GDT: Calgary Flames @ Buffalo Sabres 1:00 PM MSG, ESPN+, WGR550

[Believer]

We’re 7-7-1 with a winning home record, 5-4-0.

Keep working, boys!

[jad1]

Just now, Idemo Buffalo said:

Lindy wants games like this.  You are not going to win every game 6-1.  You need to win games like this. The playoffs is full of them. 

Lindy wants games where his team gets outshot 3-1 in the 3rd period? 

He wants his team to take a bad penalty in OT?

I find that difficult to believe.  That's not how you win in the playoffs.

[Idemo Buffalo]

1 minute ago, jad1 said:

Lindy wants games where his team gets outshot 3-1 in the 3rd period? 

He wants his team to take a bad penalty in OT?

I find that difficult to believe.  That's not how you win in the playoffs.

He wants games where they learn to find ways to win.  You act like every game is going to be perfect. They aren't. 

Teams that make the playoffs win these types of games. Teams that don't make the playoffs lose these types of games.

[LabattBlue]

Got to see the 1st 10 min, and then the last 5 min of the 3rd, plus OT and the shootout.  
 

Nice job by UPL. 

[Kristian]

Cannot count the amount of times I saw three Flames coming up against our two d-men, without a single forward in the frame, in the third period. Inexcusable.

[ExWNYer]

First home win against Calgary since 2016.

[Idemo Buffalo]

The Sabres have only given up 6 goals in the last 12 periods.  Incredible goaltending and defensive efforts four games in a row.

[LGR4GM]

13 minutes ago, steveoath said:

Tage tied 20th on all time sabres scorers with some guy called Eichel. 

Dahlin 3rd for points by defenders in franchise history

[Scottysabres]

Way to go Sabres!

Just got in to Vermont, left at 8 this morning. Missed the game, but hell ya, way to go!

Go Sabres!!!

[Believer]

Keep Samuelson and Jokiharju in the press box.

[Idemo Buffalo]

You have to be comfortable being uncomfortable. -Lindy Ruff

[mjd1001]

Yes, it included overtime, but Byram with 32:34 of ice time.  He was on the ice for more than half the game.

For comparison, Gilbert with 10:19, Clifton 14:07, Bryson 18:01, Even power at 20:42...all 10 -20 minutes less than Byram.

[jad1]

17 minutes ago, Idemo Buffalo said:

He wants games where they learn to find ways to win.  You act like every game is going to be perfect. They aren't. 

Teams that make the playoffs win these types of games. Teams that don't make the playoffs lose these types of games.

I don't expect them to play perfect, but I want to seem them compete and win more shifts, especially when the game is in the balance.

I agree that teams that lose these types of games don't make the playoffs, but it's because these types of games when effort fades, are difficult to win.  So, simply put, I want the Sabres to stop playing these types of games.  

I'm happy they pulled this one out.  UPL hung tough and got the team to a skills competition.

But rather than go that path in the future when things turn difficult, I'd rather see them eschew the panic mode that they've grown up in, and assert themselves to win shifts to win back momentum.

When that effort becomes the baseline of their play, they will be a good team.  They'll get there, but they have to take the lesson.

Edited Saturday at 09:33 PM by jad1

[Idemo Buffalo]

1 minute ago, jad1 said:

When that effort becomes the baseline of their play, they will be a good team.  They'll get there, but they have to take the lesson.

They are already a good team. They have only given up 6 goals in their last 12 periods. They have won 3 in a row against three winning teams.  They now have to make the jump from a good team to a great team, and that might happen as soon as this year. 

[Kristian]

11 minutes ago, Believer said:

Keep Samuelson and Jokiharju in the press box.

And throw Quinn up there too.

[Kristian]

11 minutes ago, Idemo Buffalo said:

You have to be comfortable being uncomfortable. -Lindy Ruff

Yeah, I’m pretty positive that quote was related to hockey players work ethic and effort, not playing like shite for40 mins and making the fans uncomfortable.

[LabattBlue]

A couple off ice things…

- When are the Sabres going to dump the Teen Idol anthem competition, and make nice with Doug Allen?

- Was in the car when Calgary scored their first goal.  Dunleavy…”we might have something going…and in the meantime, Calgary scores”.  This guy f’ing sucks and I don’t have to listen to any other broadcast to know he is among the worse.  One thing I dread about the Sabres playing better…having to listen to him more often.   Doesn’t matter how much of a good soldier he was waiting for RJ to retire, he needs to be replaced in the off-season…along with Duff & Ray.   

