GDT: 1/14/21 7pm ET Washington at Buffalo, MSG, ESPN+, WGR

[SwampD]

Pretty close game. We looked like shite and were still an empty net goal from a one goal game. 

Staal's giveaway.… just,… ugh.

We need to split tomorrow.

The Sabres aren't terrible.

[GASabresIUFAN]

2 minutes ago, SwampD said:

Pretty close game. We looked like shite and were still an empty net goal from a one goal game. 

Staal's giveaway.… just,… ugh.

We need to split tomorrow.

The Sabres aren't terrible.

If they had a good coach and some goaltending they might even be good.

[dudacek]

Rasmus Dahlin with the 25 minutes to lead the team like we always wanted. You remember that thing about Ralph wanting the team to play with pace? Ras must have read that memo in a mirror. Very disappointing.

Tonight, Risto and Montour looked like the guys the haters see.

Im surprised by the McCabe hate in the thread. Gordie Howe hattie, relatively competent play and one of the few guys pushing.

Miller was pretty good, Joki not so much.

Hutton was Hutton

Skinner played well, I thought - he created just as much as normally does despite his linemates and finished 7th in ice time. Deserved more. It looks like the theory of him driving offence from the third line is sound. Give him Cozens when KO comes back and we might have something.

That is if we don’t need him to save the second line. Reinhart was uneven, and Olofsson was mostly invisible, but Staal was downright awful. The whole line was slow and disrespectful of their competition. They played like they were still scrimmaging.

Jack and Hall are going to be magic once they get their legs and timing but they were hit and miss. Thompson is so much better than he was two years ago. Not sure if Ralph sticks with him there, but it might work.

Initial impressions of Reider Eakin and Cozens was generally positive. I think they have more pace to give.

Sabres were not ready. They were out of sync, and they didn’t have their legs under them. The only reason it was close was because the same was true for the Caps. Pretty much all the relevant stats for the game were surprisingly equal. Buffalo can and will be better. They are going to need to be a lot better.

Edited January 15, 2021 by dudacek

[SwampD]

Just now, GASabresIUFAN said:

If they had a good coach and some goaltending they might even be good.

You keep saying this, but what would you change if you were that good coach.

[Indabuff]

1 minute ago, SwampD said:

what would you change if you were that good coach.

Teams

 

I kid, maybe...

 

[LGR4GM]

 

 

Edited January 15, 2021 by LGR4GM

[Thorner]

I'm worried about the fact that Dahlin's metrics were excellent under Housley and not so good under Krueger

Same for the eye test, though Dahlin improved last year as the season went on. 

But I do know Dahlin has the stronger hockey background. 

Edited January 15, 2021 by Thorny

[SwampD]

1 minute ago, Thorny said:

I'm about the fact that Dahlin's metrics were excellent under Housley and not so good under Krueger

I thought Dahlin was completely uninspired tonight. He was not special in any way.

Edited January 15, 2021 by SwampD

[Thorner]

Just now, SwampD said:

I thought Dahlin was completely uninspired tonight. He was not special in any way.

He didn't have a very good game. 

To be fair, most did not. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

3 minutes ago, SwampD said:

You keep saying this, but what would you change if you were that good coach.

Easy

Eakin would be my checking line center with KO and Reider

Skinner would be on a 3rd scoring line with Mitts and Cozens

I’d actually coach, including using a two man forecheck and keep my forwards going to the net.

Hutton would have been waived during the off-season and I’d have acquired someone else to the backup. At this point, a trade may be necessary.

[Thorner]

 

This lines up pretty good with the eye tests I'm reading on this board

 

[SwampD]

Just now, Thorny said:

He didn't have a very good game. 

To be fair, most did not. 

I say that knowing he is only 20 years old. 

[Thorner]

Skinner, Cozens excellent. 

Skill guys at the bottom. 

