GDT: Lightning @ Sabres, April 5, 2025 - 7:00PM, MSG 📺, WGR550 📻 🎙

[Stoner]

1 hour ago, Doohickie said:

They're not crumbling on this run.  If the game is close at the end, they hang there and don't self-destruct (unless you count late empty netters but I don't really).

So they don't crumble in meaningless, no pressure games. I trust you are too smart a fan to read too much into it.

It just doesn't matter. Tage said as much a few games ago. 

[HumanSlinky39]

4 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

You simply cannot "run it back" based on a few weeks of meaningless games at the end of the season.

Yeah, a couple of weeks of good play when any pressure has been removed does not negate 5+ months of mediocre/bad/wretched play.

Sadly, I expect this outfit to, once again, buy into this version of the Sabres and make minimal changes. Lather, rinse, repeat.

[Indabuff]

2 hours ago, Doohickie said:

When I was a kid, the best nearby dogs were Ja Fa Fa Hots on... Harlem and Wherle maybe?  I was a Cheekowaga boy.

I live in Hamburg now but I always tell people I'm from Cheektowaga. 

[PerreaultForever]

9 hours ago, JohnC said:

Aren't we also using our backup goalie? And isn't Tampa icing their regular lineup? I'm not bothered how the opposition handles its lineup. I'm more concerned on how our team plays and whether we win or lose. If we win, I'm less likely to complain. If we lose, I'll more likely be critical. Reflexive criticism before the game is even played makes little sense. 

You're not seriously buying in to this late season bs are you? How many times you going to fall for this?

[pi2000]

2 hours ago, Doohickie said:

When I was a kid, the best nearby dogs were Ja Fa Fa Hots on... Harlem and Wherle maybe?  I was a Cheekowaga boy.

harlem and maryvale iirc,  grew up less than 2 miles from there...

[PerreaultForever]

I don't put any stock into these games but it looked like they've been practicing that 3 on 3. Lots of fast fluid blind passing and deliberate movement as a unit. They get that right and they can pick up a lot of extra points in the future. They need to bring some of that to the PP. 

You can't judge much when a guy is saddled onto the 4th unit but Östlund looked like he needs more time in Rochester. 

[Pimlach]

2 hours ago, Doohickie said:

I hope she showered regularly, otherwise, YIKES!  de PEW!

She was very nice. 

[Pimlach]

2 hours ago, mjd1001 said:

They were the worst line analytically this game, as I posted above.

Postionally for the year, that line is AWFUL in only 90 minutes together as a line:

-Corsi -56 (61 for, 117 against)

-Fenwick -34 (50 for, 84 against)

-Shots -22 (30 for, 52 against)

-scoring chances -36 (26 for 62 against)  For only playing together for 90 minutes, this number is HISTORICALLY bad

-High danger chances -23 (7 for, 30 allowed), see above, this is beyond bad, this is monumentally bad.

 

Quinn is the factor there. Without Quinn, Peterk and Mcleod together have decent numbers. When you add Quinn to them, they numbers nose dive.

If Quinn isn't scoring, he's a problem.  His numbers playing with Cozens were near the bottom of the league in terms of chances allowed against when he was on the ice.  Now Cozens is gone and he's dragging down McLeod.  He really needs to work on his game outside of when puck is on his stick if he is going to stick around.

Quinn was bad on the 5 v 5.  Nice goal in the shootout, he has scoring skills, but when Norris and Greenway are healthy Quinn goes to the bench. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

7-3 in our last 10, winners of 3 straight just in time to F-up our draft status and again pick 8th.  This is also going to give Adams and Pegula the false impression that the team is on the right track.  
 

 

[Scottysabres]

7 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

7-3 in our last 10, winners of 3 straight just in time to F-up our draft status and again pick 8th.  This is also going to give Adams and Pegula the false impression that the team is on the right track.  
 

 

We already have two 1st over alls on the roster and nothing has changed. The draft position myth is over, 1 more top 5 isn’t going to matter. Veterans, that will make a difference.

Edited 19 hours ago by Scottysabres

[GASabresIUFAN]

3 minutes ago, Scottysabres said:

We already have two 1st and over alls on the roster and nothing has changed. The draft position myth is over, 1 more top 5 isn’t going to matter. Veterans, that will make a difference.

 No question on an NHL level, but organizationally would you rather take away from another failed season a top 4 pick or a top 10 pick?  All winning right now does is f’up our draft position and convince TP and Howdy Doody to run it back one more time. To make it even worse, the more counting stats the RFAs pick up, the bigger their next contract.  This is one time where winning hurt more than it helps.  

Edited 19 hours ago by GASabresIUFAN

[PerreaultForever]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

Quinn was bad on the 5 v 5.  Nice goal in the shootout, he has scoring skills, but when Norris and Greenway are healthy Quinn goes to the bench. 

