GDT: Buffalo Sabres @ CalGARY Flames, 9 pm ET, 23 January 2025, TV SN1, MSG-B, Radio WGR AM 55

[Crusader1969]

1 minute ago, DarthEbriate said:

We'll see if the Sabres are all friendly toward Skinner or if they try to run him at every opportunity.

Assuming he plays 

[Believer]

What will Ruff say in his postgame remarks?

[DarthEbriate]

3 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

Assuming he plays 

He played tonight and McDavid is out, so I think his coach will dress him for the Sabres. He should be motivated to show up the team that bought him out.

[Believer]

PP 0-6.

They should send Appert out to explain his PP strategy 

[rickshaw]

UPL was not good tonight. Team should have won this one. I wonder if we hold the record for most empty net goals against?

Inability to get games to OT is a major issue. But tonight I thought they deserved more.

[Bangarang]

12 points out of the last WC spot for those keeping track at home still.

[HumanSlinky39]

3 minutes ago, Believer said:

PP 0-6.

They should send Appert out to explain his PP strategy 

Is there an actual strategy? 

[K012010]

14 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

The goaltender has been a big issue this season.   Not consistent, unable to reset after a goal is scored on him and flubbing way more he should, including tonight 

I disagree

[DarthEbriate]

5 minutes ago, HumanSlinky39 said:

Is there an actual strategy? 

It is amazing how shoddy a PP looks without Zucker on the ice.

 

Unless you can get a 2-on-1 rush goal by catching the PKers on a change, the PP strategy is as follows:

1) No matter where you are on the ice or the situation, pass it back to your own blue line or behind your net.

2) If behind your net, stand there for 5 seconds to allow everyone to get where they need to be, and start the winger on the big loop back.

3) Get to mid-ice and make a drop pass all the way to your own faceoff circle.

4) Pass to far wing and enter the zone. Immediately turn your back to the middle of the ice and get caught along the boards and lose possession.

5A) Repeat.

5B) Or, possibly chip the puck down low, then back up, and make a weak cross-ice pass for a turnover.

[Crusader1969]

Game day threads down to 9 pages

next season, maybe it's 4 or 5

last person posting, please remember to turn off the lights on your way out 

 

 

[Gatorman0519]

2 hours ago, Doohicksie said:

He's quickly becoming my favorite Sabre, and he barely scores.

Sabres will win this one.

I wish you would of been right. 

[gilbert11]

4 hours ago, rickshaw said:

UPL was not good tonight. Team should have won this one. I wonder if we hold the record for most empty net goals against?

Inability to get games to OT is a major issue. But tonight I thought they deserved more.

The Sabres have now tied Colorado for the NHL lead with 16 empty net goals allowed!  Hey, they lead in something!
 

The record is 24 so I think they an do it.  Keep giving up 2 in a game and it’ll be easy.

 

When the announcer says UPL is going to the bench, does anybody else yell “NO!”?

[gilbert11]

Lights out!    💤

[LGR4GM]

Didn't watch, cuz who gives a s****.

Edited 13 hours ago by LGR4GM

[Archie Lee]

The team needs a culture change. The little play within the play that is emblematic of the Sabres occurred with just under 4 minutes to go. The Sabres are down 1 and on the PP.  The puck is in Calgary’s end and squirts up the wall to Wolf’s right. Thompson and Pelletier have a brief puck battle. Thompson chooses the wrong side of the puck and makes no attempt to utilize his 7” and 40lb size advantage and is easily outmuscled for the puck and Pelletier clears it down the ice.  Again and again we lose these small battles that make a difference in games. 

I don’t know the answer. I don’t want a tear down. There is no player that I wouldn’t consider dealing in a hockey trade, but moving any youngish established player (Dahlin, Thompson, Tuch, etc) for futures would be beyond crazy. 

Ruff is not the answer. The mistakes we saw from Dahlin, Thompson, and Power tonight, were the kind of mistakes that we did see from Eichel and Reinhart when they were here. Every player makes mistakes, but we do not seem to be able to bring in the right coach to establish that such mistakes are not acceptable. Early in Cassidy’s time in Vegas, he called out Eichel for poor efforts. 

