GDT: Red Wings @ Sabres 10/26/24, 1:00 PM EDT; MSG, ESPN+, WGR

[PerreaultForever]

1 hour ago, Idemo Buffalo said:

You obviously don't understand how important winning streaks (and losing streaks) are for a team's confidence, especially early on in the year.  

They're not. Kreuger had a big win streak too. 

What matters to me right now is signs of playing the right way which we haven't seen in a long long time. But every point matters.

[Wyldnwoody44]

I got hammered on the bosphorus and smoked hookah on the bridge, so it was nice to see the winning score. Gonna check out some highlights when I get some wifi. Woo, good to see 

[Jorcus]

1 hour ago, mjd1001 said:

I was in and out with the game, didn't see the whole thing. I missed a lot.

What happened to Power? he's listed as only getting 10 minutes of ice time?

Not a word of it on the post game that I am aware of. He did get the helper on the 4th goal but I did not notice him much.

[Big Guava]

54 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

The 2018-19 Sabres who started 17-6-2 and won 10 games in a row during that start would like a word.

(They missed the playoffs...  by 22 points.)

Seems like this fan base can't help holding on to being losers for dear life and want to revel in it as a badge of honor.

That's all some people here talk about.

SMFH

Edited October 26 by Big Guava

[Jorcus]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

Wasn't that all on the same shift after Cozens stupidly iced the puck from one stride away from the red line, forcing a faceoff in our zone and his line to stay out there for another shift?  

The good part is that Quinn made the play and he needed to contribute in some way.  

Sammy was out on the ice for a long time at the end of the game. It's nice that we have gone 3 games without wondering if he should be on the ice at all.

[ska-T Chitown]

Just now, Big Guava said:

Seems like this fan base can't help holding on to being losers for dear life and want to revel in it as a badge of honor.

 

SMFH

Context matters. This is in response to someone saying October win streaks matter "A TON" with an astonishing air of absolute certainty. 🙂 

I honestly did not even disagree too strongly with the ideas - but the tone-deaf attempt at gate-keeping Sabres history because they had been around the team since "the first time lindy was the coach" is astonishingly off-putting and laughable. 

[French Collection]

Watched it live but didn’t post, trying to soak it in.

The PP and Quinn breaking the ice will help their confidence. Cozens needs an ENG or any kind of greasy one to get him going. There were a few signs of life from Quinn.

I thought Malenstyn played hard and was effective. McLeod and Greenway continue to be solid.

UPL was just good enough, wins matter.

Faceoffs are still an issue. They can’t seem to win enough important ones.

Anxious to see how the Eastern Conference teams do tonight.

[sabresouth]

The redwings picked up there game after the first. We let off the gas a little. It's a bad habit that we haven't learned to shake yet. Take the win and keep winning. 

 

[Idemo Buffalo]

1 hour ago, JohnC said:

Does anyone know what the attendance was? 

recap: https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-det/2024/10/26/2024020122

Attendance is in the Event Summary link on the right side of your link.  15K. It was pretty full, so that number is probably pretty close to accurate.

https://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20242025/ES020122.HTM (attendance right at the top)

Edited October 26 by Idemo Buffalo

[nucci]

2 hours ago, Idemo Buffalo said:

October matters, especially when you have a new coach and captain. 

I agree but let's not  talk playoffs this soon

[PromoTheRobot]

1 minute ago, nucci said:

I agree but let's not  talk playoffs this soon

Every win now counts in April too.

[triumph_communes]

Team play looks really good despite many individuals struggling. Lots of bounces today that went both ways for both teams making the score weird. UPL was just meh. Those negatives are what make me feel confident because we’re looking good as a whole and winning despite that. Not like Kruegers streak where they pulled a rabbit out of a hat night after night while the league was busy 85%ing. 

[Idemo Buffalo]

http://Thompson extends point streak to 6 games, leads Sabres to 3rd straight win | Buffalo Sabres

“I’ve been here a while now and we’ve been with a lot of the same guys,” Thompson said. “I think just that hunger to win – we’ve learned kind the hard way that these games in the beginning of the season, even though it’s a long season, they add up towards the end.”

“We’ve been playing some really good hockey from the start of the season,” Thompson said. “Obviously, we had a couple ones we’d like to have back, but 82 games, long season, you get into a rhythm and start stringing some wins together, it’s a big thing for us.”

[K-9]

2 hours ago, Idemo Buffalo said:

 His post clearly indicated he doesn't understand the importance of winning streaks or the importance of October hockey.  If those 17k posts have happened over the last 13 years he might be a little jaded.  This is the best Sabres team since 2011. Pretty obvious.

Everybody loves a winning streak. How about that 2018-2019 squad that put together a 10 game winning streak in November? Did you think they were a good team; our best since 2011? Did you have them making the playoffs? 

Point is, we’ve seen these early season successes before. And they haven’t meant diddly is the grand scheme of things. Glad they’re winning a few lately, it’s fun, but I need far more convincing before I can say they’re a good team ready to contend for a playoff spot. 

[HOUSE]

The boys are finally learning how to win the 3rd period

Kudos 

[mjd1001]

I watched some of the goals allowed:

1st goal allowed. This is on the forwards, mostly the wingers. basically the D are down low, and the goal is scored when the forwards miss coverage. Both Defensemen are down low, and at points both McLeod and Kulich go deep. Greenway is positioned very well in front of the net, but for most of the 3-4 seconds before the goal is scored, he is the ONLY one and he can't pick up everyone.  So again, its probably mis-communication between all 3 of them, but both McLeod and Kulich looked a bit lost and left open spots.

