mjd1001

Okay, it's a little bit early in the season... An hour after game one... But we have some people going after each other. Pretty hard on here... I think the ignore list is going to be getting pretty big for some of us very soon. And that's too bad. I do really like hearing opposing points of view to my own almost as much as when people agree with me... It makes for good conversation. I'm just not sure how long a lot of us will be able to deal with the over-the-top emotion one game into the season.

The play in the offensive zone was obviously the problem. Not many great chances. Nothing 'creative' that worked. They either didn't have room to operate or didn't make their own room. Lots of bad decisions in the offensive zone (Thompson passing the puck to Tuch when Thompson had a better shot....Cozens had time to do ANYTHING with the puck and he shoots it into the legs of a defender from the blue line). It goes without saying, but play the same game from the red line back but with a couple better plays in the offensive zone and a lot of us are talking much differently about this game.

Ok, I don't know if I want to re-watch this game, I have better thing to do but... They did outshoot and equal hits with the devils on the scorecard. The goals they allowed, one was a dumb play by Samuelsson that Zucker didin't handle his side of and it was a blatant turnover. Another goal allowed was a lucky tip. Yeah, they didn't play well, and on in the offensive zone they were awful. But in the D-zone, they weren't 'awful', just...average...breakout passes need work.

Clifton wasn't great, but I thought, when he was out there, he played a good game for a 3rd pair guy. I haven't looked at the final stats, but I'd bet he threw at least 2-3 hits. Again, not stellar, but better than most of the guys on the ice tonight.

I don't know, I have seen the same 'bad' Cozens today. At least 2 times over-aggressive on the forecheck, taking him out of the play. A couple bad passes. With about 5 or 6 minutes left he had the puck in the offensive zone with time, the offense was set up, and he skated near the blue line and just shot a 55 foot wrist shot attempt into the shin pads of the defender right in front of him. There was more, but I saw the same guy that makes bad decisions almost all the time. He has the talent to notice him. He has the ability to get TOO the puck he puts pucks to the net which is good, its just, to me, he takes the shot when carrying the puck or passing it would be better, and he carries the puck when a shot should be taken. Its like opposite world with him.

So....81-1 for the season?

Sarcasm, right? Not sure how to read a lot of what is posted here today.

Byram with the most ice time, at least 2 more minutes than Dahlin at this point.

Ok, one lucky bounce, one tip in, and this game gets a lot more interesting, can they get SOMETHING?

Yeah, really not liking Cozens game today. Its just like anytime he is in any situation on the ice where he has 3 possible decisions/options to choose form he almost always picks the worst.

Well, we don't really get to see how much Lindy wants to use that 4th line that much with them being down most of the game. Most of the way through the game, that line has about 6 minutes of ice time total, and some of that for them was on the penalty kill.

Yep Dahlin wanting to do too much, more than he is capable of. But, with the way the team is playing, is that really making things worse?

I didn't post this earlier but I thought going into the first 2 games, Jersey is good, very good. They are missing some players already, but there was a chance the Sabres could come home 0-2, and I would be 'kinda' ok with it, IF we at least saw something hopeful, something entertaining. Of course winning is the ultimate thing for you team, but I like goals. I have walked away from some games the Sabres lost not feeling all that bad if they were entertaining and scored and had a lot of chances. Even if they end this game with 1 or 2 goals....its not entertaining.

I'm on "Dahlin gets frustrated and tries to do too much" watch. He plays his worst hockey often when he is frustrated with the entire team and tries to do more than he is capable of.

This is a different discussion, but the way the team is playing, we might as well talk about it. I really think that he think he KNOWS hockey 80% as well as anyone he hires. So maybe he would admit they spend more time on it than him, but he WANTS to be involved in every decision, pretty deeply involved. We know that happened in the past, some hope it isn't happening now but I don't know. I think Adams can be a decent GM. But I think he was hired because he makes Terry feel good. He talks to Terry and makes him feel like he is being heard. The talks highly of Terry. He's not going to 'talk back' to Terry, he's not going to tell Terry when he is really being more of a distraction to the team. Again, this probably did happen in the past..does it happen now? I'm not sure, but it 'feels' like it still does.

