GDT: Vegas Golden Eichels @ Buffalo Sabres 3/15/25 12:30 pm MSG

[JohnC]

Some quick thoughts: This was an entertaining and a hard fought game. Overall, I thought we had the edge in play. 

Jack got booed every time he had the puck. It's a shame that we couldn't keep such an elite talent. (I have no interest in discussing why it wasn't meant to be.) 

I'm sure glad that we were able to keep both Greenway and Zucher in the fold. Both are tough players. 

Dahlin scored the goal with the goalie pulled. The person who was instrumental in the goal was Tuch who screened the goalie. Tuch is an important player for us that goes beyond the stats. He offers size, speed and toughness. 

I thought Bryam played well. 

The Sabres outshoot Vegas. I wish we were a little more accurate. 

It was mentioned in the post-game show that the Sabres play better against good teams and lapse against weaker teams. A sign that the team lacks maturity. 

I don't know what the attendance was but the crowd was into the game. One of my big resentments against the owner is that he has eroded a fanbase that could have been rabid and expanding if the franchise was managed properly.

The Vegas player tried to get the puck to Jack at the end of the game when our net was vacant. His intention was good but it was a bonehead play that cost them the win. Dahlin shortly after scored with our goalie being pulled. 

Ottawa has 17 pts. more than the Sabres. Columbus has 12 pts. more than the Sabres. Montreal has 11 pts. more than the Sabres. Detroit has 10 pts. more than the Sabres. Teams in our talent group moved forward while we slid back. This is an inexcusable organizational failure. 

This was a good win. No complaints. 

Edited Saturday at 11:37 PM by JohnC

[Porous Five Hole]

Hey that was fun!!!!

 

Hope Kuli is alright. 

[JohninMinn.]

Next year is our year to go deep into the playoffs.

[Sidc3000]

1 minute ago, JohninMinn. said:

Next year is our year to go deep into the playoffs.

 

you got jokes

13 minutes ago, SabresBillsFan said:

I want Buffalo to land in the top 3 picks. Either for Misa or Hagens

You know the hockey gods and Bettman won’t allow for that

[JoeSchmoe]

13 minutes ago, Indabuff said:

[mjd1001]

As far as the Sabres playing well vs the top teams, it can seem like that after a win..but...

Vs Winnipeg, Washingon,  Dallas. Edmonton, Florida, Toronto, Tampa, Carolina, Vegas, New Jersey, and Colorado (most would consider them the top teams?)  The Sabres are 6-12 (.333 winning).

Vs the rest of the league, 20-27 (.426 winning).  So yeah...wins vs top teams are nice, but they aren't better vs them as a whole.

[Wyldnwoody44]

I left to go cycling at the end of the 2nd, came home and was shocked to see, so saw the highlights... Lol @ hertl, and at jack for being a cocky boy after his goal. 

Thought the young girls did good with the anthem as the game is currently on replay. 

[JohnC]

9 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

As far as the Sabres playing well vs the top teams, it can seem like that after a win..but...

Vs Winnipeg, Washingon,  Dallas. Edmonton, Florida, Toronto, Tampa, Carolina, Vegas, New Jersey, and Colorado (most would consider them the top teams?)  The Sabres are 6-12 (.333 winning).

Vs the rest of the league, 20-27 (.426 winning).  So yeah...wins vs top teams are nice, but they aren't better vs them as a whole.

There is a difference between being better and playing better against the better teams. Although the Sabres have a better record against the lesser teams, it is against those lesser teams that we should have even a better record against. These are points that should be pocketed, not thrown away.  

[mjd1001]

McLeod is good.

I know, there have been players that have had one good year and then never been that good again.

But the guy is young. He's one of the fastest skaters on the team. He's smart, he doesn't make a lot of mistakes.  Hes on pace for almost 20 goals and 50 points.  He kills penalties. Hes a plus player on a negative team.

I hope he gets extended for a few years.  He looks to be a well above average #3 center.

[GoPuckYourself]

1 hour ago, Thorner said:

 

Maybe Adams was right.. I mean clearly Cozens was the issue. Addition by subtraction 

Adams hasn't been right about anything. 

[Thorner]

1 minute ago, GoPuckYourself said:

Adams hasn't been right about anything. 

Half the online narrative on twitter changed based on today haha 

A true turning point victory. Would we still be a changed team if Hertl didn’t hot dog? Hard to say 

Edited Saturday at 09:38 PM by Thorner

[GoPuckYourself]

They unfortunately do this every season, a slight surge at the end with nothing at stake leaves us thinking maybe they're righting the ship. We need elite talent and the 0only way we're getting that is through the draft and trades, since were on most players NTC the draft is all we got.

The new motto instead of "the whole reason for existing is to win cups" well it's now "The whole reason for existing is the NHL Draft Lottery".

[Flashsabre]

That was fun. Great to see the kids in the crowd enjoying themselves and getting a great memory.

I thought Jack was little too smug there with what he thought was the game winner. Glad the Sabres took it away from him.

