French Collection

English is my second language and my vocabulary is weak in my first one (French).

I think Buffalo passes those three teams before the season ends. They won’t make the playoffs but will finish stronger than their first 50 games. Almost every year the playoff teams have positive goal differentials so I can see NYI, Caps and Habs dropping. I know fancy stats are painting a new picture but goal differential was a metric that Bowman used to describe good teams.

Brind’Amour would be next level for sure. I think DG could be a great assistant coach under a guy like Rod, playing the good cop and helping the young guys develop. That ship has sailed.

He’s not falling down as much, lower centre of gravity, core muscles. He’s also back to skating hard in a northern direction, where he’s from.

I’m taking a quick lookat the standings. How is Washington ahead of Buffalo? Their goals for are 127 while goals against are 164 for a -37 differential. The Sabres have had a very poor season but the goal differential is -5. Other teams ahead of Buffalo with horrible differentials are Montreal at -27 and the Islanders at -21.

Yay us! No pressure but we now expect this type of effort every game. I think he’s OK, the victory beer will take the edge off.

JJP as the runner up.

Cozens gets hurt blocking a shot and then scrambles upright to dive in front of another. Leadership.

Has this been Greenway’s best game as a Sabre?

Cozens with the protractor pass off the end boards, almost worked.

Good point, the break may give him a physical and mental reset.

I have to admit the Dmen have been good, moving the puck with good decisions. I don’t miss Power trying to shield the puck with his body on the wall while the other team overwhelms him into a turnover.

DG’s reaction on the inside.

Very small sample size but interesting. I still don’t want him in a top six role on a regular basis.

Solid defensive effort without Power and Mule, whoda thunk it.

They are entertaining me, which is my bar, once they have pretty much eliminated themselves from the post season. RyJo is shifty and helps puck possession and breakouts. He looks so much more confident than Power, solid for a rookie. Cozens is almost back. UPL is not the problem this year, continuing good play. Keep this up for 20 more minutes.

I’ve heard comparisons to Jonathan Toews.

I wish he’d go back to that being his primary interest.

I am too p****d off at the team to be able to focus on another high draft pick. Like every year there is a lot of talent available in the top 10 but this is a gamble that may pay off in 3-5 years. They have many of those lottery tickets, I am ready for a different approach. I am intrigued by Iginla, smaller than the power forward I would like but he is solid and can score.

If it doesn’t meet the definition of a high stick, call it slashing. They call slashing on a stick to stick hit, this was to a face and drew blood.

Leafblower Craig Simpson complains about Greig driving a slap shot into the Leafs empty and says little about the cross check Rielly delivers to Greig’s head after the goal. He says Greig brought it on himself. It was a hot dog play but Rielly’s response was way over the top. He got 5 and a game. His response would be quite different had the roles been reversed. I can’t stand Simpson, I wish I could have seen my buddy beat the snot out of him back in his Junior B days.

I like Reinhart, he was my favourite Sabre during his time there. I’m happy for his success and whatever contract he signs. I am and have always been skeptical of players eclipsing career bests during a UFA season. I do not want to sign someone long term who suddenly improves by 30-50% as a UFA. Besides, he turns 29 in November.

Someone with no attachment to the players and prospects would make hockey decisions, not based on who wants to be here. Winning attracts winners.

I’m sure he heard he was being shopped, hard. He had been solid up to the all star break. He didn’t go to Cabo with the boys, maybe something there.

I put that on Pegula not wanting to pay coaches to sit at home.