Taro T

Expecting he goes to the 2nd line as the Doan-Thompson-Tuch line played really well yesterday. Plus it sounds like they now would like to keep Thompson at C so Norris will be the 2C and he'll need someone good on his line and it sounds like he's going to be back quickly. Benson-Norris-Zucker until Norris breaks should be a good complementary line to that Tommer line. And IF by some miracle, Norris stays healthy long enough for Kulich to come back, then they could either have Benson-Norris-Zucker or Benson-Norris-Kulich as the 2nd line with McLeod getting the one that doesn't play with Norris and there's several options for McLeod's other winger. As for who sits, would expect it'll be either Rosen or Östlund rather than Kozak. Kozak brings an energy Ruff seems to like. (He isn't the only one that's liked Kozak's game this year.)

How bad is THEIR goaltending that Georgiev is considered to be an answer?

Weren't those plastic? (If they were porcelain, will definitely have to hit E-bay looking for one for wifey.) Am expecting since they're giving vouchers to people as they enter tomorrow rather than the butter dishes themselves that they'll be porcelain. (The butter dishes, not the vouchers.) And expect, if they are porcelain that quite a few would be broken before the game ends. No sense creating problems that are foreseeably avoidable.

Well, typically, there's 4 of them.

Depends on whether playing him is likely to raise or lower the interest in said player. 😉 Remember, Jacksonville never played Rob Johnson after he got that 1 start against Detroit (pretty sure it was Detroit, maybe it was somebody else, but pretty sure). There was limited tape on him, but it was great. His playing more could only lower his value. And they played Butler to a tee.

And you of all people, the guy that nearly constantly rails about how the Sabres don't follow analytics anywhere nearly often enough, often with more than adequate cause; are now going to argue that had Savoie been playing in the Q, or anywhere that his path wouldn't have crossed Benson's, that the Sabres still would've taken Benson when they did? Will have to agree to disagree. Expect they don't put nearly enough weight on analytics to have been willing to overlook the size/speed (or more specifically the combined lack of each) when he was on the board and they were on the clock if they didn't already know him intimately.

No, they don't have a size bias. That is beyond obvious. BUT except for Benson, they have a HUGE speed bias when it comes to smallish/undersized players. Heck, they have a bit of a speed bias for larger guys too typically. Have a very hard time believing if they didn't have the inside track on getting to know Benson before drafting him that they would've been willing to step outside that bias for speed when he was on the board. I really doesn't matter either way; they DID draft him. But again, expect that without having drafted Savoie, Benson wouldn't have been that high on their draft board. The reaches they make are almost always burners.

The thing that has changed, and it's very arguable whether it's changed enough and whether it won't revert back to where it's been much of the last decade +, is they are generally getting NHL level goaltending so that even in games where they've given up more than 2 shots in the 1st 15 minutes they aren't automatically trailing and they aren't getting those motivation killing bad goals when the score is still 0-0 or 1-1. They also are, again with 2 glaring blaring exceptions, playing very well at home since the Otter game. They were better at home last year than on the road though still nowhere nearly as good at home as they needed to be. This year, they're generally very good at home. Can that carry over to the road? It hasn't so far, but they've also been missing a lot of important players for a significant portion of those games which makes it much easier for opponents to get the matchups they want. IF they get tougher to outmatch lines when they get healthier, maybe they can get to a point where they're winning about 1/2 of their road games (or getting enough OTLs that they pick up about 1/2 of their available road game points).

It means, if they hadn't had significantly more exposure to Benson because of their relationship with Savoie, they wouldn't have drafted Benson. They'd've followed the same logic the teams before them used to convince themselves that though he was incredible in Junior his lack of worldclass skating would, when combined with his lack of size, keep him from having the sort of success you hope for in a pick taken towards the top of the draft. For once, luck was on the Sabres side, and they'd lucked into him being a teammate of their previous year's #1 pick, so they got a much better look at him than others did and they knew (or had a great expectation) that the intangibles he brings would outweigh the issue of being short without all-world skating. It's OK and it's actually a good thing. They may have lucked out with Ellis being available right when UPL was broken and Georgiev was proving he's no longer an NHLer too. If UPL hadn't injured himself in the off-season, there's no way Ellis is a Sabre today.

There's a reason some of these giveaways are via voucher redeemable AFTER the game. 😉 Minibat give aways at ball games are handled that way too just for that particular reason.

