GDT: Ottawa Senators @ Buffalo Sabres 3/25/25, ESPN + & MSG, 7PM EST

[ExWNYer]

4 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Anyone else have Bernard-Docker on your list for being good this game? 

I didn't have any Sabres on my list but given the stat I posted about Reimer, I should have had him on it. Shame on me.

[thewookie1]

Great win even if it was practically a mission impossible for us. That being said, this most certainly will gut the Sens and all their annoying fans in the rink. (Cozens wasn’t booed, the Go Sens Go chant was)

1st Period: nigh domination by the Senators in possession and get a PP goal through the first 17min. Sabres flurry in the final 3 and tie it.

2nd Period: nigh domination by the Senators in possession and get a PP goal through the first 15min. Sabres flurry in the final 5 and tie it again.

3rd Period: We jump out with a few good shifts and take the lead. Then the remainder of the game was a knock out drag out mess of uncalled penalties and Ottawa desperately trying to tie. 
 

Benard-Docker might be pretty good; but I’ll still place him as a bottom pair guy for now.

Benson and Kozak had their motors running  tonight 

Tage showed far better than the WPG game.

Dahlin, couple dirtier hits and a solid overall game. He’s just fun to watch

 

Old man Reims rolled back the clock two in a row

Edited 14 hours ago by thewookie1

[JohnC]

Some quick thoughts on this game. Obviously, Reimer would get the first star. If we had this caliber of play at this position all season long, the season story would be so very different. However, at this stage of his career, I don't see him as a #1 workhorse goalie. 

I thought Benson played well. His doggedness resulted in a Tage goal. I also thought Quinn played well. He made a nice pass to JJP for a goal that was deemed offside. It was the right call. Quinn also scored a goal. Getting him on track would be a good thing for himself and the team. A lot is riding on Quinn, JJP and Kulich getting better. 

Samuelsson has taken a lot of heat by the members but I thought he played a very steady game. 

I was impressed by Ottawa. This is a playoff team. For much of the game they dominated possession and territorial play. This is a very improved team. 

Many people don't consider the end of season play as being important because we are out of the playoffs. I don't see it that way. Consistent losing is a toxic and contaminating influence on a team's psyche. The only thing that will inject some hope for a better future is to win more often. Finishing the season on a positive note will provide some hope for the future. 

This is a good win. The team is beating some of the better teams in the league. The downside is that the Sabres have dropped games against too many lesser teams. Those lost points are bone crushing. 

 

[Sabres73]

Our last eight we're 5-3, having beaten the Oilers, Golden Knights, Bruins, Jets and Sens.  Is it finally possible with the changes to the player mix we're finally getting somewhere? If we could ever get that elusive consistency we're capable of being a playoff team.

Edited 14 hours ago by Sabres73

[OverPowerYou]

I wasn’t able to watch this game so I went on YouTube and just searched Sabres senators to see the highlights. The first few videos that popped up were the Sabres brawl. The first game I ever went to. The game that truly made me a fan. I hope we get a rivalry like that again. We just have to be good first

Edited 14 hours ago by OverPowerYou

[PerreaultForever]

That'll show 'em. Standings mean nothing. That's what Kevyn is telling Terry right now. 

[PromoTheRobot]

2 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

That'll show 'em. Standings mean nothing. That's what Kevyn is telling Terry right now. 

Next two games are against PIT (-5) and PHL. (-1) We have 3 games in hand on both teams. 

[JohnC]

41 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

Rasmus Dahlin vs the rest of the D-men tonight on the statsheet so far:

Shots: Dahlin 4, everyone else on defense combined 3.  Hits: Dahlin 5, everyone else combined 3. Giveways: Dahlin 1, Everyone else combined 7. Takeaways: Dahlin 1, everyone else combined 1.

I don't think the stats you cited fairly captures how overall our defense played. Samuelsson played solidly and efficiently. Not outstanding but as the subordinate player on the top pairing I thought he played his role well. From what I observed, Power and Byram played fine. Power wasn't very noticeable but that shouldn't be considered a negative. And I thought our lower pairing players didn't hurt us. In general, I thought the blueline unit played well against a team that skates well and has excellent puck control in their offensive zone. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

10 minutes ago, Sabres73 said:

Our last eight we're 5-3, having beaten the Oilers, Golden Knights, Bruins, Jets and Sens.  Is it finally possible with the changes to the player mix we're finally getting somewhere? If we could ever get that elusive consistency we're capable of being a playoff team.

No.  Just lots of backup goalies.

[HumanSlinky39]

17 minutes ago, Sabres73 said:

Our last eight we're 5-3, having beaten the Oilers, Golden Knights, Bruins, Jets and Sens.  Is it finally possible with the changes to the player mix we're finally getting somewhere? If we could ever get that elusive consistency we're capable of being a playoff team.

They've played a lot of backup goalies. Given a long enough timeline, this team will always regress to the mean because it's still a poorly constructed roster with too many soft spots. In other words - they're not very good. There's enough individual talent to cobble together a nice run for a short time, but they're not a good enough team to sustain it.

I'll enjoy these wins where we can get them, but I'm not getting sucked into "what if" and "if only" with this bunch. They've shown too many times who they are. There's a lot of work to do to get over that hump.

[JohnC]

9 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

No.  Just lots of backup goalies.

Wasn't Buffalo playing with their backup goalie when they played Winnipeg and Ottawa? And even if the opposition is using their backup goalies, they are still playing with their superior rosters. 

Accept the win as a positive outcome. There are so many negatives associated with this season that I'm not going to dismiss a good outcome when it happens. 

[Believer]

Easy to see the difference in shots between these two teams.

Sabres could use some focus on getting shots off closer to and around the net.
 

