[Buffalo Bills 2019-2020]

1 hour ago, Let's Go B-Lo said:

We will see. You miss by 1 and you are looking at 9-7 with the Steelers holding the tie breaker. Quite frankly the Steelers have done better against good teams than we have against lousy ones and are a handful of plays from being 5-2 themselves...without Roethlisberger.

Beating the dregs of the NFL isn't going to get it done. They need to beat a good team or two and Captain Happyclaps hasn't done that.

I like Coach McClappy.  Can we agree on that?   I’ll take your bet.  Bills straight up against the Steelers.   

 

The usual?

[Buffalo Bills 2019-2020]

5 hours ago, Let's Go B-Lo said:

For starters, I'll take the Steelers to get in over Buffalo.  I see 6 more wins on their schedule right now and that's before we even discuss the 12/15 game where they host the Bills. Anybody wanna bet money on the Bills going to Pittsburgh in December and coming up with a win?  Anyone?

This season has been all cute and everything but it ends on Thanksgiving. 4 straight L's to Dallas, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and New England put them, at best, in a must win situation v. the Jets in week 17 while the Steelers and the Ravens play each other for the division and WC with both holding tiebreakers over Buffalo should Buffalo lose. Think about that scenario for more than 3 seconds and tell me you still feel comfortable.

Steelers will have losses to Indy, Browns (away), Ravens, and either Bills or Rams.   That's 8-8. 

[The Krueger Effect]

1 hour ago, PerreaultForever said:

I think Johanson combined with Skinner was a good idea. Playmaker and scorer combo. Sam on that line is not a sniper. Oloffson added as well gives you that but the line would be less physical. Skinner seems more able to handle himself and adding Sobotka (for now) gives a little more room for Johanson (who is surprisingly fast in open ice) and maybe protects his potential fragility a little bit. Jack is a complete player so needs less of that and hence Reinhart, more skilled but less physical, fits the role with Olofsson as a speed sniper. I wouldn't change the lines, unless someone can come up better than Vlad.

I agree.  I like what Johanson and Skinner have done.  Developing something.  Their give & go against Arizona was a thing of beauty.  But Vlad just looks lost in the offensive zone.  Any benefit he make to the defensive responsibility is lost (plus some) in the offensive side.  Maybe Tage can fill this void if he improves his defense on the farm. 

[GDT: 10/28/19 Arizona at Buffalo, 7pm ET, MSG, NHL and WGR550]

50 minutes ago, Tondas said:

So are the Biils and Sabres pretenders?  This can't be what ONEBuffalo means.

I think there was a problem at the printer...it was actually phONEyBUFFALO

[Buffalo Bills 2019-2020]

2 hours ago, Let's Go B-Lo said:

The Bills are a complete fraud of a football team.  9 games left, they need to win at least 5. @New England is a loss so that means 5 of 8. @Dallas on Thanksgiving is a loss so that means 5 of 7, Baltimore is going to run the ball all over them so that means 5 of 6.  Good luck.

They don’t need to win at least 5 games.  They need to win four games for a wildcard birth.   The AFC is not competitive this season.  Assuming Houston/Indy are division and Wildcard #1, who else has an inside track to Buffalo?  Trick question.  Answer is no one.  Today was disappointing but it’s not doom and gloom for the probability of a post season.  

[GDT: 10/25/19 Sabres at Red Wings, 7:30pm ET, MSG, WGR]

Tape to tape.   Try it, you’ll like it.

[The Krueger Effect]

2 hours ago, dudacek said:

I think the fact that Jeff, not Sam, has been tapped to drive L2 supports  @nfreeman’s contention that Jeff is the better player.

But I think it has more to do with chemistry, whether that is driven by contract or less mercenary factors.

Players have talked about being able to talk to Ralph and feeling like he listens. I wonder if Sam and Jack talked to him about their desire to play together. I remember Sam’s surprise in training camp when a reporter told him he and Jack were being broken up.

 

30 minutes ago, matter2003 said:

It was answered, several times actually.  It comes down to wanting scoring on each line and also carefully managing offensive responsibility with defensive responsibility on the lines as well. RK talked about it at length a few times actually.

   I would argue that a FL#1 of Skinner Eichel Vesey is more Defensively responsible, and would maintain chemistry.   Evidence is such that Olofsson has been replaced many times for Vesey  in close games.  This would move Sam and Victor to FL#2 which would be slightly less responsible defensively but probably improve chemistry (MoJo and his countryman Olofsson) and improve offensive production.   And Jimmy is a FA next year too.   Why not see if he is motivated?  Victor has done everything the Sabres has asked from a developmental perspective, which is why I think he gets the opportunity to play along side Jack over others.   His wicked one-timer not withstanding. 