Exactly. Super skilled and if given a lot of open ice he can succeed, but when checked closely he falters. Cannot fight through any sort of tougher defense. 

[PerreaultForever]

20 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

 No question on an NHL level, but organizationally would you rather take away from another failed season a top 4 pick or a top 10 pick?  All winning right now does is f’up our draft position and convince TP and Howdy Doody to run it back one more time. To make it even worse, the more counting stats the RFAs pick up, the bigger their next contract.  This is one time where winning hurt more than it helps.  

There's absolutely zero reason to run it back again. With what's on the ice right now there's clearly more than enough skill and offense out there compared to other teams. What we need is a more solid D, a younger version of Reimer or better, and ideally a little bottom end upgrade but the last thing is a minor point. We need to do whatever it takes to get a solid top 4 D man in there before next season starts along with another D man for depth and/or to push Clifton or Samuelsson right out of the top 6. 

I've said this before and I'm going to keep repeating it. Trade Norris to make that happen. He's not playing now. He has an injury history, and we have enough offense. He's the trade chip to make this happen. We can also use picks and prospects but that's the place I'd be starting. 

[Sidc3000]

9 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

They signed upl to 5yrs... he's your starter. 

Yeah and they will ride him no matter how he plays. Wild that the Sabres love to sign their player to huge contracts after one season of good play. 
 

maybe UPL will so revert back to greatness next season 🤞

[EM88]

5 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

Exactly. Super skilled and if given a lot of open ice he can succeed, but when checked closely he falters. Cannot fight through any sort of tougher defense. 

Jack Quinn in the past 2 years has not shown that he is willing or that he has the ability to do the things that make up a complete hockey player.

I am saying nothing that others have not said here. As you mentioned he is a very good sniper when he has open ice. 

He does not backcheck very hard. He does not seem to be able to carry the puck around the offensive zone and find his own shooting seam. He does not win battles, nor often even engage in battles for loose pucks.  When I watch him play, it seems like he is doing everything at 60% maximum speed.

I am glad he is scoring lately. But other than his shot he seems to be a minor league level player out there.

[Sidc3000]

5 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

convince TP and Howdy Doody to run it back one more time.

There were no signs that they were going to do anything different before they started to play well. 

[Believer]

9 hours ago, Thorner said:

They are forcing Adams to stay his hand 

There’s not much he can do imo 

Agree, that is the temptation. Let’s give Adams a challenge. 

Looks like Bernard-Docker could be a keeper. Still need another RHD.

Put a package together with Bryson, a #1 draft choice this year or next, and a couple prospects. Sign a big, nasty veteran in mid-late 20’s with SC experience. 

Maybe create an attractive package to trade UPL for a proven veteran goalie who needs a change of scenery. 

Don’t stand pat, Adams. We are close but we need a couple pieces.

 

[JohnC]

7 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

You're not seriously buying in to this late season bs are you? How many times you going to fall for this?

If you can’t acknowledge good play when it happens, then why bother to watch or follow them?

Of course, I’m disappointed at how this season transpired, but what do you want the team at this stage of the season to do? Just give up and not give effort?

[JohnC]

9 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

I'm not describing him as that. That's what he'll be though if he doesn't improve his 200ft game. He'll develop into better olofsson. We need more from Quinn.

That’s why I’m arguing for more patience with him. We don’t know for sure either way on this issue. So let’s give him a little more time to show what he is capable of.

Edited 12 hours ago by JohnC

[steveoath]

19 minutes ago, Believer said:

Agree, that is the temptation. Let’s give Adams a challenge. 

Looks like Bernard-Docker could be a keeper. Still need another RHD.

Put a package together with Bryson, a #1 draft choice this year or next, and a couple prospects. Sign a big, nasty veteran in mid-late 20’s with SC experience. 

Maybe create an attractive package to trade UPL for a proven veteran goalie who needs a change of scenery. 

Don’t stand pat, Adams. We are close but we need a couple pieces.

 

I’d be speaking with the Pens. Graves on a bit of a down year. What to offer for him?

And go after Ekblad if he makes it to UFA. 

[Archie Lee]

Stretches like this, primarily serve to show two things in my view:

1.) We do have a lot of talent.

2.) Our GM has not a clue how to manage that talent. 

[JohnC]

7 hours ago, Pimlach said:

Quinn was bad on the 5 v 5.  Nice goal in the shootout, he has scoring skills, but when Norris and Greenway are healthy Quinn goes to the bench. 

