ska-T Chitown

They seemed to relax and just play?

To be fair (? maybe I am just being a homer) - SJ seems content to just clog things up at the expense of them being able to generate any offense?

It seems like most everyone except Mitts put on the "anti-puck" tape today ... passing and catching to day is definitely off. 😞

This is how I feel - I don't think you can point to a lack of effort in this game, but yeah, the result sucks bawlz.

Marty was explaining the basics of how to properly break out of your own zone and calling out Sabres for sitting at the opposing blue line with no speed - lol, LOVE IT! Felt like he wanted to have crayons to draw it so the Sabres could understand it. 🤣

I understood your original point, and I fear it may have been clear that I pretty much agree with what you were saying - more just wanted to "talk shop" about positioning, etc. I totally agree that just being in the way is often times better than being in the absolute wrong spot - 100%. Fear not, fellow 'Spacer - I don't like coming after people for their opinions (at least about hockey), I actually enjoying learning from others' perspectives on this board! 🙂

I admire your ability and willingness to analyze the game - your takes (even when i have a minor disagreement) are generally pure joy to read. Seriously, no sarcasm. I'd quibble a bit with the bold in that the strong side winger in most defensive systems (I guess I am making a big leap that we have one) should be actively supporting the D, so 'hanging out' might just be word choice? Also, normally 2 of the 3 of C + 2xD are assumed to actively pressure the puck - strong side winger picking up loose pucks form the scrum, weak side D (or C, I guess) in front of the net with weak side W at the top of the slot (taking away cross ice passes). Obviously, good offensive teams have ways to overload or defeat such a simple system ... but again I think 'system' is a strong word for the footloose and fancy-free chaos that is often the scene in the Buffalo D zone. I don't know if you look at non-goals, but one thing I *think* I have noticed lately is that when Buffalo gets 3 (or worse, 4) guys at or below their own goal line, they have an enormously hard time breaking the puck out. I think the other teams see this and crash down hard as the Sabres only have 2 men high for breakout. This ties in pretty well with your observations about Cozens (and I have certainly seen Benny do it too, but I still love him) chasing too hard. I think figuring out how to get the puck out of their own zone while maintaining possession - not just firing it around the boards/glass - would also solve at least 25% of the D-zone issues. Anyway, cheers! And here's to hoping for a mid-to-upper range miracle in the second half of the season!

I actually like Reino, but IIRC, he was sent down his draft +1 year for being essentially clueless at the NHL level. I'd wager at this stage in their careers, Benson is ahead. No clue how that pans out 6 or 7 years from now, tho.

Ryan Johnson: July 24, 2001 Owen Power: November 22, 2002 He is older than Power and those four years of NCAA hockey sure seem to be paying off for Little J.

C'mon ... at current paces (of Philly and NJ right now) - the Sabres would need 96 points ... so 56 out of the last 80 they can get ... 0.700 ... at least it is not statistically impossible?

This would make us 7-3 when added to our 4-2. For the this year's team - that is liquid magma hot! 🌋🔥 Might leap-frog a team or two ahead of us with that!

Does anyone else miss that feeling (or heck, even remember it to miss it?) of actually looking forward to a Sabres game? I suppose most of us felt it last spring as the team made a valiant last ditch effort towards the playoffs. But, I remember being a kid during the Patty/Alex years and barely being able to contain my excitement to watch the game - or how mad I was when it was west coast or not on TV. -sigh-

Wisdom tooth pulled yesterday and a double root canal this morning. I am here to complain about younger me being too much of a dumb arse to take better care of his chompers. (FWIW, at this point - Novocain not fully worn off - I am not sure what all the fuss is about re: root canals)

But what you are describing sounds like accountability, I was promised by SabreSpace that the Sabres have none of that. So, it must be something else.

I was just about to spread a little sunshine with "Casey seems to be buzzing tonight"

Enough for me to notice, lol

Rob Ray with the loose tie and stubble, looking quite disheveled there.

Let's be honest, Dahlin needs to get that puck when he steps up, too.

First Friday back after the long holiday period, most people are still shaking off the rust and figuring out what it is we do again. This leads to a slow and pleasant Friday!

I agree - there were several times I saw Olofsson actually hounding the puck and I think I recall (maybe it was just the whiskey) him creating a few turnovers. He even seemed engaged in the D zone which certainly must have been a dream. The 4th line were all +0, which in my mind was a win.

Maybe I am crazy and I won't be mad if other saw it differently - but when I watch the replay of Dahlin's gaffe (I think the real mistake was underestimating the defender), he looks up to the blueline right away and sees a Montreal player either step-for-step with or ahead of the first Sabre coming back. He kept the offensive player to the top/outside of the faceoff circle - it was not that bad of a play when you consider Buffalo's forwards' reputations for not back checking. He thought they might have a 2-on-1, so he played the pass, like you are supposed to?

If they let that go ... what next?

lol - i thought the same thing, but on the replay, Tommy Dangles did the "hook the guy's stick with your arm" trick and the Ref was like "nah, bro"

came here for the "PP is awful" comments ... not disappointed.

You get the intermission stuff and maybe a little bit of pregame? ESPN+ generally offers me (in Chicago) all the viewing options - even the 'Hawks, so I am not sure what the blackout rules are. I just picked up Proton VPN last week for the Bills game - so far so good.