Adams can’t return. A new GM has to get a chance to establish a new culture with new coaches and some strategic roster moves. If Adams is back then there is no reason to expect anything but a minor variation on what we have seen this season. 

[Carmel Corn]

9 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

The team needs a culture change. The little play within the play that is emblematic of the Sabres occurred with just under 4 minutes to go. The Sabres are down 1 and on the PP.  The puck is in Calgary’s end and squirts up the wall to Wolf’s right. Thompson and Pelletier have a brief puck battle. Thompson chooses the wrong side of the puck and makes no attempt to utilize his 7” and 40lb size advantage and is easily outmuscled for the puck and Pelletier clears it down the ice.  Again and again we lose these small battles that make a difference in games. 

I don’t know the answer. I don’t want a tear down. There is no player that I wouldn’t consider dealing in a hockey trade, but moving any youngish established player (Dahlin, Thompson, Tuch, etc) for futures would be beyond crazy. 

Ruff is not the answer. The mistakes we saw from Dahlin, Thompson, and Power tonight, were the kind of mistakes that we did see from Eichel and Reinhart when they were here. Every player makes mistakes, but we do not seem to be able to bring in the right coach to establish that such mistakes are not acceptable. Early in Cassidy’s time in Vegas, he called out Eichel for poor efforts. 

Adams can’t return. A new GM has to get a chance to establish a new culture with new coaches and some strategic roster moves. If Adams is back then there is no reason to expect anything but a minor variation on what we have seen this season. 

Agree that TNT (and several others) rarely win puck battles.  You mentioned Eichel and Samson….a key difference iMHO is that they had the benefit of more elite talent than our so-called current stars….so their upside with a good coach was higher….which they both achieved.  As far as GMKA, out of some miracle he’s relieved…I don’t expect clueless Pegula to do anything right….he’ll just put Karmonos as GM and Appert as HC.  In other words, no hope for us fans.

[Pimlach]

Another third period melt down.  Another winnable game lost.  
 

[Night Train]

2-1 lead.. 25-10 shot advantage

and then.. 

. 

[PromoTheRobot]

9 hours ago, Carmel Corn said:

Great start to the PP….three failed attempts to keep the puck in the zone

We still have NOBODY capable of carrying the puck into the zone with control

Cozens skates into a shmozzle and promptly falls down, turning the puck over. 😂

[JP51]

8 hours ago, HumanSlinky39 said:

My daughter has her birthday party Saturday, so mercifully I'll be spared watching that snuff film.

If you let those kids watch it I am calling  CPS LOL 😆

[thewookie1]

24 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Another third period melt down.  Another winnable game lost.  
 

 

Wouldn't consider it a meltdown tbh

They gave up 1 goal on a triple deflection then their PP did absolutely nothing until they gave up 2 ENGs

I do however agree that it was certainly a winnable game  

[mjd1001]

8 hours ago, Crusader1969 said:

Game day threads down to 9 pages

next season, maybe it's 4 or 5

last person posting, please remember to turn off the lights on your way out 

 

 

Mostly because the team is bad of course. Western conference late start doesn't help.

But for me, and I'm sensing some others, its because they haven't made any changes. Its like they don't care.  There is nothing new to watch, nothing new to talk about.

Sure you can 'stick to the plan' of developing from within, but when that isn't working, and you have going on what, year 4 or year 5 of this particular version of the plan and you really aren't making any significant roster changes for the fans to at least....well, be interested in?  It just doesn't work for a fanbase.

Edited 10 hours ago by mjd1001

[Gatorman0519]

Edmonton will win 8-2 

[Stoner]

12 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Will be great when they trade Dahlin to Vegas and he wins like 3 cups and all the ppl here are like "who could have seen this coming!?!?"

Your scenarios never talk about where the Sabres ended up after the trade. Did they make a good trade that helped turn the franchise around? That seems at least as plausible as Rasmus Dahlin going somewhere and winning multiple Cups.

[HumanSlinky39]

1 hour ago, JP51 said:

If you let those kids watch it I am calling  CPS LOL 😆

My youngest loves hockey. She watches many games with me. She has 2 Sabres jerseys. The guilt I feel is often overwhelming.