eman

Some on this site don’t believe the Thanksgiving benchmark “is a thing”. I agree with you that it absolutely is. Not many teams (and certainly not this one) turn things around so much that they end up making it in after being on the outside by that point (at least not without a significant change in either coach or player personnel). Also known as the Sport Centre Cutoff. I hope the Sabres are there or very very close at cutoff time.

Horrifically bad against a team with a horrific defence. This game should result in a bag skate. Horrible effort. It should not be excused.

You can thank Matt Ellis! LOL!!!!

It's a thing. especially where the Buffalo Sabres are concerned- then it's a definite thing (for the past 13 seasons)

And I'll throw it out there once again. If they aren't in a playoff spot by US Thanksgiving, they won't be by season's end. The Sport Centre stat still holds with me.

Especially if they dump this game. Montreal is God awful so far this season. Horrible D.

They cannot lose to the Habs. Their defence is absolutely abysmal. It was horrid on Saturday night and poor Montembault was getting shelled. If the Sabres want to appear legit this season, these are the teams you need to feast on. You can beat the Rangers, Dallas, Florida etc all you want, but when you lose to Columbus, Montreal , the Islanders, you're in no better position than you were the previous 13 seasons.

God bless Lindy. ( aside from that one little stretch where they lost to Columbus and Detroit) They are starting to look more "matured" if you know what I mean. I hate the overseas crap that Buffalo started their season with (and I hope they don't do that again for several seasons) so I don't count those dismal performances. They just look different now under Lindy than they did under Granato (and I love what I'm seeing!!)

Plus, give him some time with Lindy coaching him. In Ruff we trust!

If they keep winning, it will definitely be happening! No worries there!

To me, this game seemed to show that Lindy is rubbing off on the players. Their breakouts, passing and positioning is much stronger than under Granato. Defense still has occasional lapses, but I'm sure that will get worked on. So far, nice to have Lindy back behind the bench. You can see the improvements. (just my opinion). Good move to ride UPL until he needs a rest. He looks like a bonafide #1 and he was winning. Keep going with what's working! Dare I let myself get excited about Sabres hockey once again!!! But it's a better October than this fanbase is used to in recent times! I'll take it!

I have seen nothing from this seasons version that indicates to me they are any different than the team from last season or the season before that. If they aren't in the playoffs by US Thanksgiving, they will not be in the playoffs. I had this disagreement with another poster here last season about this and that "myth" was true once again. Book it! Unless some incredible trade gets made (and seriously, with Kevyn Adams as GM, I am seriously doubtful of that) or something changes in the mindset of this group of players, I just cannot see this club playoff bound. The defense is still pathetic as is the Power Play. They had better beat Columbus.

They have until US Thanksgiving "to be in it"- or you can count them out of it (again). You cannot throw away early season games and hope "to get hot" down the stretch. This board has said this before and it never comes to fruition. "it's early in the season", "so many games left" "if they get hot in the next stretch they'll be alright"- it never happens with this club. All the other teams in this division have improved their clubs, it will be harder this season than in seasons past. They need to come to play yesterday!

Absolutely. How many more seasons do you want to give T-Pegs in hoping he finally comes up with the right mixture to make this club successful once again? Sell it to an owner who actually goes to the games and gives a ####! One who is smart enough to set up your front office with experienced hockey people and an experienced GM for the love of God. I don't fear the team will move under new ownership as I feel Bettman and the league won't allow it. The fan base is incredibly strong in Western NY and across the border. It's just that they have been mistreated for 13 (hopefully not 14!!!!!) seasons that apathy has set in. The fire could return instantly with a promising turnaround that has yet to become reality. Plenty of money can be generated out of Western NY if you could build a competitive and entertaining hockey club.

I'll take Reimer over Comrie any day of the week! Good insurance signing if either UPL or Levi fail.