repster

Oh, I observe, and luckily most times in the history of our head-to-heads, we Sabres fans end up getting the last laugh, and the Leafs fans end up heading back across the border as losers. That includes the last time they met in the playoffs. I was at that penultimate game and remember waving bye to all the blue and white jerseys as they filed out of the HSBC arena in shame. Even as I crossed back across the border, Channel 4 had their cameras in the Peace bridge lineup in front of the inspection booths. We got their attention and celebrated with everyone else staring at us in envy. The thing is that, when the Leafs win a game or two, their fans start planning the parade. It’s beyond obnoxious how entitled they are. After they eliminated Ottawa, I was seeing jersey and flags everywhere. It was nauseating. So it’s so great to see them have their annual playoff collapse and hear the Toronto media natter at each other. Steve Dangle is a great watch. If you’ve never seen his videos on YouTube, it’s highly entertaining. I want ongoing pain for that team and all their fans. He tells it like it is and is very satisfying to know most of their fans are losing their minds in a similar fashion. I would love nothing more than the Sabres to have some form of relevance again, but in the meantime, I need something in the NHL to celebrate. The Leafs have succeeded in becoming the perfect failure. They truly are the Laffs.

I think the more important question is: are season ticket holders ready to give up on the team? Before this latest stretch of meaningless winning, I thought the base could go down to the 6000ish level again next year. Then I thought, maybe the hardest of the die-hards would buy into the faint hope the team was actually and too late again, buying into Lindy’s style - which doesn’t really fit with the type of player mostly on this team, yet had them winning. However 4 losses in a row hopefully has brought most back to reality again that changes are needed and the loudest message is to say no to next year. It would be easy to re-up when they become a playoff team again (Bwahahaha), or at least a better team that passes the eye test, but actions speak louder than words with Terry and co. This team does not play with enough intensity to remotely begin to imagine how they would perform in the playoffs, much less get close to it.

It’s actually ex-Sabre Garry Galley. He does sound a lot like Greg Millen.

Toronto FC . The first ever sporting event I attended when I was a young kid was a Buffalo Stallions game… live and - - kickin’ at the Aud! No more Buffalo soccer so next closest local team is TFC.

Quick question. Bar Bill North or Bar Bill East Aurora for wings? Any difference? Going to try one of them for the first time tomorrow. Nice win tonight.

I’ve been harping on this for a long time. It’s absolutely abysmal. The really puzzling thing about it though, is that it wasn’t two years ago. Why? It’s in their heads now. Hesitant. Not confident. Also playing a style that doesn’t suit the makeup of their players. Ruff’s dump and chase offensive style doesn’t work with this group. They do need to understand how to play defense, but I blame GMKA for not putting more vets with kids if he wanted to establish a Lindy style of play. Granato line rush style had them handling pucks and playing with more pace two years ago, and they had confidence. They needed to learn defense and last year it stunted their progress and learning a completely new style again this year that is even less conducive to the strengths of the players on this team has them totally disabled and has destroyed yet another Sabres season. Nobody is on the same page in understanding who these players are (and who they’re stuck with due to the contracts they have signed and the existence of no move clauses to Buffalo). Signing off again until … who knows when, but felt was time for some big picture opinion.

NJ outshot Toronto 27-6 after two periods. Yes, you read that right 27-6. They were skating circles around the Leafs. At the same time Matthews had 3 breakaways and only got 1 shot on goal. 6’6 Stolarz absolutely goalied the Devils. It was ridiculous. In the third, it was a little more even, but It just seemed like a matter of time before NJ would break through. Nope. NJ had the puck most of the OT, but couldn’t make it happen. Blocked shot gave Matthews another breakaway and this time he made no mistake. He was so smug after he scored. Another miserable night of hockey as the Leafs should’ve been dead and buried.

Something I posted earlier in the complaint Thursday thread… At least 7 times, might have actually been 8 as I lost count at the end, but regardless… This is how often the Sabres play the second half of a back to back game, when the team they are playing isn’t playing the night before and is just resting and waiting for them. Do you know how often the Sabres are waiting, resting for an opponent to come off the second half of a back to back to play them? Once. Once! NHL scheduling is putting the Sabres at a competitive disadvantage with 10% of their schedule. No? Well, they are 0-2 so far in these games. Tonight @SJ is certainly a decent chance they can overcome this disadvantage.

First time posting in this thread I believe. At least 7 times, might have actually been 8 as I lost count at the end, but regardless… This is how often the Sabres play the second half of a back to back game, when the team they are playing isn’t playing the night before and is just resting and waiting for them. Do you know how often the Sabres are waiting, resting for an opponent to come off the second half of a back to back to play them? Once. Once! NHL scheduling is putting the Sabres at a competitive disadvantage with 10% of their schedule. No? Well, they are 0-2 so far in these games. Let’s see how they fare in the rest of these, shall we?

If a team scores on a delayed penalty, the penalized team still has to serve the two minutes. More of a rule change than a CBA thing, but I’d still like to see it.

Last angry points for me tonight, then I’ll be done posting again and some new tease comes along. This team cannot control pucks and have no flow to their game. They are off balance half the time, and just have no composure. That leads to frustration and kills their confidence. There’s no vets here to get the locker room settled. It’s like a vicious circle which adds to the weight of 13 years with no playoffs. Good luck Lindy, you’re going to need it

I REALLY feel bad for the people who have tickets to watch this franchise.

So typical. Like clockwork.

Scotty Bowman has a condo in Sarasota and is on the ground floor where he stays. No way he’s there now, but it’s beachfront and vulnerable to storm surge. Fingers crossed for his unit, and for everyone else of course.

Are the Sabres gonna get booed onto the ice Thursday? It’s what they deserve. I reluctantly feel fortunate I stopped buying tickets.