dudacek

As far as the game goes, when almost everyone else was hanging on by their fingernails, Henri Jokiharju was continue to skate miles and break up rushes. Another very solid effort from #10.

Joker is better than Jake and I like Jake.

Some interesting UPL numbers: 35 NHL goalies have played 9 or more games since he found his groove in mid-December. During the stretch he’s: #14 in SV% at .915 #20 in GAA at 2.97 #2 in wins with 10 #10 in % starts above .900 at 67% #5 in shots against per 60 at 34.8 Yes, he’s getting good goal support, but he’s also performing like a legitimate #1 goalie.

I generally agree with this, except I think that if Kyle isn’t back his spot will be taken by a veteran acquisition. Salary cap almost demands it.

Due diligence? Two Alex Tuchs are better than 1?

Definitely. It’s crazy how healthy we’ve been up front. Weve really only used 14 forwards this year, plus 2 games for Sheahan and 1 for Bjork. Last year it was 22 and 18 of them had at least 18 games.

If you’re arguing Comrie needs to be starting once every 3 or 4 games instead of Anderson, I understand the argument. I think Comrie’s contract and track record mean he is almost guaranteed to start next season as the backup whether he plays a dozen games down the stretch or 3, so I don’t think it matters much, but I get where you are coming from. It’s anyone arguing that he needs to get starts ahead of UPL right now that I don’t understand. UPL is auditioning for the starter’s job next year right now and until he drops the ball, it is much more important to see whether he can continue to carry it than see what the other guy can do.

Still don’t know why they have to “see what they have” in Comrie. Why? They already know he’s coming back next year. Also it’s disengenuous to say Comrie “deserves” a couple starts. Every goalie accepts you keep the crease by winning. After a shakey start, UPL is on an 11 and 3 run. After a good start, Comrie has lost 5 in a row, and allowed at least 4 goals in every game he finished. Anderson has the best numbers of the 3 and isn’t young enough to play more than once a week. The Sabres are winning at nearly a 70% clip since Comrie got hurt. Why is everyone trying to fix something that isn’t broken?

It’s an interesting thing to watch play out. The underlying principle is “go-for-it” so I doubt we will ever see a Granato team adopt a “shut-em-down” no-risk New Jersey Devils philosophy. If they succeed it will be like Tampa and PIttsburgh - they didn’t change their style, they just got smarter and more diligent within it.

He’s answered it. Many times, actually. It is his opinion that it is much easier to teach defence than offence and more important that these young players learn how to break down structure offensively and feel confident that they can create against anyone. His supporting argument is look how much better Dahlin/Tage/Skinner etcetera are than they were following the safety-first principles of Ralph Krueger.

Generally agree with your overarching point. But I remain confident that Krebs is part of the long-term core. He will be a valuable 3C as soon as next year and has upside beyond that. I am surprised how quickly the shine came off him given the Granato/Adams track record of developing young talent. He’s 21. Think of where Cozens was 90-odd games into his career and how far he’s come since.

Remember when our 4th line was Bjork/Eakin/Hayden, Mark Jankowski and Drake Caggiula were regular options and Hinostroza and Asplund were usually in our top nine? And now none of them can crack the roster? That was last year.

I felt that a lot of the Sabre issues early were more due to their incompetence than the Stars' forecheck. The passing was way off and they just weren't executing the plays they usually execute routinely. Donnie was worried pre-game that the fact they had the day off was going to hurt their start but he thought that overall they needed the rest more than the warm-up. Fortunately, Anderson weathered the early issues and it ultimately proved to be the right call.

I guess it has to be "vote against the Penguins" until it's not. No OT, please and thank you.

Play. I have fully bought in to the learn by doing mantra — because it's working.

How are you defining "when it counts"? If it's "when the game is on the line in the 3rd this season", they are 16-0-2. If it's "during the last game that means something" no Buffalo team ever has.

I don't listen to the game on the radio. On TV, Dan provides the requisite level of excitement for an exciting team. I'm enjoying his work. Mule had a rough one last.

@Thorny paid extra attention to Quinn’s positioning tonight. Like I thought, he typically lined up as a left winger for faceoffs and manned the left boards for breakouts and defensive zone coverage. As @Taro T pointed out, he also typically changed for right wingers Okposo and Tuch 🤷

Bring the bug spray. I’ve really liked what this kid is turning into. Even if the offence doesn’t come (I think there’s more there) he’s just been a dog on a bone. Hasn’t even played 100 NHL games yet. Looking forward to seeing where he is after 200. Not against adding, but I don’t think this team needs any upgrades to make the playoffs. Right now they are on a 17/8/3 run over the past 2 months with the current roster. Keep that up and that gets us 99 points. He won a lot of board battles, set up a goal, was +1, had zero giveaways, 1 takeaway, backchecked and forechecked hard, and dominated shot share at nearly 70 per cent on the road against a very good hockey team. It doesn’t really sound like you were watching in a “happy to to be proven wrong” way. Because if you were, there was lots to like about his game tonight. Has been for a few weeks now.

Eichel for Tuch and Krebs was certainly out there.

I think what’s slipping a little through the cracks is the Sabres philosophy of building from within is not likely to change next season, or any season. This is an organization that believes it’s current pattern is not only the path to becoming good, it is also the path to staying good. I don’t really expect them to start making a habit of big-name win-now trades or signings this summer or ever. What I am curious about is whether Adams will eventually be willing to move on from “his guys” the way Darcy wasn’t and Punch wasn’t.

For the record, I don’t care if Comrie gets the backup starts over Anderson, I just want UPL to continue getting most of the starts until he starts costing us games. I would imagine Comrie gets Winnipeg, UPL gets Stl and Min. Probably how I would have done it too, given the compressed schedule.

It’s been a month, but he’s only played 3 games. His last 2 starts were stinkers against bad Chicago and Philadelphia teams.

We know Comrie can be a backup. He was maybe the best backup in the league last year in Winnipeg. We need to know is UPL is a starter and the best way to do that is by letting him keep the crease. If you're giving up on the playoffs 2 games back with with 35 games to go, well, I'm glad you're not running the Sabres. For years, we've been wanting games to mean something in the new year. They still do.

UPL and Comrie are both on 1-way contracts next year. Anderson is not coming back and they aren't bringing in another NHL goalie unless neither backstops the Sabres to wins. Right now UPL is doing that. If it continues, he opens next season as the #1. If he doesn't Comrie gets his shot. We already know Comrie can be a backup.