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We clearly aren’t watching the same team. The Sabres, as a team, have a .888 save % despite having the best PK in the NHL. League average is .891. They have the 4th worst record in the NHL (worst in the East), 4th worst differential at -13. They are 6 games below actual 500 with only 18 games played. While the defense still isn’t great, the goaltending has been the problem. The Sabres are in middle of the NHL in high danger chances against at 164, but lead the NHL in HDGA at 25. The same for general scoring chances. They are middle of pack in SCA, but 4th worst in scoring chances goals against at 38. As I said before, Lyon has been decent and his numbers are nearly identical to his numbers two years ago when he played 44 games for Detroit. However, Ellis and UPL haven’t been good. I understand blaming the D. They deserve it for their terrible play for the last 5 years (thx Adams), but Timmins has helped as has an improved Samuelsson. They still aren’t good. Power is awful defensively and Kesselring, when healthy, hasn’t been good. Dahlin’s situation also hasn’t helped. Despite this, the defense is actually slightly better and stats bear this out. Not good, just better. We all want the team to be good and would be happy with better, but to get good we need real goaltenders and we don’t have any. As I said before, I still have some hope for Ellis and Levi, who both had vastly superior to UPL AHL numbers. The only way to find this out is to play them. IMHO this season is already toast from a playoff perspective. As much as I appreciate Lyon’s effort so far, we need to evaluate Ellis and Levi in the NHL to see if there is something there. Time to trade/waive/dump/catapult UPL and see what Ellis can do over a bigger sample size. I’d then trade Lyon at the deadline and bring up Levi. If they both stink, oh well! The next GM will have to find a real goalie for the 26/27 season, and he’d also get a better draft pick in 2026.

Interesting. This makes sense to me. Was Johnson in the opening night lineup? I went to that game. I have a memory of him blowing 2 or 3 tires in his own zone. That might have set the coach against him.

Yeah, but who still star in the cellino law commercials if we lose Knox? Josh Allen can't do it all!

My sense is that Lindy isn't enamored with Ryan Johnson. Why? I don't know. Maybe it is a style of play that doesn't fit with his concept how a defenseman should play. When I watch him play it seems that he's comfortable playing against NHL players and is more of a blend in player than a thumper at the position. (As you described.) It just seems to me that Ruff has an opinion of him and isn't receptive to changing it. Sometimes old-style coaches are not as adaptable as they need to be. It won't be surprising that there will soon be murmurs that he wants to be dealt to another organization.

Matching 5 year extensions for Adams and Bryson incoming😝

I don't really think Ryan Johnson is much of a difference maker over Metsa or Bryson. It should be noted though he has been playing with a full face shield so so there could be a limiting factor on the call up. He had every chance to stick around the Sabres for awhile early this season. He just never seems to be able to take that next step.

matter teed me up... This is the first Sabres home game the day after a Bills game this season. Last year they went 1-3, allowing six goals in the three losses. Take the under +175 3.5 goals and a prop bet of a Sabre leaving the game carrying an appendage (5:2 his own).

The answer, as always, is found in M*A*S*H. Terry reenacts a scene from Season 4 and has his answer.

Heard he ordered a large sheet from Bocce Club for the Bills game yesterday and devoured it all himself from nerves watching the game transpire...

Pray and tune up your sarcasm meter. It's a horrible spot for a fan. We're already hearing, "Yeah, there's no way they can make up x points in 64 games" snark. There's not no way, but it'll be very tough. Just don't see a point in a heroic run to 84 points.

Under Pegula, the team changes coaches every 2 years, so this is Ruff's last year. Until Adams came along, he seemed to change GMs every 3 years. Not sure why he gave Adams a double, but this is year 6 for him, so this (hopefully) is Adams' last year too.

Is Zucker known for susceptibility to viruses? Maybe the team needs an immunologist on the staff. Even if injuries ends up being in some sense a 'valid' excuse I am really hoping it's ignored and Pegula finally moves on from Adams & Co. We'll see.

Any updates on Benson? Last I saw I thought Lindy said he could play during the road trip (which didn't happen). Did he have a setback? I didn't have Norris returnin before Benson on my bingo card.. Good to see Zucker is at least over whatever made him so sick.

Piece of cake

Hold up. If he hits UFA he can only sign for 6yrs. Kempe got 10.625x8 which is 85 million over the course of the deal. That means if Tuch goes to UFA he would need what? 14 million over 6yrs to get close to that 85million number. You could argue he would get another deal at the end so that 14mil is too high but he doesn't know that.

lol ya that one was a bit off the rails, infused with worry wart-itus. He likely wouldn’t have been fired had they lost and honesty I really find it hard to believe he’s getting an extension. I mean even if they did make the playoffs somehow, how do you trot this guy out to announce an extension after what he’s contributed to. Maybe if he was under contract but actually giving him a new deal… im just tired. Already in the hole. Sometimes it feels like I’ll never be able to watch games again, and it makes me angsty when the moment seemed close to being in the offing. One canning, and I can be back. I’ll continue praying.

Why would I?

Josh Norris?

So the daughter is the succession plan when the father can no longer go on? Intrasting. The parallels are haunting. The walkway by Alumni Plaza is still there tho.

A smattering of lines for everyone: Doan-Thompson-Tuch Rosén-McLeod-Quinn Greenway-Kozak-Krebs Dunne-Östlund-Malenstyn Samuelsson-Dahlin Power-Timmins Byram-Metsa/Bryson Ellis in the starter's net; Luukkonen and Lyon split the other end From Joe Yerdon

I am being told tuna casserole. Conspiracy theory alert. Stay with the approved script. And whatever you do, don't dig a hole for yourself.

Its really all they got... and of course they are gonna use it... we see thru it... but will Pegs?

who's this Norris guy?

Zucker and Norris both out that is awesome! Really hope Benson is quickly behind them! Honestly I wouldnt take Tage out of the Center position, if Norris is back he is centering line 2 Mcloed line 3 and Kozak line 4

Just win baby