Doohickie

Depends on the rookies. See also: Quinn, Peterka

For those who say the switch to center wasn't that significant in Tage's emergence: I think it literally saved his career. It gave him the confidence he hadn't yet had as a pro.

You missed it live, you missed it.

I think the answers are maybe and maybe, but that's why we watch the games, innit?

I think that's what Tuch is turning out to be. If he's going to stay on the top line he needs to play that role. His two primary assists to Tage last night were good examples of that, particularly the second one where he drew two defenders and managed to slide the puck over to Tage. Danny Briere couldn't have done what Tuch did on that goal.

He did recently pass, but he was one of the best, perhaps the best, play by play announcer in any sport. Ever. For 67 years.

Vin Scully would like a word.

I don't think I've ever had you on ignore. as far as you know

Save for the last game when he's 4 goals behind McDavid, McDavid scores a hattie, and Tage scores 8 to beat him out and set the single game record. 😉

Oh, in the Red Wings game? Mo Seider I think it was. Maybe even Cozens. A bit more of a long shot but he's playing very well.

So decidedly UnEichelish.

Eh. Embrace Ignore. Ignore is your friend. I've ignored a lot of people on this forum. Most of them I eventually take off Ignore but there are a few that are still there. Once I have someone on Ignore, I still might peek at their posts, but because they're on ignore I kind of prepare myself and I either go, "yep, still ignore" and move on, or I decide that even though the particular poster rubs me the wrong I way I still want to engage with them. If I have the latter reaction (which happens with most posters eventually) I take them off ignore. It's kind of like I quarantine them until I can build up an immunity to their unique PainInTheAssness.

The question isn't whether they are a good team, they are. The questions are: Is the hole they dug for themselves with the 8 game losing streak too deep to climb out of? Are team's flaws (lack of depth, inexperience, goaltending) going to cause more periods of disarray?

They must have some primo hopium there.

I've been thinking about starting a thread... just a thought experiment, not a real suggestion, but basically which forward would be best to move to defense, which defenseman would best be moved to forward. Part of it would be who would naturally be best in the new position, but also who would benefit the most from the move. Mittelstadt strikes me as the one I'd like to move to D. He seems more apt at disruption of the other team than at playmaking for the Sabres. He is pretty fast and has the size to be a creditable Dman. On defense I think maybe Pilut or Bryson would be the one I would move up to forward. But like I said, just a thought experiment... probably should start another thread. You mean Dylan. He's on a 3-point game streak right now.

Tuch and Skinner were absolutely brilliant in feeding the Tage. On the fourth goal (Tage's second) in particular, Tuch engaged two defenders, still managed to get control of the puck well enough to perfectly feed Thompson for the tap-in shot. Tage had 6 points but both his linemates had 4 point nights as well. Cozens had his third consecutive 3-point night and fourth consecutive multi-point night. Krebs got off the schneid with an excellent individual effort displaying tenacity and hustle. Tage's accomplishment overshadows all of that but there were several players that had excellent games.

Let's put it this way: Pilut was -2 for the night and Bryson was -1 despite having 2 assists. No other defenders were negative.

It seems to me that in some situations Mitts is confident and determined but in others he's less confident and therefore less determined to follow though. It's like when Tage gets the puck in the slot with a slightly out of position Dman, you know he's going to get a good scoring chance and he makes it happen. With Mitts he doesn't have the confidence to do that, so he's not as determined to try. I just see Casey give up on a puck too easily. Look at Tage. Look at Skinner. Look at Dahlin. Look at Cozens. When they go after a puck, failure just isn't an option... but if they do fail they don't give up on the play. They dog the other player until he eventually coughs it up. I totally think Casey has that same ability. I see it in flashes, just not consistently. I think it's 90% half mental. If he could get just a little further in terms of confidence I could see it cascading and Casey would rapidly improve. I think Olofsson is different. He does make plays here and there but he will never be a play driver. He's a finisher and a very good one. He's a Vanek, a Kotalik, a Satan. Float around, take the shot. I think he could be an asset but it would take the right linemates to make that work. He's worked okay at times on Tage's line but that line is too locked in to mess with it. Not sure what the answer is for Olofsson. Maybe Donny has some ideas.

And don't forget who unleashed Tage by moving him back to center. It's mutual between them I'm sure.

Okay I'll plan the parade. 😉

But then the sonic boom reaches you.....!

Okay Perry.

For both lines, yes. I think Jost has an energy that's positively influencing Mitts and even Ollie a little. Krebs needs the training wheels of Okie and Gus to rehabilitate his game and I think it's working.