matter2003

You seem to be right...looks like part of the Sabres issue is they give up a higher percentage of high quality shots than other teams, even though they are actually very good in shots against, ranking 7th lowest in shots against per game. However, they are 20th in terms of high danger shots per game allowed. LA - Low Attempts LQ - Low Quality HA - High Attempts HQ - High Quality

If by hot you mean a streak of allowing 3 goals or more, then sure.

That is a little deceiving because those teams also allow fewer shots in general, so there aren't as many chances to block them.

Nice! I lived in CBus for 6 years around when they just got the NHL team and went to a few Sabres/Jackets games back in the day...

You don't remember all the hand wringing because they were stealing games for us despite being outplayed and outshot badly and people were freaking out that the goaltending was going to cost us the #1 pick? That was a thing.

We meet a team that has worse goaltending than we do...could be an explosive game.

FWIW, MoneyPuck in depth analytic rankings that take a lot of things into account really likes this team still...they are ranked 9th in the NHL. They are the only team with a losing record to have a + net goal differential, most are like -20 or worse. Also, still ranked 7th in CF% in all situations, 6th in 5 on 5 situations. Analytically, this is a very good team...far far better than the team last year(low 20s) and the year prior(high 20s). Goaltending is killing them...if they could get the goaltending they had when they were tanking this might be one of the best teams in the NHL.

Being among the best at not giving the puck away in your own zone also leads to transitions and helps the Sabres quite a bit. For being so young, this is pretty impressive. They are also very good at taking the puck away from opponents.

Looks like only the Hurricanes block fewer shots per 60 minutes than the Sabres do... This is something they could improve RIGHT NOW that takes no real skill and could improve their goals against. Can't allow as many goals if the other team can't get their shots through to the net.

They are already good, they simply need goalies who don't let in long shots when they have clear views of the puck every night. That can't happen regularly at the NHL level and doesn't for virtually any other team. Now up to 6th in CF%

If we are at a +44 goal differential we definitely would be in a playoff spot...that would likely be top 5 in the NHL.

It's a lot harder when your goaltenders can't stop a f**king beachball.

I mean there are only so many combinations you can try. No way he is touching the top 2 lines right now, and probably never.

Lyubushkin? Remember when we were so worried when tanking that our goaltending was too good and it would ruin our draft position because they would win games sometimes even as we were being outplayed and outshot badly? How times have changed... Man, could we use that now.

Yeah, the Sabres can score with anyone, and they actually have a +4 goal differential which is pretty impressive for a team with a losing record. Quite a few teams with winning records and negative differentials.

Goals from far out where they have a clear view of the shot and are simply beaten are way too common. Once in a while...OK, it happens. Every game? Sometimes a few times a game? Inexcusable.

I mean I think it's hard to know...there are probably at least 5 or 6 candidates. Tuch, Quinn, JJP, Skinner, Thompson, Hino... maybe Cozens and Bryson in that mix too.

Oh...yeah that is definitely the Mountain West then...

Montana is considered the far end of the Upper Midwest I would say...at least maybe the eastern half is.

That whole line can fly...the play where Cousins stickhandles his way out of the zone and then turns on the afterburners and the Dman on the Sharks almost panics as he turns because Cousins blew by him so fast was pretty awesome to watch...he is skating as hard as he can to get back and Cousins is just coasting...

Power is going to be a freaking stud back there within a few years.

Granato should be put in straightjacket if he makes any changes to the top 2 lines without there being an injury reason.

Never been there, but I have heard it's a cool city...hot summers and cold winters like most of the Midwest I would assume?

Just ordered the following from DHGate: Tage Thompson - 3rd jersey(Black Goathead) Rasmus Dahlin - Home Jersey Dylan Cozens - Reverse Retro Jersey Jack Quinn - Away Jersey Shipping probably won't be in time for Xmas tho, but the savings make up for it. Ordered 4 Bills jersey from there last year and they great quality.