GDT: Hurricanes @ Sabres - April 8, 2023, 12:30pm, MSG 📺 WGR 📻

[Doohicksie]

3 hours ago, FrenchConnection44 said:

that shot by Thompson was other worldly. 

The release was wrapped in a time warp.  I didn't think a human could move that fast.

[Stoner]

12 hours ago, dudacek said:

Are these the kind of games people were talking about last spring when they said they needed to see them play well against good teams in games that mattered?

Compared to last March and April, yes, this spring's games get weighed more when trying to figure out what kind of players we have. But this game also IMHO gets weighed less than some of the stinkers that took them from being in a playoff spot to being close to out of it. A fair analysis will look at 20ish games, not one. You're cherry picking to try and call out some posters. It's not a good look.

Great win. Unfortunately they put themselves in the position of needing help, none of which came.

[Night Train]

It's a big improvement. Last season, they were eliminated by Thanksgiving. Then came those last 6 weeks where they climbed out of the basement and looked like an NHL team that could compete. 

Now to put in the work to get over the hump next season and make the playoffs. Still bullish. 

[Carmel Corn]

Defense Corp play struggled at times with 4 out of 6 having minus numbers for the game.  What makes me feel good is that we finally beat Carolina in a game that meant something to the Hurricanes....got a monkey off our back with Levi in net.

[matter2003]

6 hours ago, Doohickie said:

The release was wrapped in a time warp.  I didn't think a human could move that fast.

His release and the torque he generates is other worldly...

He also has this move where he is skating with the puck and then in one fluid motion he rips a shot where it doesn't even look like his stick moves but the shot is gone in the blink of an eye with speed, power and accuracy.  The first time I saw it I had to keep rewinding because I didn't believe I saw what I thought I just saw.

Edited April 9, 2023 by matter2003

[Quint]

 Seems Buffalo is finally learning about playing playoff style hockey. I really thought the team would lose this one but they kept clawing back. Appears Levi  is making a case for #1...A lot to like here but but then they let in six by the Red Wings and lose to a Columbus. Might be too  little too late this year -- need more consistency --but hopefully next year they make the proper additions/subtractions and with good luck and good health, they handily make it to the playoffs and  then...who knows?

Edited April 9, 2023 by Quint

[nfreeman]

2 hours ago, Night Train said:

It's a big improvement. Last season, they were eliminated by Thanksgiving. Then came those last 6 weeks where they climbed out of the basement and looked like an NHL team that could compete. 

Now to put in the work to get over the hump next season and make the playoffs. Still bullish. 

Respectfully, don’t you mean “every GD season since 2012?”

[SwampD]

10 hours ago, Contempt said:

Suckers.

Says the guy posting on a Sabres message board.

Yeah. They went out on a Saturday afternoon and saw a fantastic hockey game and their team win. Suckers.

I guess if you call other fans suckers it takes the attention off of yourself for being one, too.

I wear that title proudly. After 12 years of crap, they have sucked me into caring, even it is a gossamer thread of hope. Until they are out, they are in.

[ska-T Chitown]

8 hours ago, Doohickie said:

Looked like the lower bowl had a lot of empty seats on TV. 

Yeah, that and at some point I recall a shot showing a fair amount of empties in the upper deck? Maybe it was just before/after a period and folks were still getting beers or using the bathrooms. @Taro T My comment was not meant to throw shade at people not being there - rather "man, I cannot wait to hear that place erupt when it is full again!"

[JohnC]

9 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

Oh that's absolutely true, but it's also because we don't have a true checking or shut down line. 

I'm not sure if there is such a thing as a true checking or shut down line anymore in the league. The closest the Sabres have to a checking line is the Okposo/Krebs/Girgs line. At the end of the game, they were relied on more than usual. An argument can be made that it is better to have a defensive oriented line that also has some ability to score. That would be the case with the Okposo line.

[LGR4GM]

11 hours ago, Contempt said:

Suckers.

Dude, I had an absolute blast at that game. It was awesome. 

[Pimlach]

10 hours ago, Contempt said:

Agreed, if hearing truth makes you sad please ignore me. Today's game was 100 percent irrelevant. Games that actually mattered were back in mid March when they were giving up stupid numbers of goals and rolling over for BAD teams. That's what killed this season, not anything that happens this week. They are out of it and have been. If you believe otherwise tell Santa what you want for Christmas. I'm sure it will arrive.

You are wrong on the relevancy of the game yesterday.   They are still in it but with some very low odds. 
 

The games this week are important for other reasons too. 
 

 

[Radar]

10 hours ago, Porous Five Hole said:

We in Sabresland are all disappointed that the playoffs are unlikely. But posts like this are so pathetic.  Yes the playoffs are very unlikely, but who here is calling fans suckers for attending a meaningful game for the team in April other than you? Especially after beating the second best team in the NHL today where the opponent needed to win.   
 

The Sabres have posted a ten point improvement over last year with four games to go. Virtually no one expected the playoffs with this roster a year ago today.  
 

Troll if you must, but it’s poor form. 

Agree, that guy should go root for another team and find their message board. Contempt is appropriate for his view.

[Eleven]

I think if you accord the Sabres a proper place in life, the games provide some release even if it's a 7-0 blowout that goes the wrong way.  I'd much rather be mad at Granato for refusing to change goalies than be mad at some of the real problems in life, and frankly it is a welcome distraction--which is all that entertainment really is supposed to be.  It's a healthy escape.

