nfreeman

Went looking for Pu, eh?

Not getting much from Eichel or Reino yet.

This is turning into a really good game. Sabres have found their game. Islanders are a really smart, well-coaches team.

Dudley, Gare, Hajt, Korab and Lorentz. The lions in winter. It’s too bad the ceremony wasn’t good on TV — it was great in the arena. Among other things, they played “y’know y’know we’re gonna win that cup.” Come on boys. Every seat is taken. We’re here for you despite an 8-year poop sandwich. Give us some new memories to hold on to.

They look OK to me and they are hustling and playing the Isles, a good team, pretty evenly, but the execution isn’t quite there. They’ve had a few good chances in tight and have whiffed. Hutton has made a few good saves after that softie too.

Lines changed up. Crappy goal allowed by Hutton. Montour looks good. Rick Dudley looks like he can still kick someone’s butt if the occasion demands it.

So it turns out my brother got us good seats for tonight...

OK, the Sabres got dusted last night and are back on their heels a bit after an unexpected and thrilling start to the season. Let's see how they respond. So far this year, they've followed each of their two prior regulation losses with shutout wins the following night. Your humble mod is making my annual pilgrimage back home this weekend and will be in attendance tonight as well as at the Ralph tomorrow. It's my first Sabres game in Buffalo since game 3 of the 2006 ECF vs Carolina, which they won (and which was one of the loudest and most exciting live sporting events I've ever attended), but in which Tallinder broke his arm, beginning the crushing run of injuries to the D that ultimately robbed that fantastic team of a Cup. I'm hoping for a much better outcome than last week's debacle vs the Rangers in NYC, which I also attended. It's 70s night, baby! Shagadelic! The Islanders beat Tampa last night and have won 8 in a row. Following the loss of John Tavares to Toronto, the Isles managed 103 points last season and swept Pittsburgh in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in April before falling in four games in the next round to Carolina. They opened this season by dropping three of their first four games, but their eight consecutive wins thereafter represent their longest streak since taking nine straight from Dec. 1989 through Jan. 1990. The Islanders' leading scorers are Josh Bailey and Matthew Barzal, with 11 pts each, and Brock Nelson with 10. Defensemen Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock are the ice time leaders with 21 min per game. LW C RW Forwards Anders Lee Rating: 73.8#45 LW Mathew Barzal Rating: 76.8#25 C Josh Bailey Rating: 73.8#38 RW FL1 Rating Rating: 74.79#22 FL1 Anthony Beauvillier Rating: 72.1#75 LW Brock Nelson Rating: 74.7#46 C Derick Brassard Rating: 70.1#105 RW FL2 Rating Rating: 72.31#26 FL2 Michael Dal Colle Rating: 71.0#108 LW Casey Cizikas Rating: 71.4#123 C Cal Clutterbuck Rating: 70.1#106 RW FL3 Rating Rating: 70.83#30 FL3 Ross Johnston Rating: 71.5#93 LW Cole Bardreau Rating: 73.2#71 C Oliver Wahlstrom Rating: 73.3#49 RW FL4 Rating Rating: 72.64#2 FL4 Defensive Pairings Defense Adam Pelech Rating: 73.9#41 LD Ryan Pulock Rating: 75.4#21 RD DL1 Rating Rating: 74.66#15 DL1 Nick Leddy Rating: 75.1#19 LD Johnny Boychuk Rating: 74.0#31 RD DL2 Rating Rating: 74.55#7 DL2 Devon Toews Rating: 75.5#13 LD Scott Mayfield Rating: 73.1#51 RD Go Sabres.

Risto vs Ovi is always entertaining. Hutton or Ullmark?

And Tkakzuk wins it on an insane between-the-legs goal with 1 sec to go in OT!

Barnburner in Nashville. Nashville went up 5-4 over Calgary with 2.5 min to go, and Calgary just tied it at 5 with 36 seconds to go. EDIT to add: Calgary came back from down 4-1 in the 3rd before the frenzy at the end.

Pls confine this crapola to the politics club. Thanks.

So it's still Joker-Dahlin. Interesting.

Has he ever played forward? It’s probably worth checking before throwing out this kind of suggestion.

Rangers up 2-1 on TB with 5 min to go. Rangers are playing their #2 goalie.

What casting device are you using on the TV? My understanding is that when you cast something to the TV, the TV’s Internet browser simply goes to the URL that the originating casting device directs it to (ie you are not transmitting from your phone or tablet to the TV, you are simply telling the TV where on the internet to look). Accordingly, if the casting device on the TV (or the TVs built-in browser) is crappy, that could be your issue.

IMHO it's also worth noting that no opponent at this point is lining up to face the Sabres without bringing its A game. I don't think that was the case in the first half-dozen games or so.

TB and Toronto are both underachieving a bit, although both will likely bring their A games vs the Sabres. The Sabres will definitely have to keep their feet on the gas. Mitts' line needs to start contributing again and the goalies need to remain solid. I can't say I'd be shocked if the Sabres come in well below DeLuca .500 in November, but I wouldn't be shocked if they come in well above, either. Certainly the month will be a good test for this team.

OK -- lighten up here, please.

Very entertaining game and pretty evenly matched IMHO. I can't remember seeing AZ look that good. (Kinda makes you wonder what would've happened had the Sabres hired Tocchet instead of Howie.) A few game notes: - Hutton made a lot of good saves, but I can't help but wonder whether @PASabreFan is right about things falling apart for him slowly and then quickly. That 1st goal was terrible and changed the complexion of the game, and the goal he gave up in the SO wasn't any great shakes either. And he's coming off giving up 6 goals on 24 shots vs the Rangers. - I'm really starting to like Joker's game. I see some Teppo there. He is a terrific skater but is also very controlled, smooth and smart. - Between Joker and Gilmour there is quite a bit of new speed on D. Kessel, who is an excellent skater, looked like he was going to break free on Hutton in the last minute of regulation and Gilmour just zoomed over and shut down the play. - I loved seeing Ed Oliver wearing the Eichel jersey and dancing to Zeppelin during the timeout. - Lousy night for Mitts' line. They looked like they did early in the season -- spending most of their shifts in the D-zone and not generating any chances on O. Although all would've been forgiven if Mitts had cashed that one in OT. - Too many turnovers in the O-zone by Reino. - Skinner's goal was a thing of beauty. I think although he'd probably prefer to play with Eichel, he's probably reasonably happy with Mojo -- it seems like Mojo sets him up for at least one killer scoring chance per game and often more than one.

Is one shower really enough to get clean after that encounter though?

Very nice city. Do you live there?

Seconded. Schoeny is a timeless Sabres classic (and one of my all-time favorite Sabres btw).

...and it's at least 50/50 that another defenseman gets hurt by the time Scandy returns. The glut of defensemen will most likely continue to resolve itself in this way. They don't need to trade a defenseman unless and until the right trade is offered.

A little harsh maybe?