DarthEbriate

Get on a heater... they could still draft as late as 13th!

He was a bit messy tonight; like last season with a some easy big rebounds and dribblers rolling around on him. But the skaters quit in the third.

It was probably mentioned somewhere in the pages I missed. Edmonton is now the oldest team in the NHL. They crashed the net over and over opening up all the ice for their speed. Then, it was the proverbial double-tap to the head. Then, kick 'em while they're down. Stop, they're already dead!

Edmonton able to just step into each shot at full speed while the Sabres act as pylons. There go UPL's good numbers on the second half.

Didn't challenge it? Didn't request a no-nonsense-go-to-the-net-veteran like Hyman instead of Jost/VO going into the season?

Benson with perfect forecheck was waiting for the wraparound, so the Edm D spins and ices it instead. Let's do something with this. Finish the period up 4-2.

(And the music cue in the building when JJP scores makes me happy.)

Clifton with the killer pinch! JJP with the mitts.

Mask manufacturers: fix the dang straps! If a puck is capable of knocking the strap off everytime (and the goalie are tinkering to give it a hair-trigger release, then the manufacturer needs to make it stronger). Because if the mask pops that easily, it's not secure and your goalie is going to get concussed or worse in a collision.

RJ has been screaming, "Not out!" the last 5 minutes. Fogele and Hyman dominating the boards. But Bryson forecheck for the counter. Good shift.

At least the PP is moving the puck quickly tonight. A couple good shots. Dahlin almost got his lost goal back.

Byram with a perfect screen instead of a good block.

It's been fine for me. Luukkonen another fine save.

Good job, 4th line! VO!

Greenway got turned around, I think because of the forward who went for a change, but Dahlin engaged the thrusters getting back.

It's against Dahlin's programming to impersonate a deity. No goal.

Have you noticed UPL's shields are still up? Need Benson to get just that bit quicker and know that the backchecker is going to be there at the NHL level.

JJP!

So... um... good pre-game analysis. I hope Rousek gets a goal tonight.

The Sabres wouldn't need to worry about "addressing" someone who runs him, because he'll address it himself and get kicked out of the game anyway. It goes without saying that it this run-in scenario in my mind a goal was scored, and it counted after video review (crossed the goal line before contact was made).

It totally is bookie. But I figured I should google it because I've not watched the Special Edition in a decade a long time. A long time. Boogie showed up and I figured they'd changed it because calling Han his bookie might sound a bit too compulsive gambler-ish. (But Han loves his card players and gamblers.)

Now that it is absolutely true, let's try this out... Han, My boogie, and your Wookiee, are the best!

Yup. Edmonton has given up the 6th fewest goals in the entire league. They're not run and gun and no goalie this season. They also at one point were 5-12-1, making them... 36-9-3 since about US Thanksgiving (the dreaded "don't make the playoffs" line).

Yup (and I want Rousek in the lineup if he's going to be called up). Something in the water doesn't compute. But neither does the rest of the layout of the bottom 6. Those are two haphazard lines. At least have one you'd start in the D-zone and one you'd roll over the boards to attack. Like Skinner-Jost-VO; Rousek-Krebs-Girgs. Now watch as each DG line gels, dominates, and outscore McDavid's line.

Practice speed can also be driven by, and probably should be driven by, the players. You know when you're not putting in the effort; you know when your teammates are dogging it in practice. The players are allowed to get on each other and drive each other harder during practice as well as before/after. Do they want to win? Then practice like you're going to win. And yes, the team probably needs a Drury or a ROR, or any of the long list of players who will come in and put that stamp on the locker room. And then the kid core needs to embrace it.