LTS

The face value of the ticket was about $150 for the Sabres fan section.. if I recall.

The evolution occurs like any other evolution occurs. Naturally and at its own pace. It's not sped up by anyone claiming people should get over it. You cannot control the general public and in the eyes of the general public, the term carries certain connotations that project images of blacks being hanged. You don't have to agree, but you should accept that's how it works in the world. Whites don't have to say sorry to every black person, they just have to not act like what happened is no longer a big deal. It is to people and it's perfectly fine to accept as a white person, that blacks have not yet "gotten over it". So you simply just avoid using those terms and remain cognizant of the impact that those actions of the past still carry in communities outside your own. Even if you happen to work with people of all different races, etc. It doesn't mean you work with the general consensus of those races.

Just wanted to point out that, for me at least, the plane departs two weeks from today. Getting some planning done for the trip.. no idea what all I am going to do yet. ? The excitement... it's real.

And some of us lucky Yanks? I wonder if i could sell the ticket and my authentic 50th sweater to cover the cost of the trip to Sweden. Then again.. why would I be going? Sabres 50th weren't even listed on shop.nhl.com yesterday. This is why there's no 4th line. ?

The Sabres had some bad bounces tonight. They also faced a SJS team that was working about as hard as they will ever this season. SJS deserves credit for making that game what it was. They absolutely had the Sabres for much of the first and most of the third. They were very smart in their forecheck and they backed off if the forecheck wasn't there and played some serious trap hockey to swallow up the Buffalo rush. All night, there were little missed passes by Buffalo and some bounces that seemed to just find the SJS sticks and not Buffalo. Two of the SJS goals were on D jumping into the play and some excellent passing by SJS to hit that D for the goal. The D coverage needs to be better, but those goals happen. The deflection? Whatever.. it happens, ask Reino. SJS made it a point to get the puck to the D for the point shot and then collapsed their 3 forwards to the net, all night. It worked well. Buffalo did not win a ton of pucks on the forecheck tonight. SJS seemed to be able to get it out of the zone with relative ease. The OT? That's Buffalo.. and it was beautiful. Overall, these are the nights when stuff stacks against you, your opponent is good and motivated, and you still find a way to win. Let's hope these kinds of games don't continue, but they walk out with 2 points and I can take that.

Might I suggest MSG Go for the Sabres

Bogosian still has leadership experience, regardless of it being in the playoffs, and at the end of the season his hit against the cap will be minimal and Buffalo could easily retain part of it. I'm not doing the exact math, but I would venture his hit would be about $1.1M and the Sabres could eat $550k of that at the trade deadline. That said, it doesn't even matter. He's able to return and as such the Sabres have to adjust. They're not going to buy him out.

It's not the interpretation of the result that is the problem. So, yes, the math is right. You punch in variables and the output is predictable. The key point is deciding what variables and in what way they are used in any given formula. So, it's interpretation of information prior to the submission of that information to the formula. Always my biggest problem with my statistical business classes. They always focused on the output. I get the output to say a lot of different things if I don't have to explain the inputs. Fiddle around with numbers until you get something you like and then go. DISCLAIMER: I am not insinuating that analytics is that way. I understand that more work goes into verifying that the outputs of any set of statistical inputs correlates with what is happening on the ice.

Remember when Budweiser was trashing the craft brands for things like this? Yeah.. good times.

This is his last year here. You want him back because if he can prove he's healthy enough to play some team will take his experience and leadership as a 7-8 D for the playoffs and the Sabres will get some level of return, even if that return is a 7th rounder in 2022. If he does not return, the Sabres don't even get that. Bogosian isn't a BAD player, he's just hurt too often. I don't know if he can keep up with the Sabres game play this season, especially after all the hip problems, but he was never the worst guy on the ice. He just wasn't worth his contract.

So.. Are there better players than Sobotka? - Yes. Are there better players than Sobotka for use with Skinner and Mojo? - Maybe Do you replace Sobotka on that line when the team is 7-1-1 and playing at this level? - No.

Let's hope the crowd brings the energy level that the team has been bringing. No excuses for those in attendance these days. Let's Go Buffalo.

Great GDT opener @jsb Not sure if I get to see this one... will try though. Certainly want to see it. Team has to be getting a little tired, even one day off after 3 in 4 days including travel to the West Coast will take its toll. Let's Go....Buffalo.

Jokiharju... acquired in a trade for a guy who couldn't crack the lineup in Buffalo. Jokiharju who can be sent down without clearing waivers. Jokiharju is the logical choice and since his play is basically making it hard to send him down says that was a great trade. It's a great problem to have right now.

Sorry, it was discussion on NHL Radio on Sirius. I was listening to it the other day while driving 3 hours. The players very much want this because they're looking to get into that UFA status as early as possible. The league wants it so they can be out of bad contracts quicker. I think it will happen and I think the UFA age might drop as well. There was a lot of discussion on that. I can see the arguments..

I am concerned. Because at some point the penalties stop getting called and you have to find a way to put the puck in the net 5v5. Right now I am happy they are cashing in on the PP, but 5v5 will be critical.

I think Okposo and a pick or a player are destined for Seattle. Not sure how receptive Okposo would be to that but I would think that it might be the hopeful target for Botterill.

The general consensus is that players and the league are looking to shorten contracts overall. The target being the 5 year mark for the major contracts. It's expected that in the next CBA the current 7 year (8 year) limit is reduced to 5 year (6 year). This should change things considerably. I think a lot of what happens will depend greatly on the Sabres record on Jan 1. If the team shows signs of faltering then the veterans are likely to look to more established markets. They'll almost force their way out of town by not signing a contract and becoming parts of trades at the trade deadline. I don't think Botterill will have reservations about pulling up 2-3 bodies from Rochester this season if he needs to move people at the deadline. The depth in those roles is established.

Looks like another late night... but it's okay. Go Sabres!

I routinely outpace people on the moving sidewalks.. usually keep pace with those who are "walking" while on them. A mess... the appearance of speed.

They are whatever anyone wants to call them. The point of all of this is that Krueger, the guy who sets the lines, calls it the Larsson line. Since he sets the line, he's the definitive source. After that, everyone else is just labeling it to please themselves. I cannot even fathom why it's being argued.

I wouldn't downplay this victory. Florida is an excellent team with an outstanding goaltender. Their record is not indicative of where they will end up by years end. They are putting on a ton of pressure and are getting a ton of shots and from what I saw, they are getting a lot of good shot opportunities. The Sabres held on there, but they did win it. They've got a long way to go, but so far they are finding ways to win which is great. I agree that this is a regulation win but for the broken stick and the uncalled penalty on Barkov. Mittlestadt needs to learn to play in the crowd. He's got great hands and great vision. I also think he's the kind of player that will benefit from having a linemate that draws attention away from him. It's a great choice to use him in the shootout.

There will be those who agree with you and those who don't. Everywhere. Conversing and responding in the way you do will invite similar type responses back at you. The snark about pretty graphs invites a response from those who support statistics and since you demeaned them you are likely to get a response back about how you love neanderthal hockey or some other snarky insult. Then you wonder why it happens?

Damn Panthers... time to get a W against this team.