[The Krueger Effect]

    What I can appreciate from RK, and it was never directly discussed in the article, was the decision behind breaking up the Skinner-Eichel-Reinhart line.   There is a quote from Skinner and how he is working well with MoJo, but the question is never asked WHY was the decision made.  I think it's significant.    I think Reinhart has the offensive skill set to drive a line (whether from the RW or C position).   But Sam is in a contract year, and its vital that he proves himself for this contract.   Having Jack center him is a way of RK saying I'm going to give you every opportunity for you to succeed and get a long term deal.  While at the same time saying to JB, let's see him validate his worthiness to the upcoming contract offer.    The same (to a lesser extent) can be said of Olafsson.   He's also an  RFA, and while his term and AAV will not be near what Sam's will be, the stats he can obtain to increase the overall value are attainable with Jack more so than anyone else on this team.   And the message to Skinner thus far has been, you earned the right to your extension, now deliver under more difficult conditions.  

[Jimmy Vesey's play to date]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.......and these are all his highlights.

[GDT: 10/22/19 Sharks at Buffalo, 7pm ET, MSG and WGR550]

3 minutes ago, #freejame said:

I also hate it but power to the people. 

 

I never knew this was more than a funny contextual sound. 

1920s: pig Latin for nix¹.

[GDT: 10/22/19 Sharks at Buffalo, 7pm ET, MSG and WGR550]

1 hour ago, Taro T said:

MSG did downgrade it for 1 game, but it was back listed third before the road trip was over.

seriously?  One game?  Hilarious.  Maybe some mid-level production coordinator took it upon himself to make the change and the product put the ixnay on that.   I know Vogl changed after Montreal, so I'll watch his updates to see if it changes.  

[GDT: 10/22/19 Sharks at Buffalo, 7pm ET, MSG and WGR550]

1 hour ago, nfreeman said:

Couple other game notes:

- Mitts’ line looks like it has moved ahead of Larsson’s line in the rotation.

- What a great play by Mitts in the OT to hustle back on D, intercept the SJ pass and then find Risto to set up the GWG.

- I know some were criticizing VO upthread but I thought he had a nice bounce back game, with good strength on the puck and better decisions..

- At one point in the 2nd (I think), Risto tried to hit Marleau and Marleau braced himself and sent Risto the other way.

- Scandella is a large dude. 

- The Sabres are on pace for 65 wins. 

Maybe Casey has been reading Sabrespace and how we almost unanimously downgraded his line to FL#4 and that provided the proper motivation.

[Reinhart contract extension]

4 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

If the team keeps winning and these players play solid roles he will attempt to resign any and all of them. Maybe with the exception of Bogo who i think may be done as a Sabre.

having said that though, no one on that list is unreplaceable and/or essential and if they want more than their UFA competition around the league they will be let go. Nobody on that list is going to get a substantial raise.

....or Scandella, or Sobotka, or Vesey, or Sheary and probably not Rodrigues.  But other than that, yeah, all of them.  

[GDT: 10/19 Sabres at San Jose, 10:30pm ET, MSG and WGR550]

1 hour ago, That Aud Smell said:

I noticed that a beat reporter reordered the lines so that LOG is the 3rd line. When did that become the thing that reporters are doing? Just curious. 

The bottom 6 really is a curiosity with Head Coach Ralph Krueger. No middle 6 really a’tall?

I saw Vogl or Reardon start around the 9th.  Sabres vs Habs.   I think this has been debated here quite robustly.  I’m on the record after the MTL game that it should be that way.  But the Daily Face Off has not changed...yet.

[GDT: Buffalo @ LA Kings, 10-17-2019, 10:30 pm EDT]

31 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

Tonight represents their best chance to get some points on this road trip as the Sharks have now won three in a row and have appeared to turn things around.

This is why I think the decision was to play Ullmark last night.  Last night was a decision to play with “house money” and see if they could steal two on the road from an improved Anaheim team.  Tonight you should win.  

[GDT: Sabres at Ducks ?7p PT]

2 minutes ago, ... said:

Sabres should have won this game.

Agreed.  I think the Henrique goal at the of first, then again at the end of the second were weak and changed momentum.  The Rakell goal in opening seconds of the second was a poorly played poke check against a highly skilled player.  They solved the Sabres PP and killed extremely well.  Better Goaltending, solid  PK and some BS thuggery.   

[GDT: Sabres at Ducks ?7p PT]

Ducks PK> Sabres PP

Gibson> Ullmark 

Rackell is very good.  That’s about it for high end talent on that team.  There is zero chance that move him.   Especially not for Risto + parts.     Should have been 4-0 after the first period.   An excellent showing by the Sabres fans tonight at the Honda Center.  

