Taro T

It's also still the only time that happened. (Should've happened against the Pens in Hasek's last season as a Sabre; but the video game controllered puck off the faceoff late in regulation to Lemieux in game 6 and then Kasparaitis' non-called delay of game/closing his hand on the puck in game 7 crushed that dream.)

Expect they'll be breaking him in more patiently regardless of whether Comrie &/or UPL demonstrate an ability to be a capable backup. The schedule compresses (not significantly, but enough) that the Sabres won't be consistently getting a single game here and then a day or 2 off, followed by another and again and so on after the calendar flips. They'll necessarily have to be factoring in how fresh a goalie is having him consistently playing 4 games is 6 or 7 nights; 4 games in 8 nights ISN'T excessive. But them being at a point where it comes across as more than simply lip service that they trust 2 or even all 3 of the goalies to win them a game would be an excellent development. And, unless it's the stretch run and they're on the cusp of a berth (like last year), don't see them giving any of them 4 in a row again (provided all 3 are available).

Have said it before, really expect a lot of the issues at home in the "classic" unis is that they know the record isn't good in those unis and they really do care about being good at home and making it a tough place to play and all the other cliches and as such actually try a little too hard and then start gripping the sticks too tight and then things get away from them a little bit and they end up creating an amplifying feedback loop. It isn't that they aren't working. Granato does have his patterns of how he deploys his players and they seem to be slightly different at home and on the road, but haven't really had a chance to look closely enough at the handful of games so far as to figure out the differences between them (especially as they're likely also opponent specific). On the road, unless there's an icing or a PP, it's tough to get the matchups you want unless you're good with swapping a line/pairing off the very 1st time it/they pass the bench. But, if your opponent is heavily line matching, you can put out the line they're matching their 2nd or 3rd line against, helping to either limit their usage of their top line or going to the matchups you want. The line matching is fun to watch for (but it is way easier to do when you're in the building as you can see all the players rather than just the few that are on your TV screen) but Granato is one that is more concerned with getting his guys the ice time he wants them to have rather than the specific splits that might optimize that ice time.

Believe it or don't, he has actually started doing it a bit. He is far from religious about it, but will do it some, particularly as the game progresses. It backfired in the Habs game in the 3rd as he yanked the Girgensons line off the ice after the icing to put out the Tuch line only to have Mittelstadt win the faceoff to the point, have it passed to Power who immediately shot the puck into shin pads allowing the Habs to get out the guys they wanted and 2 rushes later at the end of the Mitts shift got the Gallagher goal. So, who knows if it will continue, but it has happened a bit.

No, because according to the CBA, only gambling on the NHL is prohibited. There is an Exhibit in the CBA with a template for Standard Club Rules; but that is the only place where gambling is mentioned and more specifically only gambling on the NHL is mentioned. Haven't ever seen the NHL's official policy on gambling, so any answer to your Q's would be speculation. Clearly there are additional prohibitions, but have not seen what they are.

So, now the '72 Fishies just need the Knights to go down to be able to pop the champagne corks again. 😉

Of course, losing Benson's contract slide MIGHT result in Kulich's sliding a second year. There's a lot of moving pieces here.

Worked for Roy for about 30 games and then he couldn't buy a call. Hoping Stutzie gets that same treatment soon. He must've played soccer (fußball) because he dives like the best of 'em.

Still think a big part of the home ice issues is them wanting to "put on a good show" for the home crowd. They need to understand that the best show they can put on is the one where they score more goals than the opponent in regulation.

He really is Derek Roy at a comparable point in their respective careers.

Considering how much Adams values the low cost years of players, can't see him walking away from 1 extra low cost year of Benson if it doesn't make the Sabres better in management's eyes.

Wish it weren't a typo. That actually was pretty good. (Had it been intentional.)

2 reasons (the 1st of which is pretty much moot now that ALL leagues and teams are in bet with "legit" gambling groups): 1. The leagues don't want to give the appearance that games aren't on the up and up. If players or refs are gambling, questions can get raised about just how "clean" the game actually is. And 2. If the players are going through bookies to place their bets, there is concern that the bookie might coerce the player into "throwing" a game to get out of excessive debts (should they arise). And that 2nd concern looks to be the reason Pinto got suspended and suspended with a Tom Lysiak style suspension. The league wanted to send a message.

