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I'm sorry. Andy just bailed out the horrific Sabres D. Let's keep harping on the state of the goaltending though. Defence is the most serious issue pressing this club. How many games have we seen point blank chances by the opposition?

I hope you're right because I'm getting a squeamish feel about this one. Just because of the Martin St. Louis coaching factor for the Habs. They have played much better since he has taken over and I expect them to start the game hard! Donny better have the Sabres ready to go at puck drop this evening!

Exactly. Nailed it.

Absolute truth! You coach to win or at the very least "be tough to play against" which was Don's mission statement. 2 of the past 3 games, that has been sorely lacking. People can bitch about Craig Anderson all they want, if anyone saw the first period, he's the reason they were still in it after 1 period. The defence is a serious issue regardless of whether Dahlin is in the lineup or not.

I agree, his game has really improved. I thought he was still the same Dahlin as before up until the All-Star game. After that, he has taken off and seems like a brand new Dahlin to me. Not sure what happened at the All-Star break but he has really upped his game since then. Starting to round into the player that he was proposed to be and as he matures, may still only get better. Here's hoping!

He has shown flashes of physicality since he came back from the All-Star game. He is only 21 and hopefully he adds more beef to really hand it back. Once the playoffs start and the Sabres are in them in the future, it is much more physical and extra beef will serve him well.

and the kind of non-call we are all getting used to seeing against Buffalo unfortunately. (and actually, with some frequency this season)

Maybe a little tougher. He got ragdolled on the winning goal and collapsed like a sack and stayed down while the Avalanche all headed up ice.

That's Avalanche hockey. They play a heavy game. Ragdolled Dahlin and up the ice for a goal. Now the make up call by the ref. Sabres need to get that goal back right here!

Yup, get the hook out. Toker needs to take a seat. Nice shot and all but you have to set the tone.

Just keep shooting Tage. Every chance you get!!

Fantastic Sabre D on that second goal. Outraced tio the puck. Just plain sad.

Avalanche very physical in their own end, Sabres are weak in their end when Colorado comes in. Have to hope Kuemper is off his game this afternoon.

All Avalanche after Tage's goal. This game could get ugly.

and then Mahomes showed up and the #1 ranked D failed. Believe it when I see it. Wright ain't gonna be a Sabre.

and no guarantee the Sabres get Wright either despite the odds.

The defence is actually terrible. They won't take the body, they back up into the slot area giving up prime scoring positioning and they stick check. This has not changed under 3 separate coaches, so you're basically requiring your goaltender to consistantly stand on his head game in and game out. Unless the Sabres start really putting the puck in the net (even next season with their young talent if they come up) they will lose more than they'll win.

Avalanche, very good. Let's see what happens in Denver. I am expecting this board to light up (due to a serious beatdown courtesy Colorado) Nice to see the Sabres can beat the bottom feeders of the league but Colorado will provide a truer measure of progress? Also Montreal coming up and hopefully no steps backward when playing them (they too, are absolutely horrible this season) Hopefully this team surprises me with a good effort in Colorado.

and a decent coaching staff! Let's not forget that.

I do believe the Sabres have a gem in goal coming down the pipleine in Devon Levi. It will take another couple of years but I do give KA credit for getting him. I believe this kid is the real deal. I will be following how he does in the Olympics playing for an NHL-less Team Canada.

To me, the jury is still out on Granato and his "style of play". Too many instances of lack of effort recently, and we have seen this under 2 previous coaches. As the above stated, regardless of the talent coming down the pipeline, you need real coaching to get anywhere, especially to counter strategies of the oppositions coaches. Don may be too nice of a guy. Don't like what I see. It's easy to blame the goaltending but in all honesty, Dell could have stood on his head, but when you don't score or only score 1 goal, you will lose the majority of your games. Houser was the only reason the Sabres beat Ottawa last game. This team is plummeting and I could accept it as I understand this is more or less a development year for the youth. However, I see no real structure or a hard to play Sabres team especially as of late. I am thinking the decent clubs that the Sabres defeated was largely due to the fact they took the Sabres lightly on that night. Being better than a Ralph Kreuger coached club isn't saying much. Ralph was one of the worst coaches.

Yes, there is improvement but is that saying much against the Kreuger coached Sabres? Honestly, Ralph has to rate right up there with one of the worst coaching hires in Sabres history. The Flyers are just garbage this season for some reason. Vigneault got canned and I never thought Yeo was such a great coach although he had small success in the past. Not sure why the Flyers are a mess, but they are. Sabres have some "easy games"? coming up: Ottawa again and Montreal a couple of times. Hope "the improved Sabres" come to play and don't let down in any of those ones.

and Ottawa. The win in that one was solely due to Michael Houser. Baby steps, but keep the emotions in check for the upper echelon teams in this league. That is where you want to see progress.

Not to mention, teams get game tape of opponents and strategize how to counter their style of play. The Sabres had the courtesy of the first month of play under Granato's style. Once there was some game tape available, Sabres opponents coaching staff watch the tapes and develop their game plan to counter.

Exactly: What's that quote again? "the definition of a fool is doing the same thing continuously and expecting different results" or something like that.