...

Win or lose here, you have to like how this year's team doesn't mail it in when they're down late in the game.

Oops. Who was assigned to Stone?

Are there any consistent D-pairings this game?

Goodness, what's up with all of this scoring?

I've never been 100% convinced Murray was/is 100% into the tank. Pegula, yes. Black, yes. He'd be a fool to strip this team of players willy nilly. I'll say that about a third of this roster is his doing, and he did extend Teddy, and then allowed Teddy to populate his staff. This recent success has his handprints all over it. I think he will be more prudent in his tinkering, but I think he will still tinker. But for right now, he's going to watch and see what he has in this team; there is still plenty of time.

What would the Sabres do if this happened to Enroth, say, Monday night?

We will never know, Padawan.

I've read and heard 2003 referenced in relation to this draft since before last year's draft. That's why the hand-wringing about the Sabre's current success is slightly confusing. The expression "you can't have your cake and eat it, too" comes to mind. Just as important as a skilled player or two is a winning culture. Or is the latter more important? Hard to say. Chicago has both. I would say LA has the culture (more than the players), while Pittsburgh has the players (more than the culture). If the culture develops before the team can acquire the "ideal" players, do you strip it down again? Do wreck that growth in favor of the players? That's a tough call. Surely, Murray is wrestling with this conundrum.

More than likely a healthy mixture of players being better than expected, Nolan's coaching (and, equally, his selection of assistants), and momentum. After this recent string of success, if they start to slump, and can't find a way out within ten games, what are the chances they slump for the rest of the season? That would/will be the test and best way to expose what this team has going for it right now.

Not only that, he's starting to hit anything that moves. Crazy.

Hardest. Working. Team. I'm saving the ultimate moniker for when they ice the REAL team. BTW, Ennis is turning into a little beast.

"Why not go back to Russia! Did you see? I score goal, entire team come out to celebrate? This is my team, I belong here..."

That has got to be a hell of a feeling for a young player, not to just get your first goal, but to have your entire team as happy for you as you are.

Nikita scores!

Credit Gionta with a nice shot. Monty has been hot tonight.

Halitosis.

Some here is sssssuuuuurrrrreee excited for a hockey game. Can anyone guess who? Huh?

It looked like it went off his stick to me, despite what the TV crew said. I believe Moulson said, afterward, he wasn't sure if it went off his stick. Regardless, it looked to me like an attempt to redirect the puck towards his stick. I would think that look is what made it a good goal.

I have to say that I'm impressed at that line's ability to execute their set plays. At least for this game.

Low compared to a(n) once-in-a-generational talent. The hype-train beckons us all...

I'm a thinker. And a do-er.

Two things: Can you just imagine what this team would be like with a real number one line? I think on a good team the Sabres' present number one is a number two line. Everything else remaining the same, including Weber, I think it could be one hell of team with this coaching staff and the mindset they're developing. Another thing, Ennis, damn, boy, I had him mis-cast a few seasons ago when I thought he was being tainted by the old core. He doesn't quit. I know Z is everyone's vote for captain, but I'm beginning to think that Ennis could just as well become captain material. This is true; they all come out of mommies.

I didn't think of it as a particularly boring game...I don't know why Hamilton keeps saying that. It wasn't flash and dash, but it wasn't boring, either. I find the tension and give and take interesting to watch.

BY THE PADDLE OF ETHRON! A SHUT OUT! A SHUT OUT!