Ross Rhea

They have 71 pts with 8 games left. I honestly don't think they will get to 80 pts. Housley can't stay or the fans will mutiny. Look standings 12/1/2018 Eastern Conference Standings through December 1, 2018 GP W L OL PTS GF GA RPt% ROW Atlantic Division Tampa Bay Lightning* 27 19 7 1 39 103 79 .730 18 Toronto Maple Leafs 27 19 8 0 38 98 70 .587 19 Buffalo Sabres 27 17 7 3 37 85 76 .405 14 Boston Bruins 26 14 8 4 32 71 64 .620 13 Montreal Canadiens 26 12 9 5 29 82 85 .513 10 Detroit Red Wings 26 12 11 3 27 76 85 .373 10 Ottawa Senators 27 12 12 3 27 98 109 .353 12 Florida Panthers 25 10 10 5 25 82 91 .460 9 Metropolitan Division Washington Capitals 25 15 7 3 33 90 77 .559 14 Columbus Blue Jackets 26 15 9 2 32 90 83 .547 15 New York Islanders 25 13 9 3 29 76 72 .586 12 Carolina Hurricanes 25 12 9 4 28 66 69 .560 11 New York Rangers 27 13 12 2 28 77 84 .378 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 25 10 10 5 25 83 84 .546 10 Philadelphia Flyers 25 11 12 2 24 76 88 .467 10 New Jersey Devils 25 9 11 5 23 74 86 .375 9 Western Conference Standings through December 1, 2018 GP W L OL PTS GF GA RPt% ROW Central Division Nashville Predators 27 18 8 1 37 88 66 .539 18 Colorado Avalanche 26 15 6 5 35 97 73 .447 15 Winnipeg Jets 25 15 8 2 32 87 74 .593 15 Dallas Stars 27 14 10 3 31 74 71 .513 14 Minnesota Wild 26 14 10 2 30 83 76 .480 14 Chicago Blackhawks 27 9 13 5 23 75 101 .433 9 St. Louis Blues 25 9 13 3 21 74 85 .540 9 Pacific Division Calgary Flames* 26 15 9 2 32 88 74 .653 15 Anaheim Ducks 28 13 10 5 31 64 78 .403 11 San Jose Sharks 27 12 10 5 29 82 88 .593 12 Vegas Golden Knights 28 14 13 1 29 82 78 .553 13 Edmonton Oilers 26 13 11 2 28 70 79 .433 13 Arizona Coyotes 25 12 11 2 26 66 66 .461 11 Vancouver Canucks 29 11 15 3 25 82 102 .428 10 Los Angeles Kings 26 9 16 1 19 56 82 .365 8 Then look where they were on Christmas day 37 games in which is half of the games played where they are now 74. Eastern Conference Standings through December 25, 2018 GP W L OL PTS GF GA RPt% ROW Atlantic Division Tampa Bay Lightning* 37 28 7 2 58 154 106 .730 25 Toronto Maple Leafs 37 25 10 2 52 140 103 .587 25 Buffalo Sabres 37 21 11 5 47 111 105 .405 18 Boston Bruins 37 20 13 4 44 105 96 .620 19 Montreal Canadiens 37 19 13 5 43 115 117 .513 17 Florida Panthers 35 15 14 6 36 115 125 .460 14 Detroit Red Wings 38 15 17 6 36 109 126 .373 13 Ottawa Senators 37 15 18 4 34 118 144 .353 15 Metropolitan Division Washington Capitals 35 22 10 3 47 129 103 .559 19 Columbus Blue Jackets 36 21 12 3 45 117 109 .547 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 36 18 12 6 42 119 110 .546 17 New York Islanders 35 18 13 4 40 101 98 .586 16 New York Rangers 35 15 14 6 36 102 115 .378 10 Carolina Hurricanes 35 15 15 5 35 90 103 .560 14 Philadelphia Flyers 35 15 16 4 34 104 125 .467 13 New Jersey Devils 35 12 16 7 31 102 125 .375 12 Western Conference Standings through December 25, 2018 GP W L OL PTS GF GA RPt% ROW Central Division Winnipeg Jets 36 24 10 2 50 128 101 .593 23 Nashville Predators 37 22 13 2 46 111 95 .539 21 Colorado Avalanche 37 19 12 6 44 129 115 .447 19 Dallas Stars 37 18 16 3 39 99 102 .513 18 Minnesota Wild 35 17 15 3 37 103 99 .480 17 St. Louis Blues 34 14 16 4 32 96 114 .540 14 Chicago Blackhawks 39 13 20 6 32 111 145 .433 13 Pacific Division Calgary Flames* 37 22 12 3 47 127 103 .653 22 San Jose Sharks 38 19 12 7 45 124 115 .593 19 Vegas Golden Knights 39 20 15 4 44 117 112 .553 19 Anaheim Ducks 38 19 14 5 43 95 109 .403 16 Edmonton Oilers 36 18 15 3 39 102 111 .433 17 Vancouver Canucks 39 17 18 4 38 117 125 .428 16 Arizona Coyotes 36 16 18 2 34 93 101 .461 14 Los Angeles Kings 37 14 20 3 31 86 112 .365 13

The Sabres are 50 (really 49) points behind Tampa, who they were ahead of at the end of November heading into December. IMO, nobody should survive this epic collapse.

so what are you saying all of his minuses are his fault?

