Marvin

No, you are not crazy. They give blind-side cheap shots, target the head on "checks", etc. -- and then run crying to the refs for protection if anyone challenges them. Several teams' pages on HFBoards have complained about their play being well over the line. And welcome back!

By points percentage the 1929-30 Bruins, the 1943-4 Canadiens, and the 1976-7 Canadiens were better.

When was the last time the Sabres were in a playoff spot this late in the season?

Ray said that if the Sabres play their game, they can beat anyone. He forgot the modifier, on the road.

It could have been worse.

About time for him.

I think Stamkos's dive was just too obvious.

Boy, what a difference being a veteran team makes.

Are the Sabres more physical tonight than in the last few games, or is it just me?

Where is this version of the team when they are at Key Bank Center?

Welcome to the board!

Boy, did Stamkos go down easily.

I think Crouse is like the Samuelsson-like defenceman from San Jose: fans want to get him, so they mention it. I don't think either is available.

I think the only moves Adams makes, if any, will be long-term set-up for the team. No short-term stuff. No big ticket items unless the price is right both before and after. No moving top recent prospects. If he does it cleverly, it could help this year in a playoff push.

@pi2000 pointed out in another thread that goalkeeping is much worse at home. How much of that is on the skaters and how much is on the goalkeepers is the question. The only inference that I can make is that the issues are strictly mental.

That is a great question. This is so glaring that you have to think the issue is mental.

Holy crap! What a difference. How much of that is the play in front of the goalkeepers? And how much is on goalkeeping?

How do you mean?

I think most of us have forgotten how many of Lindy Ruff's starter mistakes were covered up by Hasek. For instance, in game 5 of the 1998 ECF, the Sabres were a disaster and Ruff was consistently out-manoeuvered by the Capitals, but Hasek was unconscious. We also forgot how much Ryan Miller covered for the Sabres' running hockey's version of The Dutch "Clockwork Orange" total football in 2005-7 -- by design, the Sabres gave up a boatload of odd man rushes where the D exclusively played the pass and Miller went 1-on-1 with the puck carrier. The difference was both teams had a lot of veterans with more grit than talent who could handle the pressure. This team is far less experienced.

I thought the goaltending would be better. I thought Bryson, Fitzgerald, and Pilut would all be better. I expected more out of Mittlestadt and Olofsson. I am stunned at the development of Cozens. I thought Power would struggle more.

Agree on the need to chill out. I think that WGR mentioning that we're in the playoffs by points percentage is partly a combination of novelty and disbelief. I am still trying to get used to the fact that the Sabres are relevant to the playoffs this late in the season. It has been a long, long time.

Fourth Period is a fan rumour website. It is as trustworthy as the Trade Rumours page on HFBoards.

I just looked at the rest of our schedule. We end the year with an old fashioned 4 games in 5 nights, where our playoff lives might be on the line.

Mug Wumps.

I remember a couple of parents being upset that they did not choose Bisons. I never could understand the need for a redundant nickname.