Doohicksie

Dare I say Donny actually has an effective defensive system? I think the key is the whole team needs to play defense. When the forwards back check, when every one keeps tight gaps, the team looks good. When they play too far off their assignments they get running around and look foolish. One player doing that cascade through the team as other players stretch from their assignments to cover the weak link. That's why they occasionally look so bad defensively. The new guys have to adjust to that kind of tight checking, taking away space, instead of just gliding back and staying with their man. They need to force the other other team to move the puck before they're ready to prevent scoring opportunities and force turnovers. They did it pretty well last night. When the defense is effective it springs the offense. The Sabres are scoring a lot on the rush and that starts from defensive transition.

I use that feature but rarely keep people on it permanently; they either get banned or I unignore them once I've decided to take what they post with a grain of salt.

It's early. The term irrational exuberance comes to mind. I hope they can keep it up; right now I don't see why they wouldn't. It's crazy that we're arguing which forward should sit because we actually have more than we need and the guy who's sitting right now is a big contributor.

What’s worse is that’s gotta be someone else’s foot she’s putting in her mouth. I'm a little shocked to be honest that no foot fetishists are popping out of the woodwork.

Timing & chemistry. I really feel that's all it was. When to jump up, when to defend, how to know when Skinner is about to pass the puck and to where. Having faith that (now) Okposo has his back if they go in deep. Granato said in the last two post game interviews that off-season workouts, training camp and preseason can't recreate the tension of playing real regular season games. It's about working with linemates, about (re)developing a feel for the game. As much as Granato would have liked, he knew the team couldn't simply just pick up where they left off. About 10% of the season is behind us and the players are finding that mojo and more of them will be lighting up I think. We will be really good. But also remember all the other teams are going through the process and they could be really good too. But still, I like what I see. Also, remember that for players like Clague, Pilut, even Fitzgerald. They haven't played with the Sabres as much; they're still developing that timing too. And when Joki and Muel return they might not be fully up to speed for a game or two, even if injury isn't affecting their play. Tage addressed that too: "Sometimes they just all go in."

Gritty transcends NHL fandom.

This woman lives in Arkansas... but had a great costume for Halloween:

He's got two goals. So.... Okie is Leia?

To be fair, Tage himself evicted the goalie. I meant to post that and got interrupted. Thanks.

https://www.nhl.com/sabres/video/don-granato-postgame-103122/t-277437090/c-13490575

The rotation will continue as long as all forwards are healthy. We've got (stay with me, I know it sounds weird) more than enough NHL talent at the forward positions right now.

Fire him into Lake Ontario! Actually I thought he played a fine game tonight. Worked well with his linemates. That line is gelling.

I think Tage has learned that with his long reach he can be simultaneously everywhere within a 10 foot radius. "Find someone who admires you as much as Dahlin admires Tage"

The shortie tonight was not on him. He played the pass perfectly and broke it up. Granato will tell him to do it exactly the same way next time. With a little experience he will learn how to deaden it or deflect it into the corner but I don't see that goal on him in the slightest. If anything, I blame Cozens for not keeping up with his man which is what created the 2-on-1. Slacker.

Their color guy, Mickey Redmond, is clearly a Wings fan but he recognizes good hockey when he sees it and he's not afraid to say so. I lived in Detroit six years and became a Red Wings fan (I'd lost touch with Buffalo sports in the pre-Center Ice/Sunday Ticket era), and I always enjoyed Mickey He's an old school hockey guy like Jim Lorentz.

He's a man on a mission. YES!

Just a good shot from Dylan Cozens, that's all. Don't read too much into it.

His save % is better than Comrie's tonight. We're outshooting Detroit 43-17