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The top lines on the sabres over the past couple of years, Tage and Tuch and guys like that, even strength score a goal about once every 16 to 18 minutes. If you are pressing but stay even strength, maybe it could be slightly better? Once every 15 minutes? If you go by the assumption that the average time when you're down that you pull the goalie is about 2 minutes, that would mean if you never pull the goalie but stay in that situation, you could score a goal once every 6 to 8 games. I do not believe Buffalo has scored a goal this entire year 6 on 5. They might have one 6 on 4. But to go to your original point, it might not be beyond the realm of possibility to actually say they'd be better off Just pressing really hard but not pulling the goalie. In addition to that, if you don't pull your goalie, odds are you will not get scored on by the other team with the goalie in the net... And you have that full 2 minutes to press. If you pull the goaltender though and the other team scores on you 30 seconds later, the game is basically effectively over at that point. The more I think about it as I write this post, I'd almost say... Do not pull the goalie. Go with four four words and one defenseman, have everyone press the opposing team really hard, and if the puck does go into your zone towards then that have your goalie move it up the ice really quickly. With no empty net to shoot at, you might get more icings from the other team, or if they choose to not ice the puck, they might resort to more clutching and grabbing to protect their lead, which could get you a power play. I legitimately think you might be better off doing this then pulling the goalie. Even take it one step further. If you have a goaltender that is extremely good at handling the puck, like Ellis, even if he's not starting, you put him in that so he can get the any Puck sent into your own zone back up the ice quicker.

When I say accountability from the owner, I don't mean him having very frequent long and rambling press conferences. I mean him not hiding behind the general manager When things go bad... I mean him making changes, not when it suits its pocketbook but when it's actually needed. (Which by the way, in the long term might actually be good for his pocketbook)

That is a damn good question. My take is that if the Eagles recover that fumble, it’s Eagles ball. Reason being is the play wouldn’t be over until it is completed. The int and subsequent fumble are part of the continuation of play and the play isn’t over until whistled dead by the ref.

Which team/GM finally slays the dreaded Sabres hydra?

Sometimes they make $6M (Okposo) and then get re-signed for $3M, but to balance out the savings you put $2.5M (Girgensons) on the other wing.

The biggest impact will be on the power play as whatever initial 5-on-5 bonus he and McLeod gave to Quinn seems to have worn its course. This team is currently 21st in PP% (18.1). Like last season, take Zucker out of the PP and it's basically just TNT looking for a one-timer again

I think Tage is waiting until after the Olympics, then it will get louder In Kevyn Adams world they do and they get partial no trade clauses

The Sabres have lost 12 games this year where they have scored 2 goals or less. This team is not designed to win games where they score only 2 goals. The lack of consistent offence is a problem. They could reduce goals against but it won't help without the offence. It's not a team average issue it's a mean issue. How many games they score 3 or more vs how many games they score less than three. The games where they go off and score 8 and 9 goals help the average but only count 2 points each.

Serious question. Facing a one goal deficit, would this team be better off playing 5 v. 5 until the horn instead of pulling the goalie? Are there any analytics on this? I understand that it would be hockey blasphemy not to pull the goalie but there’s a lot of old school baseball, football and hockey that have been shown to be wrong.

As expected, Peterka's production is not easily replaced. Peterka in 31 games: 12g 13a 25 pts and +5 It appears that the Utah coach knows how to utilize Peterka to get offensive production and minimize the negative defensive outcomes.

Fourth liners don’t make $4M per year

There is a pall. There is a black cloud overhead, the stink of a bad tank that won't go away. Brought in by a careless and clueless owner at the helm. UPL is the least likely of the three goalies to make the big save, but I do agree that there is something hanging over this team. They score a goal to get back in it, and then they give one up in the next minute. I do not know if they work as hard as other teams in practice. As a group they seem to expect to lose. The lose just about every challenge as well. This thread is about goalies - Levi toils in Rochester because he has not progressed this year. They bring him up right now he will fail. Levi and Kulich are the compensation for Reinhart. Tuch, Krebs, Greenway and Östlund are the compensation for Eichel. It has been years and none of this worked. Levi may never make it. Tuch appears to be expiring in Buffalo. Krebs and Greenway should be moved on from. Terry cannot turn another rebuild over to Adams and Ruff is not teaching them or helping. They are both spent.

They Sabres are tied for 13th in the league in scoring. Östlund is a center and no, he won't be a 30g guy. I don't agree with your conclusion that this team has a bad offense. The problem is the same as last year, the goaltending and defensive coverage is bad. Sabres are 30th in goals against, so again it isn't that they can't score, it is that they are not getting the 20% reduction in goals against they needed to be competitive.

what a mess

It’s possible, however unlikely, the Sabres might find a winning streak, and exploit it.

The loss of Zucker amplifies a big issue this team has. That is the lack of scoring from the left wing. The lineup last night Greenway 1 goal Benson 0 goals Malenstyn 3 goals Zucker 9 goals 5 of which were on the power play. The loss of Peterka has really hurt us in this area of the game. We can't put together a line that scores with consistency without that threat from the left wing. Peterka filled in for Skinner who despite his flaws put a lot of goals in the net with Thompson and Tuch. Of the Amerks, Östlund is the most Natural left winger. I am not sure if he is ever going to be a 30 goal guy. Rosen is a lefty but like Peterka is listed a a right winger. Neither should be on the top line but I guess we have nothing else go with. I know goaltending is bad but we can't ignore how bad the offense is and the problem is left of center.

This feels like a pivotal game on the roady, a turning point for the season... or perhaps the franchise as a whole. Maybe they finally pull it together? <enter goalie name> shines and with growing confidence they string together some wins, vaulting themselves into playoff contention by the turn of the new year.

Immediate karma for bozo the GM. Was it ever started?

It is definitely a change of possession. I just wonder if the league wrote in some provision to account for that crazy scenario. If it was ever going to happen, it would be in a game where the QB threw and interception and lost a fumble on the same play last

I just don’t understand the need to see or hear Terry Pegula. He has without a doubt, bombed every press conference he’s had. He’s been ridiculed for it endlessly. What’s his motivation to talk to folks who just mock him subsequently after the conference. Additionally, nothing short of firing everyone will make fans happy. He’s clearly not going to do that, so what does he have to tell everyone? I know we suck but I’m pinching pennies with the stadium overrun costs, so maybe next season? I just don’t get fans obsession with hearing a business owner pass along corporate schlock.

Thank God for an irrelevant team and a WC trip Makes sleeping on this team's "effort" soooooo much easier 😃

We establish a new low way too often

He may never be?

He's going to want the money and will stay. Without question.