...

The Hutt and his goal posts won that game.

So, just got to the thread. First period they made HCPH and JBotts look brilliant. Second period not so much, although I get the impression that TB is turning it on more than usual to try and win this game.

Yeah. I don't like Pierre. Doc really doesn't bother me.

I don't think there's any way to predict how this will turn out: blow-out, win, OT, close loss, aliens landing center ice, shut out for The Hutt, etc. etc. Which is not to say the Sabres have been terribly inconsistent, it's just that they've made it easy to expect a full spectrum of outcomes.

I could very well be their analytics are painting a specific picture compared to the upcoming competition. Perhaps Pommensteinski placed on those lower lines is meant to jump-start them. Maybe he's credited internally for helping Skinner-Eichel get it together.

This conversation is interesting. Pommers' speed, or lack thereof, might have been an asset on the Eichel line because, while his legs were able, we had just enough turbo boost and speed to position himself properly while Jack and Skinny attracted all of the attention. Now that his legs have worn out, maybe he can't quite keep up. He'll likely ride that see-saw all season. Meantime, I view Samson as a perfect candidate to fill in that role, assuming he's been paying attention to how Pommers was doing what he was doing. I seem to recall having the impression that Samson was getting clogged up on the boards a lot of the time in the past when playing with Jack. With Skinny playing the role Samson was formerly expected to fulfill with Jack, maybe there's a chance it works.

More importantly, it worked.

And so...?

People with their eyes closed to this "phenomenon" don't want to believe the impact. The parallels to life and reality at large are many and significant.

They're having fun:

I caught that. I don't think I ever saw his turbo jets engage quicker. I paid special attention to the crowd, knowing they already won by the time I got a chance to see the last 5 minutes of the third. The crowd was as good as you can ask for across the NHL. That has to mean something to the team, many who were booed if the crowd wasn't library-quiet.

This is the best take. Both teams are doing great. No one is in over their heads and no one needs to be fired.

So, for the third, I had to leave and play Dad Taxi. I listened on the radio right up to about 3:30 left and they were still down 1-3. I thought it was over. So, imagine my - pleasant - surprise to catch the end of the post-game and hear they won! And, when I got home, replay was pretty much right at the point where I left it on the radio. So I just finished watching the end and, even though I knew they came back, I was totally into everything. What an awesome come-back. This is not your same old Sabres. Mitts had the SWEETEST move. Just great.

Hutton has kept them alive all game, so, a mistake on his part isn't the end of his world.

If this isn't the game that gets Tage sent down, I don't know what HCPH needs.

This entire game has a weird vibe to it.

The Buffalo Eichel Sabres.

Jeebus, what a save.

Skinner and Pommenstilskin need Jack.

This may come across as too generous, but they're playing now like a group concerned about their teammates.

Like this?

Put Dahlin with Skinner and Pommenstein.

MAYBE 23 and 9 ARE BEING TRADED!

No, it was right into the slot just in front of the net.