GDT: Carolina @ Buffalo, 1/15/2025, 6 pm ET, TNT, truTV, MAX

[PerreaultForever]

Well I guess that is a memorable first ever hat trick to say the least. He's got a story for his grandkids now. 

idk, that game was putting me to sleep and I think Carolina came in half asleep but a win is a win.  

[GASabresIUFAN]

40 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

This might be the greatest stat ever. 

Or the most Sabres stat ever.

[PromoTheRobot]

The Sabres played 10 games since the losing streak. It doesn't feel like it after the COL and SEA blown games but they are 6-3-1. That's .650. That pace gets them to 89 points. Is that enough?

Edited yesterday at 04:28 AM by PromoTheRobot

[SDS]

1 minute ago, PromoTheRobot said:

The Sabres played 10 games since the losing streak. It doesn't feel like it after the COL and SEA blown games but they are 6-3-1. That's .650. That page gets the Sabres to 95 points. That peace gets then to 89 points. Is that enough?

[pi2000]

2 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

The Sabres played 10 games since the losing streak. It doesn't feel like it after the COL and SEA blown games but they are 6-3-1. That's .650. That pace gets them to 89 points. Is that enough?

no

[PromoTheRobot]

1 minute ago, SDS said:

Typo, since corrected.

[sabremike]

 

[inkman]

1 hour ago, Brawndo said:

 

Even when they win it’s not without head shaking moments 

[Indabuff]

9 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

The Sabres played 10 games since the losing streak. It doesn't feel like it after the COL and SEA blown games but they are 6-3-1. That's .650. That pace gets them to 89 points. Is that enough?

The only cup these a-holes are holding at the end of the season are their jockstraps.

[...]

20 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

The Sabres played 10 games since the losing streak. It doesn't feel like it after the COL and SEA blown games but they are 6-3-1. That's .650. That pace gets them to 89 points. Is that enough?

[...]

2 hours ago, DarthEbriate said:

No shots in the third, eh?

Maybe someone should tell Ruff that Granato’s teams were awesome with a lead because the fans counted out and chanted “we want 6” and the team went out and hunted for goal #6. 

Blowing 2- and 3- and 4-goal leads is not the way to learn how to play defense. 

That's a fanciful revisionist view of Meatball's teams. Meatballs ruined the core by not focusing on defense.

I agree with Hamsammich that when they play the way Ruff wants them to they are highly competitive. Ruff used the timeout to remind them how to play and the Canes didn't stand a chance in those last three minutes.

[HumanSlinky39]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

So McLeod scored on a hat trick on 2 shots. That's crazy. 

The triple word score 150.0 shooting percentage.

[Archie Lee]

5 hours ago, ... said:

That's a fanciful revisionist view of Meatball's teams. Meatballs ruined the core by not focusing on defense.

I agree with Hamsammich that when they play the way Ruff wants them to they are highly competitive. Ruff used the timeout to remind them how to play and the Canes didn't stand a chance in those last three minutes.

Or, maybe Ruff isn’t as good at coaching a team to play “the way Ruff wants them to” as some people think. Also, maybe there are some flaws in “the way Ruff wants them to play” when they have a lead. 

[JohnC]

2 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

Or, maybe Ruff isn’t as good at coaching a team to play “the way Ruff wants them to” as some people think. Also, maybe there are some flaws in “the way Ruff wants them to play” when they have a lead. 

In the games where the Sabres blew what should have been comfortable leads it became evident to bystanders (like me) that there was a "loser psychology" of lost confidence when the opposition started making an end of game push. In a long season, that type of deflation when dealing with an onslaught sometimes happens. With this team it is altogether different. It happens too often at critical junctures to not see. The two Colorado games (especially the home game) were the worst examples of a team losing its composure. 

There is a fragility to this team that can't be unnoticed. There needs to be a better mix/makeup that includes more seasoned and hardened veterans. I'm not going to be dismissive with any win that the Sabres garner, especially against one of the better and tougher teams in the NHL. But the mental fragility is too evident not to ignore. It's an issue that needs to be addressed. I'm not confident that as the current room is constituted the solution lies within the room. 

