GDT: New Jersey @ Buffalo, 7:00 pm ET, 12/15/2015

[Doohicksie]

 

This could be a trap in more than one way.  After beating quality opponents the last two games, will the Sabres let up against the New Jersey Devils, a team barely in playoff position?  Will the Devils use their famous trap defense to limit our scoring chances?  Will Admiral Ackbar warn the Sabres just in a nick of time?

 

The Sabres look to extend a budding win streak by exorcising the Devils at the FnC.  A climb back toward a wildcard spot can only happen if the Sabres take care of business with every win they can get.  The Devils, meanwhile, will try to bounce back from their second shutout of the season Sunday night against the Isles.

 

Against the Red Wings the Sabres found the Swede that we needed when Johan Larsson scored the winning goal late in the 3rd period.  I'm gonna go out on a limb and say the other Swede that we need, Linus Ullmark, will get the start on the second half of a back-to-back.

 

Game Preview

 

STATS:
All Stats New Jersey @ Buffalo, 1st meeting, 4-3 loss

All Team Rankings
Team Comparison Chart
 

PROJECTED LINEUP

FORWARDS:
88 Jamie McGinn – 90 Ryan O'Reilly – 23 Sam Reinhart
9 Evander Kane – 15 Jack Eichel – 26 Matt Moulson
28 Zemgus Girgensons – 22 Johan Larsson – 12 Brian Gionta
44 Nicolas Deslauriers – 17 David Legwand – 82 Marcus Foligno

 

DEFENSE:

4 Josh Gorges – 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
29 Jake McCabe – 47 Zach Bogosian
6 Mike Weber – 46 Cody Franson

 

HEROES:

31 Chad Johnson
35 Linus Ullmark

 

[Randall Flagg]

A win here and a Tampa loss would put us 3 points out of a playoff spot...

[Brawndo]

The Ackbar Picture is very apprioriate this week.

[GoPre]

Sabres beat LA and Detroit. Something to be happy about, but they only scored 4 goals. A positive is they only gave up 2 goals. To continue winning the goal scoring has to go up. Hoping Eichel has a big game tonight. He's looked a little shaky lately. 

Edited December 15, 2015 by Thanes16

[Stoner]

Eichel needs to move his feet!

[Eleven]

The Ackbar Picture is very apprioriate this week.

 

I thought this would be my one safe space, guess not.

[That Aud Smell]

The Ackbar Picture is very apprioriate this week.

love it. well done.

Eichel needs to move his feet!

 

Grit. Sandpaper. Jam.

[LGR4GM]

I thought this would be my one safe space, guess not.

 

[Doohicksie]

I thought this would be my one safe space, guess not.

I was thinking more about classic memes than movie releases, if that makes you feel better.

[Eleven]

I was thinking more about classic memes than movie releases, if that makes you feel better.

 

It does.  It truly does.

[LGR4GM]

So just wanted to toss this out there... see what the reactions were. What about moving Eichel to #1 RW for say 5 games and Reinhart to #2 Center for 5 games just to help get Jack going and give him some confidence?

[Stoner]

love it. well done.

 

Grit. Sandpaper. Jam.

He better jerk and clean someone in the corner tonight!

[Doohicksie]

So just wanted to toss this out there... see what the reactions were. What about moving Eichel to #1 RW for say 5 games and Reinhart to #2 Center for 5 games just to help get Jack going and give him some confidence?

 

I wouldn't have a problem with that.  Samson seems very steady these days so I don't see it affecting him adversely.  I also don't mind letting Jack work through it at center either.

[CallawaySabres]

Finally get to watch this one....really need to climb with these two points

[MattPie]

 

This could be a trap in more than one way.  After beating quality opponents the last two games, will the Sabres let up against the New Jersey Devils, a team barely in playoff position?  Will the Devils use their famous trap defense to limit our scoring chances?  Will Admiral Ackbar warn the Sabres just in a nick of time?

Pilot in the Y-wing: "Yeah, old "It's a trap" Akbar is at it again."

 

The Sabres look to extend a budding win streak by exorcising the Devils at the FnC.  A climb back toward a wildcard spot can only happen if the Sabres take care of business with every win they can get.  The Devils, meanwhile, will try to bounce back from their second shutout of the season Sunday night against the Isles.

