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

[Pimlach]

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. 

Dahlin's minutes were lagging a bit until the 3rd.   21 minutes for him is a light day.  

Thompson is playing hurt again.  His speed and ability to accelerate is hampered. 

Cozens reduction in minutes is a good thing.  He is playing better lately with less minutes.  

Glad to see Mcleod get more minutes and and playing with better wingers.  

[Weave]

4 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

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

Win 10 in a row, AND maintain .550 after that, AND the teams between you and 8th maintain their pace or worse.

 

[SwampD]

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. 

I’m not sure I agree with this. I don’t think it’s a loser mentality. I just think the other teams are better once they shorten their bench.

I don’t see ever see a difference in the way the Sabres play at the ends of games, I see a difference in the way the opposing teams play. They shorten their bench when they are down, trying to get back in the game and the Sabres top-end talent isn’t as good and can’t match their top-end talent. That’s really all it is.

As for the Lindy discussion, I have to give him credit for changing things up at the end to try something different in order to get the win.

[Pimlach]

1 minute ago, Weave said:

Win 10 in a row, AND maintain .550 after that, AND the teams between you and 8th maintain their pace or worse.

 

Yes, it all assumes everyone else plays at their current pace accept for the Sabres.  

When too many teams creep ahead in the standings it gets harder than just getting on a winning streak. 

Since we have not won 4 in arow yet this season the dream of 10, or even 6, is unrealistic.  

 

[TheAud]

Great win! I didn’t watch it. Just looked in the standings and they’re only 2 points out of 15th in the conference, albeit giving up a game in hand. 
Still, it’s exciting.

[Flashsabre]

The real hero of last night’s game.😂

[Pimlach]

29 minutes ago, SwampD said:

I’m not sure I agree with this. I don’t think it’s a loser mentality. I just think the other teams are better once they shorten their bench.

I don’t see ever see a difference in the way the Sabres play at the ends of games, I see a difference in the way the opposing teams play. They shorten their bench when they are down, trying to get back in the game and the Sabres top-end talent isn’t as good and can’t match their top-end talent. That’s really all it is.

As for the Lindy discussion, I have to give him credit for changing things up at the end to try something different in order to get the win.

How we match up when teams play a shorter bench is a factor but a three goal lead at home should be 99% defendable. 

With a 3 goal lead the Sabres played in a 20 minute defensive shell (more like a stupor) that most teams wont do until the last 5 minutes.  They had no puck possession, no SOGs, very few shot attempts.  It is a terrible strategy for a team that plays bad defense to begin with. 

Lindy - Other than calling a much needed timeout and telling them not to panic they played the exact same way after the timeout than before. 

This time they got the break when needed.  

The TNT crew had a hard time getting excited that they "held on".   More was said about the Canes being off last night.  

Edited yesterday at 03:52 PM by Pimlach

[LGR4GM]

17 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Dahlin's minutes were lagging a bit until the 3rd.   21 minutes for him is a light day.  

Thompson is playing hurt again.  His speed and ability to accelerate is hampered. 

Cozens reduction in minutes is a good thing.  He is playing better lately with less minutes.  

Glad to see Mcleod get more minutes and and playing with better wingers.  

better?

[Stoner]

Sabres ended the losing streak in last place in the EC and 12 points out of a spot. After picking up 13 of 20 points they are still in last but are 9 points back.

[Stoner]

Is there anyone who would like to see players awarded a penalty shot in an EN situation be required to actually score? That is, penalty shot on a yawning cage?

[Pimlach]

5 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

better?

less bad? 

He had a goal, was +1, got the 3rd star.  

 

5 minutes ago, Stoner said:

Is there anyone who would like to see players awarded a penalty shot in an EN situation be required to actually score? That is, penalty shot on a yawning cage?

I do not see the need.  "Award" the goal and move on.  

[Doohicksie]

50 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

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

...and the first part *is* a given???

[DarthEbriate]

21 minutes ago, Stoner said:

Is there anyone who would like to see players awarded a penalty shot in an EN situation be required to actually score? That is, penalty shot on a yawning cage?

If it were a more frequent occurrence, then absolutely yes. Because you know there would be one time when the puck caught a rut and the player overskated it, or the player toe-picked and lost control while the puck slid harmlessly wide of the net... and we could savor it on YouTube forever.

 

We'd call it... The Stefan.

Edited yesterday at 04:06 PM by DarthEbriate

[Doohicksie]

22 minutes ago, Stoner said:

Is there anyone who would like to see players awarded a penalty shot in an EN situation be required to actually score? That is, penalty shot on a yawning cage?

The way things worked out in this game, I'd rather have the future trivia question statistical anomaly.

[Jorcus]

55 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

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.

 

Dahlin's minutes are affected by power play time. We only had 1 so that is what cut his time back a bit. 1 extra power and one less PK by us and I think you are right back to normal.   

[DarthEbriate]

11 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.

