GDT: Tampa Bay Lightning at Buffalo Sabres, 7:30p EST NBCSN

[darksabre]

1 minute ago, Samson's Flow said:

As much as it was nice seeing Jack return in the Vancouver game, he was definitely nowhere near his usual self. If he has to play at 70% like last game, I don't see us with much of a chance tonight. He needs to be a difference maker.

I thought Eichel looked great in the 3rd period. I think whatever was bothering him in the 1st period slowed him down in the second a bit, like he wasn't into his game rhythm. 

[Samson's Flow]

1 minute ago, darksabre said:

I thought Eichel looked great in the 3rd period. I think whatever was bothering him in the 1st period slowed him down in the second a bit, like he wasn't into his game rhythm. 

I have the one Canuck goal in my head where Eichel looked labored in his skating/effort preventing him from covering his man who came down to the slot/goal mouth to score. IIRC McCabe had to try to cover two players as a result and couldn't tie up the goal scorer.

[Brawndo]

 

Berglund not taking line rushes 

[Samson's Flow]

1 minute ago, Brawndo said:

 

As others have mentioned - terrified how the 17-71-29 line will play against Stamkos & co.

Hopefully Berglund is getting a maintenance day and is reunited with Z and Larsson.

[sabills]

3 hours ago, Huckleberry said:

Very rough couple of games we got coming, a good test for this team.    lightning  ,  Jets/wild back to back games and penguins.    

If we win half of those I'm happy ?

I'll take four points anyway I can get them.

[North Buffalo]

Our Lord a Savior gets his first hat trick including game winner on a break away, Vaseleski still looking for forgiveness.

[Randall Flagg]

51 minutes ago, nfreeman said:

I don't mind McGuire, but I find Emrick pretty annoying.  He's knowledgeable and passionate about the game, which is great, but he needs to talk about 30% less IMHO. 

Separately -- here are a few items I'd like to see tonight:

- Good goaltending -- Hutton played well for much of the Canucks game, but allowed 2 poor goals

- Reino ending up back with ERod and Sobotka, and either Pommer or TT with Jack and Skinner

- TT showing some offense

- Sharp, smart play in the D-zone, esp. from Risto -- otherwise TB will make it hurt

- Eichel looking healthy and rested

Good luck w/ that one. 

Of 633 NHL skaters with at least 50 minutes of ice time, Tage Thompson is 618th in expected goals percentage, and this includes defensemen, and all of the worst defensive defensemen you can picture, which means when he's on the ice the team gets a scoring chance once or twice in a blue moon.

He's also bottom 10 among 412 NHL forwards in the other metrics, scoring, possession and otherwise. 

Sorry to continue to complain about this, but Tage is putting up the numbers and metrics of the worst of the Sabres tank forwards, which is why he shouldn't be here. Especially because without him playing, we have four lines that post GOOD metrics for the first time in a decade. Line four spent ~10 games taking 60% of all shot attempts and being incredibly useful to resting our top 3 and tiring out the other team, until their game with Tage, when they were submarined and spent 75% of the ice time in their own zone chasing their tails. 

It's not good for Tage, it's not good for the Sabres, and it keeps happening. Berglund is four tiers of competence better than Thompson. Thompson should be in the AHL, as he is roughly the 16th best healthy forward in this organization. 

Don't mean to complain in the GDT this early, but these guys aren't helping themselves against a ridiculously good team tonight. 

Sh*t, you can't watch NBCSN games on NHL.TV, can you. I might not be able to watch too much of this one then! 

[Sabres Fan in NS]

I know the GDT rules, but what the hell are those logos Matt?

+++++

MUST WIN!!

+++++

A very big test for the Sabres, but I dare say the same for TB.  Yes.  Yes I do say  that ... the Sabres are testing to play against.  What an awesome thing to say, I must say.

+++++

GO SABRES!!

+++++

Who will be the goaler tonight ... WE WANT ULLIE!!  WE WANT ULLIE!!  (well I do anyway) ...

