GDT: Detroit Red Wings @ Buffalo Sabres 12/9/24 - 7:00 PM EST - MSG, FDSNDET, WGR550

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Tonight's Battle on Ice:

Buffalo Sabres Face Off Against the Detroit Red Wings

 

Puck Drop: 7:00 PM EST (or when they find the puck under the pile of excuses from last game's loss).

Watch Live: Catch the broadcast team's attempts to mute the booing on MSG-B or FDSNDET, or listen to the full wail of despair on WGR550.

Where: KeyBank Center, where the Sabres will attempt to prove they're not just skating in circles... again.

Current Standings: Sabres 11-13-3, Red Wings 10-13-4 – a battle for who can make their fans cry into their hot dogs first.

 

Alright, folks, buckle up for the slapstick showdown of the century: Buffalo Sabres vs. Detroit Red Wings!

The Sabres, fresh from losing their way, will unleash their secret weapon, Beck Malenstyn, who's so new, he's still looking for the locker room. Without Dahlin, they're like a circus without its main clown, but hey, they've got Malenstyn, who might accidentally score by tripping over his own stick.

The Red Wings, with Talbot and Lyon out, are left with Husso, who's been saving shots at an .884 clip, which is basically a neon sign flashing "Open for Business" for real teams who aren't afraid of their own shadows (we're looking at you, Sabres). Or they'll debut Cossa, who's so fresh, he might mistake the goal for a suggestion box. If this game were a magic show, their goaltending would be the disappearing act.

Expect a game where the score might be tied at zero-zero because both teams are too busy tripping over themselves to remember they're supposed to be playing hockey. It's less of a game and more of a comedy sketch where the only thing on the ice more confused than the players is the puck itself. Grab your popcorn for a masterclass in how to suck at sports, brought to you by the Sabres and Red Wings.

 

BONUS CONTENT:

The AI wanted you to have this gem:

The Buffalo Sabres play their home games in a place where the ice is colder than their playoff chances - the KeyBank Center, nestled in the heart of Buffalo, New York. It's where dreams of championships go to hibernate, and the only thing that's consistently on fire is the food at the concession stands.

Edited December 9 by ...
The KeyBank Center; where the ice is slicker than the players' excuses for not winning.

[WhenWillItEnd66]

Wooooo hooooo Gummy night!!! Works wonders for crappy teams and upcoming losses!! 

[LTS]

Yep.. about how I feel.

[ska-T Palmtown]

Ugh. Again? Why?

[#freejame]

I think I’ll rewatch reruns of Modern Family instead. Go Sabres

[Brawndo]

 

[mjd1001]

Rangers have statistically dropped behind the Bruins (now in 7th) and NY is in 8th and the final playoff spot right now at a point percentage currently of .558.

As the Sabres stand, the get more than .558, to take away what is currently the 8th playoff spot in the east, Buffalo needs to win 6 in a row. 

6 wins in a row from here would put them at .560. Providing the Bruins and/or Rangers do not gain any more ground and play above that level, 6 wins in a row will put the team back in the last playoff spot Saturday Morning, Dec 21 before a game with the Bruins.  Which if they lose to and don't win 7 in a row could put them back out of the playoff spot.

So, just win (preferably in regulation), over Detroit tonight. Then the Rangers. Then Washington. Then Toronto. Then Montreal (3rd game in 4 days). Then Toronto again. Then  probably Boston (to keep them behind you).  Do something as simple as that and yes, this team could be clinging to the last playoff spot as we approach the end of December.

They haven't dug themselves too big of a hole to climb out of, have they?

[Thorner]

 

[mjd1001]

16 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

 

Moving Centers to wing that can't make a read is all fine and well (think that should have been Cozens 1.5 years ago), but if you moved both of them to wing to follow through on that threat, what does that leave you with at Center?

[Mango]

20 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

 

Stop it Lindy. I can only get so......."excited". 

Thank the forking lord. I suspect this sort of comment/behavior towards Kevyn's core guys drives him crazy. 

Maybe reading too far between the lines, but Lindy specifically mentioned that having Alpert was to help him know the roster better. Hearing him say "I know these guys know" feels (hopefully?) like a shot across the bow to the rest of the regime. 

[Stoner]

[Night Train]

Free nachos if you stay until the 3rd period. 

[Mango]

6 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

Moving Centers to wing that can't make a read is all fine and well (think that should have been Cozens 1.5 years ago), but if you moved both of them to wing to follow through on that threat, what does that leave you with at Center?

To play devils advocate, it leaves you with a guy who also wasn't very good, not being very good. If Cozens or Thompson can't or won't do what they are supposed to the team suffers. And it is on them. If the team gets worse because Cozens/Thompson can't or won't do what they are supposed to so they get moved to wing and the team play gets worse, then that is also on them. 

That said, I do like Thompsons game under Lindy this year. But he has had a tenacious 200 foot game at times (when healthy) This seems to be a quick reminder to Tage that he isn't infallible even if he is the best center on the roster. 

Lindy is rewarding behavior not skill. He seems to be saying "Play the game the right way or get demoted. Talent be damned". 

