DarthEbriate

But I have watched the Sabres when both Dahlin and Benson are out of the lineup.

What's the most likely outcome tonight? Lyon/Luukkonen goes full supernova and make 40+ saves. Final: 2-1 (OT) Avalanche The Avalanche coast and let the Sabres stay in it with a couple 3rd period goals, before shutting the door with a ENG. Final: 6-4 Avalanche The Avalanche come out guns a'blazing and do not stop until Ruff asks for mercy. Final: Avalanche victory by 6+ goals

Just for giggles... of pain. Let's play Sabre's mirror injuries on the Avalanche from opening night. LW1 (Benson), C1 (Norris), LW2 (Zucker), C3 (Kulich), C4 (Danforth), D1 (Dahlin) Out = Lehkonen, MacKinnon, Colton, Drury, Bardakov, Cale Makar Gabe Landeskog — Brock Nelson — Martin Necas Victor Olofsson — Gavin Brindley — Valeri Nichushkin Joel Kirivanta — Parker Kelly — Tristen Nielsen Taylor Makar — TJ Tynan — Daniil Gushchin Devon Toews — Brent Burns Josh Manson — Ilya Solovyov Jack Ahcan — Sam Malinski MacKenzie Blackwood Scott Wedgewood Now... That's the cup of a carpenter roster of a contender.

If you wagered, say, $10,000 on the Avalanche to win straight-up tonight... would your winnings be... $10,025?

What are they up to in man-games lost now? 79 in 16? Carson Meyer is back! (in Rochester)

Now that's a name I hadn't heard in a long time. A long time. Until yesterday! I went to hockey-reference to look something up and saw a headshot with a Sabres sweater and said, "who's that?" because I didn't recognize him. It was probably some random passer-through of the Pegular era, right? And it was! Strachan lives. It might not be a bad thing to get 2 or 3 instead of McKenna this year. Simply because if they do draft him, he's going to be in the opening lineup next season as the savior. At least if they get one of the more "project" type guys, they don't just anoint him to be everything from the opening faceoff. I can just see Pegula responding in some embedded video if the Sabres win the lottery, "We get McKenna? I paid to get him to play at my college and he was really good for a 17 year-old. Now we're Stanley Cup contenders!" <Adams is about to say "But..." in the background, but then is like, yup, contenders, yup. The Pegula is always right.>

It has to go much further south for Pegula to give up on his buddy. Think Tuch/TNT requesting trades and the reason given that they have no faith in Adams specifically. And no veteran player is going to do that because they'll appear as a malcontent. Their potential suitor GM doesn't want to see that.

This summer, Leone will get an offer from an NHL team to be an assistant. Prospal may receive an offer to be an AHL HC. Will either of those offers be from the Sabres?

He made the Kessel Run from the Sabres in less than 8 parsecs games played.

And someday, maybe, one of the offspring of the Eichel trade will help the Sabres reach the playoffs.

When Calgary comes to town next Wednesday, there's a good chance the loser of the game is in last place in the league (depending on if Nashville can break their losing streak).

In the first period. Unless the Avs completely take the night off. But I don't think they will. I think they will go into stat-padding fun pond hockey mode. They'll happily give up 5 if it means they can get 10. But against this Sabres offense they're not giving up more than 3. Goal differential tomorrow.... -5?

I keep forgetting him, too, and having to update my comments pre-/post-posting. I truly hope he returns this season and goes 55 points in 55 games and Sheevyn is a damn genius for acquiring him. But the reality is, he's 2C when he's healthy and he's not been healthy in 6 years. And that was this GM's choice as the 1C going into a "lame duck coach/GM saying it's all about the playoffs" season. Fools.

Call up Georgiev! Avalanche Revenge Game!

At least 15 years? As long as Adams is affiliated with the organization? As long as Pegula is the owner?

Dunne took the faceoff like an EA NHL2003 forward-check launch.

It was Satan.

Cooley made Timmins look like the 6D he is -- which is fine. But Byram stopped skating. I will say, from watching the two Utah games, I like how their team plays. They skate and they are constantly right there -- since waking up by going down 2-0.

Their next possible win is probably the game in which Benson returns to the lineup. Provided he's actually at full skating strength and doesn't rush back early.

Next Wednesday they're home vs. Calgary.

They're sooooo much faster than the Sabres. Like, every skater is faster than their corresponding Sabre. Sergachev caught Quinn/Östlund?? couldn't see who it was, like it was nothing. It could have been a 2-on-1 and they didn't even even make it with possession into the zone.

Game... woolies.

Kozak is the only center that Ruff honestly trusts.

Kozak is a try-hard 4C. But playing him with TNT and Tuch... he's not able to complete that rush. He's not that guy. Now, if Kozak dumps that puck into the corner to himself, then I think he goes and wins it and they can get something going with possession.

Utah taking advantage of matchups/changes -- whenever Malenstyn-Krebs-Dunne are on the ice they're able to attack without worry.