DarthEbriate

Johnson hasn't really earned a specific Star Wars name yet, but if you're going astromech, I'd go R3-J3. Or Arthree if you were reading the books. R3 units aren't as common as R2, R4, or R5s in the films, but they do exist.

I like the Biro and Rousek callups (though not necessarily with half the Amerks forwards out injured), but I haven't heard the cause for the callup. Are Jost and VO injured? And if not, why not waive VO already? Do we have to start tracking the team's Muel Record again this season?

Trying to give away all his +/- surplus in a single game... Unlimited Powerlessness!

I guess they thought the goatheads would do the work for them. But do or do not, you still have to try to do.

Inverted. Red-hot irons applied to feet.

Douglas is a very solid corner and willing tackler who immediately makes the Bills a better team. (He will occasionally get burned going after an INT, but he's instinctual in the best way. With veteran safeties and not the detritus the Packers are rolling at safety, he will be able to nab some timely interceptions.) You will like him. You will like him even more because he's also under contract for next season. Alexander is an even better corner than Douglas, but is no longer as willing a tackler because of extended shoulder and now back injuries (watching him this season is especially bad because a little guy with a back injury is not going to be able to tackle anyone - particularly when the DC has only 2 DL on the field on 2nd and 3...inviting the run... again). Punk or no, he is very good, and when healthy backs it up quite well. The Packers current DC love-love-loves to play shells and corners well off the line, match that with the injuries, and you don't get to see Alexander making consistent plays like this anymore:

I'm not in the bury UPL category. I don't trust him, either! He is my friend. But my response to that is Sabres' Goals For in which Luukkonen was the goalie of record. Last season: 2,6,5,4,6,9,1,4,3,6,4,5,6,2,5,1,3,6,5,2,1,2,4,3,7,1,2,1,4,0,5,6 This season: 6,4,4 Anytime you get 4+ goals of support you should win. That's 21 should wins right there.

So... you have a twin sister sabre. Your helmet has now betrayed it, too.

While they can definitely clean it up a bit, their PK is making it worthwhile to stay aggressive. For some fun number comparison: Last season the PK was abysmal at 73.01%. Only 226 penalties taken, but an astounding 61 PPG allowed. We're 1/9 of the way into the year, so just enough to begin the initial extrapolation. They're at a silly 89.19% PK. On pace for 337 penalties taken... but if they maintain the silly PK pace, they'll only give up 37 PPG. Tone down the penalties a touch, maybe finish at 85+% PK, and they'll reduce that season overall GA by 20-25 just on the PK.

It’s three sets of double K. 3(K^2).

Grumblegrumblegrumble. So Bergeron, Krejci, Hall, and Orlov were just holding the Bruins back.

UPL started both games against the Avalanche last season. He gave up 5 in a 6-4 loss. He also gave up 2 in a 4-2, 40-save, victory. Now, witness the power of this fully armed and operational goathead sweater.

I like to think it’s just slang for the sake of brevity. 1st clone: Yo, let’s go get some beer! 2nd clone: (You) bet(cha). Or alternately, (You) bet (your sweet bippy).

In comparison to last season, I was pleased with UPL’s rebound control and covering up in the 1st couple periods. Still slow, but a big controlled slow. The ol’ Bure Elbow would stop him. You’d have to be willing to take a suspension, but it would stop him at least as long as concussion protocols lasted.

Great stick check by Mitts leads to the first goal. Skinner with lots of room to shoot at. Well done, gents!

Nice Craig Anderson tribute... OK... skip ahead.

Home. Woohoo! TNT! That's what you get for trying to check Krebs with an extended arm. And now to restart the game and see what I missed.

So Girgs is Dutch (or Hutch, if you go way back) Vander and Johnson is more of a Pops guy. Sure, they both helped immobilize destroyers back at Scarif in the day, but they don't have the footspeed anymore to make the final decisive trench run.... I'm tracking.

Conditioning stint based off his minor injury? I’d rather have Levi behind the Sabres defense than the Amerks at this point. Just ensure the forwards commit like they did against the Isles. I think they’re waiting for Vasilevskiy to return before waiving, but that’s living in fear of UPL. And… Ullmark’s Vezins aside, that shouldn’t be anything to fear.

Huh. Wrongly picked up flag. The center released immediately and was 6 yards downfield. Terrible reversed call.

The hope is that at some point, they collectively realize that they are bigger and stronger (except in goal, I suppose) than many teams and they don’t have to play finesse but can really just go where they want to go and dare the opposition to stop them. Then, they can break out the fancy finesse on occasion because they’re skilled enough for that, too. But will and out working the opposition should always be foremost.

Clifton negates the shutout. Good deflection, though.

C-MuelPO!!!!! (it's a work in progress)

Good mitts, Mitts. And if you're a ref you've gotta call these knees or your players are going to be missing months of action.

Darthexercise complete, darthebriate standing by.