I always enjoy Kozak’s effort when he comes up.

Hopefully Kulich is OK. Good on Krebs to jump in.

[gomper]

In the 65th game, the team we thought they could be, showed up. The mobbing of Dahlin on the tying goal seemed playoff-like. Unfortunately, that's as close as they'll get this season. I'm taking 24 hours to enjoy a really good moment in a season with only a few of them. Btw- great read and play by Byram on the tying goal.  Oh what could have been. 

[Big Guava]

Well...good win.

[PickaPecaPickles]

Was it the Detroit thread where someone posted, "why is Ruff pulling the goal here?" ??  I remember thinking, because they need the practice regardless of the outcome.  It paid off today.

[mjd1001]

Looking at some of the advanced stats from the game regarding the forward lines even strength:

-McLeod-Benson-Zucker was a very good line. 7 shots for, only 4 allowed. 1-0 on goals

-Kulich-Krebs-Quinn was good, but only for just over 5 minutes. 5 shots for, 0 allowed. 2 scoring chances for, 0 allowed.

-Thompson-Greenway-Tuch not so good this game. 11.5 minutes ice time together. 2 shots for, 7 allowed.  Officaial scoring chances were 1 for, 7 allowed.

 

[Thorner]

We’re a serious fan base 

 

[mjd1001]

4 hours ago, CallawaySabres said:

I don’t see how this can mean anything else other than Cozens being gone is a good thing?

Why is there a different vibe??

 

 

 

I'd need to see a lot more before I give any thought to this being a 'changed team'.  Give me a 3-4 winning streak and I might START to pay attention, but not even more than that.

I also don't think the locker room disliked Cozens or trading him uplifted the locker room in that kind of way. Maybe, MAYBE guys in the locker room recognized Cozens made a lot of mistakes? Maybe they recognized he simply was out of position a lot and 'not listening' or buying into the coaching?  Even then, that is a bit of a stretch and I'd need a lot more to put much credibility to that. I think the comments are just something you say after a win.

The rest of the month they have 8 games.  Some against teams near the top of the conferences, some against teams fighting for a playoff spot, some against teams out of the playoffs.  2 at home, 6 away. 3 Western conference team. So basically as much of a variety in their schedule as they can get.  Win 6 of 8, and I can BEGIN the thoughts of the possibility the team has turned some kind of corner. But nothing really matters until next year anyway.

[Big Guava]

UPL now leads the NHL in Goals Allowed 

[HumanSlinky39]

24 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

I'd need to see a lot more before I give any thought to this being a 'changed team'.  Give me a 3-4 winning streak and I might START to pay attention, but not even more than that.

I also don't think the locker room disliked Cozens or trading him uplifted the locker room in that kind of way. Maybe, MAYBE guys in the locker room recognized Cozens made a lot of mistakes? Maybe they recognized he simply was out of position a lot and 'not listening' or buying into the coaching?  Even then, that is a bit of a stretch and I'd need a lot more to put much credibility to that. I think the comments are just something you say after a win.

The rest of the month they have 8 games.  Some against teams near the top of the conferences, some against teams fighting for a playoff spot, some against teams out of the playoffs.  2 at home, 6 away. 3 Western conference team. So basically as much of a variety in their schedule as they can get.  Win 6 of 8, and I can BEGIN the thoughts of the possibility the team has turned some kind of corner. But nothing really matters until next year anyway.

There's no convincing me that this is a good team, no winning streak will do that. Before this recent skid they put together a 4 game winning streak and won 6/7.

They are who they are. A collection of reasonably talented pieces that don't really fit together well enough to put it all together. They'll beat some teams they shouldn't, but also lose a bunch and frustrate the hell out of us. That's just where we are.

All that said, I still enjoy these wins. Take them where you can get them and hope they move to really improve the team this summer.

[thewookie1]

1 hour ago, Thorner said:

We’re a serious fan base 

 

I highly doubt Cozens wasn’t friends with most of the team. I could imagine however Cozens having in game quirks that wore out its welcome over time. 
 

Essentially a number of players likely started to feel that either Cozens was dogging it or was holding them back as whole. But due to their friendships it likely took far longer than what a competent GM would do. 

[SABRES 0311]

1 hour ago, Thorner said:

We’re a serious fan base 

 

Maybe they didn’t like Cozens looking back on it. Cozens goes in front of the media and talks about being soft. He’s also the guy that lost his balls just because he lost a fight. However he did get an “A” which confuses me.

[Sidc3000]

2 hours ago, Thorner said:

We’re a serious fan base 

 

It’s hilarious that everyone thinks the team is saved after the cozens trade 🙄   People do realize that they lost two games after the trade deadline including getting their ***** handed to them by Detroit. 

Edited yesterday at 01:34 AM by Sidc3000

[PromoTheRobot]

Just finished watching. What a pleasant surprise. That was a well played game, outside a choice few flubs. 

41 minutes ago, Big Guava said:

UPL now leads the NHL in Goals Allowed 

He has help.