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

[Pimlach]

1 hour ago, jad1 said:

Whatever shakes your pompoms.

My hope is Ruff is peeling the paint off the walls on the locker room right now.  Losing leads.  Getting outshot in the 3rd.  Stupid penalty in OT.  The Sabres are a team with a high ceiling.  Better, more consistent effort will raise their floor. 

Did you hear his interview?   He did none of that. He knows he doesn’t have a seasoned Cup contender in that locker room.  He has  a team just beginning to come together.  Many of these players have never had success in this league.  

He was pleased with UPL, the PK, and that they didn’t panic and kept at it.  He mentioned there is more to correct, but I doubt he chews them out for winning a tough game at this stage of his reclamation project.   He mentioned why Byram played so many minutes - he said a few guys were struggling (Gilbert only played 10).  

I expect they work on some things  tomorrow and you may see Muel back for the game on Monday   

 

 

 

Edited Saturday at 10:21 PM by Pimlach

[Idemo Buffalo]

2 minutes ago, jad1 said:

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 on pace for 82 points. This isn't rocket science.  If you know hockey, you know this is a good team. It is an eye test. The points shake out over 82 games, not 15 games. 

[LabattBlue]

3 minutes ago, Idemo Buffalo said:

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

This nonsense has to stop.  Do you really need to attack anything negative that you don’t agree with?  Friggin’ troll. 

[Archie Lee]

5 minutes ago, jad1 said:

Right now, they are on pace for 76 points this season.  

They are on pace for 82 points.

[Flashsabre]

Is Kubel injured or just a scratch? I like his game.

Muel, Joker and Kubel in the press box. That’s what real teams look like with NHL talent in reserve.

A big step up from previous years when they didn’t even ice a team with full NHL talent.

[Idemo Buffalo]

Just now, LabattBlue said:

This nonsense has to stop.  Do you really need to attack anything negative that you don’t agree with?  Friggin’ troll. 

I am not attacking anyone. I am telling him that perfectionists are miserable people.

Learn to enjoy winning. Only miserable people complain after wins.

[jad1]

2 minutes ago, Idemo Buffalo said:

They are on pace for 82 points. This isn't rocket science.  If you know hockey, you know this is a good team. It is an eye test. The points shake out over 82 games, not 15 games. 

After 15 games they are 7-7-1.  Below .500. Not the record of a good team.

82 points pace is 2 points less than last season's finish.  Last season, the Sabres were not a good team. 

Eye test sure, but take off the rose colored glasses before looking.

Not saying that can't be a good team.  Or they won't be a good team.  It's just at this point, there needs to be improvement before it happens.  

[bg17]

1 hour ago, PerreaultForever said:

Really not impressed with Malentstyn. He was billed as our new big tough guy and I don't see it.

Nobody billed him as our new big tough guy. He was billed as a guy that’s fast (he is), hits (leads the team), blocks shots (3rd amongst forwards), and kills penalties (only :48 secs/game). 

You have an issue because they traded for him. He’s been as advertised and has been a very nice addition to a solid 4th line  

https://www.statmuse.com/nhl/ask/nhl-hits-leaders-sabres

Edited Saturday at 10:31 PM by bg17
Spelling

[jad1]

7 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

They are on pace for 82 points.

My mistake.  That would put them 2 points behind last year's finish.

[LGR4GM]

[aristocrat]

We stole that game. You have to do that more than once in a while. We have a bunch of games we should win coming up and need to stack these points right now. Samuellson can’t stay in the press box for the next 7 years or whatever his contract is 

[Pimlach]

5 minutes ago, Idemo Buffalo said:

I am not attacking anyone. I am telling him that perfectionists are miserable people.

Learn to enjoy winning. Only miserable people complain after wins.

I know a few people I would consider perfectionists,   They are highly respected too.  They are happy because they excel at something they love and submerse themselves into it.  

[bg17]

47 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.

“You have to trust how you’re playing” does not sound like a dig at their work ethic. 

[shrader]

14 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

This nonsense has to stop.  Do you really need to attack anything negative that you don’t agree with?  Friggin’ troll. 

Stop feeding it

[JohnC]

10 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Did you hear his interview?   He did none of that. He knows he doesn’t have a seasoned Cup contender in that locker room.  He has  a team just beginning to come together.  Many of these players have never had success in this league.  

He was pleased with UPL, the PK, and that they didn’t panic and kept at it.  He mentioned there is more to correct, but I doubt he chews them out for winning a tough game at this stage of his reclamation project.   He mentioned why Byram played so many minutes - he said a few guys were struggling (Gilbert only played 10).  

I expect they work on some things  tomorrow and you may see Muel back for the game on Monday   

 

 

 

As you are indicating, Lindy is an experienced NHL coach who understands the players he has to work with and what it takes to build them up and upping their game. The psychology of the job is just as important, if not more important, than the Xs and Os. I'll take Lindy as a coach over Torts any day of the week. 

I also expect to see Samuelsson back in the lineup against Montreal. 

[Idemo Buffalo]

2 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

I know a few people I would consider perfectionists,   They are highly respected too.  They are happy because they excel at something they love and submerse themselves into it.  

Not letting perfection be the enemy of the good is arguably the most important trait of successful people.  And perfectionists are almost always miserable. It is nearly impossible to be perfect. Josh Allen throws interceptions.  Dahlin makes bad passes. It happens.

