DarthEbriate

Bemstrom needed a change of scenery so they replaced his .34 ppg with Nylander's .35 ppg? It's the same guy. (Granted, Bemstrom got powerplay time Nylander hadn't earned in the NHL.) Nylander could get a little career jumpstart here (stats-wise), before Columbus too, realizes he's not really made for the league.

That's a feel-good story right there. Good on him on his perseverance.

Absolutely. I can appreciate the beauty of the individual tree while still planning a massive clear cut of half the forest.

It was also an excellent bounce back for him from his previous game where he was fighting the puck. His teammates might not be capable of scoring to carry a winning streak, but he ensured there was no losing streak.

Physical, sloppy, fun. Good win.

Greenway Wall at the blue line to end it.

Maybe try a stick lift next time, as opposed to a sledgehammer-to-railroad tie swing.

There we go. You remember the Death Star and you start taking shots. You only need one.

Uh... I think they've forgotten. Remember the Death Star!

The SN graphic was damning. UPL in 2024. 1st, 1st, 2nd, win percentage 22nd.

Hello there, Mr. Tuchly.

If you've established yourself as a physical player, as Xhekaj has, and the game is fun and flowing and physical, the refs get conditioned to let more and more go. A pitcher nibbling on the corner gets the strike call just a bit outside. The cornerback holding on every play will only get called for a couple. The hockey player who hits gets freedom to hit more.

Plus, walking on water in the game of hockey is just mundane.

I've got a radical idea: trade Skinner for Xhekaj.

Nice deflection goal by Krebs. Get that kid on the PP.

Zemgus screen and a deflection from the Joker!

I think we can attribute all crises to the fact the Sabres haven't made the playoffs in 13 seasons.

Has Skinner completed a pass this... month?

Thompson drove the net with a burst of speed. Haven't seen that recently.

Clague in for Ryan Johnson

Took a bit, but here's my reworked record extracting the outdoor home game played in Canada and when wearing the black goatheads. I combined OTL+L for a true W/L record. 2020-21 = 8-20 2021-22 = 16-24 (TOR outdoor game) 2022-23 = 7-22 (no goatheads) 2023-24 = 7-12 (no goatheads) 38-78. That's a garbage home record (.328 winning %) You want points percentage with OTL loser points to make you feel better? .384 points % That's worse than every Sabres coach not named Craig Ramsay (21 games) and Punch (expansion season +1). No coach has been below .421 since the tank started.

Now, take away all their "home" wins in outdoor games, big "get-up-for-Toronto" games, and black goathead games.

My cynical side says any offseason change is dependent on whether Darth Pegulas the Wise is watching the playoffs and some UFA catches his eye that will put this team over the top... the Ehrhoff, Leino, or Hall type that could get him to open up the wallet for someone.

But WJC games are often super entertaining because a) they aren't all about playing defenses and systems yet, and b) they're often trying so hard they take themselves out of position or lead to chaos, or just make beautiful things happen.