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Better team, better goalie.

When you say "control over rebounds" are you referring to every time he kicks a rebound to the side? Not every shot sticks to a goalie. Sometimes the best thing you can do is kick it with your pad towards your defenseman. However the rebound of his pad on goal #1 did go directly to a Caps player.

2 things they've been better at this year than last on the PK. They aren't giving the pass through the crease to allow a clean tap in this year. Teams aren't trying it much, and the 1 or so time they try it during each game, the D-man has managed to get enough of his stick on it to disrupt it. Is that luck or a slight change of alignment, or simply being a year older and being more ready for that pass? No data. If it's luck, that'll bear out as the PK falters. But if it's one of the other 2 or something else, then it likely is sustainable. The other thing they've been better at is not letting themselves get out of position to the point that there is a wide open shooter dead square in the slot leaving the goalie to hope the shooter misfires as the goalie needs to move to even get into a spot where he MIGHT block the shot. That happened a LOT last year. Can't recall a single instance of it this year (neither from taking the puck below the goal line and sending it back to the slot nor from getting a 1v1 win at the boards with a man open in the slot) though it probably has happened a bit. Would really like to know how the people deciding what is high danger are making that evaluation. Expect that there really should be a further deliniation between a high danger chance and a high high danger chance. Am not seeing nearly as many high high danger shots against as there were in the past. And, clearly the GTing has been significantly better on the PK this year than in past years. Expect that isn't just that the goalies are playing better (though it's a huge part of it); expect it's also lesser quality high danger chances than there were in the past.

I thinks about 90% goaltending.

but since you asked: 1st goal, wristed muffin from the point with some net front presence, UPL graciously directs the puck into the slot and fails to put himself in a position to make a play on the follow-up shot. the skatersdidn't help their goal. UPL didn't help them either. 2nd goal, 2 on 0 madness. not blaming him there, obviously.

Not sure why he scares you and he is part of the regular PK unit, not just when someone like Tuch is taking a penalty Love seeing the young players rounding into solid two way players

Pretty sure that that is from Modern Problems, not Fletch.

I'm not even talking about the goals, really. I'd have to go back and watch. My sense, in general, from watching him is that he was fighting the puck, putting himself out of position, and exhibiting poor control over rebounds.

I know it's early but I actually don't really see much. I watched the last couple of games and he just doesn't seem that noticeable to me. And as far as him making good plays with the puck? I guess so. I don't see a lot of bad stuff. But again I don't see him doing things that any defenseman should not be doing.

I kind of agree with what you're saying in the large picture. I never understood the signs on the front lawn. I can't imagine not knowing who I'm going to vote for and then seeing a sign on the front lawn that tells me to vote...that got me thinking... "You know what? That random person who I don't know likes that candidate so that must be the one I'm going to go with!" I guess the theory I heard is the more signs on the lawn seems to drum up identification or a groundswell of support for a certain candidate. But still... I don't understand how that actually changes someone's mind... Or get someone to vote for them when they weren't going to vote at all. It's just more sign pollution... And general pollution when they go flying all over the place on a windy day.

I didn't look up the stats first and then draw a conclusion.. I did it the other way around. When I watch the PK, I don't really notice that much different than last year. Yes, they've had a game or two where they've looked really good but they did last year. Also. Overall when you considered the whole season I don't see much difference in them positionally. Basically when they maintain their positioning and don't chase the puck they're very good. Once they start going to the boards that's when they get bad. But that was the same both last year and this year. So I know the goaltending has been better but when I looked up the numbers in the initial post that's what surprised me... Just how much better it was on the penalty kill. And for everyone saying that the penalty kill is a lot better... My initial eye test doesn't really notice that and the numbers don't really notice that also. High danger chances are legitimate scoring chances from in front and close to the net. Scoring chances don't have to be an official shot on goal but they also have to do with not just shots but legitimate chances to score. The team is giving up just as many of those if not more than last year. Of course it is early... Both for their overall effectiveness and the deep dive into the analytics. Another 10 to 15 games and we should have a clearer picture.

I don't think it is even slightly political, but feel free to delete it if it is... We are rapidly approaching the end of my least favorite time of the year, election sign season. This morning a new one popped up all over the place that says "No tax hike Mike". So will Mike raise taxes or not? I have absolutely no clue from that sign. Also, who is Mike?

Thanks for ruining my morning

The Sabres don’t seem to be inclined to give Komarov or Novikov much of an opportunity in the NHL. Novikov has been the Amerks best defensive for the last 2 seasons plus and hasn’t sniffed the NHL. I know his skating is a concern, but to keep playing Bryson or Johnson or Jones or Metsa and not give this guy a chance doesn’t make much sense at this point. S As to Wahlberg, are we seeing any progress? 2 goals (and only 2 pts) in 8 AHL games ytd isn’t a great start to his sophomore NA prop campaign, but he is only 20. As to Poltapov, I doubted he’d come to NA when drafted and nothing has happened to alter that opinion. Richard and Neuchev are my sleepers. Both seem to be improving each season.

Hmmm. He is still knocking the rust off but you see nothing good? I see smart and heady plays . Like using his body to block out opponents, taking smart angles to the puck, holding and protecting the puck instead of panic and coughing it up - little things that do not get on the scoresheet. So far I am happy with him.

You were at the game and didn't notice the awful play in front of UPL that led to those 2 goals?

My son started working this year at Yahoo on their fantasy apps. I passed on the complaints to get his feedback. “Noted! That’s a bad experience. The way to delete teams as a commissioner is you have to go into finalize teams and “unlock teams”. It’s so dumb and I wish we’d get rid of it, it’s part of my current project. Not sure what happened with the kicker, but if you can share a league ID and some screenshots I could take a look. Additional teams might be from some dumb pop up we have that automatically puts you in a league that’s drafting immediately if you tap on it.”

Yep - this was my third game. The building is livelier, for sure. That's all this home crowd needs, by the way -- a competitive team giving an honest effort. And if'n when this team gets good? The building will be back to roaring. Man, I appreciate this perspective. The local beat reporters, as far as I saw, were all just like "UPL was stellar - 33 shots, 30 saves," or words to that effect (not sure of the precise SOG number). We were at the game and found UPL to be an absolute horror show for the first 2 periods. If the Caps had been playing better (stronger to the net), they might have scored 6 or 7.

Which is a good thing, no way do i want Gavin McKenna in a Bruins uniform.

Our fans crack me up. I’m seeing a bit of outrage over him calling a couple defensive timeouts, conveniently leaving out that there was obvious confusion on the field each time. There have been issues at times with calling timeouts, but not yesterday.

Yeah, I misspoke. I said "loser point" because I was typing Bettman's name. Like some (many?), I just hate that some NHL games yield 2 points and some yield 3. But I also understand that that's a feature, not a bug.

A guy who knows puck. And loves the Sabres.

Key? I’ve noticed him out there if Tuch/Greenway or another normal PK guy is in the box. He scares me.

He was a key PK player in the OHL. If he can add more to his NHL game that should translate to more TOI and confidence. I am still hoping for this guy to reach his potential. Frustrating development with all of his setbacks.

The defence overall has been much improved