LTS

But their rebuild is light years ahead? ? Tonight was a great night.. got up to the bar just as the anthem was finishing. Our men's league game was a classic... we lost but it was some of the most fun I've had in years playing. I was chirping the crap out of their best player and we had the ref in stitches on the ice. It was a great time. We toasted each other after the game. I was in and out of watching the game but ended up home for the 3rd period. I saw a lot and it looked real good. The best news is that this team still isn't anywhere near where it is capable of playing. I'm glad many of you feel really good about the team after tonight. You deserve it.

If Skinner keeps whining about who he plays with then I would hope they pump his value and move him. There's no room for that on a team. His performance will speak for itself and I do like that he seems interested in congratulating teammates. Never know how much is for show.. not that familiar with his day in day out attitude in Carolina. He holds the cards and if he wants too much then he's going to be another asset for next year's draft... another 1st round pick and a prospect might get them a solid roster player.

I'll be stepping off the ice when the Sabres are stepping onto it. Should be a good time to catch some in the bar afterward... I hope.

It is luck that it gets through, however it would be foolish to not give credit to Bogosian. For the puck to go where it went, he had to shoot it there. It didn't get deflected and bounce it. It went straight in and when that happens, the shooter has to be given credit for shooting it there.

I think with the way Ullmark is playing that you have to begin to try and up his percentage of games and see what he shows. But it's the right call to not play him tonight.

I've always thought of this place as being better than other places. Just because somewhere else is toxic doesn't mean this place needs to be. We're not trying to lower ourselves to their standards here. This is a Sabres forum, and the original thought was about the Sabres and comparing their star player to another player in the "ALL AROUND THE NHL" thread. It doesn't seem all that out of line that in this thread there would be discussion about stuff that relates to happenings in the NHL. Quite honestly, if the Sabres were to win a Cup that way it would be an asterisk that every fan on those other 30 teams could hold above our head and we'd know it was true. If the Sabres are going to win a Cup.. I want them to earn it.

I'm going to assume that you weren't aware the Kings are a hot mess right now when you said this. Doughty is calling the coach out. Quick was bad, injured, and is back (and is still not doing well). My guess is that the Doughty contract situation is in a lot of heads right now and some other factors are contributing to their decline. They appear to be in for a few years of basement dwelling.

You know what I see? People all doing the same thing to each other and trying to call the other one out for it. I'm the problem? No you are the problem. No YOU are. No YOU are. Everyone is the problem. No one gets a pass. Somewhere along the way Flagg's posting support for the Trocheck numbers and everyone's ignoring that just to pile on.

The team is progressing the way it should. Games like this are the ones they need to win and hopefully they come along to be more competitive against the stronger teams. The Ducks will be a great test. The Kings are a mess right now. It was a good game overall but even reading the GDT you can see where the forums sees the need for improvement. On to the next game.

Right? Sigh.

I happen to disagree with both assertions. The first that Ullmark is not getting a fair shake to be the starter and the second being that he should have started after the shutout. I think Ullmark may be able to force his way into being the starter, especially if Hutton gets injured. I have a lot of faith in him. As for debating Ullmark making a difference over Hutton, my primary reasoning behind it is that Hutton is a seasoned veteran and knows whats going on. He's projected an air of being fairly unexciteable and I think when the games get tense that helps the team. Ullmark is a bit more outgoing and emotional and I think in similar circumstance that might add to the fire rather than help put it out. Either way, I think Sabres are losing those games with whomever you put in net. The goaltending isn't the issue on this team. The team has to play better defense and control the puck more.

I agree... but that's exactly what people in here are advocating for... not me. It's not Hutton who's keeping the Sabres from winning games right now and I don't think Ullmark would have changed things in the standings.

He is this team's established starter and that's all that matters. There was never a question of who was the starting goaltender for this team this season. I understand that Hutton has not been an established starter throughout his career, but his role changed when he came to Buffalo. I'm also pretty confident in recalling that people were kind of down on Ullmark during the pre-season for his performance. I'm not that motivated to go back and find the posts. This conversation reminds me of the others about this team. The team isn't looking great so change everything just to see what happens. People were all gaga over Hutton and his 3 on 0 save versus the Rangers, but then a few bad games and Ullmark shuts out the lowest scoring team in the league and everyone is all "STARTER STARTER"..

I think the eye test says they suck at shooting. I would hope it's because they are trying too hard to pick the corners, etc. and not just having really bad aim. Either way, get the pucks on net.

Like the moth to a flame I was ready to come back and get burned for this game... then my son's hockey team realized they had ice tonight so I will end up having to miss/listen to parts of the game.... I'm hoping that I should be irritated about that rather than thankful for it.

The right move, despite the impatient fan base's near Vesuvian rage, is to let things play out and stop changing things all the time.

There were people I saw out of line last night, but JJ wasn't one of them. The way I see it, there are a lot of people angry about the Sabres performance. So angry that when a guy they see as only a partial fan makes a suggestion it makes them feel better by attacking him. The classic, "Hey, only I get to question Eichel's value to the team because I am a real fan." syndrome. There are threads about Eichel and what he is as a player all over this place. Seemingly each GDT has questions of whether he's a good fit. But JJ hops in and suggests a trade for a player who has done more for his team than Eichel has for his and people begin losing their mind? Perhaps some reflection is needed...

Ullmark managed to get a shutout against a team that, at that point, had the most anemic offense in the NHL. He'll get another shot this weekend, we'll see how it goes against either the Kings or Ducks. As for fair assessment, this is how it works in the NHL and it's never worked differently. He'll have to prove himself in his limited starts and hope for an opportunity. And yet every coach plays the backup a single game and then goes back to the starter almost every time. This situation is no different.

I don't think it's accurate to say he has not been given a fair shake to start. The organization has evaluated Ullmark since Day 1 of him coming board. They know who he is and what he can do at this moment. He has proven to be quite capable and a player with promise. However, I don't think he's done anything to win a starting job yet and with the way this team is playing it might be better if he's only in the backup role right now. There is a sense, I think, that changes must be made because of where this team is at. I understand why people feel that way. I hope there are a few changes made but I don't think the goaltending situation is where it should happen. I think Hutton is the right goaltender for this team right now.

Rob Ray giving advice on playing penalty free. I hope you all survive the night. Cheers!

I know.. but there’s a reason for it. Or something. that scandella penalty is vintage EASPORTS NHL and a goal.

Because they can. thats the same reason I used when making my drink to start the period.

I hope your prediction holds. You need a win.

At least she bought the beer in the green bottle? glad you are hear to talk about it. Cheers... some things are bigger than a game.

Second period coming up. Second Manhattan coming up. i can do this.