Actually, if you watch a little before that, Tkachuk started it earlier in the shift out in the neutral zone by taking a run a Tuch long after the puck was gone.

Also already stated in the article linked to the Seravalli tweet. (Not taking issue with you or your post; just trying to avoid Garrioch getting clicks. #### that fat ####.)

Considering how careful he's been to maintain "flexibility" with his players' contracts (remember, neither Quinn nor Peterka got late season call ups after their 2 game stints and others haven't gotten call ups either); really expect that IF Benson does stay up beyond 9 games that management really expects him to both be better off for having stayed in the NHL this year AND that he'll help the Sabres win by staying up. He played well in Otterland. Looks like he probably won't play in Joisey. Am very interested (aren't we all) in how this is going to play out.

Per the article, yes.

From the article, it seems the issue isn't so much that he was betting on other sports but that he was a "third party bettor," in other words he's placing bets with a bookie. And the issue there being that if he ends up losing Vanek levels of cash he might end up needing to try to "fix" a game or 2 to get out from under his debt. This'll end up costing him at least $1MM. (He reportedly was close to signing a $2.2MM contract with the Sens before this came to light.) Hopefully this'll keep other players playing by the league's imposed rules, but expecting there'll be a few more getting suspended each year.

Heard a stat yesterday that of "regular" PKers (not sure how that's defined) Greenway is one of only 3F's (skaters (?)) leaguewide to not have been out for a PK GA. He is very good at that role. Interestingly, he says they are more patient on the PK than they were last year. Would say that's true of the D, there were several times last year that the D would find themselves near the boards trying to press a F leaving a lot of room in the slot if he didn't steal the puck/break up the pass; but they are staying more contained between the dots and above the goal line. But the F's are staying higher than they were setting up last year and thus are taking away more passing lanes which IMHO is more aggressive than what they did before. Either way, it hasn't been an automatic goal against like it so often was last season. Keep playing like that, and even if the PP doesn't start clicking, they'll be in most all their games. Get the 5v5 scoring like they did in Otterland and they could be a lot of fun to watch this year.

3 of his games and 5 of the Sabres games to be specific; at least today. 😉 Don't know if it means anything in regards to his making the team or not, but the Sabres had him as 1 of the 2 players that took Q's from the STHers today. Would seem a little strange that they'd have him take Q's from the fans for an hour 2 weeks before sending him back to WA but stranger things have happened.

Don't know if it's accurate or not, but was told at the opener by a couple of the beer vendors not in a concession stand that their system couldn't give the STH discount; we'd have to go stand in one of the regular food & beverage concession stand lines to get the discount. Considering the discount is 30%, that drops a $16 beer to under $12; makes it worth the wait to stand in the line.

Don't the Sabres usually make themselves into pumpkins without any of our assistance in that endeavor? 😉

UPL when he's on his game is the prototypical huge goalie. Nothing to shoot at square on but is slow getting across and opens up a lot getting across. When he's not on his game, well ... Comrie has extremely long legs for his height and takes away the entire bottom of the net. On rare occassion the 5 hole opens up low if he's moving, but he's typically very good at blocking off all 6' along the ice. His issue is his glove is just adequate and as we saw on the Gallagher goal, he has difficulty getting pucks at his feet covered up. Also, his rebound control often leaves room for improvement. Levi is short, so the top looks open but it rarely actually is because of his reflexes. He's also very good at anticipating plays and moves side to side quicker than any goalie the Sabres have had in the last 20 years. A big part of the reason he'll end up making the D look better than it actually is. Wonder if he got hurt in warmups of the Calgary game because from the get go he did not look right. (Even on the shots he stopped before the 1st goal against.)

Had a chance to go to this game, but already had tix for the B&G Insights tonight. Benson and Greenway taking the Q's. Pretty sure I'll have a ticket or 2 extra if anybody wants to go. They can send me a PM if they do. Would really have liked to go to tonight's game. Oh, well.

Just like his brother. Takes liberties with opponents then gets butt hurt when the opponent does something to retaliate. And then loses his #### at the retaliation.