DarthEbriate

No. It was 8 AM here in the Pacific time zone when I started the thread. Someone back in Buffalo was eating lunch and no GDT existed yet. Good. Only their hatred can destroy us.

Cozens on the doorstep rebound!

I don't know... Fitz might be the ideal partner for Dahlin. Maybe. Pairings and lines don't always make sense on paper.

The GM doesn't have to insist on anything, he simply makes the moves that keep them in the lineup. Biro was up for Olofsson's spot and played, now Olofsson is back and Biro is down to the AHL. Jankowski is the most recent signee and is the 13th forward currently, so he's first out. The real indicator of Granato's preferred players will be if an when Girgs and Hinostroza return --- does Bjork or Hayden drop from the lineup first? And does Eakin retain a spot if they're both back? Once healthy, my guess is Quinn heads back to Rochester, too. (And rightfully so, rather than burn an ELC year this season, save it for next year when he can contribute meaningfully).

Eakin was GM Sheevyn's first big UFA contract (one day before Taylor Hall) and Bjork was the big piece coming back for Hall. They're both playing until they get moved. But every player on this line is a turnover waiting to happen.

Goligoski could be another D to look at. He shoots left but is listed LD/RD and is a definite cap casualty in Minnesota this offseason. He could return there for a small contract to continue playing in his home state on a good roster, but he can definitely sign a top-4 contract on the open market. He'd probably only look at contenders unless there was an overpay.

There just aren't enough Wilburys anymore.

Their decision to buy out Suter (Parise was a good buyout) is going to come back to bite them. This season they've got $4.6M dead cap on Suter/Parise. The next three years it's $12, 14, and $14. The cap will go up, but not enough or quickly to cover that.

Seeing the Flames in their bright whites and reds and the Canucks in their tilted-skate blacks is a visual feast.

You may dispense with the pleasantries, 'Spacers. 8 AM on the west coast and no game day thread? I'm here to put you back on schedule.

Check, check, check, and check. @pastajoe, you'll also want to wear shoes all the time for said inserts. And then, one day about 4 months from now you'll take a shower and realize your foot doesn't feel like stepping on a golf ball (or a 2x4 Lego brick) and you'll go to that house party in college and drink... enough... and you'll be in the basement and overly-excitedly yell over the music to that cool girl how you were in the shower and you enjoyed it for the first time since summer. And then the song will end and you'll still be yelling... and... yeah. Time. It'll take some time.

Hayden is no substitute for Okposo and Biro doesn't have the game speed of VO (even a Victor sans shot)

We outshot them? Really?

It really feels like it should be 8-0

Is that the first time a Sabre went to the net all game? And it happened to be a poor decision as a 1 on 4.

Montreal is playing like a team that's been embarrassed all season and is out to fix it. The Sabres have been embarrassed for 7 years... and tonight as well.

All Caufield needed was a shorter coach.

Montreal is treating us like Boston has treated us the past 7 years. Edit: Or Tampa. They step up their attack and there is no response whatsoever.

Good start to the third, there.

Ouch.

Pulling Okposo's and VO's all-around game and savvy out of this lineup does disastrous things. Unless Biro makes up for it with a multi-goal game...

Montreal earned the penalty shot and this 2-goal lead.

Dahlin, you can't just stop playing there. They're all hurt. And he wins face offs.

Zhitnik loved them.

They escaped despite Okposo and Olofsson in carbonite. Now... spin that ship around and go back and rescue Tuch, and get away with a win. Or at least a point.