Not necessarily. Maybe he will be relegated to the bench when those players return next year. But the scenario you described is what we want to happen i.e. competing for roster spots and roles. That's a good thing, not something to lament. (I'm aware that you are not saying that.) For too long, this regime has worked under the system that young players were bestowed their roster spots and roles. That era is over with. Ruff is right in playing players who are outperforming their teammates. The goalie position is a good example of that. Samuelsson has been dispatched to the "suite" for inadequate play. Now he seems to be playing at a consistently good level. Both Quinn and JJP have watched games from the "suite" instead of being on the bench. And that sterner evaluation of play has seemed to have worked. 

The Sabres are at a stage where they have built up some depth to the point that when injuries happen the drop off isn't as noticeable with the replacements. Players like Quinn, UPL, Samuelsson etc. are now going to be pushed instead of always feeling comfortable that their spot in the lineup is guaranteed. I find that encouraging. 

 

[eman]

10 hours ago, GoPuckYourself said:

How about fix the defense? We need a top 4 for certain. Also a top 6 forward (a top line C). A top goalie in case Reimer is just a fluke which is very likely. He has plenty to do for a team that hasn't made the playoffs in 14 seasons and counting.

Reimer isn't a fluke. He's been an NHL vet for quite some time and was a very good goalie in Toronto. He made their defence look better than it was and that was exposed when the D collapsed against the Bruins in the playoff series that Toronto lead 3 games to 1. What he needs is consistent playing time which he's now getting in Buffalo. I wouldn't throw him away. He can be very useful, especially if UPL can't find his "last season self" by next season. I know Levi is tearing it up in the AHL but let's see what he can do up with the big club. Having said all that, Buffalo really has to work on its defensive play of get more physical D-men. The point blank opportunities that continue season after season don't help out any goaltender.

 

[SwampD]

11 hours ago, Doohickie said:

Actually Johansson was the difference.  The Sabres outshot the Lightning 38-24; without him the Lightning don't even get to the shootout.

But in OT...

Reimer was solid.

 

It’s spelled Y O U R.

11 hours ago, Thorner said:

This team is indisputably back 

 

I can’t believe anyone would actually post that.

11 hours ago, mjd1001 said:

If you look 2 -3 posts below my post about this game's analytics, you can see the analytics on them are even worse for the last few games they have been together.

I usually don't go to the analtyics first. My "eyes" tell me Quinn has been invisible the entire year outside of the offensive zone.  I go to the analytics to see if the numbers back that up. They do.  When he is on the ice, the other team dominates the puck. Its been like that all year, with various linemates for him.

To me, Quinn doesn't make as many 'mistakes' as Cozens, the bad giveaways, the awful decisions. Its just he...I don't want to use the same words but nothting else works, he is invisible, he's a non factor in the neutral zone and D-zone.  He doesn't even break up any passes, get many loose pucks. Its almost like when he is on the ice, the other team is on a PP.

I'm not rooting against Quinn, not at all, but I'm desperate to see him contribute in other ways than scoring. I'm looking for it, i'm looking hard for it, but I'm not seeing it yet.

If he took as much care making sure that his passes connected as he does making sure the puck goes in the net on his shots, he’d be a great hockey player. He doesn’t. His passing is atrocious.

1 hour ago, JohnC said:

If you can’t acknowledge good play when it happens, then why bother to watch or follow them?

Of course, I’m disappointed at how this season transpired, but what do you want the team at this stage of the season to do? Just give up and not give effort?

I enjoyed the win. It means nothing towards next year. I can’t believe people are getting sucked in once again.

1 hour ago, Sidc3000 said:

There were no signs that they were going to do anything different before they started to play well. 

This just makes my heart hurt because I know it’s true.

11 hours ago, Thorner said:

Adams will have a hard time finding anything to do this summer, tbh 

They are forcing Adams to stay his hand 

There’s not much he can do imo 

I have to thank you for your unyielding sarcasm. It’s magnificent. I have really enjoyed reading this with my morning coffee.

I can’t believe some are responding to you in earnest.

I would still trade the pick, wherever it ends up.

[Believer]

36 minutes ago, steveoath said:

I’d be speaking with the Pens. Graves on a bit of a down year. What to offer for him?

And go after Ekblad if he makes it to UFA. 

Graves is an interesting idea. Looks like he doesn’t fit the Pens plans next year, and could be waived. Big guy, but not an enforcer, considered a positionally sound LHD man. About to turn 30, doesn’t have any SC experience but has 35 playoff games. Would offer Bryson, a prospect, and later round draft choice. We would still need a RHD enforcer. Cap hit $4.5M

Would pursue Ekblad if he goes UFA. Plays a balanced game. RHD, age 29, former #1 draft choice and Calder winner, he is a team leader and alternate C. Spent his entire career with Florida and was considered pivotal to their SC win in 2024. Suspended for 20 games this season for taking performance enhancing drugs and has some injury history. Looks like FL may be moving on. Doubt Pegula and Adams have the chips or chops to get him. Cap hit $7.5M. A bargain, comparatively.