Mango

I really think the most recent line shake ups are a big part of it. The kid line can’t get pushed around anymore, there’s always somebody reasonably physical on the ice, and a veteran to anchor a young’n.

I feel like people who complain about our crew haven’t spent enough time listening to other markets. I am not putting our guys at the top of the power rankings, but they’re OK. More often than not they’re better than the away feed.

Injury aside, Tage has made a handful of bad decisions.

Yeah. A little bit of my thought. But I think there is a world where Levi was lights out in their last practice and UPL was off. Given the weight of this game, it forced his hand. Same thing against Detroit. Tage isn’t 100%. Also, I like it in general. I think the mixed up lines are a good look for us.

I’d be OK running back Levi/Comrie if we grab 2 second line defenders. Theres some nuance to it all, but nobody is coaching Boosh to make that pass last night. And we’ve had nights sub .800 S%. Fix two of the three and I will be happy.

Agreed here. Also sorta wild we may relegate him a 70 point player to the 3rd line. Part of the reason I liked the line shake up last night. Mitts plays well there, and Tommers played super well on the wing, even banged up it meant that Cozens and Greenway were more productive. Even Quinn and JJP benefited from having Josts physicality. The Pens were successful for a long time doing something similar. And none of that precludes us from ever going back and forth situationally.

I have been hard on Greenway since we picked him up, but he has gotten better since coming here. I do like mixing the lines up a bit last night. It was a good mix of speed, skill, and physicality. A lot of successes from a lot of different lines. Felt like most of the forwards had a good night and less mismatches from shift to shift/line to line.

I was just thinking that today actually. 2 2nd line defensemen would go along way. I can see a world were we go 1a/1b between Levi/Comrie for a year until UPL progresses in Rochester (if he clears waivers), then Devon takes on the full starting role and UPL is 2G a year or two later. In a perfect world I would still try and get a vet plus 2 defensemen just to hedge your bets. I also liked the forward lines last night. It does us some good to have a physical presence on each line rather than, a scoring line, a fast line, and a grinder line. The Pens were successful for years with a similar model. I would have to go back and look, but I think all 3 deflections were off of Sabres players. At one point I think the Sabres scores all 6 goals on the scoreboard.

Against Florida there were two occasions where his forecheck created a turnover and he was left in front of the net at a bad angle and nobody to pass to. His line mates left him for dead. There was nothing to do but shoot the puck. If the entire team skated the way he did that game we would have won that one. I didn't like Mitts for a while and now I hope the Sabres find a way to keep him around going forward.

I went from swearing at Mitts last year and early this year. Now I’m calling for him to be on the ice at points. I don’t think we could have shaken the lines up like we did today without Mitts. His versatility and tenacity lately is the glue. EDIT: Worth noting, he is the only guy on the roster who has played every single game.

I think I agree. But I think you have to sit him for either NYR or NJD back to back. Maybe Lindy can do us a favor and hold his guys back a bit.

3 goals literally came off Sabres players. That’s insane, we should be talking about a 6-3 win and another .900 night from Levi. He did look a bit more human tonight even though he played well.

I think the kid needs a break. But we need this game and he’ll sit one of NYR/NJD a few days later. Based on Levi’s whole vibe, I imagine he is drooling to play at MSG.

It’s amazing how this kid is all smiles after letting in 6* tonight. It’s infectious. I totally agree. More just saying I wouldn’t lump that goal with the one that came off Powers leg. The kid is legit.

I agree with all of this. On that Jost turn over, he was certainly left out to dry. But he left himself super vulnerable coming way to to challenge the shooter that way.

That one’s on you Levi. (3 of them aren’t) He’s done what it takes to keep shots from the Redwings out of the back of the net tonight. He’s been good. But he looks a little more hectic tonight.

I’m still annoyed that the Sabres have scored 8/9 goals scored tonight. EDIT: 9/10 scored.

I agree. But tonight, against a dead RW team, a little more mix and match across the lines covers that up quite a bit. Tuch, Greenway, and Jost on 3 different lines is paying off tonight. I would like to see them against Carolina.

He’s been perfect on pucks coming off of Redwing sticks. Terrible at saving pucks off of his teammates.

Looks like they’re filming it now in the box.

Levi vs Sabres S%, 0 Levu vs Redwings S%,100

Deflected yes. But another poster or two have mentioned how much space Levi leaves up top due to size. The bipolar Buffalo fan in me cringes

Agreed, and I’ve been hard on him. I also like these lines. They seem a bit more versatile. Where as our standard pairings felt like they had no balance. Basically full speed ahead or hold on.

Cozy, Tage, Greenway. Even without the goal, that was a productive line.

Razors pre-game. 😂 On fire today. ”I used to dominate Hasek in practice in practice. And I scored on him in Chicago. Look it up” ”You had to get a few fines back in the day to help the tax situation. Now you can’t write it off”