Kruppstahl

Doesn't matter. We were always going to be on the outside looking in to the playoff spots anyway, given the way they have constructed the divisions and rules. No way we are a Top 4 team in our division, regardless of when we play our games!

His current poodle cut is so bad I might actually recommend he go back to the Thompson Twins cut he was rocking last year.

MLB went to 2 games on a single day to help make the math work! The NHL has some options here. They could extend the season at least by a little. They could add more games during the week. They could add games at 3rd party locations if a building is occupied by an NBA team on a rescheduled day, and so on. Not sure they would go to 2-a-days, but they could if they had to.

We will be slogging it out with 3 other teams to be 5th in our little mini league this year. The problem is only 1-4 make the playoffs, and I don't see any way in hell we break into that top 4 and stay there. As Paul Hamilton mentioned the other day, all it will take is a single 3 or 4 game losing skid and the playoff fight will be over right there. He's right.

I'm all in favor of Eichel cutting his hair. He looks like a giant poodle. In his defense, he has the nastiest, rattiest hair of anyone I can think of. He doesn't have a lot of styling options. What a garbage hockey game tonight. We were lucky to steal a point; give props to Ullmark; he played really well. I wonder if they will be interested in playing hockey next game?!

And nobody remembers who lost the conference championship game either! It's all about winning and advancing, which is why any Bills fan who actually wants Mahomes to play is an idiot.

With the games coming fast and furious in this shortened season, and with our new division lineup, we should be out of a playoff spot in February. Then the trade deadline and the sell-off of Hall comes later in April. Season ends a month later, and that's when Ralph will get the ax. I think.

A big part of his system seems to be all about hiding the $9 million sniper/finisher named Skinner, usually on the 4th line, and seeing how fast you can destroy his will to play hockey while removing all of his production from the team. Ralph has proven for quite a while now that he is an expert at this strategy, and it's very effective.

Okposo is like Rasputin. You can't make him go away. His career should have been over what? 4 years ago? I assume this is lingering head trauma stuff. Someone make him retire already, please.

He's been done for a while now.

Out of playoffs by mid February?

The easiest way to improve this team, this year, was to improve the goaltending, and Hutton is an AHLer...yet they stick with both. Shows you where the organization is in their thinking. Eichel took the night off. Nice!

He says all sorts of BS like that; it's his job.

The total lack of effort or commitment in this game is alarming.

Gurtler? Don't say that name!

It's been past time for several years now, as much as I hate to say it. But if Dunleavy is going to be the new guy full time, RJ might as well keep going at it!

"They score on the replay!" Oh RJ.

nice goal!

Only now with no crowd!

Hate the blue color of the uniforms. Cheesy color combo all the way around. The photo of Risto looked like the devil. Great look!

Not if you have an Apple. I don't know why anyone wouldn't, unless you can't afford one.

He is outspoken and says somewhat controversial things routinely. That's why he kept his job so long. Lots of folks like him, lots of folks like to hate him. Good for ratings. I agree he is an idiot and brought nothing to the telecasts, but I don't really watch that talking head stuff anyway in any sport. It's all a waste of time and designed purely as an opportunity to extend the game and sell more ads. I'm just glad Doc Emrick is gone! Hated that guy for many years back to when he was Devils' play by play guy. My fear is he will be replaced with Kenny Albert, who I also can't stand! Would love to see them convince Gary Thorne to leave the Orioles and return to hockey! That guy has been sorely missed for a very long time now.

Gonna be a brutal season playing this batch of teams over and over. And no Toronto games, which is one of the few highlights of the season for the last decade or so. I always enjoy the TO games in Buffalo in particular. At least the season is short!

I just finished reading the NHL/NHLPA agreement that came out last night. Am I the only one that finds this shake-up refreshing? They are fixing a lot of perennial problems with the league, like how it is way too long at 82 games, starts too early, ends too late, and so on. 56 games? January start time? All-Canadian Division? Sabres playing in an Adams/Patrick sort of hybrid? Why not?! It's not like the regular season means squat in a more normal season anyway. I like the traveling 6 man backup squad thing, too. Makes sense. Let's give it a month and see how it plays out.

Fighting is almost dead in this league. Regular season games aren't played with the level of tenacity or sheer hatred that they used to feature routinely, even in the early 2000s. The new code is I don't bother you, you don't bother me, together we have safe, prosperous, long careers. The playoffs are still, thankfully, something different.