Carmel Corn

Consolation prizes have been part of our problem over the years.... McDavid > Eichel Stamkos > Okposo Babcock > Blysma

McCabe may be wondering how the hell he can avoid catching whatever disease is affecting the rest of the D-Corp tonight.

Maybe ditch the name Sabres and change it to the Buffalo "Snowflakes"

IT feels like a weird game....you see some strange things from Alberta.

Dahlin is all over the ice...maybe he's trying to remind everybody that Buffalo also has a #1 overall in this game.

Hutton just seems to be a magnet for fluky goals....who's got the whammy weenie on him???

IMHO, I don't see a scenario where the PP improves without a constant net front presence and more shooting. Whether it is Sam or somebody else, maintaining the space in front helps to open up the rest of the ice. This team struggles with quick and accurate passing on the PP and ultimately their reluctance to shoot plays right into the opponent's PK efforts.

We're not going to get their 1st round pick this next draft. They have ROR on their team = lottery.

It was not a cheap shot by Eichel, but McDonaugh and other Tampa players came after Jack like it was. Now compare that to the reaction of the Sabres players after Sergachev hit Larsson with a clear cheap shot to the face. Anybody from the Sabres go after Sergachev????? Zip, Nada, Squat as usual. The Sabres may act like a more unified team less some of the castoffs from last year, but they don't act like it when one of their own gets clearly abused by the other team....pathetic (but nothing new with Buffalo)!

Agree that the roster is not a perfect match for the system and it will take more work for JB to fill the gaps. I also don't believe you make a HC change just for the sake of change and unless you have a strong sense that you have a better coach lined up, you proceed with caution (ex. Coach Q is not a given). That being said, I believe it is fair to judge Housley on the PP effectiveness. It has struggled in the bottom half or third of the league since he took over from his predecessor. An "offensive" minded coach should be accountable for at least showing improvement in the PP, but I feel in our case coach Phil has failed. He has the tools to work with here and it is fair game to be critical of the team's performance here.

The teams current prospect pool of forwards (ex. Oloffson, Nylander, Asplund) may or may not develop at the NHL level. Even if some do, I do not see a lot of center depth which causes me to still think trade or FA is the best route. That being said, I see another gap in personnel that also has no prospects in the system....and that is toughness. Don't just build a team to make the playoffs, but also to win in the playoffs. For the playoff grind, a team needs to have guys who can hit and nasty to play against. Guys who cause the other team to look behind their backs. Guys who help prevent the other team's tough guys from taking cheap shots on your skill guys, etc. I see very little to none of this on the team now and in the system. Teams built with some pieces like this tend to help deter other tough guys so its about playing the game vs. intimidation. The Sabres still have a lot of work to do here to get the right pieces to contend for a cup.

But he lowered himself down to the level of Jack's elbow. Granted his back was somewhat to Jack, but IMHO it was simply a collision where his was bent over and Jack was not. Incidental contact is all that it looked like to me and I do think there was some acting...he acted like it was a cheap shot and it was nothing like it.

I'll take the game tying one

Whichever ref made that call must have had a car accident where the telephone pole jumped out in front of his car.

I don't believe it.....good for #6

Scandella now with Dahlin? Hate that combo too! Scandella is like using Anise in food, makes everything worse.

How about the Leafs....maybe he can continue to share his defensive prowess against the Sabres when we play them.

I don't think the Risto Scandella combo is working....I would like to see Marco sit a few games and bring back Beaulieu.

If you do and he asks about it, just tell him you noticed he was a Leaf's fan and you thought the new trim work would be a tribute to their coach.....Mike Bab****

Agreed, I suspect Stamkos and company will find another gear or two and tilt the ice.

Sometime I wish they would go back to good ol' wood sticks. Many fond memories of Koho's, Victoriaville's, etc.

Kind of what I was thinking....but as a slight variation....simply shoot the puck (vs. overpassing). Second, effort....or in the Sabres case not enough....other team's PK are outworking them Last, no Okposo please.

The only scenario trade-wise I can see is getting somebody else's bad contract in return. Maybe a situation where we take a player with an even higher annual cap hit, but less year's remaining. Perhaps a player who's game that somehow "fits" better than KO's.

My $.02 - Pomminstein was a good alternative to Sam on the first line. With two speedy guys already, he could find his space and take advantage of some good feeds by the other two. He still has a good/quick shot and can score IMHO. As far as Mittelstadt, I agree that he needs somebody other than Okposo. I would like to see a prolonged experiment with Mittelstadt, Sheary and TT together. It may flop, but why not try....not just for a couple shifts, but several games. I don't like some of the d-combo's either, especially Dahlin with Scandella. Marco still looks bad to me this year and he's taking Dahlin down with him plus forcing him to play on the right side (I prefer seeing Dahlin on the left). Last, I don't like Housley's PP period and some of it has to do with who is together on the ice. Really can't stand seeing Okposo out there in particular...he has no finesse to play on the PP.

To make the playoffs: 1. Find a legit 2C solution before we slide down to 9th, 10th, 11th, etc. 2. Fix the powerplay (they have the skill, but IMHO the coaching is suspect here) 3. Consistent effort vs. long lapses of coasting and watching the other team's skate around you. I dread the second period of each game especially. To succeed in the playoffs: 4. See 1, 2 and 3 above plus 5. Figure out a way to add some sand and grit to this team. Look at the Cap's as an example...Wilson is a wrecking machine, their stars play with an edge. Skill and grit combined!