GDT: Buffalo Sabres @ New York Rangers 7:00 PM ESPN+, MSG, WGR550

[That Aud Smell]

6 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

As a dude trending toward being an old, I occasionally wonder: "When am I getting off the train?" Metaphorically, that is.

With social media, I added and used apps as my kids became teenagers and started using them (so that I could keep an eye on them). In that regard, SnapChat was where I got off the train. I couldn't do it. I didn't get it.

This chart here? This chart is probably where I get off the train with #fancystats. I have no earthly idea what that thing means. And, as I found with SnapChat, I probably won't do the work needed to understand it!

3 minutes ago, Wyldnwoody44 said:

I just landed in Toronto from and overnight flight from Cairo, expected to open this up and see the Fire Terry choir going strong... Not that I think they should stop singing 😉

But man, 6-1 on the Road in NYC. I will def take it. Would be awesome to break this stupid freaking drought. Very very cautiously optimistic; all it takes is another 2-3 game losing streak and we're right back in the cellar. 

If they want to make the playoffs, they really and truly need to win 3 of the next 4 or 4 of the next 5 or 5 of the next 7. Something like that.

[Idemo Buffalo]

34 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I hate making Levi sit for so long between games. Can the Sabres loan Levi back to Rochester for a game or two here or there? Just so he can play more?

He is an NHL goalie. Teams need 2 goalies. He will probably play 25-30 games this year against NHL competition. UPL will only start 50-55 games. Also, Levi needs to travel and stick with this team for a full 82 game schedule. He is a young guy that needs to get used to the grind. He is 22 years old. Elite goalies like Shesterkin, Hellebuyck and Bobrovsky are all 28-35 years old. 

[LTS]

It's always fun to read a GDT after a game like that. No skipping through... every post is worth reading and the joy from the posters is a helluva lift.

Lots of great stuff in that game but they do have work to do to shore it up. I think they got away with some stuff against the Rangers that they won't always get away with. The Rangers ended up backing off the forecheck a bit too much and the Sabres have had trouble with teams that can seal off their long breakout passes.

Still, seeing players do the little things in other areas is a huge positive. Zucker is the emotional force on this team and Benny is... well he is who we thought he was. ZFG.. the kid knows how to use his size to his advantage. He's absolutely relentless.

There's only one thing left

 

[PickaPecaPickles]

Looking at the schedule, there's no reason that the Sabres can't take 7 or 8 out of the next 10 games to finish out November.

[That Aud Smell]

Just now, PickaPecaPickles said:

Looking at the schedule, there's no reason that the Sabres can't take 7 or 8 out of the next 10 games to finish out November.

[\GoBillsInDallas/]

1 hour ago, LTS said:

 

[Mustache of God]

1 hour ago, PickaPecaPickles said:

Looking at the schedule, there's no reason that the Sabres can't take 7 or 8 out of the next 10 games to finish out November.

The problem plaguing this team has been their inability to carry over a strong showing against a top tier team into the next game against common basement dwellers. This is where I suspect coaching comes into play, making sure the team is ready regardless of the opponent. Fingers crossed that Ruff can fix this. 

[Slack_in_MA]

2 hours ago, That Aud Smell said:

As a dude trending toward being an old, I occasionally wonder: "When am I getting off the train?" Metaphorically, that is.

With social media, I added and used apps as my kids became teenagers and started using them (so that I could keep an eye on them). In that regard, SnapChat was where I got off the train. I couldn't do it. I didn't get it.

This chart here? This chart is probably where I get off the train with #fancystats. I have no earthly idea what that thing means. And, as I found with SnapChat, I probably won't do the work needed to understand it!

I didn’t understand it either, so I asked my buddy ChatGPT what this chart means. Here is its response, which *kinda* helps (?)
 

“A Quality of Teammates (QoT) and Quality of Competition (QoC) adjusted game score composition chart provides insight into a player’s performance while accounting for the level of their teammates and the opponents they faced. This type of chart is often used in advanced hockey analytics to give a clearer view of a player’s true impact on the game by factoring in external influences.

 

Here’s what a QoT/QoC adjusted gamescore composition chart typically tells you:

 

1. Game Score Decomposition: Game score is a metric that combines various individual contributions (e.g., goals, assists, shots, faceoffs, etc.) to quantify a player’s impact in a game. A QoT/QoC adjusted chart breaks down the game score, showing where a player’s contributions come from, such as offense, defense, or special teams.

2. Adjusted for Teammates: By adjusting for Quality of Teammates, the chart shows how a player’s game score might be impacted by the skill level of those they play with. This adjustment helps isolate the player’s contribution by mitigating the “boost” they might get from playing with stronger teammates or the challenges of weaker teammates.

3. Adjusted for Competition: By accounting for the Quality of Competition, the chart adjusts the game score to consider the caliber of players the individual is up against. This adjustment prevents inflation or deflation of a player’s game score due to the relative strength or weakness of opposing players.

4. True Individual Impact: With QoT/QoC adjustments, the chart aims to present a more accurate picture of the player’s actual impact. It can reveal players who perform consistently well regardless of teammate or competition strength, as well as those who might be more reliant on favorable conditions.

5. Performance Consistency: Some charts may also visualize trends over time, showing if a player’s performance is consistent or varies significantly depending on the quality of linemates and opponents, which can be valuable for scouting, lineup optimization, or contract valuation.

 

In essence, a QoT/QoC adjusted game score composition chart helps teams and analysts assess a player’s true value beyond their raw stats, offering a balanced view of their contributions while mitigating the influence of external factors.”