[mjd1001]

I only watched a little bit of the game, I missed the ending.

Looking at time on ice.....

Thompson with 15 minutes exactly, about 3.5 minutes below his average (I know he is playing hurt)

Cozens with only 13:38.  Almost 4 minutes less than his average for the season.

Malenstyn, Zucker, Tuch, and McLeod all with more ice time than either Thompson or Cozens.

On Defense, Power led with just over 23 minutes....more than both Dahlin and Byrum who both were in the 21 minute range.

For sure some changes in how he gave out ice time. I can see with a lead for most of the game and Thompson playing hurt again to cut down on his ice time, but the Cozens, Dahlin and Byrum are interesting.

Edited yesterday at 02:14 PM by mjd1001

[inkman]

3 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

Or, maybe Ruff isn’t as good at coaching a team to play “the way Ruff wants them to” as some people think. Also, maybe there are some flaws in “the way Ruff wants them to play” when they have a lead. 

I have heard almost no one give Lindy kudos for the job he’s done this season.  Most fans are teetering on the fence of whether or not to keep him.  

[Jorcus]

11 hours ago, JohnC said:

It may be snarky but it's true that there were no Buffalo shots on goal in the third period. That's a stunning statistic. 

 

On the positive side they only gave up 8 shots in the third with a good team pressing them. With a 3 goal lead I think you would take that. There were stretches in the third where they played pretty good defense then at other times they had a hard time controlling the puck. After the second Carolina goal they played with determination to not sit back and go after the puck handlers. Way too many icings though.

[mjd1001]

48 minutes ago, inkman said:

I have heard almost no one give Lindy kudos for the job he’s done this season.  Most fans are teetering on the fence of whether or not to keep him.  

I'm not going to say he is doing great, because doing great would mean he is taking these players and turning them into something a lot better than the have been.

But with the team being 'not good' again, I can't say he's doing bad either, as no one seems to be able to take this organization and coach them up to even  a playoff team. You've promoted coaches from within, brought in former coaches of the team, brought in former cup winners, brought in guys who are 'almost' total outsiders, up-and-coming assistants from other teams.  Many of them with apparently different styles.  NONE of that has even gotten you to the playoffs. To me that means there is something else VERY rotten in the organization, and firing the coach and replacing him, without making major other changes, will likely do nothing.

Sure, you COULD move on from Lindy AND Make those other changes, but if it is the other changes that are important, I'd rather keep Lindy and just make the other required changes at the same time.

Edited yesterday at 03:06 PM by mjd1001

[LGR4GM]

10 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

The Sabres played 10 games since the losing streak. It doesn't feel like it after the COL and SEA blown games but they are 6-3-1. That's .650. That pace gets them to 89 points. Is that enough?

[Pimlach]

10 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

On the other hand, they may have zero shots because they are selling out defending their end. How many flips out of the zone did you see in the third? A lot.

That was a very bad 3rd period. 

Flips out of the zone?   I hope you don't think that was good?   They were giving the puck away and on their heels the entire time.  More like swatting at the puck desperately.   I have never seen a worse team at protecting a lead.  EVER.   Which is reflected in their record.  

The strategy looks like no offensive zone pressure, just fall back and wait.   They stop possessing the puck, they stop sending even one forward deep into the O zone, which makes it very easy for the opponent to set up and pull their goalie.   They lose puck battles in their zone all the time.  They fall back and form a tight box around the goalie, often screening him, and never pressure the puck to force a turnover.   Basically they let the opponent set up a shooting gallery and they hope to block a shot and score on a long EN shot attempt.   When they do give up a goal they mentally fall apart.  

On rare occasions when they do get the puck out they fail to carry it into the neutral zone, or make a good break out pass to even threaten a decent attempt at the EN.   Puck possession is sacrificed when they play this way.  They play hot potato with the puck and flip it out without thought (Samuelsson did it again last night), which leads to icing calls, tired players, more lost D-zone faceoffs, more passive play and more goals against.   

