nfreeman

If we're all very, very lucky and well-behaved, the hockey gods might smile on us enough at some point to give us another season like that one. Unforgettable.

From the Athletic today: https://theathletic.com/650631/2018/11/13/down-goes-brown-which-of-this-early-season-success-stories-could-be-on-the-verge-of-a-plunge-down-the-standings/

So, speaking of Spike Lee movies, I attended a pretty cool event the other night -- a screening of "Do the Right Thing" hosted by John Turturro. He gave a short speech before the movie and did Q&A afterwards. I hadn't seen the movie in full since it came out in 1989 -- well worth seeing if you like Spike Lee. Anyway, at the end, when the credits rolled, I was pretty surprised to see that the character Buggin' Out, who had a pretty big role in the movie: ...was played by none other than Giancarlo Esposito -- now best known as Gus Fring from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. John Turturro mentioned, btw, that Esposito's father is Spanish. Anyway, I thought it was interesting.

Also — pretty nice to see Dominik and Andreychuk in attendance! (Although I think I saw that attendance was only in the 15K range — seems like it’s going to take a while for the city to really jump back in.)

So does anyone know why TT started over Berglund last night? I.e. was Berglund banged up? Or was he just a healthy scratch in favor of TT? As I mentioned in the GDT, I don't think there was much if any loss of effectiveness in the checking line last night. Larsson and Zemgus were both quite good and TT did fine too. If Berglund was healthy-scratched, that would be twice this year, right? And the Sabres have him under contract for 3 more years after this season?

I thought TT played reasonably well vs TB last night. Between that, Howie's recent statements about TT and the fact that TT is still in Buffalo, I'm going to predict that TT does not get sent down anytime soon.

I thought she was pretty good too, and I was glad to have the NBCSN "B team" last night, as I find Emrick kinda annoying. Separately: - Holy mackerel the difference in goaltending this year vs last year is ginormous. Lehner would NEVER have kept it together in the 3rd period and delivered that win. - I didn't think Reino had much impact on the top line but I did think his departure from Sobotka's line had a big negative impact on that line, which was the Sabres' least effective line last night. - I thought TT did fine on the checking line, which was still pretty effective last night. KO took some of TT's shifts at the end, but I thought that was just to have a veteran there while the Sabres were trying to seal the win. - Beaulieu played less than 10 min -- I wonder if we'll see Nelson next game. (Risto: 28 minutes!) - Stamkos had multiple great scoring chances. Most nights he cashes at least 1. - Bottom line is that the Sabres aren't going to win many games when they get outplayed like that for the better part of 2 periods while trying to nurse a 1-goal lead against a top-echelon team. And TB would definitely manhandle them in a 7-game series. OTOH, for a team trying to dig their way to respectability from DFL 3 times in 5 years, it's a good win if for no other reason than it builds their confidence in Hutton and in each other.

Some of us already know, while others also know but don't wanna admit it.

I don’t think we’ve seen nearly enough from TT to come to any kind of conclusion on him. And while I’ve been pleased with the effectiveness of the forecheck produced by the checking line, I wouldn’t say that they’ve even approached the point where subbing TT in for one of them is NFW.

I don't mind McGuire, but I find Emrick pretty annoying. He's knowledgeable and passionate about the game, which is great, but he needs to talk about 30% less IMHO. Separately -- here are a few items I'd like to see tonight: - Good goaltending -- Hutton played well for much of the Canucks game, but allowed 2 poor goals - Reino ending up back with ERod and Sobotka, and either Pommer or TT with Jack and Skinner - TT showing some offense - Sharp, smart play in the D-zone, esp. from Risto -- otherwise TB will make it hurt - Eichel looking healthy and rested

Well, I'd probably bet on Pommer to win a race between the 2 of them after a couple of days' rest. But not in the 3rd period of an NHL game, which is what matters. In any case, I did not intend to slight Reino in my post -- just the opposite, in fact. I think Reino is fast enough, and he's certainly skilled enough, to play with those guys. I just think it's better for the team for Reino to be on a line where he gets the puck more in the offensive zone, especially in his office below the goal line. I think inevitably he'll get the puck less, and have fewer chances to make plays, if he's up with Jack and Skinner. Overall, I think swapping Reino for Pommer will, I think, hurt ERod & Sobotka's line more than it will help Eichel and Skinner's line. Eichel and Skinner don't need Reino -- they just need a non-gassed Pommer.

