Iron Crotch

Their defense fell apart after losing Benoit to the Sabres! B-)

In time series analysis it is a well-known phenomenon that how you parse the series can yield strongly divergent results (a form of sample selection bias). Over the last 25 years (excluding this year's draft), only 4 first overall picks have won a Cup: Lecavalier (1998 1st overall), Fleury (2003), Crosby (2005), Kane (2007). Fleury and Crosby obviously did so together. Second overalls have actually done quite well with 8 Cups (Seguin, Doughty, Jordan Staal, Bobby Ryan, Malkin, Eric Staal, Tverdosvsky, Pronger). Maybe Sam Reinhart can join that group. What is more interesting is considering clusters of first/second overalls and how the teams did. Pittsburgh had 4 Top-2 picks from 2003-06 and obviously won a Cup. But, Atlanta also had 4 Top-2 picks from 1999-02 and didn't. Same with Ottawa, which had 4 Top-2 overall picks from 1992-1996 and didn't win anything. Quebec had 3 1st overall picks in a row and didn't win a Cup with any of those guys although eventually got one after flipping those guys and moving to Colorado. And, Edmonton obviously is well known with three first overalls and a good shot at another Top-2 pick this year. Higher level point: there is no universal truth in these data. Having a GM who makes consistently smart decisions and "beats the market" more than the competitors is the surest way to success as best as I can tell.

This is about as dickish of a post as I've seen on this board and I've been around here for a long time.

Don't step up to the plate because you might not hit a homerun? Don't step into the ring because you might lose the fight? If you can't be virtually guaranteed of winning a Cup then don't even try? I find the whole "lose on purpose" mentality that so many here espouse incredibly distasteful. It's looking for the easy way out and IMHO is a poor way to think about life in general. Scratch and claw and fight and show some pride and dignity. Do the best you can with what you have. Do it the hard way rather than trying to find a lazy quick fix. There is no certainty in life other than the effort you put in right now. We can't win a Cup without McDavid or Eichel? Horseshit. <end of rant>

Watched the game on replay after the Preds - Bruins game. Meszaros is really awful. It's to the point where Nolan really can't even play him (got only 9 minutes of ice time after a couple of huge gaffs). Can we just get rid of the guy now? Why do we have to wait until the trade deadline?

Gotta watch this game on delay. Am at the Preds game rooting against the hated Bruins.

...or maybe he just got called up because we need a center with the Mitchell injury and he is the next in line? :rolleyes:

The team is playing great. Has won 10 of 13. Hasn't lost at home in weeks. And, still most threads on this forum are filled with non-stop pessimism.

Risto and Zadorov are really freakin' good. It isn't a coincidence that we've been on a tear since putting that pair together. And, all of our lines are starting to chip in with goals. Good to see.

We're now only 2 points back of Ottawa and only 4 back of the Bruins who I'll watch live tomorrow night here in Nashville against the Preds.

6 straight home wins. Hasn't happened since 2007.

Jhonas is unbeatable! Sabres win again!!!!

Jhonas is $$$.

MattyMo!!!

I think our only defenseman who is a complete catastrophe is The Mess. Benoit really isn't that bad as of late.

I'll take the field. B-)

Picked up another point in the standings. Now go for two. :thumbsup:

Holy crap. So close to getting the winner there. Nice.

Yes! Flynn! Clutch!

These refs are trigger happy tonight. Lots of calls.

He is the opposite of good. Whatever that is. ;)

The Mess should have smothered that puck. Instead he punched it onto Lazar's stick.

This is true. It was all Devine's idea to use two firsts on a top pair of defensemen - one to play the left side and one to play the right. Devine looks like a genius thus far.

Bump. Vote for Zemgus! https://allstarvote.nhl.com/#team-BUF

I expect a hat trick from a Sabre tonight. Yep. Book it.