LTS

Yea.. because I might start drinking one thread too early. Go Sabres! Can't wait.. it cannot be said enough... I look forward to games now. That's so refreshing.

Could they have that stadium built in time? If so, then could you imagine if the announcement was both the WJC, outdoor games, and that they will be held at the new stadium that will be built by then? I don't think they could get it build by then... Levi's Stadium broke ground April 2012 and opened July 2014. They would have to start now and beat that timeline to have it done in time.

I'd be interested... no doubt. Although you might be have a hard time with so many of us being in the same distribution area. :)

I suppose to make it fair to all teams they should each play 1 game outdoors... right? I mean the ice surface will be there! No matter what this is awesome and I know I will be attending games next year with my son. I cannot wait.

That was absolutely classic.

One Buffalo has a high wheat base. It's more of a lightly hopped wheat pale than anything if I recall the original description properly. Sigh.. someone needs to trade me some beers... :) If you like Christmas Ales then you should like this. I'm not a HUGE fan of Christmas Ales.

I think people need to look at the Sabres system before the talk about the front of the net. I don't see the Sabres prioritizing the front of the net at all. While you can trot out the mantra of "control the slot" there are systems that allow for the attacker to be there while the defender is busy preventing the puck from getting there in the first place. I'll watch more for that but off the top of my head I don't think any Sabres defenders hang out in front of the net for too long. The other key comparison is to note that Ristolainen's age relative to the others. Defenders aren't generally THIS good at THIS age. So, where does he project in 2 more years? He's definitely one of the best Sabres on the ice. He's definitely calculating but he makes the smart play most of the time and he usually doesn't get himself out of position. He's a threat in the offensive zone when he needs to be and he hits when it makes sense. He's not perfect... I recall Subban being almost a joke at this age. He had all kinds of flashes of talent but he was so emotional that he'd get himself out of position all the time. Now look at him...

I think the black pads that the Blackhawks goalies where are also a problem. It obscures the view of a puck and may make it harder to see if a puck crosses the line because it creates a larger black field.

It's not poopy scheduling. The general populace does not care about November/December games. Football is dominating people's minds. The NHL is getting the cross-country games out of the way early so that they can have the focus of the second half of the season on conference/divisional play (except for Tampa.. I can't explain that). In the second half, when people are interested in hockey more, they will be presented with games that have more meaning in the standings and probably carry a bit more animosity.

Well, the guy has a history of being a hothead so it's not necessarily isolated to this particular moment. However, I do think there have to be other issues at play for a blow up of those proportions to occur. Also.. the Lakeshore rink gates are just as bad these days, almost lost a finger in one. There are a lot of bad parents. I hear all kinds of stuff and it really bothers me how much some people put into the game and on their children. Coaches do get bombarded by parents with "ideas", etc. Most of the time you can just pass it off but I know there are some really toxic relationships in the area. It's sad... the kids are supposed to have fun and enjoy what they are doing. Taking away from that because of some screwed up belief that your child will be an NHL great is robbing them of some important years in their lives.

So, as I mention, I coach youth travel hockey (Age 11). Last night just blew my mind. We're losing to the other team 4-3. They are a local Rochester team as are we. Our head coach used to coach in their organization but moved last year. There is a bit of animosity between the two and they get a little jacked up when playing each other. So, just inside the start of the 3rd period there is apparently a missed offsides call right in front of the opposing coach. Then his player gets called for interference, no debate as he bowled over a kid without the puck. The coach lost his mind. He began screaming as loud as I have ever heard anyone. He let a few f bombs drop and got a bench minor from the ref. That's when he proceeded to lose everything else. He was so enraged that he tried to get on the ice and could not even get the door to open. Finally the ref called a forfeit against his team and ended the game. I'm waiting to see what USA Hockey does to this guy. He should be suspended at least 2 years from coaching (if not permanently). He's also a hockey referee himself and I've heard he's on the local board for officials. I can only imagine how that will go over. Talk about doing the wrong thing for all the wrong reasons. He cost his team the game and likely ruined his involvement with youth hockey for a long time. I bet he made his son proud too. Eeeeesh.

I should post here so this goes near the top. Go Sabres. Won't see much tonight, if any. Hockey tournament and we get a 6:50pm start and then a 7:20am start tomorrow. Go us.