Hmmmm. I feel like Reino kinda gets lost when he plays with Jack and Skinner, and that his talents are better used with ERod and Sobotka. I think Jack and Skinner need someone like Pommer (but with younger legs) -- i.e. smart, fast, knows how to get to an open spot down low, and sure-handed to light the lamp when he gets it.

Taking the kids and the dog to the park on a sunny, crisp fall day.

FWIW, I don’t think Reino took any shifts at C in place of Jack. I like having Reino there as a “break glass in case of emergency” option to replace Pommer on that line when a spark is needed. But I really want C.J. Smith or TT to seize that spot from Pommer permanently, as I think Pommer’s legs won’t last.

Excellent thread. GA — agree, and those were 3 key pieces of GMTM’s team, at that. I’ve noticed a few lousy goals allowed by Hutton, but very few 3rd period killers of the sort that Lehner let in on the regular. So I agree that his teammates trust him more than they trusted Lehner, but they have good reason to do so IMHO.

He's a big scary bear.

Yesterday Reino delivered his finest hour as a Sabre. The war wound, the nifty setup of Skinner (which came after Howie moved Reino to the top line in search of a spark — nice move by Howie) and then the GTG (which, it must be admitted, was primarily due to poor goaltending — a Lehner-esque unnecessary depositing of a fat rebound onto the doorstep) to break his goalscoring drought — great stuff. It will probably help his confidence and we’ll get more from him going forward.

I think almost by definition there is a material possibility that Skinner leaves in free agency. I also think JBott will make him a very strong offer. But there are way too many variables.

Exactly as fast as is called for by the situation.

Well, the checking line did give up a couple of goals last night, and overall team D was pretty spotty. I can't get too worked up about Zemgus getting benched, especially if the coaches think TT has been looking good in practice.

Well, I think this depends on what you mean by "market value." If you mean "the contract that 8 other teams would give him" -- ie something like E. Kane's contract -- then I think it would be nuts to offer him less than that based on a belief that playing on Eichel's line and being close to Toronto are so valuable as to make up for the lower dollars. If you mean "the contract that only one other team would give him" -- I am closer to agreeing with you, because I think there is a limit to how much of your cap you can give a scoring winger. I will also point out that Skinner is almost certainly looking for "market rate" in the sense of the first proposed definition, and that this does not mean he's only about the Benjamins. All players want that level of market rate.

He’s not going to take a 6-year deal. 7 is the minimum.

Mine randomly disconnected me right before the 3rd period and I missed about half of the period! Well, I think you need to get used to it. They need to keep him. Dude. He was in on like 5 significant scoring chances and that line was great tonight. I think this is the first demand for a pronoun antecedent in SabreSpace history. Separately, Ullmark really fell apart in that game. So much for my prediction of a goalie controversy. Hutton is still very much the man. Pommer did have the game on his stick right in front at the end of regulation after a nifty backhand feed from Eichel and whiffed on it. I think we'll see Nelson back on on Saturday for Beaulieu. Skinner looks like he unabashedly loves playing with Eichel. If the Sabres look like a playoff team and they make him a market-level offer -- which will be freaking expensive -- I think he'll sign an extension. Back to DeLuca .500 with a winnable game (and perhaps another track meet) coming up.

ubkev -- that was a great Rico/Sabres/Gerbe karma reminiscence that you reminded me that quickly turned into a Coen brothers movie.

I have no relevant professional experience, but I am firmly into middle age and have never owned a new car either. I've had sub-optimal results twice -- both times when buying high-mileage cars from family members -- but excellent results when buying low-mileage cars from third parties (twice from dealers, once from a friend and once from a private seller via a used car publication). I am curious: what is your general approach when buying a used car? Dealer or private seller? Mileage limit? Flexibility as to make/model? Other criteria?