GDT: Islanders at Sabres, Feb. 16, 2021, 7:00 pm

[nfreeman]

Morale is low following a disappointing loss last night in which the Sabres were unable to muster any shots on goal in the 3rd period, after playing competitively with a good Islanders team for the 1st 2 periods.

The fan base is good and PO'd.  The expensive forwards haven't done anything.  The goaltending is lousy again, and everyone saw it coming.  The coach talks a good game, and he seems to connect with the players, and he has clearly improved some parts of their play, and there are a number of key factors out of his control, but still:  where are the wins? 

Most ominously, there is reason to be concerned that the franchise player is mailing it in until the season ends, at which point he'll demand a trade.

As for tonight, the roster has taken some major hits due to Covid -- ESPN reports as follows:

Quote

INJURIES: Sabres: Dylan Cozens: out (covid protocol), Rasmus Ristolainen: out (health and safety protocols), Brandon Montour: day to day (health protocols), Jake McCabe: out (health and safety protocols), Tobias Rieder: day to day (covid protocol), Sam Reinhart: day to day (upper body), Curtis Lazar: out (covid protocol), Taylor Hall: out (health and safety protocols).

Still:  we're here because we care about this team.

Tonight could be the night when they start to right the ship.

They haven't been that far off.  A save here or there, a star forward burying a chance instead of shooting it into the goalie's pads, and they're 6-5 and in the playoffs instead of 4-7 and out.

I'm not giving up hope just yet.

Let's see how this goes.

 

 

[miles]

Im sure this will be a winner

[Taro T]

24 minutes ago, nfreeman said:

Morale is low following a disappointing loss last night in which the Sabres were unable to muster any shots on goal in the 3rd period, after playing competitively with a good Islanders team for the 1st 2 periods.

The fan base is good and PO'd.  The expensive forwards haven't done anything.  The goaltending is lousy again, and everyone saw it coming.  The coach talks a good game, and he seems to connect with the players, and he has clearly improved some parts of their play, and there are a number of key factors out of his control, but still:  where are the wins? 

Most ominously, there is reason to be concerned that the franchise player is mailing it in until the season ends, at which point he'll demand a trade.

As for tonight, the roster has taken some major hits due to Covid -- ESPN reports as follows:

Still:  we're here because we care about this team.

Tonight could be the night when they start to right the ship.

They haven't been that far off.  A save here or there, a star forward burying a chance instead of shooting it into the goalie's pads, and they're 6-5 and in the playoffs instead of 4-7 and out.

I'm not giving up hope just yet.

Let's see how this goes.

 

 

Hall out?  That seems dubious.  

Also, weren't McCabe & Montour both expected to be back tonight? 

That ESPN report seems to have dated info.

[bob_sauve28]

How can Hall be out for coved? 

Maybe a little Thomas Paine can offer a sliver of inspiration 

 

December 23, 1776

THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. 

[Brawndo]

 

[Weave]

Don’t see myself paying any attention to this one.  Has the feel of a blowout to me.

[CallawaySabres]

Wow, another one of these? After such an inspiring performance last night, I can't imagine they could replicate the effort 2 nights in a row. Hopefully Ralph gave them the morning off and he can continue coaching again tomorrow.....

[Eleven]

6 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

 

This has to be an optional skate, right?  So absence this morning shouldn't indicate unavailability tonight?

[WildCard]

Wonder if we'll break another record for a timeless franchise tonight. Maybe we'll have 0 shots in the 2nd period this time instead.

 

[Brawndo]

23 minutes ago, Eleven said:

This has to be an optional skate, right?  So absence this morning shouldn't indicate unavailability tonight?

Yes and yes 

[LGR4GM]

When they bench Borgen for Montour who will play like ***** and stay in the lineup it will tell me all I need to know about this coaching staff. 

[Brawndo]

McCabe and Montour cleared to play 

[bob_sauve28]

1 minute ago, Brawndo said:

McCabe and Montour cleared to play 

That’s good news. I’m still not getting my hopes up, but nice to see reinforcements arrive 

[Brawndo]

We have the wrong Staal 

 

[Broken Ankles]

1 hour ago, bob_sauve28 said:

How can Hall be out for coved? 

Maybe a little Thomas Paine can offer a sliver of inspiration 

 

December 23, 1776

THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. 

“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow.”
― Thomas Paine

[Mustache of God]

Over / under on how many minutes it takes them to register a shot?

1 minute ago, Brawndo said:

We have the wrong Staal   everything.

 

 

 

[WildCard]

11 minutes ago, Mustache of God said:

Over / under on how many minutes it takes them to register a shot?

6.5

[Eleven]

13 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

We have the wrong Staal 

 

@Taro T where's the thread?  You know which one I mean.

[Taro T]

6 minutes ago, Eleven said:

@Taro T where's the thread?  You know which one I mean.

Assuming you mean the "why do the Sabres always end up with the wrong brother?" (or something to that effect) thread?

No clue, the search function here is beyond broken.

[Eleven]

9 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Assuming you mean the "why do the Sabres always end up with the wrong brother?" (or something to that effect) thread?

No clue, the search function here is beyond broken.

Yeah, that's the one.  

I've been having trouble with the search function too.

[Brawndo]

52 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

When they bench Borgen for Montour who will play like ***** and stay in the lineup it will tell me all I need to know about this coaching staff. 

It would be worse if Irwin or Davidson is in over Borgen

But Montour has been hot garbage lately 

[Palm Trees And Taxes]

Another night to find alternative options rather then watch a 5-2 loss.

[CallawaySabres]

1-0 Isle

Hutton plays great and Sabes ALMOST get one as Eichel and Skinner go in on a 2 on 0 and Eichel passes it while Skinner hits the post.

[Norcal]

I've been a fan of the Sabres since I was a kid, so I watch. These guys aren't my heros anymore though. 

[LTS]

It's a shame my son has a varsity hockey game at 7:30 tonight.  Oh wait.. no, it's not!

This team has two weeks to make things interesting before I cancel Fubo and tune them out.

Last night was an abomination and I am firmly in the replace all coaching staff category.  The strategy this team is using is terrible.  I'd have to go back a few years to which coach it was that loved a lot of long passes, many east-west, that routinely never hit their mark or get intercepted and if they do connect do so in such a way it causes the pass receiver to slow down too much.  Krueger appears to love the same thing.

So.. high school hockey it is!

Edited February 16, 2021 by LTS