GDT: Carolina Hurricanes @ Buffalo Sabres 7pm Tues 4/8 ESPN+

[JohnC]

Quick thoughts on this game: Reimer has been the main factor in our winning stretch. His positioning is superb, good balance and little wasted motion. I can't recall a juicy rebound that he gave up in this game. UPL needs to watch film on his teammate and use him as his model to playing the position. 

Carolina is a tough team to play. You don't have much room to maneuver. A Carolina game is not an aesthetically pleasing to watch. They can frustrate you if you get frustrated and too impatient. Over the past dozen games or so this team has been able to play the same game whether they are leading or behind. It's a sign of maturity. 

The play of the game was Byram getting a clean draw from McCleud ?? and then making a quick and precise pass to Tuch for the short hand goal. Pretty play. 

Quinn also fought to get the puck and then made a nice pass to JJP for a score. Quinn has a lot of critics here but he's working to round out his game. 

I wouldn't be surprised if Östlund wins a roster spot next year. 

Are these meaningless games? From a standings standpoint, yes. But from learning how to play the right way it shows advancement.

The Sabres have won 8 out of the last 9 games, and have won five games in a row. They have made the home ice a tough place for the visiting team to play. I'm not complaining about that. 

Edited Wednesday at 02:45 AM by JohnC

[Doohickie]

Fools (Blue and) Gold

[Believer]

13 minutes ago, Big Guava said:

If they didn't wait 30 games too long to bench UPL they would be in the playoffs.

Plenty of blame to go around. 

UPL inconsistency part of it, not all of it.

[Believer]

5 minutes ago, JohnC said:

They have made the home ice a tough place for the visiting team to play. I'm not complaining about that. 

The late season play of our young team is winning the fans back.

The town is next.

Can’t wait.

[clink]

46 minutes ago, HumanSlinky39 said:

CLINK

You rang??? 😃

[JohnC]

Just now, Believer said:

The late season play of our young team is winning the fans back.

The town is next.

Can’t wait.

This team has to start off well next season. The fanbase unsurprisingly is skeptical about the owner and franchise. I assume the GM will be back. Whether he is or not a few smart personnel decisions need to be made. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

11 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

Fools (Blue and) Gold

I guess, but it was a nice win against another backup goalie.  Still there are some positives coming from the recent play.  I really like Kulich, TNT and Benson together.  They play off each other very well.  Not a traditional "1st line" but such is life.  Tuch is an excellent all-around hockey player.  I'm also a JJP fan. 

Maybe the big trade this off-season is to trade Norris.  

[OverPowerYou]

8 minutes ago, Believer said:

The late season play of our young team is winning the fans back.

The town is next.

Can’t wait.

They’re starting to win me back. That Quinn to Peterka goal had some swagger to it

[Hawerchuk]

What was everyone's thoughts on Steve Tasker doing color with Rayzor? I was late to the game so it thru me for a loop there until I could figure out who it was. 

[Doohickie]

I didn't mind Tasker's commentary and he and Rayzor played well off each other for the most part.

[SwampD]

1 hour ago, JohnC said:

Quinn made a nice play to get the puck, and then made a nice pass to JJP for the score. He’s worth being patient for.

Let’s talk in November.

[PromoTheRobot]

10 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

I didn't mind Tasker's commentary and he and Rayzor played well off each other for the most part.

On TV. For the poor shmucks listening to WGR it was a disaster.

[Sabres73]

8-2 our last 10 games

10-3 our last 13 games

 

 

[JohnC]

22 minutes ago, SwampD said:

Let’s talk in November.

That's a fair response. I think he will get better while a number of people are skeptical that he will. I can't blame others for having a different viewpoint because his play has been uneven. The issue for him is whether he is willing to play a grittier game that goes beyond his offensive game. TBD.

Edited Wednesday at 02:46 AM by JohnC

[Bangarang]

32 minutes ago, Hawerchuk said:

What was everyone's thoughts on Steve Tasker doing color with Rayzor? I was late to the game so it thru me for a loop there until I could figure out who it was. 

