French Collection

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

I’m not looking it up but I bet this could be his first fight.

I barely was able to watch tonight and they did this. My superstitious a** is now going to not watch so they can keep winning. I can’t win.

And the opponent knows you’re going to do it.

Levi lost in OT tonight, 4 GA on 28 shots. Meh.

I love the draft and all of the lists and projections around it. I just can’t bring myself to look at that stuff yet. This is as negative as I have felt about this team in almost 50 years of fandom but I still have some hope of a .500 season.

Frustrating to watch, another loss. It makes it worse watching the Leafs broadcast where the Sabres bouncing goal is lucky while Tavares’ goal off of his shin pads was his bread and butter play. There are other examples but that one really p***ed me off. Nobody was hitting the Leafs, they are soft yet outhitting the Sabres. Tage threw a few hits early in the game and Dahlin had a Forsberg hit or two but many chances were passed up to finish a check. I try and find a positive thing or two but it’s tough tonight. Mule will help a lot but they will still have Bryson and Fitzy as 6-7. This should help as a pitch to Ryan Johnson. He is not the saviour but he could help. In the meantime get an experienced Dman from somewhere.

I watched Bjork closely in the Ottawa game. He is not an NHLer, he just doesn’t process the game fast enough. Give Jost a shot.

I liked this guy since his draft year. Weak showing so far this season but there is not much cost to this reclamation project.

Looking at the US Power Outage map there are only 3300 customers out in all of New York State. That is a minor thing as far as storms go. Good luck and stay safe everyone.

I hear Matt Murray is starting for the Leafs, light him up boys. It’s time to get off the schneid and show everyone that this is a different team. Get back on track and stay in the hunt. Quinn finally breaks out tonight. 5-3 Sabres.

I would add putting out feelers. Just listening may mean that everyone else is aware of a player being available, adding competition and creating a bidding war. Having target players who are “unavailable” but may be pried loose with the right offer is being on top of things.