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I didn’t believe pointing out the poor play ability of a player necessarily means we hate them. The kid made a terrible play that lost them the game is all. Yes the puck slid in to the corner, but both players on the ice with him were down lower as well, Tage isn’t exactly known for his speed and that showed when he couldn’t catch ole man Tavares, he actually stopped skating toward the end of Tavares rush in our zone. And while Power took the risk, he completely fumbled it. Situational awareness should lead to focus, even at those speeds, the kid lost the puck, it cost us the game, it is what it is. But nothing said it’s hateful to point it out.

Why the Power dislike? Simple, the kid remains terrible defensively. He keeps making the same mistakes that you gloss over. For every good play, there are 4-5 bad ones. Yes, UPL had no business playing last night. He was bad and the Sabres should have left him in Rochester as long as possible. He is not and has never been a good pro goalie. The contract years was a career year unlikely to ever be repeated. Time to move on. However, his deficiencies don't excuse Power for being a one dimensional offensive D who we are overpaying by $4 mill a year; money that would be better allocated elsewhere.

UPL has to go. They have better options in house. If you are serious about winning this season and making the playoffs then he is not your goalie. And it’s not “first start of the season” This is a continuation of his play from last season. That was a game they had in hand in the 3rd period that he lost for them. Enough is Enough. If you finally want to show that you are a serious team then act like it and make the decisions that put your team in the best spot to win. I understand Ellis was supposed to play but had a tight back. That’s too bad because I would have liked to see what he had in start number 2. UPL was next man up, I get that, but he again failed his opportunity.

Our middling GM placed a bet on UPL, and doubled down on him. He lost and the franchise lost. I’m not anti-UPL or any player. The GM had taken an approach of entitling players roster spots. He used prospect projections as a basis for roster decisions instead of having them compete and earn their spot. That’s how the UPL case has been handled. Bad decisions have bad consequences.

I addressed that 3rd goal early in my post. But I hear ya and agree. But Power…….blew it equally as bad if not worse.

The road to the buyout is starting right now. If UPL loses his starting job, he is toast and the money his agent would get is as well. If UPL was to stay down in Rochester for the full 2 weeks and Ellis lights it up, it would likely be light out for UPL. And as you said, UPL has no trade value. There’s really one possibility if UPL doesn’t have a role in the Sabres goalie rotation going forward.

Upl barely had a sv% over .800, let alone .900 Also who the ***** cares? Why do I need to care that Jordan Binnington sucks? Or Lindgren? Justin Fields sucks so that means Josh Allen can play like crap too?

Let me add again that the 3 on 3 OT, while more exciting... Is a farce, and should not be used to determine playoff seeding over the season where in the playoffs it goes away. 10 minutes of 5 on 5 maybe 4 on 4 and then maybe a Shootout or just call it. NHL is behind the times still on this, I was stuck at work so missed the end, just saw some highlights but my point still holds.

Last night 24 goalies started NHL games. only 9 had a save percentage over .900. UPL was bad but he had company. Watch Binnington blow a 4 goal lead or Lindgren get torched by the Sen's. No one is getting bought out or waived especially after season start number 1.

Sounds like a Navy man

There should not have not been an OT. UPL giving up the tying goal was pathetic. He is late coming out of the net. He whiffed on the third goal, he was a coward on the 4th one. We were on the bad side of the officiating but we dominated the 5v5, only the goal tending was not good enough. this team was every intention on giving UPL games to get him in shape. This will cost them in the standings. He just cost them one point already. Power blew a play, but UPL showed us who he is again, a marginal backup.

You are absolutely right that in OT when you have an opening on offense, you should go for it. Is it a risk that you are leaving yourself defensive vulnerable? Of course it is. But in a 3 on 3 format the worst strategy you can take is a passive approach.

The Power hate is amusing. He makes a great play to help seal the game the night before but he gets killed for losing control of the puck the next day. He’s not supposed to sit back in overtime. He did everything he’s supposed except lose control of the puck. It happens. They lost the game because UPL was terrible and because they didn’t bury a couple of other opportunities to score.

Frustrated at the final result. On the other hand, being able to get the loser point might be a sign distinguishing this team from prior years when the team would freeze and the momentum would swing to other team snatching a win from us. I thought that the Sabres had the slight edge in play. But as @Taro T pointed out if the Toronto shooters were more accurate hitting the target this would have a been a different game. One big positive was the play of Tage. I liked the play of Timmons. He’s a no frills solid defenseman. Quinn is getting better and playing with more grit and speed. How can someone not like how Benson plays? In a couple of years when he is more physically developed he is going to be a gem. The Toronto player who stood out to me was McCabe. He was the toughest player in the game. The loss was disappointing but getting 3 points in a back to back is a positive.

I wasn’t able to watch the game after the first period, but wasn’t surprised by the results especially with UPL in net. I hate that we coughed up a 3rd period lead. Power losing control of the puck in OT that lead to the breakaway was par for the course. I’m over both UPL and Power. We can do better, especially for $13 mill of cap. Power gets a life line when Kesselring returns, but UPL has to be on a short leash if Lyon and Ellis continue to play well.

Exactly. The Toronto goalie wasn’t put in the position UPL was. Not that I’m defending UPL, because honestly, that 3rd Toronto goal was all on UPL’s inability to make a clutch save, further bolstering the belief he’s not the droid we’re looking for. But Power just losing that puck after deciding to leave the defensive coverage while going in alone on the goalie was a massive mistake. That was the cause of Tavares game winning goal. If UPL is not put in that position or Powers simply puts a shot on net or god forbid, scores, the goal against UPL doesn’t exist. If your going to leave the back end, you better dam well be sure there is coverage of the hole you just left or win the game. Power is the reason they lost, UPL was secondary imho.

Upl was awful. His post game comments about not seeing the release on Dakotas shot just speaks to a guy who isn't an nhl starter. It was a clear shot. Then he couldn't stop Tavares because he did what he always does, see someone about to shoot, drop. He got beat high and he's 6'4" or whatever. Move on, how many years are we going to waste? Well Liger, some day he might be a league average goalie! Idc, move on.

He was ridiculous. Jays just gotta get one in LA and bring it back home. Go Jays!!!

Guess it didn't come across that I was joking

No, just that we were the best in the NHL at not losing 3rd period leads with him. Not true. They were something like 60-2-6 under Granato when leading after 2.

So Power choked... and then Leaves player said let me show you how its done... sigh so Sabres

Sabres entered this game in a playoff position UPL played The Sabres are no longer in a playoff position

Huh? Is your assertion that they'd be better off if Granato was still coach? Otherwise, what is the point of that comment?

Ellis was unable to go tonight with a stiff back. UPL was the next option.

They never blew 3rd period leads because they rarely had leads before then. They were awful in the 1st under Granato (especially hos last year) and bad in the 2nd throughout his tenure. They had to pour it on at the end to get their W's. Way easier to protect a lead for 4 minutes than for 40.