Taro T
-
Posts
35,607 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Posts posted by Taro T
-
-
4 hours ago, sabresouth said:
Not dumping on Lyon because of this game specifically. But Lyon is not the answer. He's better than what we've had, if he can maintain this level. We've been so used to sorry goaltending that he looks good. He's just another filler.
I understand putting Tuch and Thompson on different lines but they play much better together than apart. We want them to produce more. Keeping them together gets you that.
Lyon ISN'T a 1 or even a 1A. But he is a very solid backup that can step up and hold the fort while the 1 works through issues. He literally is the reason the Sabres missed the playoffs in '23.
And right now, he is the best they've got. But they really need to get Ellis to a point where he can play another game. He isn't likely the answer either, but if he could take 2 of every 5 games; maybe Lyon can hold up long enough to get a significant portion of the injured guys back so they don't have to rely on top tier goaltending to stay in and win games.
-
1
-
-
8 hours ago, steveoath said:
As of next season you pee ell has a M-NTC. 5 teams. But does that prevent AHL move from the start of next season then? Get him out.
Nope. A NMC (modified or full) prevents getting waived for purpose of an AHL loan.
NTC just keeps a guy from getting traded.
-
1
-
-
Know that analytics says pull the goalie early. But, THIS team is NOT going to keep the puck in the other team's end for 3 minutes straight. They occassionally can do it for a minute, minute & a half.
So, how about we account for the players we actually have and pull the goalie at the 1st chance AFTER there's only 100 seconds left in the 3rd when you're only down by 1 goal. Get it that if they're down by 2 they'll need to pull the goalie sooner and hope; but please DON'T continue to pull him so early when you're only down by 1.
-
2
-
1
-
1
-
-
4 hours ago, Brawndo said:
My favorite thing about Doug Allen is he sings the damn anthems and doesn’t attempt to put his own flare on it
He does put his own flare on it. He highlights the word "the" in the phrase "o'er the land of THE free." But will take that over making the song last an extra 2 minutes as the anthem singer decides people really came to see a 2 song concert rather than a hockey game.
It's such a small thing to make THAT his own take on the anthem. Miss it.
-
1
-
-
4 hours ago, DarthEbriate said:
The Concept of Sabrespace.
Is Sabrespace the Matt Ellis of message boards?
-
2
-
-
1 minute ago, PromoTheRobot said:
And yet he seems to be in the room whenever decisions are being made.
He's like Suuuuuuuu-pppeeeeerrrrrrr Chicken!!!!!!!!!!! He's everywhere, he's everywhere!!
-
1
-
-
15 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:
My question is who is in goal. I hope it's Lyon and he is fire.
It would seem it has to be Lyon tongiht, right?
-
1
-
-
11 minutes ago, K-9 said:
Hope is always present, but this team has found ways to feel sorry for itself for years and Adams loves himself built-in excuses. Hope I’m wrong, but I expect this team to fold like cheap tents in the face of adversity as they have for years now.
They have folded when the pressure is on. It is another constant of the teams in the "full seasons of ownership" Pegula era. BUT this FEELS different. They have NHL caliber goaltending and not from a 40-something year old that you KNEW would run out of gas. They have an opportunity to make this season ABOUT something - win FOR Ras.
Yes, they still have a GM that won't likely be able to bring them additional reinforcements in season. Yes, they still have a coaching staff that doesn't seem to be able to twig to the fact that the reason other teams execute a drop pass on the PP is to have several players all approaching the blue line with speed and therefore giving the puck carrier options to enter the zone; it isn't done simply to be able to check off a box - well, we dropped the puck back, now Tage can carry it in to about 12' inside the blue line and then look for a pass to one of the other 4 guys all still within 6' of the blue line, good things are sure to happen now. Yes, they still have a coaching staff that seems loathe to make in game adjustments when they could alter the flow of the game.
