eman

Here's hoping! And it will bring me joy this hockey season.

Oh yes, I do remember those that posted that crap last game. I honestly like our goaltenders and the Finnish kid may be a real gem. If we could just do better defensively and even try to help them out it would go a long way.

Totally agree. No Phil defenders posting tonight? Nice to see the "other Nylander" pot one though. I wish the Sabres could push a bit on Sparks because he can crack, but Huts has kept us in this.

and yet the PH defenders came out after that one win. I just don't get that at all. He can go right at season's end. Tonight is a shining example of seeing the lack of effort that creeps into Sabres games. Owned by a team that played in a different time zone the night before and the only reason they are not getting completely smoked is that Carter Hutton has stood on his head. And for those who even felt our defense wasn't all that bad, tonight lets you see exactly where our defense stands: garbage! Take the body!!!!!

God Bless you JJ! Nailed it! (in my opinion anyhow)

Even when this club was on its 10 gamer. People were on this site, and while rejoicing, also saw that we were getting outshot in those games by quite a bit and were a little concerned over the style of play the Sabres during that streak. They were right. It was fun but we got a little puck luck and the goaltenders were standing on their head back then. How many were won in regulation during that 10 gamer? Then came December and we're back to square one. Our winning percentage from that month on is what? 30th in the league. Sorry, I see minimal progress.

I'm saying the style of hockey especially in those games where they look completely lost and no effort forthcoming. Have we not seen a bunch of those again this season? It happened last season and it started to rear its head again this season. Also, in the end , wins and losses are what ultimately counts and over the past 8 years (and granted, several coaches) the Sabres are woefully short in the wins column.

Yup, Babcock in the hot seat and I believe Phil is in the hot seat also. If we get the same play of this club by December of next season, I believe Phil will not survive it. I could be wrong about it, but I think the fan base will be screaming for change at that point (if they/we aren't already?)

Again my point is Babcock has pressure on him this season to get the Leafs into the second round at least according to Toronto insiders. If he doesn't, he will be in the hot seat because of the talent assembled and the salaries paid out there. His regular season record is terrific. But why is Phil given such slack with his pathetic regular season record and no playoffs that he shouldn't be in the hot seat? I hope I clarified that point as well. No we don't need a coach to be better than Babcock although I would settle for coach as good as Babcock right now. 8 seasons of no playoffs going on 9.

I know that. You're stating the obvious. My point being, Phil is here post tank and we are seeing similar hockey being played. I hope I cleared that up for you.

2nd mistake, thinking anyone of us posting here are level headed reasonable talking heads. All we are doing is sharing opinions and in reality, Sabre management will do what it will do, fire Phil, keep Phil, keep Jbot etc. All I know is that by December of this year if this club hasn't shown more improvement (if you want to say this season was) I would bet Phil is definitely gone then. (unless the club was debilitated by injuries) If Phil makes it to the draft as Sabres head coach. Believe it or not, I actually was happy when the Sabres gave him the shot, but like Zamboni, you know how I feel about that now.

So if those stats are correct (and I totally believe you) with 10 games remaining- lets say the Sabres get 20-25 more goals in those games. We will be 26 golas more than last season. Not bad, but not a huge improvement (and that's if I'm not being too generous) Lets say our PK and PP percentages stay roughly the same. Again, the PP has not improved but the PK has. Looks like maybe goaltending may have been our biggest improvement perhaps? I look at it as : He has not had a record over 0.500 in 2 seasons as coach so thereby LOSING SEASONS. I don't expect Buffalo to get over 0.500 by the end of this one. Look at Babcock. Even on TSN they are acknowledging that if he cannot get them at least into the 2nd round of the playoffs this year, he will be ion the hot seat and he has had winning (greater than 0.500) seasons the past couple of years. I do when the tank is definitely over and we see similar hockey. Tank seasons were losing on purpose.

No one said "they" would fire Phil. We're just saying "we" would fire Phil (especially with Quenneville and Guy Boucher out there) But that's just me and others who think similarly. We will see what the off season brings and maybe Phil stays and gets to show that this club will improve even more than many feel they have this season. Or maybe we get what we've been seeing since New Year's and he's toast. Not a really long wait to find out. Lets see if JBots can at least make this off season interesting.

Inevitably as far as coaching careers go, that's all we all need to know. Once you start losing, you're in the hot seat.

Lets see which Sabre team shows up against the Leafs. Hopefully, the St. Louis version.

Again, see JJ's post- so what happened come December until now if Phil can readjust as well as other coaches? I'm with JJ on this. It can start against the Leafs though!

See JJ's post.