[GDT: Sabres at Ducks ?7p PT]

1 hour ago, Randall Flagg said:

I've never had a Sabre player inspire less emotion in me, positive or negative, than Jimmy Vesey

This.  E- Rod did nothing tonight but Jimmy did less.   I hope Lazar and Sheary are in tomorrow.  Casey had a solid game and it was all for not.   

[GDT: Sabres at Ducks ?7p PT]

Just now, PASabreFan said:

What a pass by Dahlin from the side of the Sabres net to the Anaheim line.

Wasted by Jimmy

[GDT: Sabres at Ducks ?7p PT]

Wrong.  E rod is now dressed.  And so is Gilmour

[GDT: Sabres at Ducks ?7p PT]

E-Rod is on the bench and not dressed. Sheary made trip, but the projected line up did not have him starting.   Was this reported?

[GDT: Sabres at Ducks ?7p PT]

[GDT: Sabres at Ducks ?7p PT]

No change to the Sabres Line up. 

LW	C	RW	Forwards
VICTOR OLOFSSON Rating: 74.5#37 LW	JACK EICHEL Rating: 80.2#8 C	SAM REINHART Rating: 75.5#22 RW	FL1 Rating Rating: 76.73#14 FL1
JEFF SKINNER Rating: 77.3#16 LW	MARCUS JOHANSSON Rating: 73.5#75 C	VLADIMIR SOBOTKA Rating: 68.9#178 RW	FL2 Rating Rating: 73.22#17 FL2
JIMMY VESEY Rating: 70.9#110 LW	CASEY MITTELSTADT Rating: 71.3#132 C	EVAN RODRIGUES Rating: 72.3#68 RW	FL3 Rating Rating: 71.49#22 FL3
ZEMGUS GIRGENSONS Rating: 70.8#147 LW	JOHAN LARSSON Rating: 70.7#150 C	KYLE OKPOSO Rating: 73.0#54 RW	FL4 Rating Rating: 71.48#13 FL4

 

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS		Defense
JAKE MCCABE Rating: 71.9#89 LD	RASMUS RISTOLAINEN Rating: 73.5#46 RD	DL1 Rating Rating: 72.68#27 DL1
RASMUS DAHLIN Rating: 75.8#13 LD	COLIN MILLER Rating: 75.5#22 RD	DL2 Rating Rating: 75.65#3 DL2
MARCO SCANDELLA Rating: 71.7#95 LD	HENRI JOKIHARJU Rating: 72.5#10 RD	DL3 Rating Rating: 72.10#22 DL3

1ST POWERPLAY UNIT
VICTOR OLOFSSON Rating: 74.5#37 SK1	JACK EICHEL Rating: 80.2#8 SK2	JEFF SKINNER Rating: 77.3#16 SK3

SAM REINHART Rating: 75.5#22 SK4

RASMUS DAHLIN Rating: 75.8#13 SK5

 

LW	C	RW	Forwards
RICKARD RAKELL Rating: 75.2#37 LW	ADAM HENRIQUE Rating: 73.0#84 C	JAKOB SILFVERBERG Rating: 75.7#26 RW	FL1 Rating Rating: 74.67#26 FL1
MAXIME COMTOIS	RYAN GETZLAF Rating: 74.7#45 C	ONDREJ KASE Rating: 77.2#12 RW	FL2 Rating Rating: 75.98#5 FL2
NICK RITCHIE Rating: 70.8#116 LW	SAM STEEL Rating: 73.7#61 C	TROY TERRY Rating: 72.4#66 RW	FL3 Rating Rating: 72.28#11 FL3
MAX JONES Rating: 72.9#66 LW	DEREK GRANT Rating: 70.0#164 C	CARTER ROWNEY Rating: 69.2#107 RW	FL4 Rating Rating: 70.69#25 FL4

 

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS		Defense
HAMPUS LINDHOLM Rating: 74.7#28 LD	JOSH MANSON Rating: 72.3#71 RD	DL1 Rating Rating: 73.51#21 DL1
MICHAEL DEL ZOTTO Rating: 72.1#85 LD	CAM FOWLER Rating: 75.5#17 RD	DL2 Rating Rating: 73.77#19 DL2
JACOB LARSSON Rating: 71.4#13 LD	KORBINIAN HOLZER Rating: 71.9#79 RD	DL3 Rating Rating: 71.67#24 DL3

 

Betting line:

I'll be there too. 

[GDT: Sabres at Ducks ?7p PT]

2 hours ago, Doohickie said:

that Gif never gets old.  A shame we only play them twice. 

[Ice time and deployment]

3 hours ago, That Aud Smell said:

well, they're certainly not getting protected usage when they're out there. they have a defensive zone start % of about 65%.

The "fourth line" is Sheary/Casey/Vesey.   Our third line (GLO) is utilized correctly (IMHO) with a 65% D-zone start.