But, even with all that and with missing their best D and some of their best F's, they have a solid D corps, they are getting good goaltending from 2 of their 3 goalies (hopefully that doesn't turn into a mirage), and they have several F's that are more willing to play physically than they've had in past seasons. Pegula made it a bad joke: the answer is in the room. But get the last laugh and show us all that the friggin' answer IS in the room.
There's never a better day to start doing things the right way than today. There are no expectations. You haven't won in Carolina in a loooooong time; your best D-man and captain is out. You haven't won a game on the road in 4 tries. Maybe Camelface's troops will take you lightly. Accept it and play like tonight's game is for the Stanley Cup. Worry about the next one when it gets here. But for now, get that 1st road win, and give Dahlin and his fiancee the piece of mind that they can focus on what they need to and you'll focus on what you need to.
-
3
-
-
26 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:
You know what they say about assuming.
There could be career-related reasons on top of his concern for her, for example. Maybe he understandably has some mental health issue. Maybe one of the 'rents is sick.
No one knows what's in his head. The group think is on here, as usual. Don't be that nail that sticks up.
Perhaps there are additional reasons he went back to Sweden. There almost certainly are additional considerations that went into the calculation. His seeming inability to focus on his job 100% while he's performing it almost definitely being part of that calculation.
BUT to try to say (or more accurately, imply) those other reasons trump the reason that is the elephant in the room seem to be disingenuous.
-
1 minute ago, PASabreFan said:
I assumed everyone knew. That he's going back to be with her.
Ah, thought you were going for something Sabre related for the assumption.
Yes, we have all "assumed" he decided to go back to Sweden to be with his fiance while she recovers from about as major a form of surgery as exists. We've certainly gone out on a limb on that one.
-
1
-
-
25 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:
Good to hear she is OK. Without a specific explanation of "personal matter," which we won't get, there is a major assumption being made here. It's probably a fair assumption reading between the lines of Ruff's comments, but there also could be more at play. It's certainly a highly unusual situation.
So, what is that "major assumption being made?"
-
40 minutes ago, Pimlach said:
What would be nice is to see Owen Power step up.
Would rather see them give Dahlin's PP time to Byram, but expecting it'll go to Power.
-
1
-
-
2 minutes ago, Pimlach said:
I know people that were once a part of the team. Players, coaches, and front office. Even they complain about what’s going on.
Listen to the folks on TNT, HNIC, ESPN. I make a point to listen to the opponents broadcasts on ESPN+ to hear what they say about this team. Everyone knows there is a big problem in Buffalo. No one blames the fans for it.
Well, ALMOST no one. 😉
-
3
-
-
1 minute ago, Big Guava said:
Bryson is everyones favorite whipping boy, but I don't think he is anywhere near as bad as most think.
I mean, honestly what are you expecting for a 7th D man? Is he supposed to be some all-star level player?
The issue isn't so much that he's not a true NHLer, it's that they seem to have at least 2, if not 4 other guys, that are better than him that should be pencilled into the 7 on the depth chart before him, but for reasons that are based more upon how he doesn't upset the apple cart when he doesn't get into a game in a long time rather than how he actually plays when he gets into the top 6 he is the 7. If he was even the 8, it would be way easier to take his getting into games.
Plus, they HAD a better 7 in Bernard-Docker and let him walk for nothing.
-
1
-
1
-
-
10 minutes ago, SwampD said:
Dude. What more do you want from me? It's been 14 years of crap. I'm still here. I love the Sabres. They are trash again and their star defensemen is out long term. If you can be positive about that, god bless you. They are not .500. They are 5 and 9. That's bad. I truly hope for a run of wins that surprises us all. That would be awesome, but this season has become a tire fire that I did not see coming, but have come to terms with. Apparently you have not.
The sesason isn't a tire fire YET. Though it is shaping up to be to a point where Lyon might need to show off some more of that late season Panther magic he had when he last played for them to keep it from becoming one.
