Taro T

Most everybody had moments where they looked good including the board's favorite whipping boys. Problem was, even when they were hemming Moe-ray-all in their zone, there was a disconnectedness to it. They rarely could generate a flurry of rebounds from the 1st shot. And at the other end, though they didn't give up many high danger chances, they broke down just enough to let the Habs convert on 1 more opportunity than they did.

FTFY. One legit post-setting up in the Habs zone PPG would've won the game as the Sabres would've been able to get a lead & force the Habs to try to press.

And who is disputing that? Making an observation of what is happening is not the same as an endorsement of it.

Only saw the 2nd & 3rd as some truck driver heading west was having a far worse day than any of us and added over 2 hours to the commute. But from that, my observations. Montembeau was giving up rebounds galore but the Sabres rarely had somebody in position to capitalize. The couple of times somebody was there, usually Skinner, they'd thrown the puck to a spot where he could actually catch it, so no rebound. Both teams dominated for stretches but neither could capitalize on a long stretch until late when Moe-ray-all got their 3rd goal. Dahlin had changed after a long shift but Power couldn't change and he and Bryson do not play well together. Power made the nice play to knock the puck to the boards, but no Sabre was able to gain control of it. Will have more on Power shortly. Comrie is absolutely gold on low shots. Those long legs take away the entirety of the bottom of the net. As others have said, the PP needs to be reworked from top to bottom. Eichel is no longer here, so HIS entry no longer works. All that drop pass & then skate into the zone does is ensure that the other 4 guys are all standing at the blue line waiting for the puck to enter the zone so there is no support upon entry. Having everybody but the D-man QBing & the Eichel fill in remaining stationary allows the D to stay in position & no shooting lanes are generated. Have no idea how they can draw up a scheme that is so bad but not only have they drawn it up, they're sticking with it. Back to Power. For the most part he played well, he only had 1 turn the puck over on the pass rolling off his stick moment and had several nice breakout passes, but ... on that last shift he was letting the game get too big, they FINALLY won a faceoff in their own zone & he promptly cleared it off the boards giving it right back to the Habs. When they did gain the zone he dumped the puck into a corner 2 separate times again giving g the puck to the Habs, but ... he then had the beautiful pass to Dahlin that gave him a great opportunity to get it to OT. He's going to be fine (better than, actually) but is still a rookie. Would say the shots on net was indicative of how much each team dominated play. The Sabres were outshooting them 27-14 midway through the 2nd and ended up ~27-23 through 40 minutes. There were similar periods throughout the 3rd. Sabres played well enough that they easily could've won it but let down enough to end up losing it. Fix the PP & they do win this one, likely going away as the Habs took a lot of dumb penalties. PK looked good, the 1 time they had to go to it in the final 40. Bring on the Hawks.

Officially was 12k+. Smallest actual crowd to date though officially it was bigger than the Swamp Cats game. 100's had comparable to the Cats game. Way fewer in the 300's.

TWO HOURS + to go from Batavia to Pembrooke on the Thruway. Semi trailer was kind of off the road just before the Pembrooke exit; at least what was left of it. Missed the entire 1st period.

Why? Go ask Granato.

The decision or the analysis? Don't like the decision either. Expect though that Okposo, Girgensons, Thompson, Tuch, & Skinner are all exempt from being in the "odd man out" derby. Also, it is likely a given that Cozens and Mittelstadt are also on that list. Later in the year, could see the 2 captains getting an odd game off as a "veteran rest day." And agree w/ @GASabresIUFAN's logic for why a defensive F was chosen to sit at home rather than on the road. But absolutely can't see doing it this early in the season w/ 2 - 20+ minute D-men out. IF Asplund got a tweak in the Krackers game, then it becomes a bit more palatable but still not sold on adding him to the derby. And it'll be interesting to see if he sits 2 in a row like everybody else that's sat has done. He shouldn't if he's healthy.

