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Being on Sabrespace means I can't have an enjoyable conversation about anything NHL-related at work or elsewhere because the level of general knowledge, insight, and reason drop to near non-existent by comparison. The common pool of understanding and narrative here is so high you don't have to, for example, first establish the fundamentals of what makes a center good, or why you need a stay-at-home D man who doesn't put up a lot of points. So, when I try to make a point in a casual conversation at work, say, the starting point in my brain begins with where we "left off" here and I find myself getting into a hole trying to lay a groundwork to support the point and inevitably the others stare blankly at me like I barely understand the game. It's really weird.

Tampa got lazy in third and then became victims of a Bogo Special.

Xanthan gum, soybean oil, eggyolks - none of that should be in a bleu cheese dressing but it is and while I still prefer those concoctions for wing dipping I can see how they could gross out a lot of people. If they were turned on to an old-school bleu cheese dressing recipe many would turn away from the dark side especially since it's distantly related to ranch. Ingredients 1 cup sour cream 1 cup mayonnaise 2/3 cup buttermilk 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste 4 ounces blue cheese, finely crumbled

Is it me or have there been an atypical number of OTs these playoffs so far?

You have to be kidding me.

He'll feel it tomorrow.

Cooper does not have a poker face. Guess I wouldn't either with the penalties they called.

Dirty Leafs. That play was so dangerous.

Toronto lookin' mighty vulnerable.

Zone time for that OT period has to be close to 50/50.

These teams are so even with each other.

I dunno if I have an OT in me. Game isn't exciting enough.

Which is absolutely befuddling.

With the price of wings these days? You're good.

Yeah, but I like his play-calling overall. Much better than Dan. That third period was really good. Moving on to the Vegas game...caught the second half of the second and the only thing I was thinking was that I thought if the Sabres were playing either team they'd be winning.

So disappointed in the Toronto game. The PBP guys are horrific, too.

I don't think the issue is what we're seeing or experiencing as fans, it's the attempt by the organization to frame reality in a certain way that has us discussing this. In the end, the fans would be happy with a playoff berth. However, since the teams has been unable to provide that, the situation is indeed exactly as you put it above, they have a closet full of excuses why that hasn't happened and they're not willing to commit to a goal for next season, then they have split reality into two concurrent streams: what the fans experience as reality and what the Sabres define as reality.

A 20 point increase over two years still ain't worth it when we could have spent some money last summer to shore up the D and/or goal-tending - if the goal is to just make the playoffs and end the drought. You're right to point out the butterfly effect that would create and I completely agree. It's just that I don't see 95 points next season (or a 20 point increase over two) as a team serious about being a perennial Cup contender and if that low mark is what we get we may as well have just spent the money and ended the drought for a season or two. Otherwise telling us about "building a Cup contender" becomes nothing more than a bunch of words swept into the winds of history like everything the Sabres organization has said after Darcy's "pain" comments. Those were the last serious comments from the Sabres organization until we exceed 100 points and make the playoffs decisively after which the organization will have restored some of its gravitas in my view. Fortunately, I don't see this team as being content with 95 points next season so this is ultimately a moot point as far as I'm concerned.

Depends on how we define "disappointment" here. Would I be happy we're in the playoffs. Sure. But doing so at only 95 points means we could have been in the playoffs this year and realizing that I would be retroactively disappointed. They need to be a 100+ point team to make this year not seem like a bunch of bumbling wrapped up in platitudes.

I know the end of that Boston game dragged out, but, man, it was so satisfying to watch. The fans and the team aren't used to being challenged and it shows. Boston pulling out vintage Boston stuff - how does that get passed along even though coaches change? Also, when did they start putting the ads on the shoulder? Did this just start for the playoffs or does it happen to be those two teams? Gaudy but no surprise for the money-hungry NHL.

Boston seems to get a penalty called for them exactly when they need it.

Good game, though. Boston is relentless.

Boo. That was a 21-22 Mitts turnover there.

Lyon is pretty good.

Wait, do you actually believe the premise of "$20mil in cap you'll never get back"?