K-9

The coddling stage, if it ever existed, has been over for a while now. UPL has been forced to earn his keep since Comrie went down. And he’s been doing it against some quality opponents to boot. I don’t know if he is the answer, but the team has to find out one way or the other.

I agree we should not overreact to losses or wins for that matter. Before the last two games, we got shut out at home by a crap team, and the only thing this three game losing streak has shown me is that we have a ways to go before we can contend on a serious basis. “Moral victory” is a losing team’s lament.

I don’t think the plan goes back any farther than their anemic effort against Philly on Monday, which was the culmination of their struggles of late. DG gave them every opportunity to play thru their slump, didn’t see it happen, and decided to sit them after looking at the film Tuesday morning.

https://www.nhl.com/info/go-figure I think there’s lots of gray area though. Accidental empty net goals for example, where the shooter has no intent but to clear the puck and it goes in anyway is a shot because if a goalie was there he could have stopped it.

I’ve always wondered about that myself, but the NHL has always cited intent to score as part of the criteria for defining a shot on goal for as long as I can remember.

I always thought the NHL required the intent to score when determining if its a shot on goal or not so I don’t see how a clearing attempt would count.

I thought it was because he’s from Ypsilanti.

An apt comparison to say the least. At least I can be happy for my Atlanta peeps again tonight.

Meanwhile, the Kraken continue to roll tonight. Double edged sword playing them tomorrow night. Good that we have to put this game in the rear view immediately and get a chance to get the bad taste out of our mouths, but bad because it’s against a team we have shown zero ability to compete against previously.

And in such fine fashion to boot.

Where does it fall on a scale between rotten eggs and the worst of Fat Bastard’s flatulence?

Got ‘em right where we want ‘em.

Tortorella rants Risto forgets to wear pants Flyers have no chance

I was never critical of TT, but I’ve lost faith in Mitts and like you, I hope he serves up a huge plate of crow for me to eat. Same goes for VO.

His first reception since 2020. Way to make it count.

How many times since he came into the league have we declared that Mitts has turned a corner? I’ve been fooled too often to make that assertion again so I’ll wait until the end of the season. In the meantime, I’ll continue to hope he continues to play well on a consistent basis.

That’s a fair point and I agree. That line has been so good that I think all three of them can be a little to dipsy-do with the fancy stuff trying to make the pretty play vs. the play that’s there. I’m not too concerned though. At the moment anyway.

Donny is a different bird. I heard his pregame interview tonight and he made a comment that struck home on his commitment to development. He said he won’t sacrifice winning consistently for one win. I never quite heard it put that way. And he’s fortunate to have a GM that seems to be on the exact same page.

Skinner has 4 goals and 3 assists in the seven games since his return from suspension. If a point a game is being in a funk, I would love to see him on a hot streak. Always has been, except under RK.

It’s great we have a few workhorses out there, but man, we have a ton of hockey coming up on a compressed schedule and that kind of grind is a little concerning.

Marty just made a great point by saying the Sabres actually played their best when they got down 5-4. I thought so, too. Love the comeback OT wins, but I could stand protecting a two goal lead and winning in regulation for a while. Shades of the Kardiac Kids.

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Why would I sneer at your prediction? Do you think I’m actively rooting against Mitts just because I don’t think he’s a very good hockey player? That just because I have no expectation for him to be anything more than the frenetic, often hockey senseless JAG that he is that I would not appreciate whatever infrequent positive contribution he might make? I could make a case for why I’d appreciate it more than his die hard defenders.

I wonder if the refs will give us a tuck rule call along the way as well.

Nearly half of his goals are on the PP or empty netters so I have to question his goal scoring impact outside of that. Other than having a major league shot, nothing else about his game stands out. Quinn is just a better hockey player in every aspect of the game.