Porous Five Hole

Right on. They’re top heavy and that’s what happens when you have to pay everybody. They’re still good if healthy. Kuch, Stammer, Hagel and Point are all 80 point plus players. However, if secondary guys like Cirelli, Nick Paul or Jeannot aren’t sticking out every night, they’re in real trouble. Also, Hedman isn’t the same.

Observations from section 117 tonight: -Erik Johnson stepped up in the third with a shorter D lineup. He might not be able to eat minutes, but he stepped up when needed and he’s excellent for our PK. -Tampa did not look dangerous at all. Point, Hedman, Cirelli, & Sergachev didn’t make a play all night. Kuch was the only guy going other than Hagel who got to some dirty areas and was rewarded. Giving them a point when the Bolts are rolling with AHL goaltending was a bummer. -Power looked much more composed than opening week. He’s learning to use his size as leverage to keep opposing forwards outside danger areas. Also, that pass to Skinner was 🔥. I wonder if the game flow is starting to slow down for him? A good night for sure. -Tage was very defensively responsible tonight. He’s also owning his role on PK1 nicely. -Mitts and Greenway are a thing. I like their 5 on 5 game together. -Odd man rushes heavily favored Buffalo. No puck luck and that will come.

If he ever deserves to be grounded, just make him watch the playoff perfect game on repeat 😜

To me, what would be entertaining is more three on three. Just turn the clock off and play it out until someone scores. Want to add some flavor to the mix? My hot take from there is to not allow a puck possessor to willingly exit the offensive zone…if they do, they have to dump the puck in the corner and the defending team gets it. Something similar was suggested by @Taro T and I think he is onto something.

I don’t find Granato’s demeanor to be any different from the head coaches across the rest of the league (by and large).

My first thought lol

I read that as Ralph Krueger and would vote him either way.

The Capitals’ home sellout streak will end at 588 consecutive games, including the playoffs, when Washington hosts the Calgary Flames on Monday at Capital One Arena. The streak began on March 5, 2009.

He will run in the playoffs. The Bills just need to keep him upright until then.

Benny

Welcome! I’m with Tom on this that UPL just isn’t that good. His stats don’t lie. And neither will the Amerks season ticket holders. The guy doesn’t have it. Sure, he’s had a couple of stretches where he gets hot for a few games like any other goalie. But he’s never been good. His career save percentage at the AHL level is sub .900. Same at the NHL level. If he was drafted in the 6th round instead of the 2nd round, would anyone care about him at the NHL level? Also, UPL has never earned an NHL recall. He has only been in Buffalo because of injury recalls. A career AHL save percentage of under .900 means he never should have been here to begin with. Obviously Levi has some maturing to do at this level, but I wouldn’t read too much into his first two starts. The Rangers were superior and the Isles had two deflection goals.

I think people are hesitant to waive him because VO has been a good soldier and a seventh round pick success story —and it is less about losing him for nothing. Quality depth is new for this franchise. It might be common practice for organizations to waive (nearly) 5M players, but I cannot recall that ever happening in Buffalo. I’m not trying to flame the Sabres, but are they worried about feelings right now? Or tainting prospects? Honestly, VO taking a top line spot in Rochester isn’t in their best interest in terms of prospect development. And neither is him pouting in the press box in Buffalo. To your first question, giving VO away for no compensation is the best case scenario…but you said it; that is very unlikely due to the salary cap.

Flag football is an Olympic sport as of 2028

https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BUF/ That has the rundown of everyone. I’ll add it to the post.

Agree it isn’t significant, but Mitts on the ice more than Tage? Did not see that coming.

Forwards: -Mitts leads the centers with 17:20. Did anybody expect that? Tage is 16:27 and Cozens 16:52. -We need to free Peyton Krebs. This may entirely be attributed to being down early in each game, but…. He was hitched to Okposo last year and that was fine because Okie was getting 14:40 a game. That’s down to 10:17. Zemgus is 9:28. Krebs needs to be on the ice a lot more than ten minutes a night. He’s currently at 12:31, but that’s because of the PK. -Greenway is a top six forward with the same average time on ice as Tage. Defense: -Dahlin and Power have been rotating partners and have been spotted playing together. -Samuelsson is getting the toughest minutes because he’s never on the PP. Dude is a horse. He’s also a plus one after the two games in which we have been outscored 8-3. Dahlin 24:52 Power 24:39 Muel 21:50 ——————— Joker 16:36 Cliffy 16:25 ——————— Erik Johnson 12:09 He’s a glorified PK specialist. Maybe he’s being eased in or managing an injury? I don’t think this is sustainable as a model. For example, Lyubushkin & Clague averaged 15 min a game in their starts last year. When there’s an injury on the blue line, I would be nervous for this team. Like I said, way to early to draw any conclusions, but I did it anyway https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BUF/

Agree. And his trade value has to be nada given his salary. I would park VO in the press box and roll with anyone else. I’m most fond of the idea of exposing VO or UPL to waivers and call up Kulich.

It was just a little joke that he’s played well for two games so you better lock him up for a long term extension…eight years for eight million. And I am happy with all the extensions they’ve signed. Just a lowbrow lol attempt.

HECTIC. A good throw probably draws a defensive holding call. But it was high, even for the giraffe of Waller. Middle of the field at the back of the end zone with very little room or time for the QB.

This is the type of game that Buffalo lost for two decades and created the concept of something being “Billsy.” But not much since JA17 showed up. And it still happens…that’s the NFL. But whether it’s talent, coaching, or karma, the Bills end up winning a lot more of these than they lose when they don’t blow teams out. I’ll take it.

8 X 8 😆

The Sabres outhit the Rangers and looked to me to be the more physically imposing team tonight.

I didn’t think of it that way and you may be onto something.

Does any part of you separate the current team from the previous eleven seasons? I think it is smart to. The current squad shouldn’t have to wear the baggage of Murray and Botterill eras, and the dismantling of the Eichel era was completed less than 1.5 seasons ago. If folks want to bang on Pegula, that’s fine. But every thread should not turn into that.