2nd goal allowed:  I can't really pin this on any one player. The team was running around a bit, but a shot was taken from near the blue line that was partially screened, UPL made the save but a rebound just happened to fall right to the Goal scorers stick. No one out of position really at all.  If anything the whole thing started well before the goal was scored when the Sabres had the puck and couldn't get it out. Dahlin had the puck in the corner and didn't control it well forcing him to flip it up the boards to Cozens, and Cozens didn't quite handle it.  Again, not a blatant error by either of them, but it was a turnover that led to this, 1/2 of it on Dahlin, 1/2 on Cozens.

3rd goal allowed:  Dahlin tried to pass the puck to Thompson in the offensive zone but Tage was covered and fumbled it. All the other forwards were not in good position (none of the 3 on the boards, giving Dahlin no good options. Dahlin could have held it but he tried to force it to Tage. That part of it I'd put on the wingers (for not being on the boards to be available for a pass) and Dahlin for forcing a pass when he could have held it.  Then Raymond just took the puck down the ice, at one point it looked like it would be a 3-on-1 but it turned only to a 2-on-1.  Dahlin actually made a nice play to slide and try to take the shot away, but Raymond made a really really nice shot.  I'd want UPL to save it, but it was a good shot. This one is split evenly between the wingers in the offensive zone, Dahlin for a bad choice to make the pass, and then UPL for not making a save (although a tough one). 

I think Peterka was playing the other point opposite Dahlin (I think) and he just wasn't in a defensive position. The point guys on the PP are responsible not for scoring so much, but for keeping the puck moving. I'd rather the Sabres actually go with 2 D-men back there because I think they gain little from putting a forward on the point, but lose what  D-man would give you knowing when and how to get back.

UPL could have made that one save, but despite that he played well. Good actually. The defensemen all had a pretty good game too, no major mistakes on the goals allowed. For most of the game, the team played very positionally sound.

Edited October 26 by mjd1001

[Idemo Buffalo]

Just now, K-9 said:

Everybody loves a winning streak. How about that 2018-2019 squad that put together a 10 game winning streak in November? Did you think they were a good team; our best since 2011? Did you have them making the playoffs? 

I did get excited about he playoffs but never thought that was a particularly good team. Nobody really did.  It wasn't well coached. Housley was a nice guy with little to no real coaching experience.  The team was 20 games below .500 the year before. This is different. This team is very well coached and this team is coming off back to back winning seasons and the year when Tage was healthy was almost 10 game over .500.  I think with Tage healthy this year, Dahlin significantly more experienced and the additions they made in the off season, this is a legitimate threat to not only make the playoffs, but to win series in the playoffs.

[7+6=13]

3 hours ago, nucci said:

It's October

But it's ok for everyone to freak out and bring up 13 years after 3 games.

[JujuFish]

3 hours ago, eman said:

But it's a better October than this fanbase is used to in recent times! I'll take it!

This is the team's second worst start in the last 7 seasons.

2023-24: 4-5 (1 point worse than this season)

2022-23: 6-3 (3 points better)

2021-22: 5-3-1 (2 points better)

2020-21: 4-3-2 (1 point better)

2019-21: 7-1-1 (6 points better)

2018-19: 5-4 (1 point better)

 

[LGR4GM]

I'm 2-0 for gdt. I should retire. 

[Huckleberry]

7 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I'm 2-0 for gdt. I should retire. 

No, that is not how this works, you keep going until next loss 🙂

[Flashsabre]

They said during the Detroit broadcast that Sabres are youngest team in the NHL again this season. Even with the vet additions. I guess it was offset by Skinner and Girgs and company leaving.

[Pimlach]

Looked at the game stats and of note is that the Sabres outshot the Wings 6-4 in the 3rd period and won the period 1-0. 

Lindy is getting through to them.  

They have to work even harder to consistently close out games like they did today but it was nice to see that.  

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, K-9 said:

Everybody loves a winning streak. How about that 2018-2019 squad that put together a 10 game winning streak in November? Did you think they were a good team; our best since 2011? Did you have them making the playoffs? 

Point is, we’ve seen these early season successes before. And they haven’t meant diddly is the grand scheme of things. Glad they’re winning a few lately, it’s fun, but I need far more convincing before I can say they’re a good team ready to contend for a playoff spot. 

Let's put aside the minimal winning streak and where we are in the standings. What's encouraging is the more structured and responsible two-way play. Compared to the past number of years, there is more effort in putting bodies in front of the net in the offensive zone. What is also noticeable is less perimeter play and more emphasis on getting the puck down low and battling. At least for me, I can see the influence of Lindy as a coach and the type of play he is promoting. And without question, with the added players from the offseason, the lower half of our roster is demonstrably better. As you point out it is still very early in the season to confidently prognosticate anything. But based on what I have seen, this is a better and more well-rounded team than what we have had in the past number of years.   

[GASabresIUFAN]

Nice win today and a fine job by the Sabres to bounce back from 0-3 to NHL 500 at 4-4-1.  Beating a division rival in regulation is always a good thing and it was nice to see Dahlin playing better and to watch Thompson continue his fine play.  It was pretty clear that TNT's line was the best line on the ice for either team.  I also liked that despite another significant lull in their play mid-game, they rebounded after the tying goal to retake the lead.  

The PP remains a huge issue.  Despite their 1st PP goal of the year, continued bad decision making with the puck cost the team a shortie and helped get Det back into the game.  On the last 2 PPs for the Sabres they recorded a single shot while surrendering 2 shots and a goal.  I also noticed that they continue to try to set up TNT for the one timer.  I don't know why they expect better results if they are basically running the same failed PP as last season.