LTS

Your eye analogy could use more explanation. The problem with any statistical analysis is that you have to be positive in the decision making process you use to create the stat and verify why it's important. Ergo, if analytics were the answer then, in theory, any fool could use them and be equally effective as anyone else right? If you can break it all down into a statistical equation then the output would never vary as sure as 2+2 = 4. That's my point... analytics are not the answer, they are part of the answer, but they are not THE answer. So, analytics do not equal winning. They increase the chances of winning but the models aren't there yet to predict winning. If they were, everyone would use them the same.

Only on talk like a pirate day.

If analytics were the answer then everyone would be using them the same. They may increase a chance of winning but they do not equal winning. I would suspect that's what he's getting at and it aligns with how most people think. The stats are helpful but they cannot tell the whole story.

Sweet. Fancy stats tell us that? I'm in. Go Sabres. There's never a time I don't want more hockey.

This got me to thinking. Montreal used the same forecheck against the Sabres. As near as I can tell they were going 2-1-2 on the forecheck and that's designed to either pressure slow defensemen or to keep well skating D from getting up the ice too quickly. I think it worked on Edmonton quite well. They want to be up tempo and if they are pushing their forwards up the ice too early the 2-1-2 should counter that fairly well as the D won't get the puck up the ice in time. In the case of Montreal they were all over our "slow" D. Franson, Nelson, Bogo, etc. Like saying a PeeWee team could beat you? Must be his smug chin.

I thought his hit on Talbot was outstanding. The Sabres looked far more patient tonight with the puck. The game against Montreal they were all stone hands. Pucks were bouncing off sticks like crazy. It reminded me of the Nolan system. Tonight was much more like last year. Patience with the puck and make a good outlet pass. That said, Edmonton is not as physical as Montreal or as fast. Montreal's speed was a huge factor. Forget where I heard it but it was somewhere on the broadcast tonight... Edmonton and Toronto are both playing a "hell with the defense" style right now. If they can't get the goals they are going to be in trouble because they will give some up. It's entertaining... if you win. Like what I am seeing.. but Franson is killing me. Each time he touches the puck I cringe that something bad is going to happen.

That's a neck more than anything.

And. That. Was. Beautiful. Too.

That. Was. Beautiful.

Watched most of the Bills game.. got chicken breast and pork chops on the smoker for a between game meal... and yes.. beer. I'm ready.

Emelin does push him.. as he's supposed to do. If you look at Kane's left skate he isn't on the inside edge and it allows him to end up going over and into the boards. Emelin is not cheap on that because in most situations the player is going to lean hard on his inside edge and he'll push back into Emelin and their strength will cancel out. In this case, because Kane is not angling his skate he's opened himself up and boom. It's not cheap, it's a good hockey play and an unfortunate consequence. Icing does not even come into play here. It wouldn't have been icing in the first place and Kane touches the puck... it hadn't crossed the line either, so even if he misses it the whistle would not blow because icing cannot be in effect until the puck crosses the line. The race condition you are referring to only comes into play once the puck crosses the end line. I hope Jack Eichel doesn't come back and start skating as hard as Kane because if he gets injured like that what will this place do? Go fast.. but not too fast, but don't float or go slow either... now speed up here, but slow down there.. you idiot, you suck. But I guess Jack is a good skater so it wouldn't happen... because McDavid sucks on his skates and he didn't have nearly the same thing happen to him last year. Sigh... Hope Kane isn't too injured and that he can come back soon.

Good goal on account of the Sabres not being able to clear the crease. Ridiculous. Weak play. Watch Carr just lumberjack at Lehner. Sigh.

Loving Larsson more and more. He tracks the puck like a hound on a Fox.

Let Reinhart be Moulson's Tavares.

:) A little more fight from Buffalo. But we need those finishers right now.

That's not on him. Kane needed to stay tucked in and leaning into Emelin. He attempts to stand up and he ends up over his edges and it's lights out. Similar to McDavid last year except this was further out from the boards so he slid in full speed.

I'm going with hip injury.

Love hearing that.

For those complaining about the goal. Gallagher is carrying the puck outside of Gorges. At the last moment he changes the release point by pulling it in and wristing it through Gorges. He picks the perfect spot. That's a great goal, tough save and not the fault of the Gorges either.

Foligno... Stupid. Ugh.

And there's RJ. I'm good now. Scary good.

In Rochester I've had pregame and the game the whole time.

Sweater: blank dark blue Beer: Ballast Point Ginger Big Eye Stereo: 11 Let's go Buffalo!

There's video of a Leafs fan in the catwalk shooting Jack's ankle. It's going to be released any day now by Russian hackers who lost a lot of money betting against Matthews over/under for his debut game. Love this.

Look.. here's what I know. My Sabres sweater will be on. My sound system will be blasting. This is the opening of the Sabres season. This is what I wait for every year regardless of what every paid and unpaid analyst has said about this team. This is what I need to get through the long months of winter. Despite any injury, any prognostication of success, this is Buffalo Sabres hockey. I love hockey and no gods are going to take that away from me. I cannot wait until tonight. Oh, and as for hockey gods. As I see it, there is nothing crueler than having your franchise savior score 4 goals and still coming up with a loss. All the credit in the world to Matthews for a great game, but the rest of the Leafs couldn't stop the Senators.