I don't see it that way. They have been playing the majority of their games against teams that don't give up many goals. When they have scored more than 2 goals in a game they played: CBJ, NJD, PHI, PIT, PHI, VAN, FLA. Let's see how their scoring looks when they begin playing the teams that are in the bottom 50% for goals allowed.

Well.. Nashville is 8th best in lowest GA so things should be looking up. Sabres are now at 16 at least.

underrated by who? He's a beast.

Must be multiple threads.. so I am going to copy something I posted elsewhere 2 days ago.

Team psychology? They're fine. They have played hockey for their entire lives. They aren't freaking out. Hell the goal was a damn fluke to begin with. I think all the naysayers are missing one thing. More than anything it might actually get the CROWD fired up when it's not overturned and that might generate some energy for his team at a point when they need it. The timeout could have been important, but it wasn't. It's a risk. He had an opportunity and he took it. I would have challenged it.

Posted in the Ennis thread... summarized here: 17 of Sabres first 24 games are against teams that are higher than they are in the GA ranking in the NHL. The Sabres are 17. I don't think everyone else can say that yet. Give it time.

We're all over the Sabres lack of scoring. The top 17 in GA in the NHL include: Canadiens, Predators (6), Sharks (9), Islanders (10), Lightning (8), Stars (11), Blues (15), Panthers (14), Senators (16), Devils (5), Penguins (4) (with the Sabres at 17) The Sabres have played: Senators - 1 Lightning - 4 Panthers -2 Canadiens - 1 Devils - 1 Penguins - 1 Islanders - 1 Stars - 2 Blues - 1 So, 14 of their 20 games have been against teams near the top 50% of the league in GA. 3 of their next 4 are against teams in the top 50% (Blues, Preds x 2) When they are done with November they will have played 17 of 24 games against teams that give up less goals per game than the Sabres. I'm not ready to blow anything up yet.

Said in the STL GDT. Sabres are scoring better than Detroit and Anaheim. I don't feel bad.

<conspiracy_theory> Go back and rethink the decisions on player usage with the following in mind. 1. The Sabres do not want to make the playoffs this year. 2. The goal of this season is to show they can compete. 3. The Sabres will get a lottery pick in 2016. </conspiracy_theory> Now.. that said.. NHL network had a stat up today on the Sabres being the 5th lowest scoring team in the league. Anaheim and Detroit were tied or below them. I don't feel so bad anymore. Didn't see the game.. can't comment more than that.

I'll be flying back from Dallas during this one. Was strange watching the Sabres vs. Stars game in a sports bar in Dallas. No one even cared it was on. Sigh. I was hoping I'd still be here so I could go watch them play the Stars but alas that did not happen. I feel so out of touch being away for a few days. Go Sabres...

Well, he's on the third line and 6th in points. Now he's a +1. I see him out there actually hitting people as well. Perhaps he's not been put in the best position to score but he's still more reliable on the ice than everyone but Reinhart. On THIS team I think it's what you are going to get for his $5M, at this time. That said, it doesn't seem to be so bad. It's the idea of what Moulson was in the past versus what he is here to do now. I do believe his scoring will improve as the season moves on as well. We shall see.

I can't get over the opinion that Moulson is not contributing or below expectations. He is 6th on the team in scoring and at an even +/-. He is 4-5 minutes lower in TOI and 4-6 less shifts per game than those above him (two are D) What is he doing wrong? Is he not flashy enough? Does he not shut people down enough? He's here to contribute scoring and clearly he is doing that. Gio is here for other reasons and he's really more of the steadying mentality. His production could be a bit better but he's dependable. I think the Sabres have a great mix of talent and personalities. The scoring has started to come together and we are seeing times where the Sabres have just pinned other teams in their own zone. We are at game 16 with all of this. Let's see how they do through November against some tough competition.

McCabe. I don't particularly care for Simmonds. I can see why people would want him, but I'm not giving up anything proposed so far for him. I just don't think the Sabres need him. This year is not the year and trying to make it "the year" will mean that next year is likely to be less of "the year". People are antsy to win now and almost at all costs. I get it.. but the patience has to be there. Weakening the already thin depth defense would be a heinous crime. Removing a top 6 forward to get Simmonds does the same thing. No thanks. The Sabres have all the bigger banging forwards they need right now and they have more in the pipeline. We don;'t know how many goals they can score because the past two years they've been on a really bad team. The Sabres have scoring on 3 lines right now. I think any trade that weakens one of them reduces the scoring change and trading a top 6 for a top 6 would be kind of pointless except to change player types and I don't think that's needed either.