And, might be very wrong about this, but can see this latest development to be a great opportunity for the team to come together, not in the kumbaya way they would under Granato that left them loving each other but not actually playing for each other (or even themselves it seemed at times) but in a way where they each dig a little deeper and find a way to pick up the slack that is there now that the Captain is out of the lineup that he was unable to pickup himself due to his thoughts being 8 or so time zones away. Win games for Carolina, win games for Ras, win games for each other, win games for themselves.
Force there to be a positive coming out of this. And, if they truly do come together and finally become a team, well, we've found the silver lining in this tragic story.
-
1
-
-
19 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:
Other than palm trees and taxes, and weather probably?
We are not a good team. But this is what I don't get. Everyone here cheers when the team fails. We root for players to leave. Who said Dahlin is going to give an ultimatum when he gets back? You all deny it, but your posts say otherwise. You say you want the team to be good but you cheer for everything that goes wrong.
To the bolded, that is simply not true.
-
3
-
2
-
1
-
-
Game was on the CW here in Ra-cha-cha, so got to watch them play.
The goalie the Pens used in the 1st period might've been drunk. He was absolutely terrible giving up 4 goals on 11 shots; 2 of them from a horrible angle, another from out above the circles, and the 4th one Kuntar simply walked right past him and rather than moving with him he did that leg kick that UPL's been using lately when he doesn't feel like moving his entire body and gave up probably the easiest goal Kuntar is going to score this year.
Levi seemed to be using a lot less movement than he had the past few this kid had seen him play. He made some very big saves. Couldn't do much on the 1st or 3rd he gave up. The 1st was off a giveaway right in the slot when Novikov should've had a nice simple clear and the 3rd was on a 4 on 3 that bounced funnily to the side and a Pen hit Levi's glove and then leg while he was trying to get across to face the shooter.
The 2nd goal came on a screen that would've hoped he'd've been able to find a way to see. And the 4th came on a slightly scrambly play in front of the net but Levi had gotten a bit deep in his crease and the puck got above him and under the crossbar.
None of the goals Levi gave up were "bad" goals, but again, thought he might've had a chance on the 2nd and 4th ones.
-
1
-
1
-
-
16 minutes ago, SwampD said:
So, are we allowed to get the first OA pick in next year's draft?
Depends. Are they any really good French Canadian C's slated to go 1st overall or any LHD slated to go 1st overall?
if not, probably not. 😉
-
8 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:
Marcus Foligno...having a rough start to the year.
He is still getting between 13-14 minutes ice time per game, so 3rd line minutes. But not only does he have no goals, no assists, no points in 14 games...but he has been on the ice for 11 goals against, while he has not even been on the ice for a single goal for.
Does Minny want a barely used (this year) goalie who's had a really good 2 month stretch a few years back for him?
We take their problem child, they take one of ours.
-
1 minute ago, PromoTheRobot said:
Jones has been good with the Amerks and he's someone with NHL games under his belt.
Expect it's his turn as next man up.
Would like to see Johnson get another crack at it should they need another Amerk callup.
-
Just now, Bangarang said:
He should do what's best for himself and his family. This team is going nowhere with or without him
You don't know that. Many teams have had a star player go absent for a while and the team managed to play better without that player when they've known they have to step up to keep things going AND they've known the player will return in a reasonable time frame.
You can pick your play up for a time. Eventually it gets to be too much.
And, there's also the fact that Dahlin hasn't been right on the ice for a couple of weeks at least. Maybe 100% of Byram and Power (or any of the other 3 regulars) can replace 75% of Dahlin in those minutes and the lesser guys working at 100% can replace what those guys would've been doing as well.
They need to decide they're going to win for their captain and step up and make it happen. They've been getting the goaltending (for the most part) they need to be able to do that. Now show they're professionals and let the emotion of wanting to do it for their captain come through.
Rally for Ras.
-
1
-
-
Good for him. Some things are more important than hockey. This is one of them.
Thought he started the season well, even though his teammates (other than Lyon and 1 or 2 others) didn't, but he hasn't been "right" on the ice for at least the last 2 weeks.
