Mig22

The numbers just don't bear out that Bylsma is a bad coach. We can say it all we want, and we all can debate the validity of this system or that one, but to say he is bottom 10 is just an arbitrary statement. It's an opinion. And I am VERY confident, that this board, like every internet sports board out there, would spend buckets full of digital ink slamming whoever was coaching if there wasn't a Cup in the cabinet in the first two years AND that it was accomplished with the right style AND that it was set up to be a dynasty. That's just what internet sports boards are for. (also, there are tons of people like me who say just what I am saying and THOSE people are really just as full of sh** as the others. So you don't think I'm not self-aware)

No, if we had Babcock, they would be bitching about him instead.

Bogosian was good last night with several quality plays and he has been good again. Will never be a good passer but he has snuffed out opportunities in the last two games and been a good physical presence. and yes, Sam can really pass.

C+. Barring Jack's injury, the team has improved over last year. Bylsma has gotten improvement out of Gionta, Moulson, and especially Foligno. He has only 'lost' Girgenson and Ennis (subject to revision once healthy). The defense is not very talented but the system manages to keep our GA down to manageable levels and while not attractive, it has prospects for success. I think this team is only moderately talented. It all comes down to the second half.

You see, this is the right attitude. Expect success, drink, and enjoy. I'm trying to embrace my happy-drunk self. I had coffee out of the red Buffalo mug yesterday but today, it's the blue one (knowing I couldn't use red on a day we play the drizzles). Cheers.

People get dug in to their opinions and the evidence be damned.

It includes the shootout so our actual +/- is -13 (we are 1-5 in shootouts). Getting there.

Ok, that was funny.

6-3-1 for each 10 game block for the rest of the season puts us right on the edge of the playoff line. This is a rough look at the numbers but currently it looks to be 95 or 96 although the 3-point games are trending higher than last year (by 44 games total from last year) and may fall back which could lower the points to 93-94 for 3rd place in Atlantic or 2nd wild card. However, 2014-5 there were 309 3-point games and the cutoff was 98 in the east but that included historically bad Sabres inflating everybody else's points. There are sites that do a much more thorough job of this kind of prediction but I'm looking at 96 pts as a target.

Ben Bishop vs. Sabres. 9-0-1. 0.940 save %. As per Harrington. "yeesh" Let's hope he's rusty.

Bishop getting the start tonight.

For a while this season, we had a comfortably better record versus starters than vs backups. I can't find the numbers at the moment though.

He was interviewed between periods in their game the other night vs Edmonton and asked 'who's faster, you or McDavid?" He said he didn't know because they weren't paired up on the ice at all.

Have you seen us play? Sometimes the 45 MPH stomach shot is exactly what we do. :( Let's hope that our recent games are more indicative of the shot difficulties!

Fair point also. I just don't see the guy even getting close to points most nights no matter how hard he appears to play. Frankly, he looks like Bailey to me: a prospect maybe, an AHL player, or a fill in (which I guess he is at this point). But as I said, we'll see. I hope I'm wrong.

Oh I just wanted to get a subtweet in. I didn't think it was a stupid question at all.

Some people gotta get with the new times. #oldpeople (subtweet)

Fair enough. Although Reinhart's first 9 don't count and you know it. ;) Hey, we'll see. To my eye he makes a lot of decision-making mistakes but I sincerely hope I'm wrong and he ends up being a productive team member. It was a damn nice finish last night. Cheers.

Maybe somewhat. But he makes a fair number of boneheaded plays with the puck if the right play is not obvious. Youth.

Shot Analytics is a proxy for offensive contribution. Goals and assists, while subject to variation in shot % and save %, are offensive production. I'm a big fan of analytics (it's my job) but it only captures a certain amount of the variation in production from player to player. You can give him more than 26 games if there is no better option (or you want to spread production out amongst three lines) but it comes at a cost. And how many games is enough? 30? 50? Going forward, Ennis I suppose. I hear your point that it's a matter of 'who else' but that does not mean that Carrier has any intrinsic value at this point...he's just the same as every other available winger (without trashing Jack's world)

Carrier has 4 points in 26 games with plenty of minutes with good linemates. I don't care how well the shot analytics look, he simply doesn't contribute offensively. Can be a good player but how long can you support a guy being there without the production? I just don't think it's good enough.

I think I like Gionta with Jack. The captain is a guy who knows how goals are created and if his offensive skills are not what they were, his hockey sense in the offensive zone is as finely tuned as ever. That said, some line stability would be nice. We have scored 11 goals in the last 3 games.

It's certainly time to get Philly. Once again their goaltending has come back to earth; Mason has been a mess and his Save % has fallen to 0.903. And all of sudden, the Metro Division might not have both wild cards locked up.

Just came through via Bleacher Report that they ARE moving Sam to Jack's line. I admit to being confused. It WILL be a good line though.

Yes, same. I would be unhappy with Reinhart going back to wing right now. and this guy. Not an all-star but a contributor to be sure.