Always suspected it's from getting too relaxed from having to be "on" all the time when traveling. They're finally back in their comfort zone & routine and just not wired like they are when they're being forced out of their routine. And they probably subconsciously expect things to be a little easier at home (the crowd is on their side, they have to good dressing room, they typically have the last line change, etc., etc.) so maybe they don't amp up quite as much as they typically would. Plus, doesn't it always seem like the 1st day back at work after a vacation or a long work trip everything drags? You need that good night of sleep after getting back to normal to really feel "right." Doubt that just because they're pro athletes that it works all that much differently for them.

Yep. Says pretty much anybody not wearing a letter & not on the 1st line could be a game day decision.

Will trust Yerdon more than Engel. (Referring to who is playing where. They have the same personnel on each unit at least.) Would prefer Engel's deployment but doubt it is what they're actually doing. And still would like to see more changes than just bouncing Quinn into Mittelstadt's role & Mitts into Krebs spot.

Because Skinner is. (Not saying that's the right call, but that's why.)

Should've gone to Lowe's. ;)

Hope it isn't too severe. Had a friend get it a couple of weeks ago and he got hit HARD. He's in his 60's but didn't expect him to gphave it as bad as he did. Took the therapeutic & got over it about 1 week later. Back in the late spring caught it and ended up giving it to the wife. That version was 3 - 3-1/2 days and was equivalent severity/symptom-wise to a moderate flu. Hoping yours is more like the latter than the former.

Except, in the case of the PP, a more appropriate response is: Well, that's WHEN they play the games ... (Which, barring a major change or 3, will also be the answer to the questions: will it be in December, will it be in December, will it be in January ...)

Not disagreeing but they aren't doing that w/ Tuch & Okposo the players playing low.

Wasn't calling Jokiharju a journeyman. Was calling the other 3 guys that dressed last night journeymen (albeit prematurely). THOSE are the 3 that it is REALLY unfair to saddle a rookie with. Should've started the 2nd sentence w/ the word "but." Would've been clearer.

2nd unit could be Skinner/Peterka Krebs/ Quinn/Thompson. - Mitts/Thompson - Peterka/Quinn Power (Depending on which guy is the 5th on PP1, Thompson or Mittelstadt.)

Putting Olofsson "in his office" is one thing they should do. Problem is, in order to do that, they also have to bump Skinner out of the center of the 1sp PP and put a playmaker there. Can either slide Mittelstadt there or put Cozens there making a 2 for 2 swap, but after the way Kreuger treated Skinner really doubt Granato wants to take Skinner off PP1 even though a big part of the reason he scores most all his points 5v5 is he's actually a bad fit on the PP. The only spot he really should be there is down low but the coaches are insisting on having size in that role. Would really like to see them try Tuch Thompson/Mitts - Cozens - Olofsson Dahlin with an entry other than skate the puck past the red line, drop it to the trailer who now tries to skate it in deep w/ everybody else at a standstill and unable to be an option as a pass recipient nor as a forechecker on a dump in. It worked w/ Eichel. They don't have another guy w/ the speed, size, & hands to consistently gain the zone 1 on 4.

Bob Woods was the architect of that. Need to find a way to steal him back from Minny. Yep. LOL.

Pretty sure in this context it means: read more, post less.

Not saying it is the reason, but IF it is, better they learn what will come back & bite 'em the next night w/ 76 games left rather than 10 games left. A lot more room left to get those 2 points back if it turns out they need them.

Thanks for that. The adjustments for games played due to covid shortened years is what puts him remaining waiver exempt through his 1st 51 games or the end of this season, whichever comes 1st. And, at least per cap friendly, that he wasn't playing in NA during the '20-'21 season doesn't bump him up to 57 games of waiver exemption which is where he was at after '19-'20. (Mia culpa, was going off the pre-Covid adjusted #'s originally. Also, because he was born on Dec 31, he counted as 23 not 22 the day he signed.)

You sure? He signed at 22. That's 3 years or 70 games. He's in his 3rd year & played 57 total. So, pretty sure his 13th game after today makes him waiver eligible, not his 3rd.

And if the goaltending holds up. Both are necessary; neither is sufficient.