DarthEbriate

If you're going to throw the elbow, try to catch more than the glass. UPL should've had it, then gets spun down. Let's set up a one-timer here like Josi had. But instead of dribbling through... just let Thompson send it past Saaros' ear at 102 mph. Or break a stick.

Skinner... classic case of a lazy backcheck right there... for the goal.

Lots of delaying before shooting and no one to screen the goalie.

The 7s draw a penalty (and could've drawn two).

Pull a Marchand 6-on-5 breakaway?

Decent start.

In addition to the pipeline, there's always the question of which leaders might want to come back (or be brought in from other AHL squads). The kids will need at least a couple of Merschs and Malones on AHL deals.

Welcome to the 'Space! Just want to check on the intent of the bolded. UPL was the 2nd goalie taken, but only Oettinger was in the 1st round or near it. UPL was drafted 54th, two-thirds of the way through the second round, with the pick the Sabres got from Minnesota for Chris Stewart as a deadline rental. Edit: Note, the Sabres had the chance to take UPL almost 20 picks earlier with their own #37 pick, but took Marcus Davidsson instead.

At the midseason point, here's how the interesting names are shaping up, neatly broken down by skater/goalie and continent. Thanks, NHL CS! Forwards NA - Quentin Musty, Hunter Brzustewicz, Gracyn Sawchyn, Aram Minnetian, Owen Outwater, Florian Xhekaj, Kai Uhacz, Anton Topilnyckyj, Ryan "will be" Fine, Valentin Zhugin, Marcel Marcel, Forwards EUR - Dalibor Dvorsky, Danil But, Zeb Forsfjall, Emil Pieniniemi, Elis Rix, Rainers Rullers, Hugo Hell, Otso Ylitalo Goalies NA - Hampton Slukynsky, Jack Spicer Goalies EUR - Aksels Ozols

Just a midseason perusing of points-per-game and Sabres prospects... No surprises for Richard leading his team in the USHL, Savoie, Bloom... and then there's Viljami Marjala, posting 1.83 ppg in Finland's U20 Liiga (and 2 points in 4 games for TPS in the Liiga). That is a bit of a surprise. Two OK seasons in the QMJHL, went back home across the pond and is among the U20 scoring leaders. While he might never come back across the Atlantic, it's good to see that they identified some talent for a forgotten 5th rounder, and he could carve out a solid Liiga career.

Got out of a jam there. Desperately need the next goal though, despite outshooting them.

Dahlin just a hundredth of a second too slow on the release.

VO is the spark that will ignite the fire that will restore the Republic!

Hmmm... elbow... more clothesline?

Jets are good defending their blue line against entries. Quick sticks over and over again.

Just came out of hyperspace... the Jets feed showed some turnovers and instant Sabres shots. Maybe don't just turn and fire by Hellebuyck will be ready. Turn, drive, and make him react.

I was super-skeptical of Jost based on his lack of point production and lackluster PK stats with the Wild and figured once the early honeymoon was over he'd be a JAG or we'd gripe about him as much as Mitts. But thus far... he's good. And it's starting to look like the only reasons he was waived were 1) their entire team started sluggish, 2) since then, they've been on a tear and he didn't fit in with the lines that had jelled (just like Asplund/Hino for us), and 3) that $2M price tag with RFA status and Minnesota's ongoing cap crunch from buyouts of Parise and Suter meant he was likely tradebait anyway and no one was biting. It's been a good pickup. Go Jost!

ESPN+ will be blacking out the game here in the Seattle market so I'll catch y'all on the flip side. Let's go, Buffalo! Treat the Kraken just as they did Boston and Washington and the Wild and they ought to do well.

I'm on record saying I'd have sent down Bryson and I stand by that; I think Fitz's scrappiness is helpful if needed (and if the top-4 are all healthy). But I do think that (pending clearing waivers, which he should like he's done before -- everybody's got a #8 like him) Fitz is much better for the Amerks than Bryson would be. They've already got Prow and Pilut for the power play. Fitz helps round out the defense with Bartkowski and Cecconi.

I have felt a great disturbance in the Concept of... Road teams are winning a collective 8-0 right now in the NHL across the three active games.

Glad the Sabres were able to re-group and start the 2nd with... 3 missed shots against, 5 shots on goal against, and 2 blocked shots, 2 hits against, 1 giveaway and 1 penalty taken in the first three minutes. Wake up, gents!

All wings report in. The shield is still up. That thing's operational!

I know everyone wants it to be Mitts or VO, but the goal is to bring back someone on the roster for them if either is part of an offseason move. GM Sheevyn is playing the patient game this year and into next, so the answer is Hinostroza. My guess is Savoie gets 9 games and if he's still too undersized, then it's back to juniors (weird in a D+2, but this is going to be a very fast lineup next season and it'll be tough for a rookie to crack). I've got Rousek as the 13 next year. Asplund is the sleeper -- you can clear him to bring in Savoie and clear Hino for Rousek.

Again it goes back to Comrie's sample size and who's been his defense corps. The team played much more composed in front of Anderson the last couple seasons, and they clearly trusted Ullmark and not Hutton. Too soon to say with UPL or Comrie yet, though they definitely know with UPL that they can (or have to?) go all-out attack all the time.

The Muel (and D-health) Factor I'm not going to do sv% or GAA, but here's the breakdown of each goalie with Samuelsson in the lineup. UPL had a couple great games (Colorado, Vegas); the sample size for Comrie is tiny. UPL can always come back up, but I've got to see the main UFA pickup of the offseason with Samuelsson on the ice. Anderson + Muel = 6-2-1 Anderson - Muel = 1-3 (the lone victory vs. CHI in OT; includes 3 losses in the 8-game streak) Comrie + Muel = 2-1 (the loss vs. FLA) Comrie - Muel = 2-6 (includes 4 losses in the 8-game L streak; Comrie got TB minus Dahlin, Joker & Muel; Comrie injured in L7 of streak) UPL + Muel = 9-2-1 UPL - Muel = 0-1 (final loss of 8-game L streak v. TOR) Goal Support Everyone's had the offense going including a some blowouts, but Anderson and Comrie got the losing streak and its decreased transition game. UPL has gotten unreal goal support. EDIT: Caveat, I just used goalie of record and final score, so all ENGs for and against are counted, as is Anderson's +1 shootout goal. UPL 61/13 = 4.69 g/gm Anderson 49/13 = 3.77 g/gm Comrie 39/11 = 3.54 g/gm