LTS

Just because crap doesn't sit with a coach doesn't mean that the player will change. There are completely different dynamics at play here. The Sabres front office is not the same as the Leafs front office. The ownership is not the same. The Leafs did not face a situation where a player the star player was accused of saying get rid of the coach or I don't sign an extension. You can say that's because of Babcock but we don't know. This is why I asked for what proof you had. Because these conversations get you to thinking.. i went and pulled the first 42 games from last year compared to this year. While the points are better the interesting thing is the scoring breakdown. This years team is outscoring last years at even strength. Last years team performed better purely because of the power play. At this time last year they had not even reached #1 PP unit in the league, that belonged to Columbus. Interesting coincidence, Columbus ended up at 12th overall and were #31 this season until the Sabres managed to bottom out in the past few days. I'm not sure what coaching changes occurred in CBJ but I know Torts is still there and yet that team has seen a dramatic drop in their PP unit performance as well. So is it just coaching? I don't know. It was good that the power play was prolific because last years team also gave up more power play goals. I'm not sure there is a dramatic difference. I see Even strength numbers improving but the PP failing miserably. The assistant coach left but let's be honest, it's the same players out there doing nearly the same thing as last year but they are nowhere near as prolific. Is this coaching or does it speak to something else going on? Stat- 2016/17 (2017/18) Win- 16(10) Loss- 17(23) Pts - 29(41) GF- 96(92) GA- 114(142) PP%- 21.3(12.4) PK%- 74.2(79.8) Shots For/GP- 29.2(30.9) Shots Agn/GP- 32.98(32.36) FOW% - 50.4(51.2) Scoring Breakdown PPGF- 29(16) EVGF- 66(72) SHGF- 1(4) ENGF- 2(6) PPGA- 33(26) SHGA- 0(8)

What proof is there of this? I think there is a lot of wishful thinking in those statements. I think Babcock and Gallant are great coaches but I don't think there's a coach that is fixing whatever is going on in that locker room.

The Jags D was superior to the Buffalo D and that was the difference. The teams are both awful on offense. The play calling of Buffalo continues to amuse me but the biggest problem is that Taylor presents zero threat for a QB to WR combination. Even if he manages to figure out WHICH receiver is open he misses on a lot of throws. That's not going to get it done. The fact that the Buffalo D did not stop Blake Bortles from running was unbelievable. Oh well, two teams that lucked into the playoffs... and it's over for one of them.

I don't think this team has a core. I think it has a split. It's becoming abundantly clear that this is not a TEAM but a collection of players. I'm not worried about anything right now other than what the management does to change the roster. The 10 new faces from last year are enough to cause problems early on with cohesion. However, the top groupings, other than Scandella, have not really changed. They moved out some of the "heart" players in Foligno and Deslauriers. Few were sad to see Foligno go and no one admitted to being sad about Deslauriers but they did bring something on the ice or in the locker room. The unfortunate part is that there is only so much Botterill can do unless he wants to give away players and I don't see that helping.

It's some IT work for the wife. It will most assuredly happen. But I'm still seeing everything that's going on.

Back to back midday games for the Flyers right? Sabres doing what they have to do. But they need to score.

Only from those who blame the coach for getting the same result with the same players as the last coach. I need to see some changes in the roster before I blame Housley.

Bills on the iPad. Sabres on the TV. I'm on my laptop posting away. Also trying to get some work done. What a fun day.

I'll be watching the Sabres. There's plenty of time to do so what with the 75 commercial breaks an NFL game has. Of course during intermission I can flip over and see a minute and 30 seconds of football be played. I could stream the Bills on my tablet. It's likely that will occur just so I can see both. If the Bills play well and the Sabres are too much to make even me not want to have them on the big screen then I will flip the hockey game to the tablet. It's 2018.. no reason you can only see one of the events going on. Of course my kid has a hockey game in West Seneca today... but he's still on the IR so I shipped him off with another family and I am staying home. It would have been worth it had I been able to talk to Marty Biron (we play his son today) but knowing he'll be at the studio doing hockey I figured why bother going to West Seneca. Go Sabres.. Go Bills. It could be a good day. Hell, it'll be a warmer day if nothing else.

I'm watching skeleton on NBCSN. I love people who are insane.

Watching the WJC and checking here and drinking... I missed how much time was left. Oh well. Here we go.

Dann. Sorry MODO. Friggin Canada. Sigh.

All of the commercials... They are all bad.

At least we're thinking the same thing.

Jeez. Zemgus is only 24. Drafted in 2012. He's the longest tenured Sabre right? Not counting Pominville who took a hiatus. I feel like that says a lot about this team.

Beer 3 for the second period. I like that math.

My 2nd beer says.... Bring on #3.

Rohrbach Space Kitty.

Not my fault. :)

Pre-game DIPA ingested. I'm good to go. USA showed up. It's all a bonus now.

I'm more likely to watch the Sabres. Might put the Bills game on the tablet.

I'm all in for Sweden tonight. They should show well and if they can play the disciplined game they did against USA they should be in a great spot to win the game. Mittelstadt has looked great and I do hope for more today from him. Today's game is a sign of how players respond after failing. They blew up yesterday and anyone with pride should want to win this game big.

Risto was on a 2 game goal streak and ended up watching the game from the press box. I wonder if Reino can pull off the same feat? I'll probably have the game on tonight.. because I still relish the times my son and I can sit down and watch a game of hockey together. I'll hate it. He'll hate it. But we'll probably enjoy it a little bit as well.

Does Pittsburgh's loss tonight help grease the wheels for a trade? This game is a joke. They can use the Wild video on how to play hockey.

Based on the slo-no review in the intermission it's the right call on Risto. If he goes for more of a hip check then I think there's no call. Doesn't help that the Nation hit is fresh in the minds of officials either. Risto plays with an edge and he crossed it there.