Other teams and players see Buffalo coming...

[matter2003]

After the past 2 wins against perennial playoff teams Boston and Washington, the other teams players seem to know we are not far from being in that conversation...

After the Bruin game, Marchand said something to the effect of the Sabres are not far off from going on a 6-7 year run with all the young, talented players they have there now. Read the quote after the game while reading the recap but can't seem to find it now, so I will paraphrase it.\

Then after last night's game against the Caps, Sabres getting plenty of praise...seems like other teams and players know we are on the cusp of being really good again and breaking through.

https://russianmachineneverbreaks.com/2023/01/04/capitals-marvel-at-tage-thompsons-elite-ability-after-he-scores-hat-trick-overtime-game-winner-against-them/

The Capitals had nothing but praise for the young Sabres’ superstar, who Buffalo acquired in a trade in 2018 that sent Ryan O’Reilly to St. Louis. Multiple Capitals players had kudos to give the 26-year-old forward including TJ Oshie, who was on the ice for Thompson’s overtime-winner.

“I think he’s kind of put himself up there with the elite group in the world as far as hockey goes,” Oshie claimed. “He keeps making plays like he has this year and he’s going to get a lot of points in this league. Tough guy to play against and he made us pay out there.”

Caps forward Sonny Milano, who opened the scoring for the Capitals, is apparently no stranger to Thompson’s skillsets. The two were teammates on the United States national team during the 2018 IIHF Men’s World Championship.

“I’ve known him for a while so I’ve kinda seen this coming for a while now,” Milano stated. “I’ve always said it, he’s obviously a super-talented player. He’s huge, he’s got great hands and that speed as well so I’m not too surprised.”

Captain Alex Ovechkin even left a short comment on playing Thompson and his fellow teammates.

“Yeah, obviously he’s big, strong, good puck mover you know? Has a great shot,” Ovechkin said. “(The Sabres) They’re young, they’re a talented group of guys out there. It was a fun game.”

Capitals’ head coach Peter Laviolette noted that it took some time for the Caps to adjust to the speed of Thompson and his fellow teammates.

“We’re playing a team that’s young and fast and is dynamic offensively, you know? They’re the top-scoring team in the league and it showed,” Laviolette stated.

 

 

Edited January 4, 2023 by matter2003

[French Collection]

Building block games.

Getting confidence by coming back against the Bruins and Caps in their buildings is huge.

I am still upset I drove to Ottawa to watch that one, I was pumped for a big win.

[Pimlach]

The transition started last year.   We are witnessing the progression of a team and an entire organization.   I think our teams ceiling is way up there. 

Edited January 4, 2023 by Pimlach

[JustOneParade]

I was watching the Caps post-game show last evening (because ESPN+ won't show MSG pre- and post game). Craig Laughlin (former player?) specifically made mention of the very positive difference he sees in UPL's game since the last time the Caps faced him. Maybe the plan is all starting to come together??

[matter2003]

49 minutes ago, JustOneParade said:

I was watching the Caps post-game show last evening (because ESPN+ won't show MSG pre- and post game). Craig Laughlin (former player?) specifically made mention of the very positive difference he sees in UPL's game since the last time the Caps faced him. Maybe the plan is all starting to come together??

Still needs to work on rebound control(see Caps 3rd goal), but his positioning and angles have been night and day from the beginning of the season...you would see him come out to cut off the angles and there would be half the net there to shoot at...almost like he didn't know where he was positioned in relation to where the net was once he got out too much.  Not sure how they have corrected this, but it is very noticeable now...when they show those same angles with the player coming down he is giving up not much of anything net wise...amazing how something as small as that could be making such a huge difference

Edited January 4, 2023 by matter2003

[Taro T]

55 minutes ago, matter2003 said:

Still needs to work on rebound control(see Caps 3rd goal), but his positioning and angles have been night and day from the beginning of the season...you would see him come out to cut off the angles and there would be half the net there to shoot at...almost like he didn't know where he was positioned in relation to where the net was once he got out too much.  Not sure how they have corrected this, but it is very noticeable now...when they show those same angles with the player coming down he is giving up not much of anything net wise...amazing how something as small as that could be making such a huge difference

By angles are you referring to the line he is on or his being square to the shooter (and also not allowing himself to become too compact leaving gaps at the pipe & above his shoulders) or more accurately not being square?

If it is the former, would likely disagree although there were a couple of occasions that he was either slow moving across the crease or overshot his line when reacting to a pass across the crease which could look like a poor angle when in fact they were poor crease control/awareness.