The problem IS Pegula. It has to be. In terms of on ice/on field success, I don't think there is an owner in the history of modern American sports whos team has had less success than under Pegula. Does he meddle? Does he pick bad managers? Does he pick people based on them making him 'feel good' about himself rather than doing the job correctly? I don't know, but it has to be something.

Its game one. I'm not too worried. Not happy, but its early. For all those who want/think Lindy will make a difference, this is the FIRST time he is seeing this team play against another teams #1's. All preseason they didn't get that. If he is going to make adjustments/call out guys, this is the first real chance he has to see that in person (other than in practice). Cozens. I'm might be one of the, if not THE biggest critic of him. He has 'first line' raw talent, but his head just doesn't seem to process NHL hockey. I'm hopeful he's going to take a big step forward this year, but so far, it is early, but its not looking good.

I don't know, he doesn't bother me that much. When watching/listening to the games, he is WAY down the list of things I think bother me.

PP didn't handle pressure all that well. Other than in practice, this is the first time these guys are facing 'top' nhl competitors.

Welp... Bernard and Milano still out with injuries....Bernard maybe getting close to returning? Vonn Miller suspended This week they just ruled out: -Shakir -Ed Oliver -Taylor Rapp -Austin Johnson Dion Dawkins and Taron Johnson look to play but may not be 100% The injury thing starting again...really takes the fun out of a season.

1) Sabres point total? 96 2) Will the Sabres makes the playoffs? Yes 3) Sabres leading goal scorer? Tage 4) Sabres leader in total points? Tage 5) Sabres MVP? Dahlin 6) Sabres ROY? Kulich 7) Best off-season acquisition Malenstyn 8.) Worst off-season acquisition? Does 'bringing back' Krebs on a 2 year deal count as an aquisition? 9) Biggest surprise? (positive or negative) Negative: Cozens is more the player from last year than the year before in terms of production. Positive: Byram becomes viewed as a top 50 D-man in the league (not bad when there are 180-200 Starting D-men across the league) Neutral: Benson continues to play well overall, but his production (goals assists) may not jump as much as many think they will. Semi-sophmore slump. 10) Breakout player? Byram 11) Will any Sabres players or coaches finish as finalists (win?) for any major awards such as the Norris or Selke? Lindy 12) Unsung Hero? Clifton or Jokiharju 13) Who will be the first Sabre traded away this season? Krebs 14) Will KA make any in-season acquisitions before the deadline? Technically yes, but when you say before the deadline, it might be very close to it. 15) Will the Sabres be buyers or sellers at the deadline? Neither, just looking for 'best available deal' 16) Other Bold prediction? {Such as KA gets fired mid-season ;)} Tage gets 50+ goals. The top line (if they stay together) approaches 120 goals between them. 17) Any other thoughts? Success of this team will be determined a lot more by the play of the D-men than the forwards. A LOT. If they make the playoffs it will be because of the improved play of the back 6.

I meant to say "Team", not league. I will correct it/edit it, but at the moment for some reason I cannot edit that post?

Of that list, I think Washington has to be the obvious choice for who drops out, although I can see some votes for the Islanders. ALTHOUGH they have been gradually making the team a bit younger, but still, a negative 37 goal differential last year? I have no idea how far back you have to go to find the last team before them worse than that, but its got to be years and years and years. As far as who moves up? New Jersey. IF they can ever get this team mostly healthy, I think they challenge for the top of the conference.

Let them sit in the press box, but before the game walk around the Arena, meet some fans, sign some autographs, take pictures, and do the same between periods. Great PR that way.

I think they will be 'balanced' enough. -Tuch is probably the best forchecker on the team. -Tage might be better than we think or some number say because he usually isn't out of position, and with his size and reach, he covers a lot of territory. I said in other threads, its kinda like a DB playing zone coverage in the NFL. He doesn't need to look like he's doing much, just hold our position and take up space. -Peterka? I noticed some plays last year where he did have giveaways or made bad decisions in the D-zone. But, can he be better than Skinner was on this line? Hopefully yes.