Hmmm..... Risto is a -3 yet not a single goal is his fault.

yup, wasn't willing to take the hit to make the play

Sounds like a case of being way overused early in the season by bad coaches. 4 crap coaches and tons of losing in his 6 years obviously have taken it's toll on Risto, but yes let's keep piling on because he is the problem.

Interesting there is the huge disparity between Ristos and EK offense and defensive zone starts. Seems the one year where their zone starts were close their other numbers were close. Wonder what EK corsi would be if he had d zone starts comparative to Ristos and vice versa.

I know right, also show me a GM who wouldn't want him on their team. The top team in the league was very very interested and wanted him, but yeah here in Buffalo the armchairs have it all figured out and Risto is unworthy of being a Sabre because he is just horrible, yet the love affair with ERod is, well, It's comical to say the least.

Right, considering it's late in the year, Buffalo has been off since sunday, Toronto got shut out in Nashville last night and had to travel back a time zone to Buffalo and play tonight, and they worked Buffalo bad. 1000% unacceptable performance, Phil should be fired tomorrow, he stinks as coach.

Botterill survives and Housley doesn't.

Craig Berube in St Louis, came in half way through the year and turned them around in a big way. Does St Louis have tons more talent than Buffalo? IMO, Housley isn't getting the job done. Would love to see Taylor as coach next year, love his interviews, great guy, really good coach.

Yup I did, but who is scared of a physical Skinner, Eichel, Reinhart or Dahlin. C'mon on other teams laugh at them trying to be physical!

I agree, then the question is why do they lack tenacity? Is it the make up of the players personalities or the the way they are coached? I think it is both, more rugged guys are needed and a better coach is needed. IMO a mixture is needed of rugged and finesse players to accomplish a balance of hard to play against players, we don't have that, not even close. Sick of teams taking liberties. It's gotta stop!

Why not them, are they looking for someone else to do the dirty work, they have a free license to be as physical as they want but refuse. Can't cry about it, do something about it, this team turtles when they get physicalled ( if thats a word). Look in the mirror dudes and push back, really it's ok, you might gain a whole lot more respect if you do!

That's why Tampa wanted him at the trade deadline and there isnt a GM that wouldnt want him. Hmmmm...... he must have something that is appealing, but not here in Buffalo, we just poopoo anything remotely good and complain how it's been soooooooo long.........

So were you on board with trading OReilly last year, after all he was a -23. This year he is a +22 did he magically become +45 better? or is it coaching? or is it better players? cause Risto, just like OReilly last year have/had garbage players around him. Maybe a call to JBots is in order as this boards knows sooooo much more than he does! IMO, to give up on Risto is asinine.

Yup, but start watching closely as he is a minutes eater and on the ice but not necessarily responsible for the goals against. Not saying he isn't responsible some times but more often than not the other players are not doing their job or goalie lets in a soft one and the puck ends up in the net and Risto happens to be on the ice.

I'm keeping Risto, Dahlin and Montour, the rest are trade bait.

Disagree, he just turned 24 4 months ago. Yes, he has had 409 games played in 6 years but he's had 4 head coaches in those 6 years, have any of them been any good? As someone else up thread pointed out, how many crap players has he been paired with? I happen to think Risto has a lot more to offer with a good coach and better players. Not sold on Housley and a lot of these current players stink.

Just watched the game and yet again the opposing goalie played lights out. Every night the Sabres seem to go up against a guy having a Hasek kind of night. WTF!

Good for Beaulieu, he's ok, brought a little grit, I didn't mind him as a 6. Hopefully he can play more for the Jets.

I hope they don't trade Risto, Montour is a great addition and like Roman Josi for zone entries, who Housley had in Nashville. Risto, Montour, Bogo, Dahlin, McCabe, I really like those 5. Now they need to trade one or two of Baloo, Nelson, Scandy, Hunwick. Log jam on blue line now.

I think you just summed up most of but not all of Ristos problems, the garbage he has had to play with in his early career so far. Throw in his 4th head coach in 6 years and it's no wonder why the best of Risto hasn't been seen yet.

Lot of other useless players I would get rid of way before getting rid of Risto.

He was a -2 last night and the 2 goals against I seen when he was on the ice were not because of him but he takes the -2 for it. Sure he is responsible for some goals against but it sure does seem others don't do their job and the puck ends up in the net alot and he happens to be on the ice and take the minus for it. He just turned 24, no way would I trade him away.