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For how many of the Sabres would this be their first game in Colorado?

Agreed. That's how it looks to me as well.

Time to pull the goalie.

Avs are turning to the Boston playbook.

They're supporting UPL much better tonight.

Avs are a bit frustrated. Even without Skinner on the ice. Me likey.

Dahlin =

Mitts =

Galaga sound effects?

Between about 15:00 and 18:00 the Sabres allowed the Avs to play in the Sabres zone because the Sabres sat back. It's in those moments they need to amp up the pace. That's all it is: just speed up the game when it looks like the momentum has tilted out of their favor.

Excepting a goalie, the holes he needs to fill this season shouldn't be as difficult as in prior years. It's the third line and a few bottom 3 defenders. Obviously, we want players who are better than the holes they are expected to fill. Adams seems to be better than his predecessors at finding players that fit the team (the chemistry thing), so my fingers are crossed he'll run across a few dark horses.

So, what these guys need to learn is how to dictate the pace of the game. Simple. After they can do that, then they start applying a rope-a-dope strategy. I think turning it up for the third broke the spirit of LA - they weren't expecting it and had nothing more to give.

Don't need to wait, we already have legit first and second lines. Fourth line is relatively solid, too.

Completely agreed. Clague looked like he's been playing there all season.

This was a fantastic play.

Crazy. Such a snooze fest which had me thinking "they looked like the old Sabres, where are the new Sabres?" Full marks to Girgensons for drawing those penalties. Bryson needs to go back to where ever he came from, he was horrible. Quinn and the kids, amazing when they are confident.

I'm not offended by these two losses. Unlike recent Sabres teams, this version of the Sabres has potential IMHO. They're some roster moves away from being a very good team. Prior versions lacked cohesion, had talent deficits and had no spirit. That doesn't describe the core of this team at all - just the opposite. They're kind of stuck, even though they have $16M to spend right now. That has to be frustrating for Kevyn Adams.

Are the Peguins playing their best near mid-season game right now? If so, we have a chance.

Skinner has been putting on a season-long clinic in patience and you can tell the padawans are paying attention.

No. He needs to be traded now. I don't care what they get for him. The long-term experiment is over.

Yes, and you couldn't focus on the problem with a larger lense. The Sabres are at the point where they are in dire need of goaltending that compliments the rest of the team. I'm not going to say this season is a guaranteed dud without better goaltending, but if they make it in they won't last for long if something doesn't change. UPL and the goalie coaches need to address his high glove side double-ASAP - if he can fix that weakness things would look better.

Did you need one to understand what I wrote?

I don't care for Dan. He's not new to the Sabres - he had many seasons co-PBP'ing with RJ to get comfortable and a career before that. He's just not good. He's as flat as a blank sheet of copy paper, characterless as a flipped house with a grey interior, and as inspiring as a dry sponge. He's a leftover from the dumb decisions management made during the Tank years and perhaps, like the rest of those decisions, management will rectify the situation. Then again, I don't like Brian Duff, either.

That's the key and what the organization has been missing in what seems like forever. When this particular group of guys play like this I'm inclined to attribute it to a solid and realistic evaluation of individual talent, the team and the synergy between those two.