nfreeman

One more comment on the Rangers game: DD's "Skinner, Skinner, overtiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimmme winner!" was a great, great call. (I just heard it yesterday as when I watched the game on Friday, we had the NYC MSG feed.)

I think TT will play, although he’ll continue to be hampered by injury.

Levi with a bullet.

Well, as perreault and others have noted, the obvious item is a defenseman better than Stillman but not as good or expensive as Chycrun. It seems like a few of those changed hands during the season at points when it was obvious the Sabres needed a decent defenseman. Of course we can’t know for sure whether a move like that would’ve delivered, say, 2 more wins but it seems reasonable to think so. We also don’t know whether any of those defensemen would’ve had a good attitude about coming here, which I agree with KA is an absolute requirement for bringing guys in. One other key factor in this debate IMHO is that I think most of their home struggles — which is where the season will have been lost if they don’t miraculously make the playoffs— are not due to lack of talent in goal or on D, but in coaching/mental toughness. I’m kinda skeptical that any in-season move for a bottom 3 defenseman would’ve solved those issues.

Welcome and excellent first post!

Mitts, like many of his teammates, has definitely taken major steps under DG. He's become a quality depth scorer who can flex into the top 6 when needed, although you probably don't want to rely on him in that role. He's always had great hands and his strength on the puck has improved. IMHO, his biggest weakness has always been poor decision-making, and I continue to see many instances each night where he has the puck and either skates it or passes it into the wrong spot, killing a possession. He's improved in this regard from dreadful to below average. I can see it continuing to improve next year. Mitts turns 25 early next season, which is the last year of his current contract (which was $2.5MM per year x 3 years). He'll be an RFA after next season, so there isn't an urgent need to give him a big contract or otherwise make a decision on his long-term status here. I think they'll most likely see how he does next season and then decide. In the meantime, if he finishes this season with 50-52 pts, that number plus his contract status makes him a reasonably attractive trade asset -- although as others have noted, he seems pretty well liked by the coaches and his teammates, so perhaps a trade is unlikely.

Also — that Skinner OT winner is on his Sabres highlight reel IMHO. After pushing the action all night, he bursts through 2 defenders in the circle, takes possession cleanly with his skate, kicks it perfectly to his tape and then immediately beats the goalie top shelf to win Levi’s debut? Freaking awesome.

He’s certainly quite strong on the puck.

A few thoughts on Levi and the G situation generally: - as others have said, the top 2 spots should be Levi’s and Comrie’s to lose. - Even so, each of the 4 goalies is probably aware that if his next outing is lousy, he’s likely not getting another shot this year. - If Levi and Comrie both play well down the stretch it becomes pretty hard to see them bringing in another goalie this summer. - If Comrie starts tonight and doesn’t bring it, I’d expect to see Levi in the next game and then UPL.

So was it confirmed that Stillman was a healthy scratch last night? If so, I'd guess Bryson stays in since they won and played pretty good team D, but I wouldn't be shocked if DG rotated in Stillman.

So last night on the Rangers' broadcast (which is a consistently excellent production btw), they said something that I don't think I knew: Levi had the all-time 2nd-highest career SV% in NCAA history, behind only Hellebucyk.

by the way, Skinner really brought it last night.

Holy mackerel. Levi is the prince that was promised. He was great and he inspired them. The homestretch is gonna be thrilling.

I didn't realize, before checking just now, that Minny is ranked #1 in the country and is playing in the Frozen Four this week. National Semis are Thursday night -- Minny plays BU and Michigan plays Quinnipiac -- and the championship game is Saturday night.

I was overseas in January and was able to watch ESPN+ via vpn. It didn’t work without vpn. Happy trails!

No question the stupid factor is high in the F&F movies. But the action sequences are fantastic.

JW is good, but a bit repetitive IMHO. I prefer the Fast and the Furious and Mission Impossible.

I too will recommend the Last of Us. A bit uneven but overall very good.

It’s way too early for a victory lap on this.

No goalie announcement yet?

This is obnoxious.

Well, that was a strange Sabrespace interaction.

Ultimately I think they shouldn't do this now, but at the same time there are legit questions about coaching, including the PK, the consistently terrible focus/intensity level at home and the utter collapse down the stretch when the playoffs were there for the taking. I can see plenty of scenarios next season in which I'd be fine letting him go.

The new Chris Rock special on Netflix is excellent, IMHO.

Hang in there @Wyldnwoody44. We are pulling for you.