GDT: Buffalo Sabres at Florida Panthers, 7pm EDT TV: ESPN+ & MSG-B, Radio: WGR-550

[Believer]

Tried and failed tonight… Other than a badly outplayed 2nd period… made a decent effort tonight…

Way too hesitant to shoot… Way too hesitant to charge the net… That’s on the coaches

Levi kept it close and gave us a chance… All you can ask of a goalie in a 2-1 game
 

 

[caseydean]

Florida played an inspired game.  They get paid too.

[Huckleberry]

Tage looked hesitant sometimes.

Road to the playoffs just got tougher, will be nice miracle 😛

[ExWNYer]

  

[Gatorman0519]

  On 4/5/2023 at 1:49 AM, caseydean said:

Florida played an inspired game.  They get paid too.

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And they are a vet team and playoff experienced. It showed in every way this game. 

[Crusader1969]

Tough tough loss.   Gonna be better off next season from games like this.  Thought they had too much anxiety in their game

still need to get bigger stronger throughout the line up   Not strong enough yet to fight through the holding and interference 

silver lining of missing playoffs - more time in the weight room 

BUT. not completely over, need PItt and NYI to collapse which is possible 

 

[SwampD]

  On 4/5/2023 at 1:44 AM, Eleven said:

Congrats, stripes.  Nice win.

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Dude, those same stripes gave us a 6 on 3 at the end. Dahlin couldn’t even make a routine pass across the ice.

I almost feel like this pressure will be more helpful in the long run than if they made the playoffs where there would be zero expectations of winning.

Edited April 5, 2023 by SwampD

[sabremike]

We lost on just about the most absurd call I have ever seen in an NHL game. The official who made that interference call should not be allowed to officiate another game this season.

[Forecheck]

  On 4/5/2023 at 1:49 AM, Huckleberry said:

Tage looked hesitant sometimes.

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Thompson has been injured since late January and just hasn’t had time to fully recover with rest. Unfortunately his goals also decreased since then as well, no doubt as a direct result of his injury. 

[HumanSlinky39]

  On 4/5/2023 at 1:45 AM, Taro T said:

They have to keep Levi between the pipes until they're eliminated.  He gives them the best chance to win every game.

This could've been so different if Tuch's skate was 1/2" closer to his own end on that entry and if the puck somehow doesn't bounce off Levi's blocker.

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Levi has allowed 4 to go in in 6+ periods. I'd argue 3 of them were flukey/bad luck.

[Pimlach]

I’m disappointed.  Levi is the bright light of the game.  He looks like our best goalie already.  

Not enough offense tonight.   Tage was playing but is clearly not right still.  Mitts with the first line wingers, and Tage with the 4th line wingers was our best options late in the game.  I wish we knew that in the second period. 

Still mathematically alive, but that’s it.
 

I’ll keep watching as usual.  

[CallawaySabres]

Florida will be a better first round opponent than Pitt vs Boston. They made the run when they had to …

[matter2003]

Once again when the pressure is on, they come up small. At least they didn't get completely blown out like they have the other 4 or 5 times.

[Pimlach]

  On 4/5/2023 at 1:46 AM, Stormcloudmember66 said:

Lack of effort in dump and chase and losing board battles.  They get dejected easy when hit and when a player is on them quick

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Why did they want it less?  

[Gatorman0519]

The Cats are coming together at the right time. I think they get the last spot. 

[matter2003]

  On 4/5/2023 at 1:51 AM, SwampD said:

Dude, those same stripes gave us a 6 on 3 at the end. Dahlin couldn’t even make a routine pass across the ice.

I almost feel like this pressure will be more helpful in the long run than if they made the playoffs where there would be zero expectations of winning.

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Maybe but what if this is who they are when pressure hits and it never gets any better?

[Cheektorado]

These young forwards have to trust themselves that they are that good.  They waited too long to open it up.

Devin deserves the next 5 out of 6.  Throw it all in for the win every night and don't look back.  Go for the 9 points in 6 games to get to 90.

[HumanSlinky39]

  On 4/5/2023 at 1:53 AM, Pimlach said:

I’m disappointed.  Levi is the bright light of the game.  He looks like our best goalie already.  

Not enough offense tonight.   Tage was playing but is clearly not right still.  Mitts with the first line wingers, and Tage with the 4th line wingers was our best options late in the game.  I wish we knew that in the second period. 

Still mathematically alive, but that’s it.
 

I’ll keep watching as usual.  

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Youngest team in the league by a lot that's been hamstrung by weak goaltending (and, yes, some real soft spots on the blue line), yet they are playing meaningful games in April and are a blast to watch 90% of the time. This team/organization deserves support now.

[Carmel Corn]

Florida beat us with a tight and relentless checking performance.  Yes our young players are learning, but I feel we still lack some players who can replicate what they did to us....GMKA is going to need to make roster changes....even with Levi in the lineup next season.

[Pimlach]

  On 4/5/2023 at 1:53 AM, matter2003 said:

Once again when the pressure is on, they come up small. At least they didn't get completely blown out like they have the other 4 or 5 times.

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Terrible take.  It was a 2-1 road game loss to last year’s President’s Trophy winners.  We played hard.  

[matter2003]

  On 4/5/2023 at 1:56 AM, Carmel Corn said:

Florida beat us with a tight and relentless checking performance.  Yes our young players are learning, but I feel we still lack some players who can replicate what they did to us....GMKA is going to need to make roster changes....even with Levi in the lineup next season.

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They are fast enough they should be able to exploit that. Why they haven't figured out how to when it's happened so many times is starting to worry me a little.

[DarthEbriate]

  On 4/5/2023 at 1:52 AM, HumanSlinky39 said:

Levi has allowed 4 to go in in 6+ periods. I'd argue 3 of them were flukey/bad luck.

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He looks like a legit #1 goalie. As the forwards learn to play better defense next season, and the D-corp grows up, Levi will post above average numbers. Above-average goaltending and a decent offense (which the Sabres have) is definitely playoff-capable. It might look dicey down the stretch as teams clamp down, but the first 2/3 of the season could be silly good vibes.

  On 4/5/2023 at 1:54 AM, Gatorman0519 said:

The Cats are coming together at the right time. I think they get the last spot. 

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They've been the best team down the stretch. And it's odd to say it, but losing their #1 and #2 goalie was the best thing for them. Lyon's been excellent for them.

[matter2003]

  On 4/5/2023 at 1:56 AM, Pimlach said:

Terrible take.  It was a 2-1 road game loss to last year’s President’s Trophy winners.  We played hard.  

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Last year is last year. Florida has been a meh team all year.

They couldn't even hit the net on the majority of their good chances 

[Huckleberry]

  On 4/5/2023 at 1:54 AM, Gatorman0519 said:

The Cats are coming together at the right time. I think they get the 1st spot. 

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Islanders and penguins look bad and will loose a lot more.

[LGR4GM]

Levi was good. 

Everyone else was a disappointment. I'm sure we could make arguments for a few but I'll leave that to others.