If not for UPL they would have lost.  Zero shots in the third period is not a strategy.  That game was very close to going to OT.  

 

 

[mjd1001]

10 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

The Sabres played 10 games since the losing streak. It doesn't feel like it after the COL and SEA blown games but they are 6-3-1. That's .650. That pace gets them to 89 points. Is that enough?

No its not enough.

Columbus in the last spot in terms of point percentage at .545.

IF the Sabres win the next 10 in a row, they check in at .546.  So win 10 in a row and you are 'right there'.

Funny how for the last few weeks, even now after winning 6 of the last 10, the numbers always point toward a 9-12 game winning streak being required to get them into that last playoff spot.

[LGR4GM]

54 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

I only watched a little bit of the game, I missed the ending.

Looking at time on ice.....

Thompson with 15 minutes exactly, about 3.5 minutes below his average (I know he is playing hurt)

Cozens with only 13:38.  Almost 4 minutes less than his average for the season.

Malenstyn, Zucker, Tuch, and McLeod all with more ice time than either Thompson or Cozens.

On Defense, Power led with just over 23 minutes....more than both Dahlin and Byrum who both were in the 21 minute range.

For sure some changes in how he gave out ice time. I can see with a lead for most of the game and Thompson playing hurt again to cut down on his ice time, but the Cozens, Dahlin and Byrum are interesting.

I gotta be honest, I don't find it interesting at all that Byram and Dahlin played "only" 21mins. The rest of it yes, but to me that looks like Power got an extra shift that Dahlin/Byram didn't. 

Now Cozens and Tage dropping down, that's interesting. 

[JP51]

1 hour ago, JohnC said:

In the games where the Sabres blew what should have been comfortable leads it became evident to bystanders (like me) that there was a "loser psychology" of lost confidence when the opposition started making an end of game push. In a long season, that type of deflation when dealing with an onslaught sometimes happens. With this team it is altogether different. It happens too often at critical junctures to not see. The two Colorado games (especially the home game) were the worst examples of a team losing its composure. 

There is a fragility to this team that can't be unnoticed. There needs to be a better mix/makeup that includes more seasoned and hardened veterans. I'm not going to be dismissive with any win that the Sabres garner, especially against one of the better and tougher teams in the NHL. But the mental fragility is too evident not to ignore. It's an issue that needs to be addressed. I'm not confident that as the current room is constituted the solution lies within the room. 

agreed here...  win is a win... kudos and props... well done... the problem is not solved ... no shots in the 3rd... that is absolutely inexcusable... the fact of the matter is that I am not sure this is a problem... but more DNA.. you may get away with that once or twice but the fact of the matter is this team seems to fold like a cheap tent after any pressure is put on them... therin lies the issue... and it is a team construction issue that Adams is presiding over... I would like to know the last time an NHL team recorded no shots in the 3rd period... I can say I dont ever remember it happening. 

[Pimlach]

Just now, mjd1001 said:

No its not enough.

Columbus in the last spot in terms of point percentage at .545.

IF the Sabres win the next 10 in a row, they check in at .546.  So win 10 in a row and you are 'right there'.

Funny how for the last few weeks, even now after winning 6 of the last 10, the numbers always point toward a 9-12 game winning streak being required to get them into that last playoff spot.

You have to win 10 and a row AND then maintain at least .550 after that.  The second part is far from a given.  

[mjd1001]

2 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I gotta be honest, I don't find it interesting at all that Byram and Dahlin played "only" 21mins. The rest of it yes, but to me that looks like Power got an extra shift that Dahlin/Byram didn't. 

Now Cozens and Tage dropping down, that's interesting. 

Bryum has been averaging a few seconds short of 25 minutes per game over the last 4 games (yes, OT games in there but still alot). Dahlin in close games frequently gets 25 minutes or more. I just thought it was of note that usually one of those 2 leads in ice time.  

With Dahlin I guess, like Thompson, we don't know if he is still playing injured or not.