...

That was a good hockey game, totally worth the time. Thanks, Sabres.

Oh, I'm sorry, Eichel scored tonight, too.

Did Ray say "exorbing"?

Disagree. He hasn't scored, but he's been creating out there.

The cat party commercial is good.

Looks like Dahlin is feeling more comfortable today.

Yeah, have to give him credit. Hutton awesome with the stick!

Well, you are special. ?‍♀️

And F**K WGR for not talking about the Sabres yesterday. Bastards.

Just awesome.

Someone does. I like Zemgus on the PK, don't have enough data to know how Elie or Sobotka would do.

Yeah, this third period is key. They just need to play like they have, except for the last few seconds there. They look good.

Elie needs to stay on the roster.

I caught that. It was textbook coverage.

Mitts is looking good.

Ugh, McCable, watching the game. Not good, McCabe.

That was freaking brilliant goal-tending.

HUTTON!

That's what I want to see from Dahlin.

See, if they played like this consistently, then, even if they lose, they lose honorably.

Pretty. Wow, what a difference tonight.

I think I like any combination you two have offered and agree HCPH doesn't want an all-youth line. That is where HCPH starts losing me and I wish we had a more aggressive, adventurous coach.

This. I think the last few preseason games and against the Bruins Dahlin has been "held back". Not sure if it's coaching or if it's Dahlin himself surveying the league. I recall seeing him go toward the Bruin's net once during that game. His defensive decisions are solid, it seems, except when he makes an error with the puck. I think some of it has to do with ice surface and Dahlin needing to get used to it. There's one analysis of his game I read or saw, can't remember, where it was noted that after he gets the puck, he doesn't look at it. I wonder if the smaller surface combined with the more aggressive play of the league chews up the ice surface and this is getting in the way of what Dahlin is used to doing.

Interesting post. I don't disagree that the Sabres didn't look out-matched so much as they looked ill-prepared. The beginning of the first and then there were several solid minutes in the latter half of the second where, I thought, they looked solid. As I posted earlier, I really think you can summarize the game as: Eichel wasn't ready, KO is over-rated, and coaching was still on vacation. There were several good things going on and some aspects of their game were clearly improved. I think the disappointment in the leadership group, under-rating the Bruins skill/experience, and the score have combined to make it probably seem worse than it was.

Rick was awful last night. So was Ray. Their interactions were...uncomfortable.