Taro T

2 of 3 games now that the Sabres were buzzing all over the other team's net in the 2nd having come into the period tied and they weren't able to pull away. The puck luck will start breaking their way soon, but they need to make that happen. Because it's too deflating to give up that go ahead goal early in the 3rd after having dominated stretches of the 2nd. And they just flat out have to play better in the 3rd. At least 3 in a row that they got dominated (on the scoreboard definitely and realistically on the ice as well). Coaches have to figure that issue out and soon.

Wondering if that Devil falling on top of Comrie is what actually injured him. Expecting it was. That injury was a huge factor in this one. Wonder how close Levi is. Because, yes, UPL got a win against the Avs last year and yes, the Sabres will be wearing their red and black Sunday afternoon but Bryson and UPL both playing on Sunday against a team that good is NOT inspiring confidence. Not saying they'll lose that one, but man will it take a serious effort to win that one under those circumstances.

Guess that OT winner did get him rolling. Sweet.

Even if he does get claimed, it just saves Pegula some cash as there's little chance he stays up the full 30 days it would take for the Sabres to lose dibs on him getting sent down.

Sadly, quite likely. Which stinks, the Avs have speed and size. Bryson might be able to handle 1 but not both.

Umm, Lehner?

If Clifton is suspended, the Sabres can recall a D from Ra-cha-cha as they only have 22 active players.

Can still see the ref going up to him after the play sternly telling him before the next faceoff that presumably if he does that again he'll be forced to seriously, no REALLY seriously, consider giving him another sterner lecture about how he shouldn't do that and if he does it ANOTHER time after that, well, there MIGHT be consequences that go beyond public shaming. One of the most embarrassing moments for NHL officiating in a long history of embarrassing moments.

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.