Per Ruff, he put in a lot of work this off-season and came into camp in excellent condition. Remember, he's one of the ones that Ruff essentially called out for coming into camp out of shape last year. Didn't understand why they didn't take the A away from him to start this year based on the way last season played out. But, it looks like Ruff let him keep it for having done things the right way this off-season. Good to see. And IF they find a way to sneak back into this thing, he will have been a huge part of that reason for that happening.

Fun game to be at. Was quite nervous when hearing on the drive in that UPL would be getting the start. Was even more nervous when the Sabres were outshooting them about 8-2 and dominating play and the score was still 0-0. THAT was the setup for the Sabres to give up a single odd-man rush and suddenly be outshooting them 10-3 but down 1-0. But on this night, that wasn't to happen. That shift that Doan got the Sabres on the board was just electric. It started good, but then Tuch hit what must be his 12th post on the season, but instead of the Hawks getting the rebound and the easy clear of the zone, the Sabres outworked them for the puck kept the pressure on and Doan got Thompson's rebound and was not going to be denied. Then Dahlin with the breakup of the clearing pass that Quinn was able to get to the loose puck on, take it low and then find Zucker doing the right thing at the right time for the right reasons. 2-0. Zucker is such an important part of this team - he's the vet that just gets it and does stuff the right way. His being back is so important. And, watching the begining of the broadcast after getting home, have no idea how Ray and Dunleavy are raving about what Quinn did on that play but TOTALLY ignoring that subtle but HUGE play from Dahlin breaking up the zone exit and leaving the puck where Quinn could get it. "Quinn broke up the exit." Bull-forking Schlitz he did. He made a GREAT play gettting the puck low and then finding Zucker, but HE was not the one that broke the play up. Great look by Tuch to see Byram breaking in low on the PP goal. Even better finish by Byram. Bedard was fun to watch. He's already a great one, he's going to be special. But it was also fun to see every Sabre that had a chance to hit him legally do so. That's something they weren't doing in the past and it was picking up from where they were on Monday against McDavid. On the Hawks goal, yes the D-man, pretty sure it was Samuelsson needs to do a better job of tying Bertuzzi up, but UPL can't just sit there sprawled hoping a rebound will hit it. He had time to get back square and didn't. And then the next goal he gave up. Yeah, it probably brushed off Tuch, but he was 10' about the circle, plenty of time for UPL to figure out the tracking had he not been out of position initially getting distracted by the jostling in front of him. So suddenly it's hold your breath time again, we've seen this movie before. But the top line wouldn't let the script get flipped like happens far too often in that spot. Doan's 2nd goal was huge and then Muel following up so quickly gave us the breathing room again. Thought with calling the TO that the Hawks were going to switch goalies, but no, they just were trying to get a breather. Going back to the 1st shift of the game, still not sure why they stopped play with no call either way for when Bertuzzi got hit by Thompson. That was weird. Good to see McLeod and Thompson with goals too. Would be good to have them going again. But you know that when Quinn and Bryson are scoring, the other team is having an off-day. Also interesting that Quinn was trying hard for the 10th goal as time was expiring. You don't see that too often. Personally was hoping he'd get it. Was there in the building when Dallas put the 10 spot up on Comrie; would be nice to have seen Soderblom give up 10 too. They played very well last night, but Chicago coming in off playing the night before might've been the perfect opponent for them. Except for Murphy, didn't see any Hawks playing physical. Except for Berard, none of the Hawks had a jump. Though was expecting Bertuzzi to get the hatty the way UPL had played the 1st half of the game. Would say that was a combo, no the Sabres aren't THAT good but the Hawks aren't THAT bad either. The breakaway stop by UPL was very big. Gave the Sabres a chance to get up by 4 a few minutes later. But even on that, he seemed more lucky than good. Had a real nice 2 save combo early in the 3rd while it was still 6-3 but the 2nd save was of the "look what I found" variety more than the "you will get nothing and like it." He still is scary. Except for the 2 befuddling losses in the past week plus (Blues, Flames) the Sabres have played very well at home since beating the Otters. Expecting a good game tomorrow, and hopefully Benson plays and gives them that little extra they need to get the W. Am expecting Lyon gets the start, but wtf knows. Fun win, get the next W vs the Canes.

Of course, the last time Ruff's Sabres team did an extended (not just a couple of weeks here or there) 3 headed goalie monster thang they ended up nearly getting to the SCF. So, we've got the ghost of that experience floating somewhere in the back of his and by extension Adams' melon.

Hopefully the Sabres are too.

