DarthEbriate

Sunday afternoon. Got a couple sets to break and bag... and a Sabres game. Lock s-foils in attack position!

Maybe he was just cleaning the counter with Ajax, and realized he needed more, and got out the credit card to get an Amazon delivery?

In the stretch between and including the Columbus games (12/30/23-2/23/24), the Sabres played 7 games against playoff teams and 14 games against non-playoff teams (aka the UPL hot stretch). They're 11-10 in that time. [2-5 vs. playoff teams with both wins coming against LAK; 9-5 vs. non] This was the time to make up ground and they didn't. They played NHL .500 hockey. In the next 20 games, the schedule flips. 13 playoff teams and 7 non-playoff teams. We'll see a few things: 1) Does the team defense still have good shot numbers?, 2) Can UPL maintain consistently above-average play?, 3) Can they keep playing .500 hockey?

Missed everything after the 1st (radio-only anyway). Sounds like UPL goalied 'em more than Tarasov goalied the Sabres.

Total Body Injury?

Radio delayed Wooooooo!

My scope's negative; I don't see anything. Based on Dunleavy's play-by-play on the radio.

Gah! I had just looked at the Columbus and Philly no-show losses and Tortorella got flipped in my mind. He's everywhere! Thanks for catching that.

He was already well-free from the Sabres. His final season in the NHL was with Nashville (thus the AHL re-start with Milwaukee). But, it may have something to do with the loss of the annual paycheck coming from the buyout.

Jackets are playing their 1st game home after their California road trip. Newly-acquired Nylander probably makes his debut. The Jackets have embarrassed the Sabres 9-4 and taken the other game to an OTL. Should be fun to see if the Sabres can break the Torts' defensive shell.

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.