[SwampD]

Just now, GASabresIUFAN said:

Easy

Eakin would be my checking line center with KO and Reider

Skinner would be on a 3rd scoring line with Mitts and Cozens

I’d actually coach, including using a two man forecheck and keep my forwards going to the net.

Hutton would have been waived during the off-season and I’d have acquired someone else to the backup. At this point, a trade may be necessary.

YES!!!!!

[Thorner]

Just now, SwampD said:

I say that knowing he is only 20 years old. 

I'm a big Dahlin backer. He was poor. 

2 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Easy

Eakin would be my checking line center with KO and Reider

Skinner would be on a 3rd scoring line with Mitts and Cozens

I’d actually coach, including using a two man forecheck and keep my forwards going to the net.

Hutton would have been waived during the off-season and I’d have acquired someone else to the backup. At this point, a trade may be necessary.

At this point I probably put Skinner in the top 6. 

Guess we have to see on Staal though. 

[Thorner]

14 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Rasmus Dahlin with the 25 minutes to lead the team like we always wanted. You remember that thing about Ralph wanting the team to play with pace? Ras must have read that memo in a mirror. Very disappointing.

Tonight, Risto and Montour looked like the guys the haters see.

Im surprised by the McCabe hate in the thread. Gordie Howe hattie, relatively competent play and one of the few guys pushing.

Miller was pretty good, Joki not so much.

Hutton was Hutton

Skinner played well, I thought - he created just as much as normally does despite his linemates and finished 7th in ice time. Deserved more. It looks like the theory of him driving offence from the third line is sound. Give him Cozens when KO comes back and we might have something.

That is if we don’t need him to save the second line. Reinhart was uneven, and Olofsson was mostly invisible, but Staal was downright awful. The whole line was slow and disrespectful of their competition. They played like they were still scrimmaging.

Jack and Hall are going to be magic once they get their legs and timing but they were hit and miss. Thompson is so much better than he was two years ago. Not sure if Ralph sticks with him there, but it might work.

Initial impressions of Reider Eakin and Cozens was generally positive. I think they have more pace to give.

Sabres were not ready. They were out of sync, and they didn’t have their legs under them. The only reason it was close was because the same was true for the Caps. Pretty much all the relevant stats for the game were surprisingly equal. Buffalo can and will be better. They are going to need to be a lot better.

This is a great way of putting it, it was borderline insulting I found, maybe my own fault for tweeting about how we'd have a top of the league top 6 all offseason.

That evaporated real quick. If Staal sucks, we're no better off than the Botterill days. 

[Thorner]

That Cozens was benched for a large portion of the third is a bit irking. 

[Brawndo]

4 minutes ago, Thorny said:

That Cozens was benched for a large portion of the third is a bit irking. 

He’s got to earn that ice time or something like that 

[spndnchz]

Helloo. Season started 🤬

[dudacek]

Helluva cheap shot on Staal, by the way. Underplayed on the broadcast.

Shoulda been 5 and a game. Suspension should be coming.

[I-90 W]

1 hour ago, Thorny said:

I used to be indifferent to the bills, 

I like them now cause they make you guys happy. 

Same. I’m not a football guy, but happy for my fellow Sabres fans who are Bills fans.

[Eleven]

51 minutes ago, SwampD said:

You keep saying this, but what would you change if you were that good coach.

Hutton wouldn't be starting opening night and Thompson wouldn't be on a power play, and that's just some of the very obvious bits.

[Thorner]

1 minute ago, Eleven said:

Hutton wouldn't be starting opening night and Thompson wouldn't be on a power play, and that's just some of the very obvious bits.

Starting Hutton was like that old saying, "getting too cute". 

Ralph may even read his press clippings/this board. 😉😶

[GASabresIUFAN]

In Hutton's defense, I think they actually played him because they wanted to give Ullmark another day since he was late coming to camp.  It could work to Ullmark's benefit, the team can't be worse tomorrow can they?

[SABRES 0311]

Looked like the Caps found their game before the Sabres did.  That Staal giveaway made a difference.