GDT: Blue Jackets @ Sabres Feb 4, 2025 7:00PM

[shrader]

  On 2/5/2025 at 3:11 PM, Thorner said:

Like I mentioned in the other thread, at rate we are going we might find ourselves on the pace we need, find ourselves pulled even if we turn this 4 gamer into an 18 game streak.

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There’s no stopping at 18. It’ll be 30. I will continue to beat this into the ground as long as I can. 

[That Aud Smell]

  On 2/5/2025 at 3:01 PM, Thorner said:

Better go 22-7 and win the tiebreaker

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  On 2/5/2025 at 3:11 PM, Thorner said:

at rate we are going we might find ourselves on the pace we need, find ourselves pulled even if we turn this 4 gamer into an 18 game streak.

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[LGR4GM]

  On 2/5/2025 at 3:03 PM, Brawndo said:

 

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And this kids is why we will be drafting in the top 10. Joe Marino can act like the playoffs are a possibility but they aren't. 

[That Aud Smell]

  On 2/5/2025 at 3:32 PM, shrader said:

There’s no stopping at 18. It’ll be 30. I will continue to beat this into the ground as long as I can. 

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wait - is this a bit?

i haven't been around enough to keep this sh1t straight.

[LGR4GM]

  On 2/5/2025 at 12:34 PM, Broken Ankles said:

Better together, no.  Just pushing down the lineup.  Obviously they both perform better on a line with Tage/Tuch/JJP but would each would put a drag on the top two.  Point is moving them off a top six.  Based on Ice time deployment and the 7 D and mix and match lines Cozens is  already a bottom six forward.   

https://www.naturalstattrick.com/linestats.php?fromseason=20242025&thruseason=20242025&stype=2&sit=5v5&score=all&rate=n&team=BUF&vteam=ALL&view=wowy&loc=B&gpfilt=none&fd=2024-10-04&td=2025-04-17&tgp=2000&strict=incl&p1=8481528&p2=8482097&p3=0&p4=0&p5=0

 

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Quinn already isn't in the top 6. 

[Stoner]

  On 2/5/2025 at 3:37 PM, That Aud Smell said:

wait - is this a bit?

i haven't been around enough to keep this sh1t straight.

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shrader doesn't do bits. He's a prop comic.

[shrader]

  On 2/5/2025 at 3:43 PM, Stoner said:

shrader doesn't do bits. He's a prop comic.

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Message boards are a very difficult medium for my craft.

[Thorner]

  On 2/5/2025 at 3:53 PM, shrader said:

Message boards are a very difficult medium for my craft.

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[Stoner]

  On 2/5/2025 at 3:53 PM, shrader said:

Message boards are a very difficult medium for my craft.

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Yet I know you typed that with one hand while tying off a balloon giraffe with the other.

[shrader]

  On 2/5/2025 at 4:38 PM, Stoner said:

Yet I know you typed that with one hand while tying off a balloon giraffe with the other.

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Come on, know your audience. Clearly I was making a sword. 

[Palm Trees And Taxes]

Crazy thing and frustrating part about this season is the Sabres were 11-9-2 after the California trip and right before the long losing streak, and now 10-7-2 since the 13 game losing streak ended. If the Sabres just held onto 3 leads during that horrendous losing streak, and earn 6 more points like they should have at minimum, this team is close to about where we thought they would be all along, around 55-57 points and 5 points out of the WC spot or so.

Edited February 5 by Palm Trees And Taxes

[shrader]

  On 2/5/2025 at 4:42 PM, Palm Trees And Taxes said:

Crazy thing and frustrating part about this season is the Sabres were 11-9-2 after the California trip and right before the long losing streak, and now 10-7-2 since the 13 game losing streak ended. If the Sabres just held onto 3 leads during that horrendous losing streak, and earn 6 more points like they should have at minimum, this team is close to about where we thought they would be all along, around 55-57 points and 5 points out of the WC spot or so.

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That bread on the losing streak sandwich, those aren’t exactly great numbers. What I see there is a team that has little to no margin of error. Then when you combine that with the largest error imaginable, it doesn’t end well. 

[Thorner]

  On 2/5/2025 at 12:42 AM, DarthEbriate said:

One argument for Byram to stay on the Sabres on a bridge deal is the ability to play with Dahlin for 2 years, then hit the open market when the cap is $113M.

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Agree, a bridge would probably be my preference 

[Pimlach]

  On 2/5/2025 at 1:14 PM, Doohicksie said:

It would all work if they didn't "fail to clear pucks" imo.  Of course I'd like to see them grinding it out down at the other end of the rink but that's just me I guess.

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That means win more puck battles, be stronger on the stick, play with head up and don’t panic. They have too many guys that panic and toss the puck around like a hot potato.  Puck Possession means the other team can’t score.  
 

A problem with Lindy, and my list is growing, is they lay back to start the period.  They put pressure on UPL for the entire 3rd period. 

[JohnC]

  On 2/5/2025 at 6:19 PM, Pimlach said:

That means win more puck battles, be stronger on the stick, play with head up and don’t panic. They have too many guys that panic and toss the puck around like a hot potato.  Puck Possession means the other team can’t score.  
 

A problem with Lindy, and my list is growing, is they lay back to start the period.  They put pressure on UPL for the entire 3rd period. 

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The laying back in the third period really bothered me last night. The strategy and mindset seemed to be let's just hang on and gut it out. It worked last night but it is a fraught strategy to take too often. I attribute this passive strategy to not having enough veterans to be on the ice to deal with the end of game pressure. 

