DarthEbriate

With the BUF-FLA outcome the Sabres no longer control their own destiny. The current field's maximum points they can reach: NYI 95, FLA 95, PIT 94, BUF 93. If the Sabres win out, they still need 2 of the teams to end below 93 points (I think they might own 1 tiebreaker if they win out, but that's too much effort). Basically, if NYI or FLA wins 3 of their 4 remaining games, they're in. The Sabres need 2 or more losses from everybody (all with 4 games remaining).

He looks like a legit #1 goalie. As the forwards learn to play better defense next season, and the D-corp grows up, Levi will post above average numbers. Above-average goaltending and a decent offense (which the Sabres have) is definitely playoff-capable. It might look dicey down the stretch as teams clamp down, but the first 2/3 of the season could be silly good vibes. They've been the best team down the stretch. And it's odd to say it, but losing their #1 and #2 goalie was the best thing for them. Lyon's been excellent for them.

Well, shoot. One awful shift at the start of the third, and then unable to push for a tying goal. The season isn't over, but the hope for playoff hockey will have to wait.

Terrible sluggish start from the top line. No jump and an egregious TNT giveaway and then Skinner with poor position for an easily lost puck battle. Turn it on, gents!

Oh gross and then gross again. And then in the net.

The Sabres have a turbo mode waiting in the third. The kids are just warming up.

Panthers took over with possession for a bit, but the Sabres responded well at the end of the period with their own push. Good game. Both goalies playing hot.

Someday Rasmus is going to bury that.

The skaters need to start skating again. It's nice for a goalie to steal you a game, but they need to become themselves again and move.

They did setup both Tuch and Cozens in front of the net at one point, but didn't bother to shoot.

Score on the PP, don't retaliate and give the refs the opportunity to even it up.

Gents, you're going to pressure Barkov a bit better than that. But then, you do have Levi, so it's all good.

Every call has been obvious thus far. High-stick and hold were good. The two Jost calls were terrible on him, not on the refs. Just as long as the refs are consistent.

Jost... you sit and think about what you did. Start using your head, buddy.

Well killed. Clean.

Jost you know better than that. That was brutally obvious.

This Lyon goalie isn't as good as Levi.

That should've been caught. No goal

Tuch, The Concept Of will be with you, always.

Oky-Lan Kposobi: Reino, do you want to say hello to your trade-children? Reino Samidala: Sure. Kposobi: It's a goalie. Reino: Levi! Croon-Tan B: Ee-see-tay oy-dah! (Translation: Oh! And a first rounder!) Reino: Jiri! Croon-Tan: For reasons we can't explain, Reino's lost the will to make the playoffs. Reino: (frustrated at not scoring, somewhat delirious) Levi!

You must Levi reflexes if you race pods make those saves. You must unlearn what you have learned.

A lot can happen in 60 years. 40 years ago (but not to the day)... Krebs read out the starting line up and then said, "Lock S-foils in attack position."

To the first part, emphatic yes. They should have traded him as a rental (and then offered him a fair market deal when he hit UFA anyway). You don't let your only good goalie/center/#1D, etc. reach UFA when your organization has been garbage for 10 years. As to the concluding bolded sentence... once the foundation is built, there is no bust. Tampa went to the 2016 ECF, the next season they missed the playoffs. They didn't blow anything up. Cooper was still coach, Yzerman was still GM. They went right back to the ECF the next season. Then, Yzerman left and his longtime AGM took over. They got swept in the first round. No major shakeup. And then they went on their current run. Build the player foundation (Dahlin, Power) and some changes will take place and some aberrations will happen, but you open the door and it will stay open as long as the core is there and the ancillary pieces are renewed. For Tampa, it started with tanking with Torts all the way back in 2007. Hedman joined the team in 2009-10 and it's been a basic upward trajectory since then.

He got the #6 spot over Bryson against Philly now that Samuelsson is back. That's a kind of impact.