Pimlach

It has to be this. Like it or not, due diligence requires that they look at all of them to decide on the 1/2 goalies. So let’s try to still achieve the playoffs while also conducting tryouts during real games.

I get it. That isn’t what I was saying either. Ok - They need to play with a win rate that gets them 95+ points to be in playoff contention, not rocket science. But your example misses the nuance that there is a point in the season where you are watching other teams, so winning division games is the highest priority at any time during the season, and conference games the next highest priority, because those wins deny a potential playoff competitor.

Wait, first let us know if Zucker is back?

Bills get off the scheid. They looked ok, a 40 - 9 win is welcomed. Running the ball was easy today with Cook, but after that we have nothing in the backfield. Passing game looks mediocre still. I just do not like the WR group other than Shakir. Allen's feet and his reads are not up to par still, but I still point to the WRs not getting open. I am not sure that Brady isn't get outmatched either. Defense was better with Hoecht in the lineup. Losing Oliver has become a theme for this team. The rookie CB made a play or two. The Panthers were supposed to be better than this. Next week is KC at home, this game was just a warm up. We will learn much more next week. Go Bills!

Exactly. Which is why UPL should not have been put on the Sabres roster until the maximum allowed days of his conditioning assignment were met. They needed to give a few more games to Ellis. Now, in a year with playoffs as the focal point, the Sabres are conducting goalie tryouts during the regular season. Unfortunate circumstance and some of it is self-inflicted.

Taro I was talking about the next game versus Columbus, not the Saturday Toronto game. 100% Lyon needed a rest.

Good stuff Taro but you go with Lyon in the next game and get a W.

Yes, I get that Ellis was supposed to get the net last night. Again, the Sabres roster should not have been in the 3 goalie configuration at that point. UPL should have been in Cleveland, that would have been better for him. Last night might have been Levi if possible, or Lyon once again. Giving Lyon a rest, and still getting 1 point is not the worst outcome.

Thanks. I want to be wrong on UPL. I want him to have success. I just don’t see it. I thought I did a few years ago.

The forwards were already deep. Quinn was first in, he was very deep and never cycled back. Tage was next in and was flying, when he missed his shot the puck was loose. Power could hang back and face a likely 2 on 1, normal for OT hockey, or come up and take a high danger shot to win it. He made the right choice but could not control the puck. All three skaters failed to convert and all three were deep. From there the Sabres needed a play from the goalie to stay alive. Thompson got back just enough to keep Taveras from moving inside, actually making UPLs job a little easier. But the goalie had the wrong angle and decided to drop to his knees, exposing the top of the net. Tough bounce, bad luck, and poor play all rolled into one.

Power took a gamble going deep when both forwards were deep, and he failed. The puck was moving crazily and he missed it, despite his having good hands. Yes, he blew it too, but he was given a green light to do that and just about every coach would agree with it UPL was called on to bail them out. He inexplicably took the wrong angle, then he fell to his knees and made himself smaller, giving a sniper like Taveras the top of the net. Did you see Ellis on the breakaways that he stopped? He did the opposite of UPL. He took away a lot more net by coming out correctly and challenging the shooter. UPL’s ability to anticipate what the shooter can do is a major weakness for him.

I am more upset that he was called up from conditioning so quickly, after one game. It was obvious he was not ready to play. The team kept the shots down, they played pretty solid around him all night, that game should have never went to OT. I don’t faith in UPL after last season. You can hear his teammates sticking up for him after the game. That’s fine. That’s good actually. But it is possible that UPL is going to get games because they invested in him. The Sabres organization is looking at 15 years, and that includes 5 years with the current core. Every game is important. Every point is important. Every opportunity to close out a win is a test of this team’s meddle.

NEWS FLASH. The path to 95+ is directly linked to where your team sits in the standing.

Ok. UPL should have been in Cleveland playing an AHL game instead of in Toronto last night. But I won’t accept UPLs consistent mediocrity because other goalies had bad nights.

Sounds like a Navy man