DarthEbriate

Lead... blown. 2-0 became 2-4. And just like the parent squad, the Amerks have no PP goals on the season.

Nylander ties it up at 2 after Sandstrom gets caught playing the puck.

Helenius collects his first of the season and AHL career.

Wahlberg scores on the short-handed breakaway. 1-0 lead.

And if these new droids captains (and alternates) don't work out, I want to transmit my attention to the Americans this year.

Need some distraction from the Sabres? Rochester starts a back-to-back home-and-home with the Marlies. Some Marlies you might know? Alexander Nylander and Matt "once-refused-a-trade-to-Buffalo" Murray. Speaking of Nylander (who could get a callup and play with his brother now)... Jokiharju is quietly having another calm, steady, if not overwhelming season. He has more goals than Dahlin, more hits than Power, more shots through to the net than Byram, fewer goal-producing turnovers than Samuelsson, and the best defensive +/- on the roster (mainly because he isn't on the ice for PP and when the goalie is pulled).

The central center issue is a massive problem for this roster. I don't know that scratching anyone else is necessary yet, and based on practice/response, I want Quinn back on the ice ASAP to see if he's gotten right. The first 10 games they need to get as much consistency and learning how Ruff needs them to play as they can get. But, I am ready for Ruff to start shuffling lines to get someone going. I'm ready to see Cozens on a wing so he can simplify his responsibilities for a week or so. Put McLeod or Lafferty (I'd go the latter because the 3rd line actually looks like a hockey line) in his place. Is Lafferty a top-6 center? Nope! But, maybe he and any two of Benson/Kulich/Quinn/Cozens look competent in all zones.

No Jenner, no Gudbranson. Heck, no Gaudreau. No problem against these Sabres.

Per Tankathon, the Sabres are already in 4th place. Everyone in the league except the Devils has between 1-4 games in hand. Do you think that Colorado, Edmonton, and Nashville will get more points than the Sabres this season? I do, too.

Dahlin and Greenway ... neither even gets a shot off a good feed. But Power scores. Unlimited Uncle Owen!

Malenstyn trying to cover defensively, not so much. Good response from the Jackets. And look, it's the guy who cheap-shotted your LW1.

LINDY! They just targeted your top-line scorer that you bought out Skinner for so he'd get the minutes and the goals. And there was no response (McLeod goal notwithstanding). Wake your damn team up. Even Stafford would've jumped in for that.

Are we afraid of Olivier? Greenway, just go pick him up and chuck him into the stanchion. Then, feel free to drop the gloves. Responding to a cheap shot is more important to this team than winning this game.

The CBJ broadcast won't even show the replay. McLeod has no hands, but he can deflect them. I saw a goal in the McLeods!

Olivier. Go fight him. Then target Johnson and Fantili. Ruff, this is your time. Get on the bench and start screaming over the glass. JJP is your only guy who can score. Destroy them. Now is your chance to shine, Lindy.

Go kill whoever hit JJP

Would they get to keep their Sabres salary?

The Sabres are going to score on this powerplay. Simply because it's about time. And Columbus has 9. This is one sluggish game.

Columbus is going to vie for a top-5 pick, but Werenski knows how to run a powerplay and they don't wait for the pass to open up, they just make the pass.

Tuch, Krebs, Greenway, and Östlund. The issue is that supposed center depth (TNT, Mitts, Cozens) has turned into a red herring.

But Darth Pegulas would only make GM Sheevyn the POHO. Outside help isn't coming.

I hope you return. And in the meantime, I hope you enjoy the break -- as long as it lasts -- to the utmost. You're an excellent 'Spacer member and poster, going someplace I can't follow...

Well, sure. But he's both a 20-goal scoring D who's also their most physical defenseman in their own end. If he can't reliably take a hit, throw a check, or take a shot over 80 mph... and Power/Byram are what they are... that's not good. But there is more than enough blame to go around whether Dahlin is injured or not.

I have a horrible sneaking suspicion that we're going to learn that preseason upper body injury was really an offseason injury that turns into a hernia surgery. Now, Briere had that in the '05-'06 season, but that team was really, really good. This team is not that, exactly.

Hmmm. Have I made questionable life choices?