mjd1001

Overall, I have to agree with the bolded, but that is primarily because I firmly believe Cozens is absolutely awful and any skilled Center to take those 2nd line minutes would improve this team dramatically. Im good with Byram though, I really am. Today was his worst game handling the puck all year, but the first few games he was good that way. But, he is now part of a 6-man D-unit that is playing very well. I mentioned in another post that sometime the D-men are getting criticized because they look out of position, but I think in many occasions that is because they are trying to play their own role and cover for some bad coverage by the forwards. Yes, there have been a few glaring mistakes (the Power bad pass, the Samuelsson penalty) but I really like the overall play in the D-zone by 1-6 back there, and Byram is a big part of that based on simply the minutes he is eating up. Byram with 5 minutes less ice time tonight though than what he has been averaging the first 3 games, Lindy must have noticed something was off with him. But yeah, They 'need' Mitts right now more than Byram...unless/until Cozens gets his head straight again with hockey.

They just made a comment about Ruff vs Maurice on the post game show... Has there ever been a game played in the NHL where the opposing coaches had more combined career wins going into the game than what we had tonight?

Byram had his worst game of the year. He was still decent, but he was clumsy with the puck. Dahlin still looks off, like he is processing the game 5% slower than usual, or skating 5% slower than usual. But positionally, the Defense has been pretty good all year and today were very good in their own zone. I think they get 'picked on' on this board a little too much when it looks like they are out of position, but many of those times they are put in 'no win' situations by the forwards not helping out enough. Yeah, the D didn't carry/move the puck great today, but in their own zone, they have had a good year overall and a very good game today. Agree. 6 D-men and 12 forwards makes too much sense unless you have major injury issues.

Benson only played about 1.5 minutes from the beginning of the second period all the way through the end of the game. I hope in Lindy's post game press conference, that is one of the first 2-3 questions asked. Krebs may have led the forward in ice time, he had only a few minutes in the first, he ended up with almost 15 by the end of the game.

I have disliked Krebs game from the very beginning. I remember ONE game last year where he made a great pass and I was like...maybe he's getting it? And then nothing. I didn't want him getting a 2 year deal and dont' think he had done anything to earn a spot on this roster. Maybe this was just one great game, but I think he played so well, I want him in the lineup next game even if everyone is healthy again. For one game, he clearly earned another.

Maybe its not a 'benching' but rather...young guy, maybe Ruff saw him struggle with something in practice, and it carried over to the game. With Krebs playing a good game, just give the young guy a 'little time off' to watch the game from the bench while you have someone else who is playing great. Also, maybe the 'accountability' was calling him out in the press conference WITH something that happened in practice that we don't know about?

Ok but Byram went to the near side sliding to take out his guy and take out the possible initial shooter....Samuelsson slid when the shot was taken, I like that decision but he took himself off his skates. It was Benson being there that allowed the 2 D-men to do those things, and I don't mind that they did it. Had Benson hit the breaks, stayed back to cover the slot, then the 2 d-men would not have been able to do what they did and that would have likely (possibly) led to the first guy on the near side of the ice having a point blank shot or one of the other forwards. Florida had a 3-on-2...Benson getting back makes it a 4-on-3. I don't mind the play the Defensemen make there. Again, Florida made a GREAT breakout into the offensive zone there, the best way to defend that is if Tuch/Tompson were back or you need Levi to make that save (it doesn't appear he was screened and was facing the shooter when the shot was taken) its not an easy save, but the more I look at that...the more I think if I have to assign blame, 50% percent is on Levi.

Pretty good. He gave up a few big rebounds early. The first goal against was a good shot from the slot, but he saw it and I'd LIKE a save there. 2nd goal was a Shorthanded goal where Cozens did a Cozens thing and left a guy wide open leading to a breakdown. But overall I'd say good, not stellar but good (enough)

At least he shot it and hit a post..rather than holding it too long and either not getting a shot off or just pushing it into the goalies pads. Baby steps.

Yeah, I thought Benson at first but after watching both angles of the available replay, not Benson's fault. A quick breakout by Florida...Tuch and Thompson bumping into each other and neither getting back, and a save I want my goalie to make. It was a combo of those 3 things. Benson or the 2 D-men, they were not the issue.

