Taro T

If they didn't have their development people watching all of Savoie's games have no doubt they'd've F'd up the pick they used to take Benson too. Yes, they tend to draft small F's (or really big D) with their 1st pick of the draft. But one thing they pretty much all have in common is that they draft guys that skate REALLY well with their top overall picks. Benson doesn't fit that profile.

So who's coming off IR?

Eventually they have to win a game with Dahlin out of the lineup. Might as well make it happen tonight. Go 'bres!

Well, it's consistent. No road win in October either.

4-1-3 (pretty sure) with Benson in the lineup. Which would put them at 1-8-1 with him not in the lineup. And he wouldn't have even been on their radar had they not drafted Savoie. That Matt Savoie pick might end up being the best of the entire Adams era as it netted both Benson and McLeod (who's definitely having an off-year, but still those 2 are likely better than anything else he's drafted; jury's still out on Peterka's final value to the Sabres).

Buff'lo - who needs centers when you've got all the wings. Buff'lo - who needs centers, this is where wings were invented.

Well, you can't rise from the ashes until it's been burnt to the ground. Oh, wait, that's Phoenix. So, what's Buffalo's claim to fame? A drinking town with a hockey problem. Sounds about right. Carry on then.

And though am not a fan of pulling the goalie early when down by only 1 under normal circumstances, would have given VERY serious consideration to pulling UPL when they gained control of the puck on the late PP w/ about 4-1/2 left to go. It gives you a 2 man advantage and you SHOULD be able to win all the loose puck battles as you absolutely can outman the PK on all board battles. Should the PP end with no goals scored, and you get a faceoff, put UPL back in the net until there's about 100 seconds left and try it again.

It wasn't a bad call. Under Granato they almost always followed up a true stinker with a full effort game and also tended to get some puck luck in that next one. They just didn't get the puck luck in this one and they forgot to come out of the gate with the full effort. Expecting a good effort in Detroit, but no idea whether it'll be enough to make up for so much of the regular lineup being out.

That's not why Kozak got caught low. It's because Timmons decided to drop to the ice to keep the pass from going through, and was unsuccessful and took himself out of the play. Kozak covered the man Timmons should've had and Timmons was still in no man's land when Necas got the puck alone in the slot. Truly HATE when D drop to the ice to block a pass EXCEPT when it's a true 2 on 1, the shooters are spread apart well and a successful pass across will just about guarantee a goal.

Nice catch. Don't need your hearing checked anytime soon.

No, but the Sabres gave up a breakaway 58 seconds in, to Necas who did not mess around. The Sabres continued to not skate much the next 5 minutes but also were not having Avs shots hit the net/Lyon. Then they finally got another shot, Lyon made the save, the rebound went to a spot where Timmons or the Av could've got it in the slot and guess which guy skated and which didn't? Ruff called a TO and pulled Lyon so he could chew out the team as UPL got between the pipes.

UPL was playing so well that period. His best of the season and then he lets in such a lousy goal. It really seemed like catching the break at the end of the 1st with the Avs goal getting called back got him back into his happy place. Whatever he did between the 1st and the 2nd, he needs to do again this intermission. And then just be 1 save better than last period.

If YOU had to talk about these bums every weekday from the beginning of October through into early May and again in the evening 75 or so times; you'd want to get hammered once in a while too. 😉 That's what we thought last night too. 😉

Yes, but so is the precipitate. Guess which the Sabres are. 😉

Well, considering how bad the season started and how bad its gotten back to, would HOPE that's the case. And if this team wasn't so dysfunctional would EXPECT that to be the case. Alas, this team IS dysfunctional and hasn't made major moves that have seemed necessary for at least a couple of years if not significantly longer yet so won't expect any transition until its actually been announced.

So, apparently nobody was THAT injured last night. Just their pride.

Personally want him gone and agree that the sooner the better. But the only way he's gone come Monday is if the team quits (intentionally or effectively) both tonight and Saturday night. And don't want to see the team quit. So, in a roundabout way, want him still here on Monday. He should've already been gone. Such a frustrating season.

Not if he's in because somebody was banged up last night and can't go tonight. Just hoping they don't end up dressing him as the 6th D (with Jones as the 5) and Ellis as the 12th F.

He's looking to see if Travaling or Holland are interested in hiring an AGM that's been running a 2nd round of expansion team with a long history of success (though no ULTIMATE success, though we're still waiting for the finish of the '99 season, so maybe) that ended about 1 decade before he took over or if they'd be interested in buying a slightly used skate sharpener or a used Zamboni with lasers on its underside.

As much as many here might derive some perverse satisfaction from watching the team implode as UPL implodes behind them tonight, Ruff is actually TRYING to win games. He's doing it right now with 2 hands tied behind his back (his ACs behind the bench with him and 6 or so starters out of the lineup for various reasons); but he ISN'T going to let UPL get put between the pipes in a game he'd have almost no chance whatsoever of being successful in. We can disagree with a lot of his choices (and literally mean a LOT of his choices), but he isn't intentionally tanking and there's no way he'd start UPL on the road with a depleted lineup against one of the best teams in the league. There is ONE way this game ends up competitive - Lyon stands on his head even better than he has in any of his other starts this year. Personally would have them use Ruff's late 90's playbook - hunker down, limit chances, look for odd-man rushes, treat the PP like the golden chance it is in a game like this (meaning somehow keep Appert completely out of the loop on running it), and don't be afraid of giving up a lot of shots provided they're nearly all from the outside, and then make sure you get to any rebounds Lyon gives up. IF they can do all that, and get a little bit of luck, maybe they can win one they shouldn't have any chance in. (Wouldn't have any money on the Sabres though.)

Personally would turn the reins over to Kekalainen and let him determine the disposition of the FO/scouts. Hopefully he'd lean towards more culling than keeping and fairly or not, want Forton gone but the rest would leave up to Jarmo. The coaching staff - punt them all but let Ruff take on some "advisory" role if you want to spare having fired him a 2nd time. And if somebody that seems to be clearly better than Jarmo gets cut free in the interim, grab him and thank Jarmo for his service.

Is the correct answer the Pegula kid that designed the BS hat? Seems on brand.

Michigan or Michigan State? State is ranked 1 in the country and just beat PSU (at the time #3) 2 in a row in the past week.

So he's a fast Mittelstadt?