darksabre

Because playing back to back games is exhausting.

God help us

This is basically the best opportunity this team has had to get two in a row since afternoon games are their bread and butter. Winnipeg is a tough team though. And they always play Buffalo well, especially in Buffalo.

I think, in these games where Skinner-Eichel aren't getting going right away, it would make sense to swap Sheary/Skinner for a little bit.

I'm gonna be poking my head in and out on this one today. Afternoon games are a little inconvenient.

Yeah I'm confused too. Since when do refs stop the play even though none of them signaled a goal?

You should be more concerned about her being a Russian asset.

Ullmark in net today

Attaboy Sam.

They really just look like they don't know what they're supposed to be doing. They get into the d zone and it turns into Keystone Cops. Defensemen move out of position because the forwards aren't picking up players higher in the zone, then the forwards get all out of place because they're trying and failing to cover up for the defensemen (if they even recognize that they need to cover up). It's a real damn mess.

This looks like a "rolling 4 lines" setup. Except I would definitely have Smith in for Sobotka.

I really don't think it's a fair ask given the poor defensive zone play from the rest of the team. At least in Ullmark's case. Ullmark would literally have to time travel to make saves on some of the shot opportunities his teammates have been allowing. He would have to be a mutant. Or Hasek.

I agree with most of what he says but he's in error in making the comments about goaltending last night. Perhaps in a game where the goalie is much more at fault I would be letting that comment slide. But last night wasn't the night for it. It comes off as navel gazing. "Well, we're scoring, look at my stats, so come on goalies!"

Erod is interesting in the way that he stands out on this team compared to how he would look on other teams. He does a great job of using his whole body to win and possess pucks and it really shows in his offensive zone work around the boards. I think on a team where more players are playing that way Erod wouldn't stand out so much. Dude fights for pucks like his life depends on it.

I think Hutton has played worse than Ullmark and Housley should be faulted for that. But to say that the goalies are the problem because they players are scoring lots of goals is a flawed statement by Sam. They wouldn't need to score so many goals if they played anything resembling defense.

Reinhart is having a great year and I don't think he's getting enough credit for his all around game. I also think Eichel has been taking Reinhart for granted on his line. I think Sam drives a lot of that line's possession and without Sam there Eichel needs to pick up some of the slack.

We're on the same page here. The forwards are as much to blame as anyone for how sloppy this team is in its own end.

And it's not like this team is scoring buckets of goals every game either. They lost 1-0 to Dallas and Ullmark was their best player that night. 11 of their 19 losses since the streak ended were games where they only scored 1 or 2 goals.

Good. We could use him back in the lineup here.

This is correct.

PA, I can't get to "the goaltending is lacking" when I watch our forwards constantly blow their coverages in the D zone. This team is a defensive train wreck right now. It's like no one knows what they're supposed to be doing.

Thing is, that's the quiet part that you don't say out loud. Housley might be frustrated with the roster, but he needs to keep that between himself and Botterill like any other NHL coach would do.

You're completely right in feeling concerned.

I don't know what Housley's going for with those comments, but that'll get a guy fired.