Cheektorado

Sabres have averaged 3.6 goals per game. PUSH for the win!

If the team want to "bail out" Levi, they need to score some goals this period. That is just what they are going to attempt to do this period.

Perfect game plan for the Sabres to open it up this period. Levi is settled in with some strong play. Sabres first line pushes for the win!

Zero. Really? You define his career with that?

Devils up 3-0 on Penguins. Devon holding the fort. Let's go forwards, Net some shots!

I enjoyed watching that series.

Maybe try not thinking. Biggest game a Sabres team has faced in a lot of years. It's a young team, but they know what is at stake. I have decided to watch this game with my heart and not my head. Good luck guys and play loose!

I don't know about imploding, but it sure is getting locked down. Anyone know the situation with the Sabres Russian players. How many are still in Russia versus playing outside of Russia? Future drafting of these guys could get pretty risky. I truly sympathize with those who don't want to live that way.

Get the F outta here. I was just posting this, but my mom called from Buffalo. I come back on here and you beat me to it! LOL. He's been gone for such a long time (Hey-la-day-la our Tage is back) 'Cause he's kinda big and he's awful strong (Hey-la-day-la our Tage is back)

I sure hope someone sent these to Krueger, along with his game logs.

Why do you have a goal song? LOL.

I've seen this season as, the team is steaky BECAUSE they are young. @Pimlachhas brought up good points not in line with ours. If anyone thinks that this decision is an easy one for Granato, they are fooling themselves. He will have had 3 days to think about it and I just can't believe he will do it in a vacuum.

I didn't actually say that. I said, "if Levi isn't stinking it up in practice". See my reply above to @Mango. I don't think any stat is going to give Granato a confident reason to start one goalie or another. On the other hand, if I was HCDG I would be listening to Okposo as to what the team is feeling. This game is pretty much the season.

A standard deviation is not even in the conversation as you pointed out. Actually, if you look at the Sabres playoff run in the pressure packed month of March it has been pretty weak if you look at from a goalie win/loss record. I know there is more to the story that that, but these are the facts. Taking Lev's game out, the Sabres record in March was 4-7-3, with 2 shootout losses. If you add in that both UPL and Comrie have never played in a game with as much "importance" as this game presents, it doesn't give a vet advantage by either over Levi. I also do not take the Skinner comment lightly. Players in any sport are emotionally charged with emotions, superstitions and all other kinds of non-statistical feelings. If they play a little harder in front of the kid, it sure isn't a negative! I'd love to hear what thoughts guys like Okposo and Girgs have on this. Neither of them has ever played a playoff game and their opinion would carry a lot more weight than a fan like me.

First let me say that no other goalie has proven they are consistent enough to lock the Florida game up as starter. Levi played well in his debut and unless he is stinking it up in daily practice, he should get the call. It's a small window to see his play versus NHL playoff type hockey and it could be a factor in next year's decision making. So, if he is practicing well, he should start. Hype is an emotion. It can result in good things or bad. Taking out the fan's emotions for a moment, I see only a positive from a player's desire to show his former team that they may not have given him his due. It adds a bit more of emotion to an already important game. It's a great yardstick to measure the young man's character and fortitude. IMO.

You got to give the young man the chance against his drafting team. None of the other goalies move the needle one way or the other.

Agree. Personally, I thought VO would stay another year and Casey would be gone. I now feel the reverse should be done.

You don't need a lot of algorithmic math to see that the Sabres have to beat the Panthers Tuesday and Red Wings on Thursday. If the Devils beat the Penguins on Tuesday, it tightens things up. The algorithm is skewed due to the Sabres playing the Hurricanes, Rangers and Devils. Those are tough games, but..................................

Captain OK!

Goes to say the 5 guys in front need to do something.

Looks like Carter Hart is still out. Anyone know who's in net for the Flyers tonight? Flyers' Carter Hart: Not in Saturday's lineup Rotowire 8 HRS AGO Hart (lower body) will not be in the lineup versus Buffalo on Saturday, Bill Meltzer of NHL.com reports. The Flyers recalled Samuel Ersson on an emergency basis to back up Felix Sandstrom. Hart missed the last two games with the injury. He is 21-21-10 with a 2.90 GAA and .909 save percentage this season. Consider him day-to-day.

Agree, not sure about tonight. That is up to HCDG. But going forward he deserves as much "on the bench" time with the guys as possible.

Yes. Also, he has not played the Flyers this year, so he needs to put on the big boy pants after Levi's debut and get the win. Give Levi the Florida game on the road against his drafting team. See where the Sabres stand after that. Sabres will have 6 games left and the Penguins 4 games left. Evaluate then what to do.

Agree. By the end of the Florida game the Sabres will know how the Penguins played against Boston (today) and the Flyers and Devils. Sabres will have 6 games left and Penguins 4. Wait until that is over with to decide who is goaltending and what to do with Levi. In the meantime, Bales and Anderson need to discuss what best mentor role Craig can play before he is gone.