As for yesterday, I enjoyed it thoroughly.  I wrote this team off from playoff contention in December--when @inkman published his poll--and I've still enjoyed watching the games and arguing with you all about the best course for the team.  It might be a pathetic hobby, but it's a hobby.

If you can only enjoy the Sabres when they are contending for hardware, I've got to question whether your priorities are straight.

Thus ends my personal Urbi et orbi.

Edited April 9, 2023 by Eleven

[K-9]

1 hour ago, SwampD said:

Says the guy posting on a Sabres message board.

Yeah. They went out on a Saturday afternoon and saw a fantastic hockey game and their team win. Suckers.

I guess if you call other fans suckers it takes the attention off of yourself for being one, too.

I wear that title proudly. After 12 years of crap, they have sucked me into caring, even it is a gossamer thread of hope. Until they are out, they are in.

Gossamer. Nice. 

[ska-T Chitown]

1 minute ago, Eleven said:

I think if you accord the Sabres a proper place in life, the games provide some release even if it's a 7-0 blowout that goes the wrong way.  I'd much rather be mad at Granato for refusing to change goalies than be mad at some of the real problems in life, and frankly it is a welcome distraction--which is all that entertainment really is supposed to be.  It's a healthy escape.

As for yesterday, I enjoyed it thoroughly.  I wrote this team off from playoff contention in December--when @inkman published his poll--and I've still enjoyed watching the games and arguing with you all about the best course for the team.  It might be a pathetic hobby, but it's a hobby.

If you can only enjoy the Sabres when they are contending for hardware, I've got to question whether your priorities are straight.

I could not watch the game live yesterday, so I avoided my phone and computer and had my wife go in and load the game in espn+ for me so there was no chance I would see the score. What a freakin' game!!

[K-9]

11 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

You are wrong on the relevancy of the game yesterday.   They are still in it but with some very low odds. 
 

The games this week are important for other reasons too. 
 

 

So true. And we are going down swinging as opposed to bowing out like wimps as our 6-1-1 over the last eight shows. Not quitting, especially when the odds are stacked against you, is no small thing. 

[Stoner]

15 minutes ago, Eleven said:

I think if you accord the Sabres a proper place in life, the games provide some release even if it's a 7-0 blowout that goes the wrong way.  I'd much rather be mad at Granato for refusing to change goalies than be mad at some of the real problems in life, and frankly it is a welcome distraction--which is all that entertainment really is supposed to be.  It's a healthy escape.

As for yesterday, I enjoyed it thoroughly.  I wrote this team off from playoff contention in December--when @inkman published his poll--and I've still enjoyed watching the games and arguing with you all about the best course for the team.  It might be a pathetic hobby, but it's a hobby.

If you can only enjoy the Sabres when they are contending for hardware, I've got to question whether your priorities are straight.

Thus ends my personal Urbi et orbi.

Contending for hardware? May I point you to the Johnson Watch thread?

I'll be here all week. Try the Clams Casino!

[Dr K]

10 hours ago, Contempt said:

Calling today a meaningful game is also misguided. This team has failed the pressure away at every opportunity.

Furthermore, I think it far from clear that they are on their way to obvious success.

Their defensive structure is hot garbage, there is no defensive help coming in the pipeline, goaltending is still a huge question l,and it's also a question of the administration thinks that the lack of team defense is even an issue. Run and gun isn't a recipe for success. It's just not.

 

It's clear you have chosen the correct moniker for yourself.

[PromoTheRobot]

3 hours ago, Quint said:

 Seems Buffalo is finally learning about playing playoff style hockey. I really thought the team would lose this one but they kept clawing back. Appears Levi  is making a case for #1...A lot to like here but but then they let in six by the Red Wings and lose to a Columbus. Might be too  little too late this year -- need more consistency --but hopefully next year they make the proper additions/subtractions and with good luck and good health, they handily make it to the playoffs and  then...who knows?

That seems to be lost on @Contempt. The fun is watching the growth. I've really enjoyed watching this team since Donnie G took over and believe they will be in the playoff next year. Will we ever become the Bruins juggernaut? That  remains to be seen. But we have a lot of the pieces in place, especially with Levi on board.

Oh, how have things worked out of those teams that "won" the off-season and trader deadline?

Edited April 9, 2023 by PromoTheRobot

[dudacek]

5 hours ago, PASabreFan said:

Compared to last March and April, yes, this spring's games get weighed more when trying to figure out what kind of players we have. But this game also IMHO gets weighed less than some of the stinkers that took them from being in a playoff spot to being close to out of it. A fair analysis will look at 20ish games, not one. You're cherry picking to try and call out some posters. It's not a good look.

Great win. Unfortunately they put themselves in the position of needing help, none of which came.

Or sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

Good response otherwise.

[DarthEbriate]

20 hours ago, Cascade Youth said:

You can’t tell me Dahlin isn’t one of the ten best players in the NHL.

It's good to see him fully functional again.

[DarthEbriate]

Fun fact on yesterday's game: Antti Raanta had been 15-0-1 dating back to 11/26/2022 (with 2 more team wins for which he wasn't credited, but wasn't shelled in either... looks like injury withdrawn or he came in off the bench).

More fun facts: Antti Raanta is only 6'0" (1.83 m) tall and has a career .918 sv% which would be #2 all-time with the Sabres if you excluded Houser and the other folks with fewer than 3 GP.

[Contempt]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Dude, I had an absolute blast at that game. It was awesome. 

Didn't say it wasn't fun. Said it was irrelevant. Glad you enjoyed yourself.

[Rasmus_]

Dahlin was magnificent once again.   Sorry Makar, you're second rate, mate.