[Samson's Flow]

8 minutes ago, New Scotland (NS) said:

I know the GDT rules, but what the hell are those logos Matt?

+++++

MUST WIN!!

+++++

A very big test for the Sabres, but I dare say the same for TB.  Yes.  Yes I do say  that ... the Sabres are testing to play against.  What an awesome thing to say, I must say.

+++++

GO SABRES!!

+++++

Who will be the goaler tonight ... WE WANT ULLIE!!  WE WANT ULLIE!!  (well I do anyway) ...

Sorry NS, but after that firewagon hockey game that Ullmark played (poorly) in last week, I don't mind giving Hutton a few more starts.

[jsb]

5 minutes ago, New Scotland (NS) said:

I know the GDT rules, but what the hell are those logos Matt?

 

3) Logo hate was grandfathered into the rules so that's ok

Obviously you don't know the GDT rules Mr. used to be N S

???

Not exactly sure why you want Ullie but I may have to correct myself depending on how the game goes. TB gave up 6 to Ottawa so we may be in trouble tonight.

[Samson's Flow]

13 minutes ago, Randall Flagg said:

Good luck w/ that one. 

Of 633 NHL skaters with at least 50 minutes of ice time, Tage Thompson is 618th in expected goals percentage, and this includes defensemen, and all of the worst defensive defensemen you can picture, which means when he's on the ice the team gets a scoring chance once or twice in a blue moon.

He's also bottom 10 among 412 NHL forwards in the other metrics, scoring, possession and otherwise. 

-snip-

Yeah I have little interest in continuing the Tage Thompson experiment at the NHL level. He needs lots of ice time in a lower level until he figures out that the toe drag dangle shouldn't be your go-to move unless you are playing in a bar league C league. I see the talent, but the decision making and grasp of the game is not NHL level at this point and it is hurting the Sabres big time.

[That Aud Smell]

Tough sledding.

Let’s go, Buffalo!!

[CallawaySabres]

Pretty shocked if we won

Would love 1 point

Not angry with a loss and looking like you belong

[Andrew Amerk]

I wouldn’t be shocked if we get blown out, I wouldn’t be shocked if it’s a close game, I wouldn’t be shocked if we win by a couple goals. 

[inkman]

10 minutes ago, Andrew Amerk said:

I wouldn’t be shocked if we get blown out, I wouldn’t be shocked if it’s a close game, I wouldn’t be shocked if we win by a couple goals. 

So you are saying you won't be shocked 

[WildCard]

Unsurprisingly, Hutton is in net

[...]

I don't think there's any way to predict how this will turn out: blow-out, win, OT, close loss, aliens landing center ice, shut out for The Hutt, etc. etc.  Which is not to say the Sabres have been terribly inconsistent, it's just that they've made it easy to expect a full spectrum of outcomes. 

[Huckleberry]

Wish I could watch, but I'll have to check the score at work now and then.

[dudacek]

Does anyone think TT outplayed Berglund last game, let alone this season.

Does anyone feel more comfortable with TT on that line against the Lightning instead of Berglund?

[woods-racer]

Just now, dudacek said:

Does anyone think TT outplayed Berglund last game, let alone this season.

Does anyone feel more comfortable with TT on that line against the Lightning instead of Berglund?

No.

No.

Rest for a vet is what I'm hoping.

[darksabre]

They really need to stop trying to make Tage happen. Especially against an opponent like Tampa.

[LTS]

 

Okay... Now I have concerns.  His speed will match up with Tampa?  His speed?  Every time I watch Thompson skate it seems like he's the slowest guy out there.

Is Tampa somehow stymied by slower skaters?

[jsb]

 

[dudacek]

Tage can skate fast, but he doesn’t play fast.

[Andrew Amerk]

21 minutes ago, inkman said:

So you are saying you won't be shocked 

Not unless...I get hit by...LIGHTNING