If it is the latter, yes, he had severe problems squaring up & staying large.  Those have definitely been cleaned up.  The crease movement issue is still there to a degree, but his teammates are getting better at not allowing that pass across so it isn't nearly the issue it was.  And his teammates trust in his ability to make the 1st save on a straight on shot is part of why they're better at taking away that pass & also clearing rebounds.

[K-9]

I suppose that’s progress because prior to this season, other teams couldn’t even see us moaning and groaning.

[Refuting]

Granato JACK ADAMS AWARD 

Let's get it 

MAKE THE PLAYOFFSSSSSSSSSSS

[Gatorman0519]

I have to give props to Donny.  I was questioning him after the losing streak but seems that was an anomaly.  His knowledge of the game, especially offense and developing young players, is plainly seen now.  We still have a lot of talent in the system.  We could be heading into some really special times again soon. 

[Doohicksie]

5 hours ago, K-9 said:

I suppose that’s progress because prior to this season, other teams couldn’t even see us moaning and groaning.

I'll get you a towel.

[K-9]

29 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

I'll get you a towel.

Better get two if they make the playoffs.

[JohnC]

5 hours ago, Gatorman0519 said:

I have to give props to Donny.  I was questioning him after the losing streak but seems that was an anomaly.  His knowledge of the game, especially offense and developing young players, is plainly seen now.  We still have a lot of talent in the system.  We could be heading into some really special times again soon. 

There is no question that Buffalo is an emerging team that is being recognized by other organizations. But what makes Buffalo different from most teams moving up the ladder of rankings is that Buffalo is also one of the most entertaining teams to watch. Compared to a few years ago when I felt there was no entertainment value to watching them, I now want to watch this team. I now feel somewhat disappointed when their next game is too far off. They are simply enjoyable to follow. 

[shrader]

6 hours ago, K-9 said:

I suppose that’s progress because prior to this season, other teams couldn’t even see us moaning and groaning.

Inkman, is that you?

[inkman]

Nobody gloms onto meaningless faint praise like Buffalo fans.  I’m having fun watching this team.  I have no need to validate my opinion based on what hockey players say in post game generalizations. 

[Refuting]

4 hours ago, inkman said:

Nobody gloms onto meaningless faint praise like Buffalo fans.  I’m having fun watching this team.  I have no need to validate my opinion based on what hockey players say in post game generalizations. 

inkman is so edgy nd cool 

[inkman]

5 hours ago, Refuting said:

inkman is so edgy nd cool 

Inkman is old and tired 

[matter2003]

13 hours ago, inkman said:

Nobody gloms onto meaningless faint praise like Buffalo fans.  I’m having fun watching this team.  I have no need to validate my opinion based on what hockey players say in post game generalizations. 

Not faint praise and when you are the youngest team in hockey and also the highest scoring team in hockey even with some teams having 5 games in hand currently, it isn't undeserved.

[inkman]

1 hour ago, matter2003 said:

Not faint praise and when you are the youngest team in hockey and also the highest scoring team in hockey even with some teams having 5 games in hand currently, it isn't undeserved.

But in the end it means little until they win in the post season.  I don’t want to hear opposing players heaping praise after a game in January.  I want to see them scrambling for answers down 3-1 to the Sabres in ECF. 

[matter2003]

2 minutes ago, inkman said:

But in the end it means little until they win in the post season.  I don’t want to hear opposing players heaping praise after a game in January.  I want to see them scrambling for answers down 3-1 to the Sabres in ECF. 

That time is coming. Maybe not this year, but next year it would be shocking if they aren't comfortably in the playoffs.

[K-9]

5 hours ago, inkman said:

Inkman is old and tired 

Inkman has company.

[Sabres Fan in NS]

3 hours ago, inkman said:

But in the end it means little until they win in the post season.  I don’t want to hear opposing players heaping praise after a game in January.  I want to see them scrambling for answers down 3-1 to the Sabres in ECF. 

Better yet ... the SCF.

[pi2000]

It's encouraging to finally see some progress. 

That said they're still a ways off from playoff contention IMO.   

They need to continue building and developing depth from within.    

Best case scenario... they stay completely healthy, especially on the back-end, and goaltending steps up, they could be in the wildcard mix at the end of the season.

But if one of Thompson, Dahlin, Samuelsson, Tuch, Cozens, etc.. go down... there just isn't enough depth there yet to fill those voids.

[Pimlach]

10 hours ago, inkman said:

Inkman is old and tired 

I probably qualify as old, but not tired. 

 

[Sabres Fan in NS]

15 hours ago, Pimlach said:

I probably qualify as old, but not tired. 

 

Inky is barely 50.

[JohnC]

15 hours ago, Pimlach said:

I probably qualify as old, but not tired. 

 

There are no maybes in that oldster category. You are either old or not. 🤡