Let him be with his fiance and help her deal with what she's dealing with and then when his head is back where for his job it needs to be then come back and lead this team to a miraculous playoff run. Expect people will keep them in their prayers and thoughts and hopefully that spiritual or psychic energy help them.
Does this mean the team learned from Ullmark's problems dealing with his dad's death and from Lehner's personal demons he ended up dealing with pretty much on his own while he was here? Here's to hoping.
-
3
-
1
-
-
42 minutes ago, darksabre said:
I think Lyon demonstrates a higher level of focus and he battles harder. I think the players in front of him see that and feed off of it.
You see the way UPL responds to something like the near breakaway that happened last night that resulted in a goal and you can just tell he's not locked in enough. I don't think he sees his job as that of someone who needs to bail his teammates out, he sees his job as making the saves that he is expected to make and nothing more.
Players will respond when they know their goalie is keeping them in a game. Lyon fights to keep them in the game. UPL, not so much.
Right now, he ISN'T locked in.
But personally don't believe that's due to him not considering it to be a part of his job. Believe it's because he NEEDS those around him to believe in him and talk him up and if they don't, well he doesn't seem to have that internally. Shortly after he got the starters job the very 1st time, he mentioned in an interview that he plays his best when he knows the net is his and his teammates know it's his as well. That seemed like such an odd thing to say, but then you watch him play and it seems to track with his best play.
But, also, right now they aren't in a position where they're going to, even if they wanted to, tell him he's the man and give him the bulk of the starts over Lyon. It's why this kid would've given him the start against the Mammoth; he'd just had a great OT and though he only faced 3 shots in the SO (and there were only 4 attempted shots out of the 5 chances) he got credit for 5 saves and EVERYBODY was talking about how great he'd played. (Even though he hadn't played great until 60 minutes had passed.) So, he MIGHT've had that external support that he needs to get into his head in a good way.
But then, watched the Utes jump up and take it to the Sabres out of the gate and expect now that it would've blown up in their faces had they let him get that start. But, still, expect that was their best chance to get him back to the January '23 UPL we saw back then.
Maybe he can get back to that level on another team. But really doubt he can do it here with where things currently stand. Lyon is the starter and Ellis and Levi are bearing down on him for the backup job. Nothing is going to get handed to him anytime soon and doubt he has the ability to simply go out and take it either.
-
1
-
-
9 minutes ago, inkman said:
What’s a realistic plan for UPL’s future?
I’m guessing 99.9% of proposed solutions aren’t going to happen.
Realistic is bump him to #3 for this season, looking for a trade partner, particularly when some gets an injury and loses their starter for an extended timeframe.
Should he be here at the end of the year, give him an opportunity to make the parent club, but expect him to be the Amerks goalie while either Levi or Ellis get traded with the other one acting as Lyon's backup next year.
Especially with the cap going up, there's a better chance than people expect that they can send him somewhere. Pretty sure both parties are at the point they need a fresh start.
And, no, don't expect that to happen as long as Adams is calling the shots.
-
1
-
1
-
GDT: Sabres @ Hurricanes, 7:00pm Nov. 8, 2025, 🎙 📺 ESPN+/MSG
in The Aud Club
Posted
Sounds good in theory, but you're on the road. The other team has the last change; you aren't getting better matchups with 3 minutes left than you're going to get in the last minute. And this team does a LOT of turning the puck over near the blue line, either entering the zone or having a D flub it under pressure. You give the other team way too many chances to end it when you pull the goalie with that much time left.
Again, am sure that analytics say 'yes, pull the goalie with 3 minutes left because you're going to get x matchup and the XG/60 say you need about 3 mintues to have a high probability of scoring another goal' but those analytics don't take into consideration how likely Quinn, Thompson, Power, or Byram are at turning the puck over in that time nor how likely it is that turnover will result in a goal against because the turnover doesn't happen near the goal line but above the circles.