Rasmus_

What's changed is:

Ullmark was very solid last night.

Tampa Bay is one of the elite teams in the eastern conference. The first period's pace was significantly better. They're not rushing the net enough, but the pace is improving. I'm enjoying what I'm seeing overall. One step back, two forward!

Go Evander, Go ROR, Go Eichel!

The noise in the arena when Jack scored was the loudest I've ever heard it. It was so impressive. It sounded like Seattle in a Seahawks game, or someplace else. Simply electric!

Colaiacovo didn't look great IMO. I did see the turnover on Ristolainen, but I saw more good than bad. IMO.

They gave up the first goal and Robin Lehner was out of position. The game started out sloppy and the passing was choppy. It got better as the game went along. This seems to be a pattern from the preseason until now. Though a lot of that will have to do with getting used to each other. The standouts from the game to me were Eichel, Kane and Ristolainen. Though several others did good things.

That was quick. Collapse the zone, and Turris is wide open. Oi Robin. You need Batman!

T-minus 40 minutes! Let's go Sabres!

Still my favorite jersey ever. I love the classic jersey too! But the red and black attack was priceless! Pumped for the game, got my jersey unwrapped. I went with ROR for the first one of this team. Ready to sit back and watch Eichel versus Karlsson.

But the Flyers are in a completely different place than the Sabres are/were. The Sabres traded wisely and now have established a forward core going forward in the short/long term. Now it's about adding to the back end, because no one is going to compare the Sabres D Core to St. Louis, Chicago, Anaheim or several other high end teams! He's drafted: Provorov, Sanheim, Konecny, Aube-Kubel, and others. He had Morin and Hagg to build on off of, but he's definitely been building slowly.

He's building from the back forward. Which is the way to go!

Fixing the problems that Holmgren made in his last roundabout season in charge. He got a healthy return for Coburn, moved on from Grossmann, moved Pronger's last two seasons off the books and drafted very well in his first two years. He secured a solid back up for Mason who is an upgrade over Emery. He's done a heck of a job.

Awesome write up and analysis. I wouldn't disagree with anything said here. I prefer using Girgensons as a center, and I've liked what Reinhart has done on the wing. He's played the wall very well. I'm sticking with: Evander Kane-Ryan O'Reilly-Tyler Ennis Matt Moulson-Jack Eichel-Sam Reinhart Marcus Foligno-Zemgus Girgensons-Brian Gionta Nic Deslauriers-Johan Larsson-Jamie McGinn That's what I would love to see :D

Eichel across the board. McWho?

Jack Eichel's shifts from 9/26 (Second Ottawa game) - 34.35 minutes

Eichel, Rodrigues, Moulson! Nicely balanced. Guhle looked good until rocked by Phaneuf. that POS! There were so many things to like tonight. Mr. Lehner, shut your doubters the up! it was just a much better game from top to bottom. The hit wasn't clean, he left the ice, it's preseason. Enough of the clown garbage! He's a bench player. Literally, the bench. McCormick has more to his game at this point. He shouldn't be in the line-up over Larsson.

, being blown out of proportion. Media swooning over juicy conversations that happen behind close doors. *Yawn*

I would assume that he's just getting reps at the center position.

All I hear out of Bylsma's mouth (from presser's) are good things about Larsson aside from his attitude when facing demotion. Which is hard for a player who is producing positive results. Whereas with Legwand it just seems like he's there. I may be reading into things but Larsson has played in all situations and has been up there with the top line for minutes in the pre-season. Call me crazy but when push comes to shove Bylsma will keep Larsson.

These are just guesses like everyone else. Evander Kane-Ryan O'Reilly-Tyler Ennis Matt Moulson-Jack Eichel-Sam Reinhart Marcus Foligno-Zemgus Girgensons-Brian Gionta Nic Deslauriers-Johan Larsson-Jamie McGinn Reserves: David Legwand, Cal O'Reilly Mark Pysyk-Zach Bogosian Josh Gorges-Rasmus Ristolainen Mike Weber-Cody Franson Reserve: Carlo Colaiacovo Robin Lehner Chad Johnson I can agree with that. He is coming off a major back injury that took 80% of his season last year. Not an easy thing to come back from, however he still looks like he's pressing. We'll see but he's not a top six forward. There are worse options on the third or fourth line. Couldn't it be that this is due to the split squad games? Both probably will be sent down or waived before Tuesday's game against Toronto. I would think. Donovan and Colaiacovo have been terrible IMO. I definitely see the reasoning there. Fasching is being brought along the right way. Baptiste and Bailey are both interesting projects in their own. They probably need a season to a season and a half in the AHL to see what happens against legit NHL type competition. Larsson forces his way into the bottom six forwards, pushing Cal O'Reilly and David Legwand back. Legwand to me doesn't have a long shelf life on this team IMO. Bylsma said it himself: There isn't a lot of skill left to his game, but he knows where to be and how to play in the crunch. I'm paraphrasing.

That is simply the best way to put it. When we were so in tune for Tanking that it hurt that we were beating the defacto would be Stanley Cup champions. Praying to lose. Just simply the lowest I will ever go for a sports team. NEVER AGAIN!

Someone has to get a gif of Ennis going afer Mark Stone. If there was ever a "David versus Goliath", moment. Eichel's win on the draw against Turris and rushing the play at the goalie was great. The patience on the second goal to the no look pass to Ennis. Larsson played well and composed as did Girgensons. I was really impressed. McGinn played pretty solid aside from the knee to knee collision on Zack Smith. A lot of positives. Colaiacovo and Donovan aren't much more than what I've thought they were depth and emergency call up's. Guhle has outplayed both emphatically.

I cannot read. WTF is up with me today.

Honestly, he's still a punk. He comes home to Buffalo and these things happen. He seems like he's great during the season in Chicago. I just really have no sympathy for him. He obviously hasn't changed his mindset on people he's with and what he's doing at 25-26. Get your in order.