...

I think the Sabres are attempting a rope-a-dope strategy.

When Rolston came in, it took a handful of games, but their ability to clear the zone greatly improved. I recall identifying the change, but I forget what it was, and I don't care to review old posts or video to figure out what that was.

I have to admit I miss Ron Rolston's system for clearing the zone. Assuming this is Nolan's, and a genuine "system", it's terribly inefficient.

I...don't know what to make of this.

Sabres get scored on, Gorges takes a penalty immediately afterward. Z gets injured. Like olde tymes.

That's the Neuvirth we've come to know and love. It's all downhill from here.

Neuvirth stopped one! Hodgson all that effort to go across two blue lines and then he chooses to give up the puck.

At least Stafford didn't try the cute pass, I guess.

"Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend." -- Bruce Lee

I don't see how this is debatable. Especially now. I was going to ask the question "will management do it?" Then it occurred to me the question is ridiculous: Pegula has upped the ante by purchasing the Bills. He owns both major sports teams in WNY. If one, or both, of these teams don't wind up competitive, dare I say don't wind up bringing home a championship, the guy's name...his entire family, will be f*&king mud forever from here to NYC, south beyond Pennsylvania, up into Toronto and beyond, and west who knows how far. More so for the football team, of course, but, it holds for the Sabres. I think Pegula is motivated to be Sports King of the East. So, then, what signs are there that Murray is the savant hockey wizard who knows exactly what he's doing? Where his plans too good? The team sucks as bad as last season - I don't think it was supposed to look that way, but it was supposed to end up that way. And Teddy is all upset. He admitted the other day to having meetings after each game with Murray, and the last one he suggested he freaked out before talking to the media. I'm thinking maybe Teddy feels as though a fast one was pulled on him - I could see him pulling a WTF Picard on Murray: What is Murray replying with? A) "This is what you have to work with for now..." B) "I know, crazy..." C) "Sucks to be you..." D) "I am the beginning, the end, the one who is many..."

If Nolan "learned his lesson" through a discussion with players or via some coaching revelation, I think he'd have the sensitivity and foresight to not reveal it like he did in the post game. Nolan is, after all, relatively media-savvy. My impression is that he got a spanking from a superior and doesn't like it.

Interesting discussion. I'll admit that when I first heard the "pee wee" comment from Nolan, I thought to myself "someone is going to have a meeting with Ted for that one...", someone being either Black or Murray. Not to get all social commentary here, but it does reflect the difference between the mid-90's and now. He could talk like that then, and, regardless of everything, it wouldn't be the issue it is now.

I saw the Foos the last time they were at the F'N Center. I hate the Foos. I hate to admit it, but GCoE's, and ink's for that matter (since he is who I saw put it in writing in those/these terms) narrative is the only one that makes sense. It's not that I don't want to give credit, or regret my inability to drop the last remaining percentage of fanboi-ism, but it's just that it seems like such an onerous strategy, mainly resting on the backs of the fans. Yes, once there's a Cup, then all will be well. The city and team's reputation will be restored, indeed, showered with praise. The national media will praise the fans for "toughing it out" and "being patient". I suppose I can live with that once we're there...if we get there. But for now, this is major surgery without anesthesia.

Montgomery was too "British" and threw tantrums to get his way. He wound up being (very) disliked by his men, and had few, if any, political skills. You could say his temperament led to the circumstances which resulted in the Battle of the Bulge. Montgomery criticized a lot of his contemporaries in his memoirs, including the Ehrhoffs. Incidentally, he was also against the legalization of homosexuality.

It's like he's making sure the only thing Sabre's fans have to cheer for IS the tank. This has been my concern since "suffering" was foisted upon the fan-base. Then it was clear the target was THIS coming draft. They had a long way to go...the only way to sustain it is to suck eggs for a long time. Well, here we are, and this team is looking just freaking awful. And what does Murray do? Trade off the only good players he has left to stock up on draft picks? If he does that, this team is definitely 5 years out from becoming a contender, IF they will be a contender at that point at all.

This game is the worst.

WTF. Dump and chase already, Does this organization not understand possession?

I guess we know the sites you frequent if you're seeing "all sorts of memes" on the matter. No way. The opposition is too measured and reasonable to even think about doing such a despicable thing.

If it weren't for JFK, we'd be able to visit Cuba and watch live sex and smoke premium cigars. The mob would've had their own island. WTF.

Right, all of us from the our chairs in front of our computers have a complete and thorough grasp of every situation every where at every time. It can't possibly be true that we might be surprised by the truth. And, Lord help us if the nation's worstest devil, George Bush, might have had reasons for his actions other than those fed to us by the liberal brainwashing media machine news.

Besides, since when is hanging around this team a benefit? I mean, really.

Reinhart would have been next.

I forgot about Z. Reinhart is next.

I forgot about Gionta. Reinhart is next.