Yeah, it looks like he still is on the bench, but only 1 shift and 1 min of ice time since early in the 2nd. there we go

Malenstyn hasn't played a shift since early in the 1st. Is he on the bench or is it another injury?

Ok, I'm going to put that goal on the PK mostly on Cozens AGAIN. I don't love that Tuch and Clifton both went into the corner at the same time, but it is both their side of the ice, if Cozens stays on his entire side of the ice, what Clifton or Tuch did doesn't matter. It is obvious the Sabres are much worse on the PK when they don't maintain the PK box and leave spots open. And...Cozens did it AGAIN. Look at the 2 screenshots below..the first one is the Sabres maintaining the PK box. As long as they do that, Florida controls the puck but just kills their own PP by passing it around the perimeter. That is one of the best ways to kill a penalty. The 2nd one, the puck is in the corner, the Florida player with the puck has a WIDE OPEN look across the ice to a teammate WIDE OPEN, TOTALLY uncovered on the other side of the ice. That guy gets the puck with a lot of time, takes the shot and its deflected in for the goal. Now, in that 2nd screenshot, who is out of position because he 'chased' and left a whole side of the ice wide open when that is his zone? Yep, Cozens. You can see in the first screenshot the way they are set up, the whole near side is Cozens side. If he stays there the guy on the far point might be open but Tuch and Clifton can recover back to their positions on the far side quickly to cover that. Wow, I can't believe how he does this over, and over, and over.....and yet they still keep putting him out there. Its not an occasional thing. I posted this many times last year when they allow a goal against on the PK and it is exactly Cozens doing this time and time again.

and an ENTERTAIING period. Amazing how good hockey can be to watch when your team puts the puck in the net.

I walked out of the room and missed the goal against...see it was on the PP. I'm waiting for NHL.com to post the replay....usually when the Sabres allow a goal against its when someone starts chasing. anxious to see if that happened or not. Nope, just got back and checked the replay, its 100% on Cozens, the goal allowed. again. 2 best Power play producers over the last 5 years in the NHL...McDavid? Matthews? Kucherov? Pastrnak? McKinnon? Nope, its actually Reinhart and Draisaitl. The 2 guys on the Sabres board when they had that #2 overall pick.

One minute left in the period..just get this to the locker room with a 2 goal lead.

We have another Gilbert sighting. Maybe with Tage it really is a confidence issue. He seems like he is just skating with that attitude that he can do, and will do whatever he wants when he has the puck tonight. I really don't think I have posted a single positive thing about him on this board since sometime in February or March. He is having a good game tonight. He's noticable and not in a bad way.

As good as this game feel and the Sabres ARE playing positionally well, I think the Sabres player-of-the-game so far tonight just might be Spencer Knight.

Ok, the goal is the icing on the cake, but Samuelsson is having a really, REALLY good overall game. Not rushing in the offensive or defensive zone. Calm out there.

Krebs getting more ice time this period it seems. Maybe the coaching staff is realizing he's having a pretty good game and going with him. Either that nor Benson is hurt again, Krebs seems to be taking Benson's spot on that top line the last few shifts. Benson now with the 3rd least ice time among all forwards after having time with the top line.

He has had some good chances this year too. A few point blank shots in the first few games with time. 0-for 14 or 0-for 15 in shots this year...something HAS to be coming soon.

Through 3 games the biggest (positive) surprise for me. I though over the summer he might not be on the opening day roster. Not only was he, Ruff is leaning on him in some critical situations and he is playing well.

Byram with his worst game of the year so far. He's not bad, he actually made a good play on the goal against when he was on the ice...but hes been sloppy with the puck. 2 times now he has had time but had the puck bounce over his stick, and once in the corner he took too long and had a giveaway. Not that he has been awful, but I think the first 3 games he was good...a little 'off' tonight.

Thompson looks to have his game back. Not just the goal, he looks dangerous and in control of the puck in the O-zone most of the game so far.

Cozens leading the team in ice time again. Ruff must see something in his game that many of us, including me, don't. I just want him to produce something, its time, now would be a good game for Cozens or Quinn to score and put this game away. Krebs is playing the best game I can remember from him.