I am fine with it as long as we keep it internal to the guys at the big club. I don't want to enter the never ending vortex of shirting on the players here then bringing up some 20 year old.

[Stoner]

53 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

Rangers have statistically dropped behind the Bruins (now in 7th) and NY is in 8th and the final playoff spot right now at a point percentage currently of .558.

As the Sabres stand, the get more than .558, to take away what is currently the 8th playoff spot in the east, Buffalo needs to win 6 in a row. 

6 wins in a row from here would put them at .560. Providing the Bruins and/or Rangers do not gain any more ground and play above that level, 6 wins in a row will put the team back in the last playoff spot Saturday Morning, Dec 21 before a game with the Bruins.  Which if they lose to and don't win 7 in a row could put them back out of the playoff spot.

So, just win (preferably in regulation), over Detroit tonight. Then the Rangers. Then Washington. Then Toronto. Then Montreal (3rd game in 4 days). Then Toronto again. Then  probably Boston (to keep them behind you).  Do something as simple as that and yes, this team could be clinging to the last playoff spot as we approach the end of December.

They haven't dug themselves too big of a hole to climb out of, have they?

I wouldn't focus on relative position yet. They actually need to get somewhat above .560 if historical norms hold true.

Not too big a hole but they need to play like a 104ish point team over an entire season pace (the rest of the way) to be where they want to be.

Edited December 9 by Stoner

[ska-T Palmtown]

14 minutes ago, Mango said:

To play devils advocate, it leaves you with a guy who also wasn't very good, not being very good. If Cozens or Thompson can't or won't do what they are supposed to the team suffers. And it is on them. If the team gets worse because Cozens/Thompson can't or won't do what they are supposed to so they get moved to wing and the team play gets worse, then that is also on them. 

That said, I do like Thompsons game under Lindy this year. But he has had a tenacious 200 foot game at times (when healthy) This seems to be a quick reminder to Tage that he isn't infallible even if he is the best center on the roster. 

Lindy is rewarding behavior not skill. He seems to be saying "Play the game the right way or get demoted. Talent be damned". 

I am fine with it as long as we keep it internal to the guys at the big club. I don't want to enter the never ending vortex of shirting on the players here then bringing up some 20 year old.

I mean, at this point - something is not working (although it sorta seems like The Collapse really kicked into overdrive when Dahls went down?), so eff it, let's put Power at wing and really spice things up!

[mjd1001]

I remember 2, maybe even 3 years ago listening to the morning show and having the 'insider experts' on 590 out of Toronto talking about hockey.

The talk then about the Eastern Conference was "Buffalo, Ottawa, Detroit, which one will take the step up and be a legit contender in the east first?  Maybe it will be Montreal, but they are probably 1-2 years behind the others."  I remember them talking that Detroit may have the least potential high end talent among the 4, but they have Yzerman heading things up and they looked to be spending money, so their rise up the Eastern Conference standings was the most imminent.

Then the next year, it was the same thing they talked about on occasion. Buffalo shows promise it will be them.

Then this year, it was the same thing about those 3 or4 teams.  Too much talent. Too many high draft picks.  Ottawa looks good this year finally with a goalie and looking healthier than before.

Yet, here were are, another season, the absolute bottom of the Eastern conference...Guess the bottom 4 teams? Obvioulsy, Ottawa, Buffalo, Detroit, and Montreal.  All 4 teams negative in goal differential. All 4 in the bottom 7 in goals scored despite those high draft picks.

Edited December 9 by mjd1001

[Mango]

14 minutes ago, ska-T Chitown said:

I mean, at this point - something is not working (although it sorta seems like The Collapse really kicked into overdrive when Dahls went down?), so eff it, let's put Power at wing  center and really spice things up!

 FTFY

[Indabuff]

[Gatorman0519]

The next two games are must wins. We are officially on the precipice of falling terminally behind without a miraculous run. 

[bunomatic]

This trainwreck is gaining speed and unfortunately I can’t look away. I’ll be rubber necking from the sofa. That said I still want these guys to win. Go Sabres.

[JohnC]

2 hours ago, Brawndo said:

 

The coach is a straight shooter who is not afraid to unload. He may not have enough of the right players to play the way he wants them to play. But that doesn't mean that he isn't going to hold them accountable. He's the right coach without the right roster mix. That's not a coaching problem as it is a GM problem. 

I predict a Buffalo win. What does that mean if it materializes? Not much in the grand scheme of things. 

[JohnC]

2 hours ago, Brawndo said:

 

Are Samuelsson and Greenway back in action for this game? If so, that is very surprising to me. 

[Believer]

17 minutes ago, JohnC said:

Are Samuelsson and Greenway back in action for this game? If so, that is very surprising to me. 

Tells me they haven’t been in any hurry to get back. 

Don’t see Greenway as a malingerer.

Perhaps Ruff had a Come To Jesus meeting Samuelson.

[LabattBlue]

I will only be watching for a palm tree sighting. That being said, the camera operators have probably been told to avoid at all costs. 😂

[ska-T Palmtown]

Just now, LabattBlue said:

I will only be watching for a palm tree sighting. That being said, the camera operators have probably been told to avoid at all costs. 😂

Do we have any 'Spacer Spies going to the game that can take actual reports??