 

Against the Red Wings the Sabres found the Swede that we needed when Johan Larsson scored the winning goal late in the 3rd period.  I'm gonna go out on a limb and say the other Swede that we need, Linus Ullmark, will get the start on the second half of a back-to-back.

 

Game Preview

 

STATS:

All Stats New Jersey @ Buffalo, 1st meeting, 4-3 loss

All Team Rankings

Team Comparison Chart

 

PROJECTED LINEUP

FORWARDS:

88 Jamie McGinn – 90 Ryan O'Reilly – 23 Sam Reinhart

9 Evander Kane – 15 Jack Eichel – 26 Matt Moulson

28 Zemgus Girgensons – 22 Johan Larsson – 12 Brian Gionta

44 Nicolas Deslauriers – 17 David Legwand – 82 Marcus Foligno

 

DEFENSE:

4 Josh Gorges – 55 Rasmus Ristolainen

29 Jake McCabe – 47 Zach Bogosian

6 Mike Weber – 46 Cody Franson

 

HEROES:

31 Chad Johnson

35 Linus Ullmark

 

 

#25, "Woah, I should be looking at the puck but that Buffalo chick with the big hair in the front row is tasty!"

[Doohicksie]

Finally get to watch this one....really need to climb with these two points

 

Ironically, even though I started the GDT for this one, I'll be missing the game.  I volunteered at our church to help with a homeless program tonight.

[pi2000]

So just wanted to toss this out there... see what the reactions were. What about moving Eichel to #1 RW for say 5 games and Reinhart to #2 Center for 5 games just to help get Jack going and give him some confidence?

 

I'll allow it.

 

Although I'd like to see Girgensons get the 2nd line center spot with Reinhart on his wing, he needs a spark.    

[MODO Hockey]

Ullmark in goal! 

[CallawaySabres]

Ironically, even though I started the GDT for this one, I'll be missing the game.  I volunteered at our church to help with a homeless program tonight.

That alone should give us the win.....

[beerme1]

Someone (sorry forgot who) mentioned the other day that we may as well put Jack with Foligno and DLo. After spending the rest of the day laughing about it I now think it's genius. It would spread our scoring around and it's not like Jack would notice as he going end to end thinking he's Bobby Orr or Paul Coffey
 

I started to appreciate the idea quite a bit but won't ever expect to see it happen. But it would be an interesting way to boost scoring.

[nfreeman]

Ironically, even though I started the GDT for this one, I'll be missing the game.  I volunteered at our church to help with a homeless program tonight.

 

Good man.

[Brawndo]

Cory Schneider (13-8-4, .924) will start for Devils against Sabres.

I thought this would be my one safe space, guess not.

Sorry Eleven

So just wanted to toss this out there... see what the reactions were. What about moving Eichel to #1 RW for say 5 games and Reinhart to #2 Center for 5 games just to help get Jack going and give him some confidence?

I wouldn't mess with Rhino-Snook Chemistry. However I would move Zemgus to 2C and have Eichel on the wing for a few games.

[Doohicksie]

Good man.

 

Well we just joined a new church and frankly I've been a slug about doing good things with them.  I made a conscious priority choice that, y'know, helping my fellow man is probably more important than, for instance, hockey.

[Taro T]

So just wanted to toss this out there... see what the reactions were. What about moving Eichel to #1 RW for say 5 games and Reinhart to #2 Center for 5 games just to help get Jack going and give him some confidence?

Would have no problem w/ putting Jack & Ryan together for a couple of games. Wouldn't move Reinhart to C at this point though. Would rather have Zemgus there.

 

Really doubt that Jack gets moved off C anytime soon as he's just had Gionta taken off his line. Gionta was playing as the C for ~30-40% of the time in the Sabres end when he & Jack were together. Not sure how much that was happening in October, but it definitely was normal in November. Seemed to be a big part of why Gionta was on Jack's wing. Still not sure why Gionta gets so much PP time though.

[Doohicksie]

Would have no problem w/ putting Jack & Ryan together for a couple of games. Wouldn't move Reinhart to C at this point though. Would rather have Zemgus there.

 

I just love that we can even have this discussion.  :wub: