GDT - 1/9/2025 Buffalo @ Ottawa 7pm - MSG/ESPN+/Who knows

[GASabresIUFAN]

4 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

Good win. UPL was great. We got a couple bounces. Quinn can shoot. McLeod needs to stay off line 4. Kozak looks like a bottom 6 NHL player for us. Still no excuse for Adams to sit on his hands and watch 13 games go by without a win. 

He didn’t sit on his hands, he put his head in the ground.

The fact that he still has a job shows TP’s lack of commitment to winning.   

[WhenWillItEnd66]

This is one of the best forechecking games i have seen the Sabres play in many years! Sens got a lot of shots but UPL was able to see them all clearly with no rebounds. The team as a whole had each others backs and were hard on the puck all night! More please!

 

[Huckleberry]

A good winning streak could fix a lot - Probably won't happen but still only 9 points behind the 3rd spot in the atlantic.

[JohnC]

5 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

That’s hilarious. They gave up 35 shots on goal, 21 scoring chances and 6 high danger chances.  UPL was the difference not the defense and 2 way play of the forwards.  They were lousy as usual.  
 

Don’t confuse a shutout with good defense.  

Did you watch the game or just pluck the stats from a site? If you did watch the game you would have observed that UPL had a clear and unobstructed view on most of the shots. I do agree with you that UPL played well.

And don't reflexively interpret game day stats. They often don't reflect how the game flowed. 

 

 

[inkman]

10 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

Good win. UPL was great. We got a couple bounces. Quinn can shoot. McLeod needs to stay off line 4. Kozak looks like a bottom 6 NHL player for us. Still no excuse for Adams to sit on his hands and watch 13 games go by without a win. 

 

6 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

He didn’t sit on his hands, he put his head in the ground.

The fact that he still has a job shows TP’s lack of commitment to winning.   

Does anyone in this forum need to rehash Kevyn Adams failings?  In a winning GDT no less?  
 

This is how my wife argues.  I know you were awesome today but remember all those days you weren’t awesome.  Yeah, I still hate you.  

[JohnC]

3 minutes ago, inkman said:

 

Does anyone in this forum need to rehash Kevyn Adams failings?  In a winning GDT no less?  
 

This is how my wife argues.  I know you were awesome today but remember all those days you weren’t awesome.  Yeah, I still hate you.  

You may be forgetful but your wife isn't. I support your wife. Just shut up and say yes dear. And also include that she deserves the Medal of Honor for putting up with my BS. 😁

[Weave]

1 hour ago, Huckleberry said:

A good winning streak could fix a lot - Probably won't happen but still only 9 points behind the 3rd spot in the atlantic.

This season is lost.  Any winning streak needs to be something that carries over to next season.  So far, their previous improvements during garbage time haven’t carried over to next season.  That can’t happen again.

[SwampD]

1 hour ago, Huckleberry said:

A good winning streak could fix a lot - Probably won't happen but still only 9 points behind the 3rd spot in the atlantic.

Man, that would be great.

[Sidc3000]

11 hours ago, Stoner said:

What are you talking about? He's 52nd in sv%.

I look at sv% somewhat like QB’s interceptions in the NFL. A QB could drop a pass in a receivers hands, it bounces out and a defender catches it, that interception goes against the QB. In the 6 interceptions Allen had this year I would say half of them the pass were spot on but the receiver screwed up. If a goalie absolutely has no chance on a goal, if a puck gets deflected, etc it affects the goalies sv%. 
 

UPL’s stats may not be elite but he’s at least playing well enough to keep them in games most of the time. He even stole a game or two this season. 

[mjd1001]

45 minutes ago, Sidc3000 said:

I look at sv% somewhat like QB’s interceptions in the NFL. A QB could drop a pass in a receivers hands, it bounces out and a defender catches it, that interception goes against the QB. In the 6 interceptions Allen had this year I would say half of them the pass were spot on but the receiver screwed up. If a goalie absolutely has no chance on a goal, if a puck gets deflected, etc it affects the goalies sv%. 
 

UPL’s stats may not be elite but he’s at least playing well enough to keep them in games most of the time. He even stole a game or two this season. 

I like UPL, but I'm going to partially disagree with you.

I agree he has had a handful of good games where he was the reason they won, or were 'in' it, but I think I have seen more goals this year from him where I said "he needs to make that save" than I had the entire year last year. Way too many.

He has had good, sometimes great games. But he has also had more games where both they eye test (watching replays of goals allowed) AND the stats (save percentage) show he was below average. 

On many nights when you watch the replay of the goals allowed, its not all on the defense.  Again, many times this year I'd watch a replay of a goal allowed, and the shooter is 10-15 feet out, no screen, and UPL was set for the shot, and he just isn't making some saves he made last year.

From Christmas on last season, he had 3 total games with a save percentage under .850 over 38 games played. This year he has 7 games under .850 in just 30 games played.  Yeah, I get the Defense isn't always great in front of him, but it wasn't last year either. He stood on his head to bail out the team in front of him a lot last season.

The difference to me is there are way too many soft goals getting let in when he has a bad game. Again, not to repeat myself, but myself and others have posted in GDT's as they happen, there will be a shooter,  not screened, not tipped, that UPL is set and facing and the shot still goes in too many times.

For the majority of last year (except for the first 2 months) in UPL I saw a guy who was a top 5 goalie in the league most nights...that on a small handful of occasions had a bad game.  This year in him I am seeing a below average starting goalie in the league most nights, that on occasion can have a great game. (last night was one of those great games obviously)

Again, I like him and I think they should play him every game he is able to play, but to me this team is as low as they are in the standings for 2 reasons:  Total black hole in production and overall play from a '2nd line' for most of the year, and substandard goaltending play.

Edited Friday at 04:09 PM by mjd1001

[Broken Ankles]

2 hours ago, inkman said:

This is how my wife argues.  I know you were awesome today but remember all those days you weren’t awesome.  Yeah, I still hate you.  

[Stoner]

11 hours ago, 7+6=13 said:

What are you talking about?  No he isn't.

If we're counting all goalies who've played this season, yes he was. He climbed to 45th with the shutout.

If you want to cull out guys who played a game or two, it looks like he's 33rd on another list.

More to the point, he's off his OK pace from a year ago and has been a disappointment overall and a reason the Sabres are in last place.

You want to make a sweeping statement about UPL's career trajectory after a shutout? Gaslight away.

[Archie Lee]

UPL was mostly good up to the streak. He has been mostly good since the streak. Like the entire team, we can’t just take the streak out of his season and pretend it didn’t happen. Yes, he could have played better during the streak and helped squeeze out a few points that kept us in the race.  No, he was not the reason we sucked for 13 straight losses.  My view is that he is a legit #1. I’m not worried about our starting goalie. 

Edited Saturday at 08:48 PM by Archie Lee

[LabattBlue]

Last place in the conference.  Is this a run for 9th place?  Woohoo. 
 

The only reason to watch is to count how many ridiculous words come out of Ray and Dumbleavy, and to see if Duff is in the cackling mood. 
 

At this point in the season, no one is actually tuning in for the hockey, are they?😂

Edited Friday at 05:09 PM by LabattBlue

[JohnC]

14 hours ago, Doohicksie said:

The Sabres buried their chances for a change.

McLeod was able to score a deflection goal off a defender because the defender was tied up with Benson who went to the net. We need more of that. Both Zucker and Benson excel in the tough areas around the net. 

[K-9]

51 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

Last place in the conference.  Is this a run for 9th place?  Woohoo. 
 

The only reason to watch is to count how many ridiculous words come out of Ray and Dumbleavy, and to see if Duff is in the cackling mood. 
 

At this point in the season, no one is actually tuning in for the hockey, are they?😂

I’m with ya Blue, but I can’t take Dunleavy in the least. If the Sabres were undefeated and Stanley Cup winners, I’d still find his play by play tortuous and he would be the number one reason for me not to watch. As it is currently, he’s just one of many reasons I can no longer watch this sorry group of losers.

Rob is Rob and he doesn’t bother me. And he’d be better served by a better play by play guy as well. 

[ska-T Palmtown]

4 hours ago, Weave said:

This season is lost.  Any winning streak needs to be something that carries over to next season.  So far, their previous improvements during garbage time haven’t carried over to next season.  That can’t happen again.

The "progress" at the end of the year two years ago sure appeared to be sustainable. They were playing MUCH tighter team defense along with smart breakouts and intelligent play in all three areas of the ice. Then ... poof ... up in smoke. I love this team, but until I see good play from the start of a season, I shall remain skeptical of any and all "progress".

3 hours ago, mjd1001 said:

On many nights when you watch the replay of the goals allowed, its not all on the defense.  Again, many times this year I'd watch a replay of a goal allowed, and the shooter is 10-15 feet out, no screen, and UPL was set for the shot, and he just isn't making some saves he made last year.

I culled your post down to one point I wished to explore further - I don't think it takes anything out of context. A shooter that is 10-15 feet out, no screen ... I would expect the league average on shots like that to be at least 20% scoring, probably higher. That the Sabres regularly give up these types of chances is pretty much a great reason to absolve UPL of some of the blame for team performance.

Unfortunately, I don't know of any fancy stat that adjusts for how much a team leaves their goalie out to dry. High danger chances doesn't quite get it done for me; a weak swipe at a loose puck on a back-hand is a high danger chance, but so is the guy the Sabres consistently leave wide freaking open at the far post. One, I would hope the goalie saves 98% of the time, the other I would be astonished if they could save 50% of the time. 

The Sabres give up too many high quality high danger chances for this kid's liking.

[mjd1001]

8 minutes ago, ska-T Palmtown said:

The "progress" at the end of the year two years ago sure appeared to be sustainable. They were playing MUCH tighter team defense along with smart breakouts and intelligent play in all three areas of the ice. Then ... poof ... up in smoke. I love this team, but until I see good play from the start of a season, I shall remain skeptical of any and all "progress".