[thewookie1]

15 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

A couple off ice things…

- When are the Sabres going to dump the Teen Idol anthem competition, and make nice with Doug Allen?

- Was in the car when Calgary scored their first goal.  Dunleavy…”we might have something going…and in the meantime, Calgary scores”.  This guy f’ing sucks and I don’t have to listen to any other broadcast to know he is among the worse.  One thing I dread about the Sabres playing better…having to listen to him more often.   Doesn’t matter how much of a good soldier he was waiting for RJ to retire, he needs to be replaced in the off-season…along with Duff & Ray.   

Can't blame Dan for that one; it should of been blown dead when the ref raised his arm and it was in front of two officials and Rob so his attention was split at the time.

[LabattBlue]

Just now, thewookie1 said:

Can't blame Dan for that one; it should of been blown dead when the ref raised his arm and it was in front of two officials and Rob so his attention was split at the time.

What does Ray have to do with it?   😂

[PickaPecaPickles]

38 minutes ago, Believer said:

Keep Samuelson and Jokiharju in the press box.

Gilbert looked like a liability at times out there, so I’m guessing 1 of those 2 will dress Monday 

[JohnC]

Some quick thoughts on this game: UPL is obviously the first star. He put this team on his back and held up like an old stone fort. 

In the first 10 minutes, we were dominating in our offensive zone. Those early minutes where we were dominating thereafter ended. The game was then played like a visitor's defensive game. Especially in the third period, I thought Calgary out played us with a lot more scoring chances. UPl played strong and kept us in the game. 

This is definitely a Lindy coached team with few breakdowns, although there were some. Compared to previous years, we showed that this is a more mature unit whose play adjusts to the character of the game. The big difference is the coach has enough players to play the lower lines more minutes. 

My unsung hero in this game was Greenway. He shined when we were down a man in OT. He's a big man who plays big and smart. 

After watching this game it is difficult to single out many players (except for UPL) for their exceptional play because they all played soundly within the system. Surely, there were some breakdowns but in a fast paced game there will always be some breakdowns. 

If Tuch was a better finisher he would be an all-star. 

Byram played more than 32 minutes. He and Dahlin seemed to always be on the ice. 

I can't say that the Cozens line stood out but they appear to incrementally be getting better. Thier line did score a goal. 

Tage's blasts are awe inspiring. 

JJP's shoutout goal was sparkling.

Calgary is a good and tough team. A win against them should be appreciated. Let's go for 4 straight Monday. 

 

Edited Saturday at 10:23 PM by JohnC

[jad1]

16 minutes ago, Idemo Buffalo said:

They are already a good team. They have only given up 6 goals in their last 12 periods. They have won 3 in a row against three winning teams.  They now have to make the jump from a good team to a great team, and that might happen as soon as this year. 

Right now, they are on pace for 76 points this season.  That is not a good team.  If you want to hand them a participation trophy for the last few games, go ahead. But 76 points is not going to get this team into the playoffs.

They are a high ceiling team with a low floor.  High ceiling because they have a ton of talent.  Low floor because they lack fundamentals, structure, experience and urgency.

After they won three games in a row earlier this year, they lost the next two winnable games.  Why, because they played those games like they played the last 30 minutes of today's games. And if they play the next game like the last 30 minutes of this game, they'll lose that game too.

I guess I get the excitement over the standings in mid November, but what I'm looking for somebody on this team to step up and turn the tide of momentum when they are getting outshot in the 3rd period of a game.  I'm looking for a line to use their talent and impose their will.  I prefer this to turtleing around the goalie, hoping he  holds up, like they did today (although UPL was outstanding, today).

When they do that, the winning streaks will come more frequently, and this team will prove it's more than just a playoff team.

That's why I hope they are happy with the win, and not satisfied.  They have to understand what needs to improve.

[inkman]

Enjoy the win you scalawags

[Idemo Buffalo]

27 minutes ago, Kristian said:

Yeah, I’m pretty positive that quote was related to hockey players work ethic and effort, not playing like shite for40 mins and making the fans uncomfortable.

The quote is about winning when everything isn't going your way. That is what winners do. 

BTW. Perfectionists are miserable people. Learn not to be miserable.

[JohnC]

https://www.nhl.com/standings/2024-11-09/division

https://www.nhl.com/video/cgy-at-buf-recap-6364477369112

These links were taken from NHL.com