the point and the other on the boards. Byram has those skills....But, Dahlin needs to figure out what is wrong with his game before you even consider that. On a slightly different note...Mitch Marner. Any interest in trading for him? -If Toronto doesn't resign him, he has a skill set the Sabres do not have. Elite level player. In his prime RIGHT NOW, not in a few years from now. Elite level PP guy, both scoring and controlling the puck. Not a liability in his own end, he's actually pretty good. Wouldn't have to 'move' that far. Big Bills fan (has been on the field for Bills games...that might count for SOMETHING?) Buffalo HAS the cap space for him that many/most other teams don't.

Its never about his plus minus or assists for me with Cozens. It is about 2 things...how well he shoots/converts his chances, and his positioning (lack of it) when he doesn't have the puck. 90% of the problem I have with his game is those 2 things. 1.) He still hasn't scored. I personally need to see him shoot 10% or higher (minimum) to justify his expectations/salary 2.) I didn't notice any awful plays away from the puck last night, but one game where I don't see something....lets just say I need to see 5 or 6 games in a row before I even THINK he is getting those habits out of his system. 23 years old? Yeah, he COULD get better, but he's in his 5th season. He is approaching 300 games. The defensive liability/bad decisions, you would think if he has the ability to learn/change you would see SIGNS of it now. And honestly, I am seeing him do just as many per game this year as any other year of his career. I think many of us, maybe we don't put it into words that much but those are the only 2 parts of his game we need to see change. It would be great if he could shoot 14% like he did a couple years ago, but bare minimum, 10%, AND don't be out of position so much and make bad decisions. Thats it. Its not happening. I'm not asking for him to turn into a superstar. Just play somewhat smarter than he is without the puck (don't chase the puck and be out of position) and shoot 10% for the year. Thats it. for a $7m that shouldn't be too much to ask.

Cozens yes, but I don't think Tage would be better on the wing. He isn't one that looks to distribute so I get that part of it, but I think he works best in space. I really don't think he does his best work on the boards, and he is best when he doesn't have the boards to one side of him. Even if its not passing, I think you want him to spend more time near the center of the ice, he can use his hands and his size best with the most space around him.

I posted this earlier in the thread...I can't see to link it here so I'll just copy and paste.... Just a theory here.. Cozens plays "pond hockey" He chases the puck. He's not good when you tell him to be someplace and to stay there. He wants to play like a bunch of teenagers who have never played together. That is who he is. Hard on the puck, but all-gas-no-brakes, even when the situation may call for brakes. That style doesn't go well in the NHL. When you are playing teams that are well coached, that have players that have practiced and played together for years, they can take advantage of Cozens playing that way. Now think of the World Championships when he plays for Canada. He may be playing against 'lesser' competition (not as many NHL stars on some teams). But even bigger than that, those teams are thrown together. They get a fraction of the time to practice together compared to what he sees in the NHL. The systems the coaches give them i'm sure are a lot 'looser'. You can succeed in the World because it is much, much less discipline hockey, simply because the players don't know each other as well and don't get to practice together. Cozens can thrive in that environment. But when he's playing NHL players who are getting paid top dollar to play a very tight and discipline NHL game....Cozens doesn't play against that too well. I'm sure other NHL teams have advanced scouts watching the Sabres, they see his tendencies, how he is one of the most undiscipline forwards on the team. They take advantage of that and I'm sure they probably have some set plays to work against him. In the Worlds, I don't think that happens, again, not enough time.

I think I'm in the same place a lot of people I know are.... A game is on TV and nothing else is going on, I watch it. Post to the forum. Complain when they play bad. But if I have something better to do, I do that. If I start watching a game and they are losing by 2 goals at the end of the first....then I go to the wife and say "game is bad, want to watch a show"? After the show if the game is still on, I'll check the score...still losing? never tune back in. Not going to any games, not buying any merchadise.

with regard to the bolded.... Its not just McLeod, as you said that 3rd line looks better than the 2nd line...so...just make the entire 3rd line your 2nd line. They get more minutes = your new second line. Its not like the current 2nd line (Cozens, Benson, Quinn), really any of them deserve more minutes, none of them are playing great. So, your 3rd line becomes your 2nd line...and that line of Cozens, Benson, and Quinn.....Throw Krebs in there at center and rotate the other 3 guys in and out on the wing until you find something that works better.

I am not down on any of the D-men as much as others are, but I can see starting to rotate in Gilbert and/or Bryson. On one hand you don't want players to think they if they make ONE mistake they are going to be punished, but we are beyond that point. Cozens for sure. You go with Thompson, McLeod, Cozens, and Krebs to fill in your top 3 centers. Its Cozens time to get a game off. Is that an ideal group of top 3-4 centers? Nope, but its what you have. You don't just play Cozens over and over when he is not helping and actually hurting the team just because you don't have any other choice. You don't have any IDEAL choices, but you do have choices. Cozens is averaging over 18.5 minute of ice time per game, and that is with him basically being benched for most of the 3rd period vs Pittsburgh. Other than that he'd be up over 19 minutes per game. McLeod is at 15:57. I'd rather see McLeod get those extra minutes over Cozens, in ANY situation, at this point.

I honestly don't think this team would be better right now if Skinner and VO were back on it.