I culled your post down to one point I wished to explore further - I don't think it takes anything out of context. A shooter that is 10-15 feet out, no screen ... I would expect the league average on shots like that to be at least 20% scoring, probably higher. That the Sabres regularly give up these types of chances is pretty much a great reason to absolve UPL of some of the blame for team performance.

Unfortunately, I don't know of any fancy stat that adjusts for how much a team leaves their goalie out to dry. High danger chances doesn't quite get it done for me; a weak swipe at a loose puck on a back-hand is a high danger chance, but so is the guy the Sabres consistently leave wide freaking open at the far post. One, I would hope the goalie saves 98% of the time, the other I would be astonished if they could save 50% of the time. 

The Sabres give up too many high quality high danger chances for this kid's liking.

My overall point is he was making more of those saves last year than he is this year. By quite a bit.

And while I may agree with your point that SOME shooters should score at that high of a rate, He is not only allowing goals to guys who shoot like Draisaitl, Matthews or Reinhart.  There are some pretty 'average' guy scoring on him from those points (Like a Dylan Cozen level shooter who 1 out of every 2 shots, no matter from where they are taken, the goalie only has to move an inch or two to save.)

Edited Friday at 07:18 PM by mjd1001

[Jorcus]

1 hour ago, JohnC said:

McLeod was able to score a deflection goal off a defender because the defender was tied up with Benson who went to the net. We need more of that. Both Zucker and Benson excel in the tough areas around the net. 

 

I did not see it that way. Benson was driving to the back door which is good. Chabot the defender did not engage Benson but tried to intercept the pass and whiffed on the attempt. McLeods pass was pass was probably not getting though to Benson given Chabots position by the time Benson got there but good things happen sometimes.

[Freeezo]

1 hour ago, JohnC said:

McLeod was able to score a deflection goal off a defender because the defender was tied up with Benson who went to the net. We need more of that. Both Zucker and Benson excel in the tough areas around the net. 

I didn't like that hit on Zucker.  They should get that out of the game

[JohnC]

17 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

 

I did not see it that way. Benson was driving to the back door which is good. Chabot the defender did not engage Benson but tried to intercept the pass and whiffed on the attempt. McLeods pass was pass was probably not getting though to Benson given Chabots position by the time Benson got there but good things happen sometimes.

Any way you want to look at that play, it was a good play for a couple of reasons. Did McCleod pass or shoot??. It doesn't matter. The shot/pass was toward the net, and Benson was going to the net. Was it a fluke goal? Maybe. That's hockey. I'll take the goal and not worry about the aesthetic of the play. 

[7+6=13]

4 hours ago, Stoner said:

If we're counting all goalies who've played this season, yes he was. He climbed to 45th with the shutout.

If you want to cull out guys who played a game or two, it looks like he's 33rd on another list.

More to the point, he's off his OK pace from a year ago and has been a disappointment overall and a reason the Sabres are in last place.

You want to make a sweeping statement about UPL's career trajectory after a shutout? Gaslight away.

You still can't get you're numbers right, he's 31st.  He's played 30 games and if you remove anyone in the teens for GP, he's 23rd.  I at least got two people to agree with my post, you got zero.  You want to hate all things Sabres, flame away, but I believe most are tired of it.  

When something is good, it's ok to say it.  UPL is good.  He's taken on the 7th most shots, so of course his percentage is up.  

[SwampD]

1 hour ago, JohnC said:

Any way you want to look at that play, it was a good play for a couple of reasons. Did McCleod pass or shoot??. It doesn't matter. The shot/pass was toward the net, and Benson was going to the net. Was it a fluke goal? Maybe. That's hockey. I'll take the goal and not worry about the aesthetic of the play. 

It was absolutely a pass.

[ska-T Palmtown]

the enthusiasm with which Quinn ripped this one home makes me smile 🙂 

(and I also hope ALL of his teammates take at least one shot like that in practice to rib him a little lol)

Edited Friday at 09:47 PM by ska-T Palmtown

[Huckleberry]

13 hours ago, Weave said:

This season is lost.  Any winning streak needs to be something that carries over to next season.  So far, their previous improvements during garbage time haven’t carried over to next season.  That can’t happen again.

Its 10 games in a row just to get us back into the hunt.

 

7 hours ago, JohnC said:

Any way you want to look at that play, it was a good play for a couple of reasons. Did McCleod pass or shoot??. It doesn't matter. The shot/pass was toward the net, and Benson was going to the net. Was it a fluke goal? Maybe. That's hockey. I'll take the goal and not worry about the aesthetic of the play. 

So much a pass, But everything that happened in defnese was because of this and Benson going to the net.

5 hours ago, ska-T Palmtown said:

the enthusiasm with which Quinn ripped this one home makes me smile 🙂 

(and I also hope ALL of his teammates take at least one shot like that in practice to rib him a little lol)

You could just see him on the bench , being annoyed going in with that 2nd penalty, he was chomping at the bits ?
Just he look on his face, also that call was semi weak.  but I felt like he would wanted more,  maybe was just me but never trade this kids or jjp.

 

Edited Saturday at 03:07 AM by Huckleberry