matter2003

As do the other analytics. There is no way to be ranked that high in virtually every analytic category without being a pretty good team. When they get some puck luck they could go on a run and potentially start dominating teams.

It would be near impossible to continue to have that low of a shooting percentage for an entire season if they stay in those spots... Last year the Sabres were no higher than 19th in any of those and in most of them bottom 5 in the NHL. To give you some comparison if you take the top 10 teams in CF% from last year, the lowest shooting percentage wise were the Kings at 7.61%, the average was 9.84% and 6 of the 10 were over 10%. If these analytics hold expect to see a significant increase in shooting percentage.

Advanced Analytics says this Sabre team isn't just good, it might actually be VERY good. 5th in CF, 2nd in CF%(404 for 329 against), 3rd in FF, 4th in FF%(323 for 257 against), 6th in scoring chances for, 2nd in scoring chances for %(183 for, 132 against), 4th in high danger scoring chances, 4th in High danger scoring for %(80 for, only 48 against), 7th in xGF 3rd in xGF%(19.27 for, 14.66 against), 8th worst PDO(basically luck...teams trend towards 1.0 and the Sabres are at .983 meaning they have been very unlucky compared to other teams).

I know they only have 7 points right now but this team is starting to grow on me...the Eichel line seems like they could have 3 goals a night every night, they have some depth, defensively they seem a lot better than last year, the role players actually are pretty good for the most part at playing their roles and the PP has been blazing. I don't know if I'd predict them to make the playoffs but I get the feeling they will be right there at the end if they miss out. Advanced Analytics says this Sabre team isn't just good, it might actually be VERY good. 5th in CF, 2nd in CF%(404 for 329 against), 3rd in FF, 4th in FF%(323 for 257 against), 6th in scoring chances for, 2nd in scoring chances for %(183 for, 132 against), 4th in high danger scoring chances, 4th in High danger scoring for %(80 for, only 48 against), 7th in xGF, 3rd in xGF%(19.27 for, 14.66 against), 8th worst PDO(basically luck...teams trend towards 1.0 and the Sabres are at .983 meaning they have been very unlucky compared to other teams). Goaltending is still the biggest question for me.

They need to upgrade their goaltending. Average at best 5 on 5 and among the worst in the NHL at making saves on the PK, even when factoring in all other things using advanced metrics. Our high danger save percentage on the PK is terrible compared to pretty much every other team in the NHL. Biggest reason why our PK sucks balls.

Hall has been amazing with Eichel...always creating chances...6 points in 3 games. Reinhart-Eichel-Hall might be one of the best lines in the NHL this year.

Sounds like a potential death in the family

This team still sucks.

How the hell do our players wipe out in the D zone all the time but none of the other teams players do?

I mean seriously? Staal plays great at other places and he comes here and does the same dumb stuff everyone else does?

Sabres league worst goaltending on the PK on full display again

That looked awfully familiar.

Doesn't help to score 40 if you are the main person responsible for giving up 60 when your line is on the ice.

Pessimism: our goalies are among the worst in the NFL at making saves on the penalty kill, even when adjusting for all other factors. Optimism: Cozens, Staal and Hall add some much needed scoring punch and depth to the offense.

Yes...it will depend on how their goaltending and especially how the PK and goaltending on the PK is, which was worst in the NHL last year, even when factoring things like high danger shots, etc.

Dumbass

We have lost a lot of games with him in this lineup...I doubt we are going to miss him that badly.

Sometimes in these situations another player gets a chance and they end up making you forget about the other player

Likely gets a 6 game trial run to answer that.

I kinda see this as a meh situation. Z really competed hard but lacked much offense. We can get the same compete from someone else and see if we can improve the offense.

Those two things are not binary. Mittlestadt was simply skinny fat last year. He needed to lose quite a bit of fat and if he is training properly he can gain muscle while doing it. If he lost 15 lbs of fat and gained 10 lbs of muscle, the net loss is still 5 lbs but his body composition changed a LOT. So what you really mean to say(I think), or at least SHOULD be saying, is that he needs a drastic body recomposition makeover. Meaning he needs to replace a lot of the fat with muscle.

Sabres have a lot of firepower on offense...I think it will come down to our goalies and special teams. Special teams, especially PK has been brutal and a large part is due to our goalies being among the worst in the NHL at stopping pucks on the PK. Far below average even factoring in the higher percentage of High Danger Opportunities they have faced.

Cozens dominating and is the key player and co-captain on Team Canada leading the tourney in points...great to see a Sabre in this spot and looks like we might really have something great with this kid... Are there any examples of players with this level of dominance at the WJC's flaming out in the NHL?

What is more interesting is if teams like these divisions more, would they keep them permanently?

I am in season 6 of Vikings on Amazon Prime and I would highly recommend it for those who don't mind a lot of violence and gore...