Will the Buffalo Sabres make the playoffs?

[Thorner]

10 hours ago, Skooby said:

There’s no chance unless Levi comes in and becomes like Hasek, then we win it all

We don’t need Hasek, we would see a lot of improvement merely by striving for “not absolutely terrible”

The goaltending is simply awful, *relative to what our poor (in need of improvement, but not awful) defence gives up*. That means, accounting for how many chances we give up, and the quality, the goalies STILL save significantly less than others in the same position 

what this means is that, SHOULD we improve the D, and the amount of chances and quality chances we give up, our goalies will STILL give up more than the other goalies league wide facing those chances ie any way you dice it we need to improve in net 

Edited March 20, 2023 by Thorny

[Pimlach]

No playoffs. Sorry.  

1. Their best player is playing hurt and Muel is out.  Power is running out if power.  The defense is just not good enough and the “system” stresses them. 
 

2. The league is focused on shutting down the first line.  The rest of them can’t overcome it. 
 

3. Goaltending - nothing needs to be said.  Praying that Levi carries them is not realistic. 
 

4. Coaching - he offers explanations but no answers. 
 

[Goldseatsaud]

Not a chance 

[Scottysabres]

[Stoner]

Chatbot still doesn't know and apparently is a recovering Sabres fan who is afraid to look at the standings.

And this is the monster that's going to take all of our jobs and murder us in our sleep?

 

[SwampD]

7 hours ago, PASabreFan said:

Chatbot still doesn't know and apparently is a recovering Sabres fan who is afraid to look at the standings.

And this is the monster that's going to take all of our jobs and murder us in our sleep?

 

 

[Gatorman0519]

9 hours ago, Pimlach said:

No playoffs. Sorry.  

1. Their best player is playing hurt and Muel is out.  Power is running out if power.  The defense is just not good enough and the “system” stresses them. 
 

2. The league is focused on shutting down the first line.  The rest of them can’t overcome it. 
 

3. Goaltending - nothing needs to be said.  Praying that Levi carries them is not realistic. 
 

4. Coaching - he offers explanations but no answers. 
 

4.  He says it is a psychological issue.  Said it last night and during Levi's presser he did today.  Very strange. Last in the league in goals against. 

Edited March 20, 2023 by Gatorman0519

[WhenWillItEnd66]

Are we talking ever????

[Carmel Corn]

9 hours ago, Pimlach said:

No playoffs. Sorry.  

1. Their best player is playing hurt and Muel is out.  Power is running out if power.  The defense is just not good enough and the “system” stresses them. 
 

2. The league is focused on shutting down the first line.  The rest of them can’t overcome it. 
 

3. Goaltending - nothing needs to be said.  Praying that Levi carries them is not realistic. 
 

4. Coaching - he offers explanations but no answers. 
 

Slightly different take on #4 above.  IMHO - he's offering excuses.  He projects nothing but excuses and weakness in addition to no answers.

[Pimlach]

2 hours ago, Gatorman0519 said:

4.  He says it is a psychological issue.  Said it last night and during Levi's presser he did today.  Very strange. Last in the league in goals against. 

He said an its psychological as the explanation.  How to fix it?  No answer other than they have to figure it out.  

[JohnC]

9 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

He said an its psychological as the explanation.  How to fix it?  No answer other than they have to figure it out.  

Although the Sabres lost a home game against the Rangers in OT, I thought it was one of their best games from a variety of standpoints. All the lines played a tight, disciplined and defensive oriented style of play. The energy was good throughout and there were few lapses in the game. That was only a few games ago. Could they duplicate that type of play? Maybe not to that level on a consistent basis but they do have it in them to play smarter with a greater awareness in their defensive zone.  Something that has not been evident in its most recent games. 

I'm not completely counting them out of the playoffs but realistically it is a longshot. However, this team needs to finish the season on a more positive note. There are some deficiencies that are evident to everyone. Those plaguing issues need to be addressed in the offseason. If this team continues its downward spiral for the rest of the season, I will be very disappointed. 

[MattPie]

[GoPuckYourself]

PLAYOFFS?

[JoeSchmoe]

Anyone else going to start watching scoreboards?

[Sabres Fan in NS]

YES!!

[Sabres Fan in NS]

The biggest problem they have had in the second half of the season was their high octane offense fizzled and the goalies had a few stinkers (I am nothing if not polite and I don't like when people are not polite 😎) and their massively possitive goal differential has evaporated into a negative number.

That is their greatest downfall.

[Porous Five Hole]

Rangers play Thursday and then travel to Buffalo for Friday night. Hopefully their gas tank is low. A win puts the Sabres three points back of Pitt with eight games to play. It isn’t probable to make the dance, but the Pens sphincters tighten a little if the Sabres win on Friday.  

[Stoner]

40 minutes ago, Porous Five Hole said:

Rangers play Thursday and then travel to Buffalo for Friday night. Hopefully their gas tank is low. A win puts the Sabres three points back of Pitt with eight games to play. It isn’t probable to make the dance, but the Pens sphincters tighten a little if the Sabres win on Friday.  

The Pens play Thursday.

[French Collection]

Pens lost to the Red Wings, that was one they should have had. Wild Card teams are not looking hungry.

[Buffalonill]

I'm still irritated that Kevin Adams Decided It wasn't the best interest to go to the playoffs this year.

 

 The players getting experience and getting their a** kicked in the 1st round is not a bad deal.

at least they know what to experience next time.

[Porous Five Hole]

11 hours ago, PASabreFan said:

The Pens play Thursday.

Yes go Preds

[Buffalonill]

I've changed my mind.

  Buffalo will make the playoffs with Devon Levi leading the way this year.

Not next year !! This year!!

100% 

  the grumpy old man approval

Edited March 30, 2023 by Buffalonill

[Taro T]

31 minutes ago, Buffalonill said:

I've changed my mind.

  Buffalo will make the playoffs with Devon Levi leading the way this year.

Not next year !! This year!!

100% 

  the grumpy old man approval

####.

 

We're doomed.

[French Collection]

41 minutes ago, Buffalonill said:

I've changed my mind.

  Buffalo will make the playoffs with Devon Levi leading the way this year.

Not next year !! This year!!

100% 

  the grumpy old man approval

If you are right, can we get a big smile?

[MattPie]

Aisles are out of reach barring they collapse (and the Sabres don't run the table). Sabres max at 95 pts, Aisles need four wins in 6 games to match that.

Pens and Florida are both ahead, and while the Sabres can catch either of them, it's doubtful they both falter. Really, it's probably more likely that the Sabres run the table than both of those teams fall apart and only grab 50% of the points.