Game Discussion Thread GDT: Senators at Sabres 12-15-2015 7PM

[spndnchz]

Season series: The Ottawa Senators won three of four games last season against the Buffalo Sabres and have won nine of the past 12. The game was scheduled to be played Feb. 20 at First Niagara Center but was pushed back after a November snowstorm in Buffalo forced the postponement of the Sabres game with the New York Rangers, which will be played Feb. 20.

[LGR4GM]

Ottawa forgets to show up and Sabres win by default.

[Sabres Fan in NS]

It's awesome to see Chz starting a game day thread. All is right in SabreSpace.

 

I predict another big win for the Sabres tonight. The last few years the Sens have really scared me, but not tonight.

[LGR4GM]

Nikita Zadorov fights someone after they try and run Enroth. Zemgus Girgensons scores twice. Tyler Ennis is compared to Patrick Kane.

 

Rasmus Ristolainen earns the nickname "Silky Smooth"

[Doohicksie]

It's awesome to see Chz starting a game day thread. All is right in SabreSpace.

 

I liked the classical touch Yuri brought to the Panthers GDT. But this is good too.

 

I predict another big win for the Sabres tonight. The last few years the Sens have really scared me, but not tonight.

 

I ain't skeered of the Sens either, but the Sabres should be. I predict a case of the Sabres playing down to the level of their opponent and having a tough game. I hope I'm wrong. When was the last time there was talk of the Sabres playing down to their opponent? Been a while, for sure.

[LGR4GM]

Zemgus Girgensons had 21:16 minutes of ice time Thursday and they won. They are now 6-0-0 on the year when Girgensons has over 20:00 TOI.

[Hoss]

Sabres win 2-1 in an ugly shootout and everybody acts content.

[darksabre]

Zemgus Girgensons had 21:16 minutes of ice time Thursday and they won. They are now 6-0-0 on the year when Girgensons has over 20:00 TOI.

 

Now that is an intriguing stat.

[SwampD]

Sabres win 2-1 in an ugly shootout and everybody acts content.

This made me laugh.

 

I like seeing GDTs again. There was a while there where they filled me with dread.

[LGR4GM]

Gorges and Strachan both on the ice for the morning skate.

[darksabre]

Gorges and Strachan both on the ice for the morning skate.

 

Thank the baby jesus.

[LGR4GM]

Thank the baby jesus.

Meszaros also on the ice...

[darksabre]

Meszaros also on the ice...

 

Anyone but Benoit.

[LGR4GM]

Buffalo Sabres #Sabres lines same as Sat.:

26 - 28 - 63

65 - 17 - 12

44 - 82 - 21

80 - 19 - 36

 

Anyone but Benoit.

He's the odd man out

[Doohicksie]

We really have one first line and three fourth lines, don't we?

[Eleven]

I think tonight and tomorrow are going to make the tankers happy.

[darksabre]

I think tonight and tomorrow are going to make the tankers happy.

 

So say the charts. We're due to lose 1 or 2 games here.

[LGR4GM]

So say the charts. We're due to lose 1 or 2 games here.

Yes we are. Statistically something has to give and soon. We remind of last years Toronto team that was outperforming advanced metrics and then BAM! plummeted faster than the stock exchange on Black Tuesday

[darksabre]

Yes we are. Statistically something has to give and soon. We remind of last years Toronto team that was outperforming advanced metrics and then BAM! plummeted faster than the stock exchange on Black Tuesday

 

That's just because they're Toronto though. Convention doesn't really apply to that team.

[Doohicksie]

I disagree; I don't feel it's inevitable. Analytics can accurately predict based on a stable input. I would posit that the Sabres, as a team, is not stable, but rather is improving in terms of team play/cohesiveness/chemistry. The game they've been playing most of the season isn't sustainable, but their game is evolving. Nolan is building his system around the players he's got. It took him a month of regular season play to assess the team, now he's putting the pieces in the right places and I think he's starting to work on the next phase, which is optimizing performance of the on-ice units (lines & D pairings) to close up the gaps and reduce errors. So where they've been isn't sustainable, but where he's taking them is... or at least might be.

Edited December 15, 2014 by Neuvirths Glove

[LGR4GM]

Gorges not at 100%, will be a game time decision.

[skaught]

Yes we are. Statistically something has to give and soon. We remind of last years Toronto team that was outperforming advanced metrics and then BAM! plummeted faster than the stock exchange on Black Tuesday

 

All this winning, their Corsi should start improving any game now, right? :blink:

[LGR4GM]

John Vogl ‏

Sabres coach Ted Nolan says team was recently vaccinated for the mumps.

[Doohicksie]

All this winning, their Corsi should start improving any game now, right? :blink:

 

Not sure about the Corsi number, but against Florida the Sabres had more shots on goal.

[Iron Crotch]

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