[Doohickie]

  On 2/5/2025 at 2:53 PM, Jorcus said:

There are only a few forwards on this team I trust to hold the blue line and when you are protecting a lead it becomes more important to think about plays like that.

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Forwards I trust to backup a pinching Dman:

• Tage (speed, wingspan)
• Kulich
• Benson
• Krebs
• Kozak

Oh, and Girgensons when he was still here.

[PerreaultForever]

  On 2/5/2025 at 2:00 PM, caseydean said:

So that was an interesting take.  By putting Olivier out to start the game--seemed unusual-- maybe the Jackets were saying we are going to run you out of the rink you bunch of pu*****.  And Gilbert recognized that and dropped the gloves to say "not tonight." Wishful thinking perhaps, but it kind of makes sense.

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I don't think so. They all see the media. They all saw people like Spittin' Chicklets mocking the Sabres. They all heard the Sabres saying they met and it won't happen again so if I'm the Columbus coach I'm starting Olivier to say "you have an issue with NJ don't even think about taking it out on our guys". That's why he started.

Gilbert fighting meant nothing imo. Gilbert is a team guy, he's always been a team guy. Limited skill but a good guy. That's never been in question. It might have meant something if during the game Cozens or Tuch or any of the so called "leaders" were scrapping. Not with Olivier, they don't need to be suicidal but just showing that they are capable. 

It's all on Adams imo. The team needs to be tougher and they need more real leaders and players who drag you into the fight not run away from it. 

[HumanSlinky39]

I mean the playoffs are a pipe dream, but just keep winning. 

[steveoat87]

I get the need to stick up for teammates, but the real issue is the lack of strong fundamentals: getting out of own's zone, not taking the third period off (pedal to the metal mentality), having players in front of the other goalie's net, avoiding turnovers, finishing one's checks and situational awareness.  

[Marty]

  On 2/5/2025 at 9:16 PM, steveoat87 said:

I get the need to stick up for teammates, but the real issue is the lack of strong fundamentals: getting out of own's zone, not taking the third period off (pedal to the metal mentality), having players in front of the other goalie's net, avoiding turnovers, finishing one's checks and situational awareness.  

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Other than that, we’re pretty good! Lol!

[Doohickie]

  On 2/5/2025 at 9:12 PM, HumanSlinky39 said:

I mean the playoffs are a pipe dream, but just keep winning. 

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I'll take a hit off that pipe please.

[LGR4GM]

  On 2/5/2025 at 9:16 PM, steveoat87 said:

I get the need to stick up for teammates, but the real issue is the lack of strong fundamentals: getting out of own's zone, not taking the third period off (pedal to the metal mentality), having players in front of the other goalie's net, avoiding turnovers, finishing one's checks and situational awareness.  

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No one ever goes to the front of the net. Teams allergic to the slot.

[Pimlach]

  On 2/5/2025 at 6:35 PM, JohnC said:

The laying back in the third period really bothered me last night. The strategy and mindset seemed to be let's just hang on and gut it out. It worked last night but it is a fraught strategy to take too often. I attribute this passive strategy to not having enough veterans to be on the ice to deal with the end of game pressure. 

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You play the cards in your hand.  The Sabres do not have enough of players needed to play that style effectively, at least not for 20 minutes. 

I agree with implementing some sort of neutral zone trap, and a defense first system to "grind it out", but we have seen time and again that the bench gets too short and terrible fatigue sets in when they do it for an entire period.  

What Lindy is doing does not match his roster strengths, I am sure he is teaching with the intention they will learn and get better.   

I was told by a reliable person, that the next coach after Granato was going to have his hands full with this group.  You can see it.  

 

[inkman]

  On 2/5/2025 at 10:33 PM, Pimlach said:

You play the cards in your hand.  The Sabres do not have enough of players needed to play that style effectively, at least not for 20 minutes. 

I agree with implementing some sort of neutral zone trap, and a defense first system to "grind it out", but we have seen time and again that the bench gets too short and terrible fatigue sets in when they do it for an entire period.  

What Lindy is doing does not match his roster strengths, I am sure he is teaching with the intention they will learn and get better.   

I was told by a reliable person, that the next coach after Granato was going to have his hands full with this group.  You can see it.  

 

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Hence why they need to change the group.  Any competent hockey GM would have unloaded 75% of the roster by now.  

[JohnC]

  On 2/5/2025 at 10:33 PM, Pimlach said:

You play the cards in your hand.  The Sabres do not have enough of players needed to play that style effectively, at least not for 20 minutes. 

I agree with implementing some sort of neutral zone trap, and a defense first system to "grind it out", but we have seen time and again that the bench gets too short and terrible fatigue sets in when they do it for an entire period.  

What Lindy is doing does not match his roster strengths, I am sure he is teaching with the intention they will learn and get better.   

I was told by a reliable person, that the next coach after Granato was going to have his hands full with this group.  You can see it.  

 

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There is no question that this is an incomplete roster where the coach has to contend with a roster overloaded with developing and not fully mature players. That's why I have been a constant critic of the GM. I strongly believe that with a few more veteran players to undergird our young roster, this team would be so much better equipped to handle the last periods when play tightens up. Would another Greenway and Zucker type players make a difference? I believe so. My belief is that our GM misread his own roster. He over-rated what he had on hand and assumed some of his young players would make the next developmental leap. Some did and some did not.