French Collection

It all starts with one. Dahlin moves within 2 points of Karlsson, EK has played 2 more games. I’ve always thought this award was too much the Dmen scoring championship. At least these numbers put Dahlin in the conversation.

Sabres need swashbuckling type hockey to win with UPL in net. His save % is better than CBJ goalies tonight but that is a low bar.

Kind of a meh third period, but at least the Sabres haven’t stopped skating.

Nice give and go, TNT and Tuch. Nasty.

PP comes through early. Dahlin to Cozens.

Dahlin with another multi point night, 5-2 Sabres.

It will be easier to attract goalies to Buffalo if they improve in the standings and can show that goaltending is the biggest hurdle to being a playoff team.

I hope they are working hard on Portillo for this reason. I want Levi to be the guy that is next in line as the Sabres true #1 but they need to have a plan B,C,D and E.

Fighting 11 coyotes and killing 8 is amazing. That dog suffered some damage but will live. We have an Old English Sheepdog mix, she is a good size but not in that dog’s fighting class.

I realize the shortcomings of +/- but wow. Quite the discrepancy. The top 4 have played a total TOI of 1740 minutes to get to +28. The bottom 4 have played a total TOI of 861 minutes to get to -22. I left Boosh and his 261 minutes out as he is even. If the D can be healthy this team can win a lot more games. Finding better D depth would help too.

I’m more of an eye test guy so my recollection of game 7 was of many blocked shots by Tampa. I checked the stats and blocks for that game were 26-13 Tampa. I realize I have a bias vs the Leafs but moments like Nylander bailing on a 50/50 puck show me that there is not enough of a sacrificing element in that core.

Tampa is a good example of shot blocking in the playoffs. Their final game vs the Leafs everyone was diving in front of shots to protect the lead. They know what it takes to win it all. Toronto’s big 4 lack the sacrificing aspect of playoff hockey and lost once again. I agree that regular season games won’t get that 100% sacrificing effort all of the time but there needs to be a time to block shots, like protecting a lead late into a game. Teams get a emotional boost from these key blocks.

I recall this as well. Reinhart was asked to focus on aspects of his game other than scoring. Savoie is a top player on one of the top teams in the WHL, he must be doing something right.

He is not a big bruising RHD like some are looking for but I would consider signing Matt Dumba as a UFA. This would push Bryson and Fitz to the AHL, where they belong.

At what point does DG realize that keeping Mitts and VO together doesn’t work and dressing them game after game is not helping the morale of guys like Asplund, Hinestroza and Krebs, who have had better outings than those two yet are healthy scratches. For one damn game try Asplund, Krebs and Hinestroza together. If they get caved in then bring back one of CM and VO to try and mix it up. CM and VO get caved in regardless of who they are with. Casey and VO sitting might get them to wake up to the fact that they need to bring more to the table to remain on this team.

Well, that better put a bee in his bonnet and have a strong 2nd half. He is on a good team that can win the WHL and maybe the Memorial Cup. He can play a prominent role there and round out his all round game to prepare himself for an NHL spot next year.

Preliminary USA roster. https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2023wjcpreliminaryroster

I didn’t see anything posted about Joker’s game so I will mention that I thought he had a good game. He played like a #4 D should. His pass to JJP was a good display of vision and breakout plays.

Well, he won and improved his SV%. The Sabres won the game for him by controlling the puck for the majority of the time. I hope he can get some confidence and build on this. I don’t think he is the future but we need him to help this season. If he can provide .900 SV% goaltending this offense will win him more games.

I was a season ticket holder for North Bay but am watching on TV this year. They have a good team and are going for it this season. Bloom was a great acquisition and his production has picked up from Saginaw. The other guy that has taken a step forward is Ty Nelson a RHD that I hoped the Sabres would take in the 2nd round last year. Kraken picked him up. He is among the league leaders in scoring.

Props to KA and his staff for taking him. Like most, I wanted Rossi, but Quinn is indeed special.

This is my first game in two weeks, I have read the GDTs and read the summaries. The kid line looks great, they are clicking and it is scary to think they have a lot of upside. San Jose has looked tired and overwhelmed, the Sabres need to keep their foot on the gas and finish them off.

Decent shift by Krebs, he looks better at C while KO and Girgs battle on the boards.

Last day of work until the New Year. I am retired and only work part time but this will be a nice break.

Dahlin, inspired by the spirit of Lidstrom, has a three point game. Sabres 5 Dead Wings 2