mjd1001

That 'has been' coach had a better record with that team than they were after he was fired last year, and probably had the most decimated roster in the NHL by injuries last year. Plus I think if there is an issue with this team, we are seeing its the players (or owner). The have had enough coaches, with different backgrounds, different styles... over the years, the results never change.

No not at all. I'm not saying the last 4 years were good (pretty bad) but the other guy is a train wreck. Mods, are we going to let this political thing go? If so I'm really do go at it with someone who brings it up in a gameday thread.

Better than what we had the previous 4 years.

I agree the Devils are good. I have said all offseason that I think they should compete for the top of the conference. BUT, this 'core' has to at least be able to compete with that. This core...Dahlin, Cozens, Tuch, Quinn, Power.....THIS is the group that is going to make a run at the cup IF its ever going to happen. If this core is so far away from other teams they need to beat, then you aren't getting a new core for close to another decade.

It looks like the Sabres are playing in a video game where the setting has their skating speed at 10% less than the other team. They aren't keeping up with the opponent often, and they aren't even accelerating well. Its almost like every shift they look like they are winded tired, at the end of a long shift even when they just get out there.

As I said above, that applies to New Jersey too...doesn't seem to be impacting them as much.

One defense (excuse) for the way the Sabres are playing is there is a new coach. New system. It will take the players a little bit of time to get used to that. Only problem with that is, the same thing is true for the team they are playing against. Should 'even' that part of it out.

Ok, are we looking for something positive, time to reach really deep? 2 years ago Ruff coached New Jersey and they started 0-2, ourscored 10 to 4 in those 2 games by Philly and Detroit. They proceeded to then go 52-20-8 the rest of the year. Maybe here? possibly? a SLIGHT chance?

Power playing a bit sloppy, I've seen 3 plays this period that were giveaways, or plays that led to giveaways, with Power just being a tad bit careless.

It does make sense...Byram and power both had more ice time than Dahlin did yesterday, and through 2 periods they are all really close (I think Bryam again has more ice time). Last year Dahlin was a couple minutes ahead of everyone most games.

100% agree. Yeah, if you want to win, I guess you have to have some kind of balance, but I fall way, WAY on the side of scoring, entertaining end to end hockey. I don't care if my goalie has a 3.5+ GAA and .900 or below save percentage..IF I know that most games I watch I am going to see the good guy score at least 3-4 goals and explode for 6-7+ a couple times per month.

He is very polarizing, probably the most polarizing player on this team. I think he has the raw talent to be good, but I think he actually has been a player that has done more harm to this team with his play (last year) than he has done good. There are people that vehemently disagree. Even this game, I saw the 'same old' Cozens, making terrible hockey decisions, yet there are at least a few other people that think he had a good game.

Okay, it's a little bit early in the season... An hour after game one... But we have some people going after each other. Pretty hard on here... I think the ignore list is going to be getting pretty big for some of us very soon. And that's too bad. I do really like hearing opposing points of view to my own almost as much as when people agree with me... It makes for good conversation. I'm just not sure how long a lot of us will be able to deal with the over-the-top emotion one game into the season.

The play in the offensive zone was obviously the problem. Not many great chances. Nothing 'creative' that worked. They either didn't have room to operate or didn't make their own room. Lots of bad decisions in the offensive zone (Thompson passing the puck to Tuch when Thompson had a better shot....Cozens had time to do ANYTHING with the puck and he shoots it into the legs of a defender from the blue line). It goes without saying, but play the same game from the red line back but with a couple better plays in the offensive zone and a lot of us are talking much differently about this game.

Ok, I don't know if I want to re-watch this game, I have better thing to do but... They did outshoot and equal hits with the devils on the scorecard. The goals they allowed, one was a dumb play by Samuelsson that Zucker didin't handle his side of and it was a blatant turnover. Another goal allowed was a lucky tip. Yeah, they didn't play well, and on in the offensive zone they were awful. But in the D-zone, they weren't 'awful', just...average...breakout passes need work.

Clifton wasn't great, but I thought, when he was out there, he played a good game for a 3rd pair guy. I haven't looked at the final stats, but I'd bet he threw at least 2-3 hits. Again, not stellar, but better than most of the guys on the ice tonight.

I don't know, I have seen the same 'bad' Cozens today. At least 2 times over-aggressive on the forecheck, taking him out of the play. A couple bad passes. With about 5 or 6 minutes left he had the puck in the offensive zone with time, the offense was set up, and he skated near the blue line and just shot a 55 foot wrist shot attempt into the shin pads of the defender right in front of him. There was more, but I saw the same guy that makes bad decisions almost all the time. He has the talent to notice him. He has the ability to get TOO the puck he puts pucks to the net which is good, its just, to me, he takes the shot when carrying the puck or passing it would be better, and he carries the puck when a shot should be taken. Its like opposite world with him.

So....81-1 for the season?

Sarcasm, right? Not sure how to read a lot of what is posted here today.

Byram with the most ice time, at least 2 more minutes than Dahlin at this point.

Ok, one lucky bounce, one tip in, and this game gets a lot more interesting, can they get SOMETHING?

Yeah, really not liking Cozens game today. Its just like anytime he is in any situation on the ice where he has 3 possible decisions/options to choose form he almost always picks the worst.

Well, we don't really get to see how much Lindy wants to use that 4th line that much with them being down most of the game. Most of the way through the game, that line has about 6 minutes of ice time total, and some of that for them was on the penalty kill.

Yep Dahlin wanting to do too much, more than he is capable of. But, with the way the team is playing, is that really making things worse?

I didn't post this earlier but I thought going into the first 2 games, Jersey is good, very good. They are missing some players already, but there was a chance the Sabres could come home 0-2, and I would be 'kinda' ok with it, IF we at least saw something hopeful, something entertaining. Of course winning is the ultimate thing for you team, but I like goals. I have walked away from some games the Sabres lost not feeling all that bad if they were entertaining and scored and had a lot of chances. Even if they end this game with 1 or 2 goals....its not entertaining.