Hated it. I don't really care for Tasker as a commentator at all. 

[Stoner]

10 minutes ago, Sabres73 said:

8-2 our last 10 games

10-3 our last 13 games

 

 

Your point?

[JohnC]

46 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

I guess, but it was a nice win against another backup goalie.  Still there are some positives coming from the recent play.  I really like Kulich, TNT and Benson together.  They play off each other very well.  Not a traditional "1st line" but such is life.  Tuch is an excellent all-around hockey player.  I'm also a JJP fan. 

Maybe the big trade this off-season is to trade Norris.  

Why?

[PromoTheRobot]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

5 game win streaks make me blue.

[PerreaultForever]

2 minutes ago, JohnC said:

Why?

Because he's a trade chip currently not playing so if you like your current roster he's a valuable commodity to move for what you need. If you think we NEED an injury prone offensive center more than a goalie and/or a top 4 defensive D man you don't trade him but if you think we do need those things, there's your asset in the deal to make it happen. 

These games are so meaningless but they are having fun I guess. Been a long time since I've seen Carolina play that passive. 

 

[SABRES 0311]

JJP will score 30 next year. 

[Believer]

Couldn’t watch the game, but see Krebs played 17 mins, guessing his high mins for the season or close to it. 

Was slated on the 3rd Line with Zucker (15:38) and Tuch (18:06).

Must have played some PK or PP.

Ruff has confidence in Krebs. Delighted for him. Plays hard every shift. Always smiling.

Enthusiasm is catchy. Can’t buy it. Can’t fake it.

 

Edited Wednesday at 03:20 AM by Believer

[Big Guava]

1 hour ago, JohnC said:

Quick thoughts on this game: Reimer has been the main factor in our winning stretch. His positioning is superb, good balance and little wasted motion. I can't recall a juicy rebound that he gave up in this game. UPL needs to watch film on his teammate and use him as his model to playing the position. 

Carolina is a tough team to play. You don't have much room to maneuver. A Carolina game is not an aesthetically pleasing to watch. They can frustrate you if you get frustrated and too impatient. Over the past dozen games or so this team has been able to play the same game whether they are leading or behind. It's a sign of maturity. 

The play of the game was Byram getting a clean draw from McCleud ?? and then making a quick and precise pass to Tuch for the short hand goal. Pretty play. 

Quinn also fought to get the puck and then made a nice pass to JJP for a score. Quinn has a lot of critics here but he's working to round out his game. 

I wouldn't be surprised if Östlund wins a roster spot next year. 

Are these meaningless games? From a standings standpoint, yes. But from learning how to play the right way it shows advancement.

The Sabres have won 8 out of the last 9 games, and have won five games in a row. They have made the home ice a tough place for the visiting team to play. I'm not complaining about that. 

The key question is, have the Sabres finally figured out how to play the way Ruff wants and is this what we can expect of them going forward? 

[Stoner]

1 hour ago, thewookie1 said:

***** Montreal and Florida, always in our way for a playoff berth. Montreal screwed us now and in the CoVId year and Florida blowing a lead to Montreal this year as well as ***** Lyons standing on his head two years ago screwed us. 
 

Montreal might be the least deserving team to ever make the playoffs 

Great showing by Reimer and solid game generally by our players. God I wish they could find this level of play earlier in the year so they could make a legit run.

The Sabres just can't catch a break.

[SABRES 0311]

1 minute ago, Big Guava said:

The key question is, have the Sabres finally figured out how to play the way Ruff wants and is this what we can expect of them going forward? 

October and early November will tell. That’s when real pressure to win will be on these players.

[Richard Noggin]

1 hour ago, Bangarang said:

Hated it. I don't really care for Tasker as a commentator at all. 

Agree if he's not commenting on a live game. But he's much better at that live color analysis than he is at the more free form, rambling call-in show where every sentence turns into a meandering, circular mess. He's smart, and funny, but he needs the confines and content provided by a live game. Thought he offered some better-than-expected commentary.