To be fair, the entire last decade of my Sabres fandom has been a fanciful revisionist view.

[PromoTheRobot]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

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.  

 

 

Eye of the beholder. They were breaking up the Canes and dumping the puck. I have no issue with that. In fact they sound have done that in the other blown games 

1 hour ago, 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.

They dug a deep hole.

[HumanSlinky39]

UPL was able to steal them a game is what it boils down to. That was basically 20 minutes of Alamo Mode in the 3rd. Did they even have one meaningful possession sequence in the Canes zones during the 3rd period? I cannot recall one. No SOG for a whole period is pathetic. Whole team was on their heels during the third. Fortunately UPL was able to make some outstanding saves to preserve the W. 

That kind of period does not end favorably way more often than it does. This is one of this team's major problems. They do not know how to win. They get a lead, tense up, and go into protection mode...which they aren't good at. Instead of continuing to play the way that got them the lead, they go into a shell. You can see it in their faces and body language...they're just waiting for something bad to happen. If buttoning up when they have a lead is a Lindy strategy, then that's alarming. If it's psychological with the players, it's up to Lindy to fix it.

Edited yesterday at 04:48 PM by HumanSlinky39

[Broken Ankles]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

One of the most frequently used (and appropriate) gifs in my time here at SS.  And it shall be until this misery ends. 

Edited yesterday at 04:51 PM by Broken Ankles

[mjd1001]

1 minute ago, Broken Ankles said:

One of the most frequently used (and appropriate) gifs in my time here at SS.  And it shall be until this misery ends. 

I would imagine it might be the #1 used one (at least a version of it) across all forums for all teams in all leagues. I can't think of anything that might/could be used more.

[Mustache of God]

1 hour ago, Stoner said:

Is there anyone who would like to see players awarded a penalty shot in an EN situation be required to actually score? That is, penalty shot on a yawning cage?

It would be hilarious to see someone screw that up.

[Stoner]

30 minutes ago, Mustache of God said:

It would be hilarious to see someone screw that up.

Until it happens to us.

The awarded goal takes away that human train wreck possibility but also the joy of seeing the twine bulge.

Imagine the whole arena rising to try and jinx the shooter.

You know someone would eventually Vanek-slap the puck off the crossbar.

Get me Bettman on the blower.

[pi2000]

2 hours ago, Pimlach said:

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

[JohnC]

2 hours ago, SwampD said:

I’m not sure I agree with this. I don’t think it’s a loser mentality. I just think the other teams are better once they shorten their bench.

I don’t see ever see a difference in the way the Sabres play at the ends of games, I see a difference in the way the opposing teams play. They shorten their bench when they are down, trying to get back in the game and the Sabres top-end talent isn’t as good and can’t match their top-end talent. That’s really all it is.

As for the Lindy discussion, I have to give him credit for changing things up at the end to try something different in order to get the win.

The end of the game "shortening the bench" strategy is a standard strategy that all teams deploy, including the Sabres. There's no question that Carolina's top talent is better than our top talent, just as it is with Colorado. However, the Sabres were overwhelmingly dominated in the third period as with the Colorado game. I'm sure you see it differently, but for me those end of game dominations indicate a lack of mental toughness to handle the predictable opposition push. I see a team fragility that has repeatedly exhibited itself this season. It's a problem that needs to be addressed this offseason. I see it as a roster composition problem that goes beyond an individual talent issue. 

[Doohicksie]

8 minutes ago, JohnC said:

The end of the game "shortening the bench" strategy is a standard strategy that all teams deploy, including the Sabres. There's no question that Carolina's top talent is better than our top talent, just as it is with Colorado. However, the Sabres were overwhelmingly dominated in the third period as with the Colorado game. I'm sure you see it differently, but for me those end of game dominations indicate a lack of mental toughness to handle the predictable opposition push. I see a team fragility that has repeatedly exhibited itself this season. It's a problem that needs to be addressed this offseason. I see it as a roster composition problem that goes beyond an individual talent issue. 

I mentioned it upthread I think, but there was a point where the Sabres were in their defensive alignment, taking the middle away, and all the Sabres were just watching the puck get passed around.  As the puck got passed to the point/high slot, Peyton Krebs suddenly sprinted at the guy and forced the puck over the blue line for a much needed clear.

I get wanted to stick with your defensive alignment, but I also think the Sabres need to do much more of what Krebs did there:  Whoever's covering the puck carrier needs to rush at them and take their time and space away.  This is what the Sabres consistently don't do.  I think it's the fundamental reason for their late collapses:  They're too content to just let the opponent pass the puck around in the Sabres zone and too often there's that guy open for just an instant that cashes in a goal.  Break up the play before that pass.  Pressure the puck carrier ALWAYS.  Don't let him think.  If you look, that's what teams do to the Sabres when they're in the offensive zone.

I know nothing about hockey but geez this seems obvious to me.

In football terms they should be zone blitzing rather than dropping back into coverage.