They gave away gravy boats last year. And of course my kids, whom we'd given the tix to, showed up too late to get my wife one. STILL hearing about that nearly a year later. Personally, am looking forward to the corn cob holders as next year's giveaway. 😉

And there is not one single smidge of reason to beieve the Sabres wouldn't have been another team passing on him because he was small without superior skating had they not had their development people and scouts seeing him every game and many practices and talking to him regularly and getting to know him because they were all there watching, monitoring, and helping Savoie's progress. Yes, he would've been "on their radar" in that they'd know who he was and what his stats were; he would not have been "on their radar" in that they'd almost definitely have at least 4 other guys they'd rather pick with that selection who were still on the board had they not known him better than every other NHL team (with the possible exception of Winnipeg, who didn't pick before them) knew him.

Pretty sure it'll depend on whether people want butter dishes or not.

Can't. They're only selling them on Fridays and Saturdays.

Heck, the lines for the plastic Beer Sabres were 40 people deep easily during the intermissions. They sold out at the location nearer where people come into the rink before the 1st intermission was over. They were out of them for this night before the 2nd intermission was over. We're essentially abused spouses. We love this team regardless of how often we have to tell people we tripped going down the stairs.

To a degree. Even Ruff has to acknowledge that Geertsen doesn't gjve them their best chance of winning any given game when he hasn't put him in the lineup in what, 2, 3 weeks? So, this one should've been, and turned out to be a no brainer. The NEXT move is going to be the really interesting one, because don't believe they want to send any of the guys currently in the lineup down to Ra-cha-cha and they don't want to give up on any of the goalies just yet. But something has to give.

Wasn't thrilled with Ellis getting the start either. BUT if he had moved ahead of Lyon in the pecking order, that set him up to get 2 of the 3 games including this weekend's games and also 2 of the 3 games next week. Personally would've given Lyon the start, Ellis the Hawks and Lyon the Canes and then go with whichever one they consider the 1 in the game on Wednesday. But they seemed to think getting Ellis 2 of these 3 starts was the better play. And now here we are once again missing an opportunity to be playing for a chance to get over NHL 0.500. Need to get past that threshold before they can get to NHL 0.600. And yes, if Adams were relieved of his duties in the AM, wouldn't be crying over it.

Curious how many of those PK goals against he was on the ice for came with UPL vs the other 2 guys. THAT could significantly factor into the expected goals against; actual too.

All of that passes the eye test. (Not sure about the Byram being bad at the PK, don't really recall him out there much for that, but the rest of it, yes, it passes the eye test.) And the reason IMHO that the PP is most effective with Benson, Zucker, and Doan all on the ice together is all 3 are willing to go to the net to help create havoc and at least 2 of them can regularly score from down close to the goal. Zucker has proven it, Doan has a couple from there at least 1 of which was bounced in off him, but it still counts and if he wasn't down there in the dirty area it wouldn't have gone in, and pretty sure Benson has scored from there, if not this year then last year at least. Whether Appert is too dumb to get other guys go there when they aren't on the ice or the other players are too stubborn to do so, the rest of the team doesn't go there on the PP. And either way, the PP doesn't work in large part because of it and the predictability it has when they aren't out there. This PP SHOULD be top 10 at worst and really could be top 5 if it stayed healthy and somebody that knew what they're doing was running it. Would not have Tuch on the top unit because he should be able to play that down low role but for whatever reason he isn't effective there. Wouldn't have Quinn on the top unit because he'd be best served to be in Thompson's spot, but Tage is WAY better at it than Quinn is. Let him be the 2nd unit's Tage. Would never take Dahlin nor Thompson off the 1st unit. But would have both of them, and the other 3 guys moving. Dahlin does a bit. Thompson pretty much only does it when they're entering the zone, but he's able to do it as well. Get rid of Appert and let somebody have the guys that are good near the net do their thing with a lot of movement between them. And, personally expect Dahlin's #'s both real and E are reduced due to the fact he's ALWAYS out on the PP and it spends an inordinate amount of time NOT entering the zone and then doing dumb things. His analytics will go up a lot when they stop being coached to do dumb things. MHO, ymmv.

Eh, with Bounceyball, the question isn't points equalling fun, it's WHAT points equal fun. Is it the ones going up when a team puts the bouncey ball through the big metal ring multiple times a game or the ones the players/refs decided to make sure they shave off the line to assist their friendly neighborhood gambling syndicate make large amounts of money? 😉

Seems like a no brainer move. But with this organization, you never know.