[That Aud Smell]

14 minutes ago, Slack_in_MA said:

Here is its response, which *kinda* helps (?)

~350 words later":

3 hours ago, That Aud Smell said:

I probably won't do the work needed to understand it!

lol - kidding, sort of. i appreciate the effort!

[mjd1001]

42 minutes ago, Mustache of God said:

The problem plaguing this team has been their inability to carry over a strong showing against a top tier team into the next game against common basement dwellers. This is where I suspect coaching comes into play, making sure the team is ready regardless of the opponent. Fingers crossed that Ruff can fix this. 

I'm not disagreeing with you, that is and has been the problem with this team.

But I don't think it so much a 'consistency' thing as just a 'haven't been good enough team'  ALL teams have stretches where they play well, all teams have games where they beat a superior opponent. In the past few years, its been true with the Sabres, Coyotes, Blue Jackets...a bunch of others.  So the question is....are they a 'good enough to make the playoffs team' that just has huge lapses in consistency? Or is the perceived lack of consistency just a sign that they aren't good enough (as is the case with most other teams near the bottom of the standings?)

[postseasonblues]

No matter what the results have been this year, I feel like I'm watching real hockey again

[PromoTheRobot]

3 hours ago, Idemo Buffalo said:

He is an NHL goalie. Teams need 2 goalies. He will probably play 25-30 games this year against NHL competition. UPL will only start 50-55 games. Also, Levi needs to travel and stick with this team for a full 82 game schedule. He is a young guy that needs to get used to the grind. He is 22 years old. Elite goalies like Shesterkin, Hellebuyck and Bobrovsky are all 28-35 years old. 

I didn't fully explain. Rochester is close enough for Levi to drive in for one game. So if the Sabres are off that night, he plays one game and gets back in time to backup UPL 

[Slack_in_MA]

1 hour ago, That Aud Smell said:

~350 words later":

lol - kidding, sort of. i appreciate the effort!

Yeah, I had to read it a couple times to wrap my head around it. I also asked it about the individual metrics that make it up (the things in the legend that are plotted). I’ll spare you those details unless you really want them. I’m a data guy by trade, so I find this stuff mildly intriguing. 

[Idemo Buffalo]

54 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I didn't fully explain. Rochester is close enough for Levi to drive in for one game. So if the Sabres are off that night, he plays one game and gets back in time to backup UPL 

They think he is better off playing 25-30 NHL games and practicing with NHL caliber players on a daily basis. 

You have to have 2 goalies dress anyway and Levi is definitely getting multiple starts this month. 

[GoPuckYourself]

7 hours ago, Huckleberry said:

I would dangle Samuelsson to Utah for a 1st rounder.

So you think we'd get a 1st round pick for a guy who was benched for a waiver wire type player in Bryson and now outplayed by him? As Cris Carter would say... COME ON MAN!

[Doohicksie]

7 hours ago, inkman said:

I’m surprised people still get this let alone think it’s funny 

I'm sorry I disappointed you, daddy.

[Doohicksie]

7 hours ago, That Aud Smell said:

That said, it stood out to me how bad the Rangers looked.

It's hard for me to sort out whether and the extent to which (i) a hockey opponent looks bad because your team is playing great and/or (ii) a hockey opponent plays bad and as a result your team looks great. 

The Rangers were 8-2-1 heading into the game against the Sabres.  There were remarks during the game though, I think by Rayzor, that another team that beat them in regulation was the Caps and the Sabres followed their game plan- don't give the Rangers time to use their skill.  Harry them at ever opportunity.  It worked.  Some teams can look great but against certain styles of play just suck.

[nfreeman]

I'm not optimistic yet, but they have 4 winnable games in the next 8 days (Flames, Habs, Blues and Flyers).  If they win 3 of those, they'll have won 5 out of 6 and gotten back to DeLuca .500 -- after most of us were ready to leave them for dead yet again (and deservedly so, to be sure). 

And Dahlin, UPL, Cozens and Quinn are looking much better, Benson is back and looking pretty good and a number of guys are playing with some fire in the belly...

 

[Doohicksie]

4 minutes ago, nfreeman said:

The Hockey Guy is all in (cued up to the Sabres-Rangers review)

 

[inkman]

17 minutes ago, Doohicksie said:

I'm sorry I disappointed you, daddy.

[PromoTheRobot]

Amerks are up 5-1 on the Rangers AHL team Hartford in 2P. Rempe just ran our goalie, punk. Sandstrom injured.

Edited Saturday at 01:42 AM by PromoTheRobot

[sabremike]

8 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Amerks are up 5-1 on the Rangers AHL team Hartford in 2P. Rempe just ran our goalie, punk. Sandstrom injured.

One of their scumbag fans spent 3 minutes in my face threatening to attack me after the 5th goal while the crack MSG security guy had his finger up his ass. The guy came and just got the mutant to go back to his and didn't toss him even though that's clearly what should've happened. If that guy had jumped me later I would've had a slam dunk lawsuit. After the game he no went back to Staten Island and took out his frustrations by smacking around his old lady.

[#freejame]

1 hour ago, sabremike said:

One of their scumbag fans spent 3 minutes in my face threatening to attack me after the 5th goal while the crack MSG security guy had his finger up his ass. The guy came and just got the mutant to go back to his and didn't toss him even though that's clearly what should've happened. If that guy had jumped me later I would've had a slam dunk lawsuit. After the game he no went back to Staten Island and took out his frustrations by smacking around his old lady.

Too bad you didn’t get jumped, amiright?

[sabremike]

31 minutes ago, #freejame said:

Too bad you didn’t get jumped, amiright?

Wouldn't be worth the aggravation.