I'm looking at the overall record and if our 3rd periods have been great, the results don't show it. Or maybe the Sabres are so far behind at that point that the opposition just takes its feet off the pedal and does the minimum to get the 2 points. Again, we will see how long Phil remains at the helm. Dahlin, Montour and Erod are some of our better players. Combined with Jack, Sam and Skinner- and I will not give up on Risto just yet either, we have the makings of some decent talent here for sure.

Plus we'll see how they handle arch-enemy Maple Leafs next. Is it that same Phil system that worked so well with St. Louis? I hope so because I hate being the Leafs ##### for the next couple of seasons.

The consistant epic second period collapses of this club almost the entire season. The Sabres may start a game decently and have a decent first period but you can see the other team figures it out during the intermission and resolves it. Also, if players are not listening to Phil if he has directed them to screen the goaltender, then don't you feel those players shouldn't see the ice again for a while and maybe sit out a game or 2? (like other coaches in this league are apt to do) Again, to me, that's on the coach.

I absolutely have way more patience with JBot- I know his job was not an easy one and I am sure he will be here at least 2 more seasons to get this roster where we may actually see noticeable improvements. But when you consistently see hockey fundamentals (like setting up a screen in front of the opposing goaltender- not readjusting the teams approach in a game after the opposition has adjusted to your game- hence epic second period collapses that we have seen the entire season) I put that on coaching. Trying to entice free agents here will not be easy for JBot. His first job will be getting Skinner to resign. If he can manage that, than maybe, just maybe others may follow but I feel it will be like the Bills with Antonio Brown, they will seek elsewhere. I do like what's happening in Rochester so maybe that is basically the only way we can go for the time being but agaim. it will take 2 to 3 more seasons of pain before these guys are ready for NHL level competition. We will see if this Sabre club gets throttled by the Leafs on Wednesday or if they show some gusto like they did against St. Lou. If they get hammered and the effort looks dismal,I'm sure you know what to expect regarding the post game posts here. To be honest, despite a few softies given up by both Hutton and Ullmark, for some reason, I actually do like our goaltenders. With a little more defensive help I feel they will be fine. I don't want them to rush the Finnish kid as he looks like a gem. Again, I also believe we have some decent talent already on this team. I would like to see how they perform under someone else's direction. We'll know more before December of 2019.

My point being, you just don't forget how to put the puck in the net. These guys know how to and aren't doing it here in Buffalo. Minnesota was a low offense system so that is why Pommers numbers dropped off. (although early on in his career there he potted 30) Under Boudreau they were defense first. We badly need offense from other contributors and it would be nice if it came from KO and Pominville. Again, I believe it is Phil's "system" that stifles it. It's not that they can't or no longer have the skills to do so, it is whatever Phil's role for them is and so far, Phil's system has been a failure. You're right, I hate Phil's system, why wouldn't I? I think there is decent talent currently on this club and my bet is, a different, experienced coach would get way more out of these guys then Phil is. Again, time will tell us and unfortunately, we will have to wait one more season because I think that will be all Phil will get, to either get this club over 0.500 or he'll be shown the door and we'll get to see if another coach can do more. The wait won;t be all that long. We've waited 8 seasons already! This is one of the few teams to be in a solid playoff spot by US Thanksgiving and then fails to qualify barring injuries. To me, everything points to coaching. (again)

The one that is obvious to me is not putting bodies in front of the opposing goaltender. Only Samson does this at times and when you have guys the size of Girgensons and Tage I know what I would ask of them if I were the coach. Get your ass at the top of the crease! I know Girgensons is on the checking 4th line but on the PP, put him out there at tinmes right in the goalies face, interchange with Tage as well. This club is hardly screening opposing goaltenders when its done league wide. that's one I just don't get and I think it's part of the reason we make many backups look like Vezina winners. Look at DeSmith the other night? No one, absolutely no one, screening him all game.

With all due respect, I just went back and did the research, my memory is still decent as I was correct in my assessment. Okposo and Pominville could put the puck in the net with some regularity a few seasons ago. Pominville had a few 30+ goal seasons with the Sabres (before Minnesota and 1 with them) Okposo as an Islander had a few decent goal seasons there as well. Why you're using Sabre totals of the past 4 seasons is puzzling. The offense sucked. (and still does under Phil) Girgensons got 15 in his 2nd season as a Sabre. So please, allow me to spout off a little more!

Are the Sabres fun to watch under Phil? Not in my view and it looks like the view of many posting here. However, that being said, Phil may or may not be the head coach to start next season and you will have your chance to prove me wrong again. Results are results and Phil's as head coach are horse ####!