[jad1]

14 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Did you hear his interview?   He did none of that. He knows he doesn’t have a seasoned Cup contender in that locker room.  He has  a team just beginning to come together.  Many of these players have never had success in this league.  

He was pleased with UPL, the PK, and that they didn’t panic and kept at it.  He mentioned there is more to correct, but I doubt he chews them out for winning a tough game at this stage of his reclamation project.   He mentioned why Byram played so many minutes - he said a few guys were struggling (Gilbert only played 10).  

I expect they work on some things  tomorrow and you may see Muel back for the game on Monday   

 

 

 

I heard that and it gives me pause. He did say that the reason the team fell off in the last part of the game was due to over-thinking.  Which I guess I buy.  That's a coaching opportunity.

This group of players just has a history of becoming overly-satisfied with big wins (yes the Sabres have won big games over the last five years), and failing to build on that momentum.  It's why they struggle to win more than 3 games in a row the last couple of years.

Anyway, as much as it's a cliche, it is a process.

[North Buffalo]

Im betting Muel starts next game but depends on what type of game Montreal presents... some of the Sabres looked gassed... maybe bag skate them tomorrow... lol

[Sabre The Cup]

2 minutes ago, Idemo Buffalo said:

Not letting perfection be the enemy of the good is arguably the most important trait of successful people.  And perfectionists are almost always miserable. It is nearly impossible to be perfect. Josh Allen throws interceptions.  Dahlin makes bad passes. It happens.

Just jumping in to say I agree. 

Anybody defending perfectionism doesn’t know what they’re talking about. 

I read Bills boards after big wins and there’s always people who need to start threads about Curtis Samuel or something else which is similar to a beautiful person looking in the mirror for any blemish they can pick at because they’re single (or didn’t win a championship yet). 

Buffalo fans don’t know what championship winning looks like. It looks like always getting the W at the end of the day no matter what adversity that was thrown at you. 

They have difficulty understanding the up and down cycles of life and appreciating resilience more than flashiness. It’s a game and you win it by always getting back up, learning the lesson, and growing. The trophies come when they come, not when you think they should. 

This Sabres organization is at the beginning of their healing stage. My eyes are also telling me that this team is better than their record. These things balance themselves out. These fans are deeply wounded, don’t know what winning looks like, and don’t know the difference between a major issue that must change and a bump that needs to be overcome. 
 

But that’s why they’re fans and not the men in the arena. 

[jad1]

9 minutes ago, Idemo Buffalo said:

Not letting perfection be the enemy of the good is arguably the most important trait of successful people.  And perfectionists are almost always miserable. It is nearly impossible to be perfect. Josh Allen throws interceptions.  Dahlin makes bad passes. It happens.

Saying that you would like the Sabres to string together a few good shifts in the 3rd period in response to being outshot almost 3-1 in the 3rd period is not asking for perfection.

Having everyone on the bench committed to scoring the next goal when leading by 1 in the 3rd period is not asking for perfection.

Relying your goalie to make every save while the team turtles in the 3rd with a 1 goal lead IS asking for perfection -- from your goalie.

They don't have to play perfect, they just have to play better at critical points in a game.

[Idemo Buffalo]

14 minutes ago, jad1 said:

Saying that you would like the Sabres to string together a few good shifts in the 3rd period in response to being outshot almost 3-1 in the 3rd period is not asking for perfection.

Having everyone on the bench committed to scoring the next goal when leading by 1 in the 3rd period is not asking for perfection.

Relying your goalie to make every save while the team turtles in the 3rd with a 1 goal lead IS asking for perfection -- from your goalie.

They don't have to play perfect, they just have to play better at critical points in a game.

 

They just won a game in a shootout. They have a chance to win 4 straight for the first time in 20 months.  Enjoy it. 

[jad1]

2 minutes ago, Idemo Buffalo said:

 

They just won a game in a shootout. They have a chance to win 4 straight for the first time in 20 months.  Enjoy it. 

I am enjoying it.  I can't wait for the next game. 

While I'm not ready to crown the Sabres as a good team at this point, I see the process, good and bad, and am eager to see how Ruff leads the team.

I can say that I'm enjoying the journey while realizing that the destination is still a bit far away. 

Not sure why this triggers you, but to each his own.

 

 

[PromoTheRobot]

1 hour ago, jad1 said:

After 15 games they are 7-7-1.  Below .500. Not the record of a good team.

82 points pace is 2 points less than last season's finish.  Last season, the Sabres were not a good team. 

Eye test sure, but take off the rose colored glasses before looking.

Not saying that can't be a good team.  Or they won't be a good team.  It's just at this point, there needs to be improvement before it happens.  

.500 is their point percentage.

[OverPowerYou]

The Sabres are on a three-game win streak and have peaked my interest, I’ll be tuning in on Monday so expect a loss. I Apologize in advance

Edited Saturday at 11:34 PM by OverPowerYou

[PerreaultForever]

2 hours ago, Kristian said:

Sabres were all over them in the first. Stopped hustling after that, and kept looking for the pretty plays on offense. We only had 20 shots?

That was it. The quick start maybe went to their heads and they forgot they need to work for 60. Especially against a methodical grinding machine like Calgary. It was their old style creeping back in.