DarthEbriate

UPL has become a solid NHL goalie this season (numbers-wise). He's stopped leaning forward and undoing his size advantage, he's overcommitting less side-to-side, and he's been better at reading the play and his rebound control (the Stars' GWG notwithstanding). The next question becomes... how long are folks willing to extend him. Is GM Sheevyn willing to give him a starter salary, or just go Ullmark walking again?

You’d have teams on the cusp (missed 2-3 years) with good young cores go right back into full-on tank mode as soon as the next McDavid/Bedard was on the horizon. GMs would sell their owners on the long-term success for just a few years of suffering. Specifically for the Sabres, I’m not sure another #1 18 year-old in the lineup is the answer.

I don't understand the bolded. In order to make it, they're going to need to get to about 96 points, which would mean going something in the order of 23-7-2 down the stretch. To do so, their PP would need to be better, the scoring would have to be through the roof, Power would look like he's playing God Mode, and their goalies would have to be hotter than Hasek for over 2 straight months. In order to make it, they'd be absolutely the most dangerous team "no one wants to play" heading into the playoffs. We'd all be ecstatic.

Well. Sometimes you get them goalied, and sometimes the goalie goalies you.

Please put someone in front of the net.

Huh. I'm just not used to seeing that one called.

Negative. It didn't go in. Just impacted on the surface (of the d-man's stick).

Dahlin needs to fake the shot, then do a Kucherov slide. Oettinger will never see it.

Okposo drifted so far away from the net on the PP the Stars were able to cover him and Dahlin's shot with the same player.

Grumble grumble... UPL bad rebound. Power no crease clearing.

This game can't go 60 seconds without a face off.

Hey. A TNT powerplay goal!

Pavelski went to the net and almost had a pretty one. Seems like that's a good idea.

Power had a solid period until the last 2 shifts. A screened goalie is the difference thus far. The Sabres couldn't beat Oettinger clean, while the Stars got a lovely EJ screen and their other best chance was a deflection. Keep forechecking, and now add the wrinkles of going to the net, or waiting for a screen before you shoot.

Clifton... take it all the way to the net. Get it mucky.

Otter's a good goalie.

Chopping my arm motion. I confess I was more stoked to see a 40-year-old concert film I'd already seen 30 times in a theater last year than I have been to see any Sabres game this season. (Not last season, though.) The product matters. Also, I haven't yet gone to a game live this season, so there's still time to change this.

Jiricek is going to be the perfect change of scenery acquisition.

What else would I do? Go see a Star War? ... actually, that's not a bad idea.

I agree with your Cozens to wing move -- this season at least. I haven't seen any indication that HCDG is willing to play him at wing (except for right after his facial injury/concussion when he was wearing the shield).

You're good. We're saying the same thing. The Sabres have to get WC2, but that spot is almost guaranteed to be one of their own division (whether TOR, TB, or DET), because all the other teams are Metro and can catch Philly sooner than they get to the Wild Card spot. Philly could be the final playoff team and have 90 points (with the 6 seed), and Buffalo could get to 95 points and still miss out.

I think Benson's all-around vision, sense, and defensive awareness best replicates Quinn's game. JJP-Cozens-Benson as 2nd line. My possible counter is if VO is going to be on the ice, put him with Thompson-Skinner and give them 3rd line minutes until they collectively wake up and start attacking the net. (And keep them together on the PP so at least there's a shooter on either side of the ice.)

We seem to be made to draft 8th... it's our lot in life. The other fun note to keep in mind is that the Sabres are hunting down Toronto and Detroit. Philly can lose all the games they want, another Metro team will just take their spot. The Sabres have to catch the 2nd Wild Card spot in their own division to make the playoffs. They have to win each remaining head-to-head game with the Leafs and Wings in regulation (2 games each) to even make it interesting down the stretch.

It's not impossible. Teams used to bullseye womp... The issue is the number of teams in front of them and the teams remaining on their schedule. Every "reachable" team has games in hand compared to the Sabres except Philadelphia. There are 4 teams between them and the 2nd wild card (and Montreal is only 1 point back with a game in hand). The Sabres still have 14 games left against Western Conference teams, where wins have less of an impact in the standings. They finish the year with 9 of 10 against the East and only one of those games is against a team like Florida which will be guaranteed a playoff spot. The Sabres will basically have to win all 9 of those games to close the distance. (Now, if they do go on a tear to get within 4 points and only a couple to jump, and then jump said teams by going 8-2 in their final 10 games... so be it.)