Broken Ankles

Not moving or widening goalposts or attempting to correlate hits to wins. In fact after watching Calgary, I can see diminished returns from too many attempted hits. Just giving my observation which is the increased number of registered hits, and the subsequent suppression of shots and high danger opportunities is one contributing factor to improved play over last years team. To the bold, sometimes. And other times, one hit ends possession. That is a good thing, and I would debate happened less frequently with last years starting line up.

In other news, water is wet. Obviously outscoring is required to win. The point made is forecheck, backcheck, and boosh-check can have a positive effect in contributing to turnovers. Guys like Dahlin, Cozens, and Mitts are showing significant improvement in the defensive zone YoY. By taking a body and separating man from puck, they improve their oppounity to suppress shots and increase turnovers. The Sabres have more physical (and obviously more talented) players like Tuch, JJP, Boosh, Mule, and Power replacing guys like Eakin, Bjork, Pysyk, Hagg and Miller. Their size, reach, strength are all contributing to solid play in the defensive zone. Evidence by reduced high danger chances and overall scoring chances against YoY. And I would wager if you threw out the third period in EDM and period two last night they tell an even better story. Why can’t you admit that improved offensive skill, slightly better goaltending and size/strength and a more aggressive tone on D can all play a factor to helping the team “out score” their opponents?

Weren’t two of Rob Rays three keys to the game the exact same? He should probably stop drafting these minutes before puck drop.

Are you selling false hope?

Introducing undrafted defenseman Arber Xhekaj. He was feeding Zack so many rights that Kassian was begging for a left. https://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/n265616

He registered zero give aways last night, but your guy Casey had two glaring turnovers in the defensive zone.

39 attempts for Oilers in 3rd period alone.

Aaron Dell in goal for the Oilers?

Cozens>Asplund>JJP>Krebs>TT = Skinner= VO > Quinn.

Still on west coast time, and get the pleasure of spending time with family in the 716. @Donny - please move Alex to FL1. Migratory Watching.

What was wrong with the call? Reilly tried glove it to himself but never played the puck, so after touched by another Leaf player, how is it not a pass?

Agree on the 7k estimate. Swaths of empty seats in the 100’s. Visiting the parents with my son this week, so I did a kids day purchase. My ticket was $39 and $15 for my son. Then made our way to section 119 for the 3rd period. One the reasons I had to leave the 300s was an annoying spotlight that was blinding me every 60 seconds. WTF, why?

Agreed. But it’s consistently a struggle for those D men not name Dahlin to exit a zone. What is the best fancy stat site to rate zone exits? Dahlin must be above average and the others below.

Can they win one face off?

And the odd man rush parade continues

I agree with almost all of this….except Mitts. I thought his advanced metrics were deceiving, and he didn’t drive play at all, like Cozens did. Thought he gave up the puck too often (5 times), and had only one quality SOG. Others were weak. His lack of speed is concerning. His contributions on the PP were lacking. Also agree with mentions upthread and you about Tuch back with Tage.

Good call. Thought the same thing.

Tomlin clearly should be fired for starting a rookie QB against a vaunted Bills defense. No way to build confidence in your QB.

Tuch was in the room for what 3/4 of a year? If Z is doing all the things that are right, then it follows the longest tenured Sabre has a letter. It’s possible Mule has greater leadership skills than Rasmus. Evidenced by his being named Captain of his team as a sophomore in college. But Rasmus maintains the ‘A’ based on experience. Not just on skill. Tuch is a good candidate next year if Z is not re-signed.

Memo to Mike

Maybe KA thought it better to build confidence in another goalie within the organization. Comrie is also the UFA/new guy. Message could have been ‘show me something’. The bar of expectations was extremely low based on the pairings. Do you think he cleared it?