[sabresouth]

If we had been getting the type of goaltending all season that we got in the last two games this season would be much different.

[North Buffalo]

5 minutes ago, sabresouth said:

If we had been getting the type of goaltending all season that we got in the last two games this season would be much different.

Goaltending and better D, Docker plays positionally well and is tough in the corners... bigger than I thought... still want Power gone but he played less soft tonight... Yes the sabres were outskated but largely controlled the front of the net against a team that goes to the net... played the game like an away game... tight D... waited for chances... With Zucker and Malenstyn they do play smarter... wish they couldve done it all season... Loving Kozak's hustle... 

[Turbo44]

56 minutes ago, Sabres73 said:

Our last eight were 5-3, having beaten the Oilers, Golden Knights, Bruins, Jets and Sens.  Is it finally possible with the changes to the player mix we're finally getting somewhere? If we could ever get that elusive consistency we're capable of being a playoff team.

A bit meaningless and we de this every year.

its those little 13 game losing streaks that pop up. Sabres were outplayed in both of the last 2 games badly but won cuz of the goalie. Only hope going forward is Levi becomes all world cuz UPL isn’t it

[CallawaySabres]

1 hour ago, Sabres73 said:

Our last eight we're 5-3, having beaten the Oilers, Golden Knights, Bruins, Jets and Sens.  Is it finally possible with the changes to the player mix we're finally getting somewhere? If we could ever get that elusive consistency we're capable of being a playoff team.

For the love of Jesus, somebody actually falling into this trap again? These games, mean absolutely nothing, teams dominate us, and goaltending is the only reason any of the games have been victories.

[JujuFish]

Congrats to Lindy for his 600th win as a Sabres HC.

[PerreaultForever]

2 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Next two games are against PIT (-5) and PHL. (-1) We have 3 games in hand on both teams. 

and?

I mean what's that calculation for? Picking 8th?

2 hours ago, HumanSlinky39 said:

They've played a lot of backup goalies. Given a long enough timeline, this team will always regress to the mean because it's still a poorly constructed roster with too many soft spots. In other words - they're not very good. There's enough individual talent to cobble together a nice run for a short time, but they're not a good enough team to sustain it.

I'll enjoy these wins where we can get them, but I'm not getting sucked into "what if" and "if only" with this bunch. They've shown too many times who they are. There's a lot of work to do to get over that hump.

The usual late season delusion that'll probably prevent real change. 

[LGR4GM]

9 hours ago, Sabres73 said:

Our last eight we're 5-3, having beaten the Oilers, Golden Knights, Bruins, Jets and Sens.  Is it finally possible with the changes to the player mix we're finally getting somewhere? If we could ever get that elusive consistency we're capable of being a playoff team.

 

 

[bob_sauve28]

 

[Doohickie]

8 hours ago, Turbo44 said:

Sabres were outplayed in both of the last 2 games badly but won cuz of the goalie.

Were they though?

The shots on goal were 1 apart at the end of the second yesterday.  The Sabres scored an early goal in the third and were focused on defense more than offense, so naturally OTT had more shots in the third.  Yes, Reimer played out of his mind on a few saves, but if one of those goes in, I bet the SOG would have evened out as the Sabres would have shifted to a more offensive emphasis.

(No comment on the WPG game 🫢)

[JohnC]

I checked the attendance for the games that were played last night. Except for the Sabre game, all the games were nearly sold out or completely sold out. Our reported attendance was 13,955. Most likely, that number represents tickets sold, and not people in the stands. The view on TV indicated a lot of empty seats. My guess is that the actual number was between 10,000 to 11,000 thousand people at the game. 

It is enraging what our silent buffoon billionaire owner has done to this fading franchise. He hasn't killed it but unquestionably he has severely wounded it. If there isn't a demonstration to upgrade this roster this offseason, the league should make it clear to him that his grotesque malfeasance will no longer be tolerated by the league. He's not only damaged the product in Buffalo but also wounded the NHL brand. 

The Sabre owner is a disgrace and an embarrassment. I wish he would freaking sell the team and get lost. I'm tired of this fool. Isn't a generation of this shiiiit enough???!!!!

[Sidc3000]

10 hours ago, JohnC said:

Many people don't consider the end of season play as being important because we are out of the playoffs. I don't see it that way. Consistent losing is a toxic and contaminating influence on a team's psyche. The only thing that will inject some hope for a better future is to win more often. Finishing the season on a positive note will provide some hope for the future. 

The last few seasons have ended on the winning side but it never ever translates into a better next season. Another meaningless win in a meaningless season. 

[PromoTheRobot]

8 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

and?

I mean what's that calculation for? Picking 8th?

10th or lower, actually.  Games in hand. 

47 minutes ago, JohnC said:

I checked the attendance for the games that were played last night. Except for the Sabre game, all the games were nearly sold out or completely sold out. Our reported attendance was 13,955. Most likely, that number represents tickets sold, and not people in the stands. The view on TV indicated a lot of empty seats. My guess is that the actual number was between 10,000 to 11,000 thousand people at the game. 

It is enraging what our silent buffoon billionaire owner has done to this fading franchise. He hasn't killed it but unquestionably he has severely wounded it. If there isn't a demonstration to upgrade this roster this offseason, the league should make it clear to him that his grotesque malfeasance will no longer be tolerated by the league. He's not only damaged the product in Buffalo but also wounded the NHL brand. 

The Sabre owner is a disgrace and an embarrassment. I wish he would freaking sell the team and get lost. I'm tired of this fool. Isn't a generation of this shiiiit enough???!!!!

Lol, it looked pretty full to me. I've seen emptier games.

[PromoTheRobot]

1 hour ago, bob_sauve28 said:

 

We have to earn our goals, unlike the teams that play us getting goals handed to them.