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Let me make sure I understand the complaint..... You have a coach, playing on the road, against a team fighting for a playoff spot, with 5 first year players on his squad, 2 top 6 forwards out, a D man that was on the first line out, we win 3-2 and we're complaining that he's not too bright, doesn't know what he's doing and his tactics stink??? Am I missing something in this argument???

They just played their 5th game in 8 days and traveled from Buffalo to Arizona to Colorado to Buffalo in that same span of time. They were also short several regulars in that Detroit game. Is there just the slightest possibility they were just tired in that game????? I think the 3 days rest between games and getting a couple of guys back will get them back on track.

Saw that also, wow 30 minute men

GCLive gave me a not available ate the beginning of game but I turned it on to see the stats and the game is on....... Wierd but I'm happy again

Wow!!!!! Kane and lazy, never thought I'd see that pair of words together concerning him.

I'm guessing it is more likely they are showcasing Franson, Weber and Gorges.

I think he's really playing better lately, my only disagreement with you is he had a couple of opportunities early and mishandled the puck. Also, Lehner wasn't awesome but he looked a lot better than his previous game. Bad luck on the 2nd goal keeps him from getting a point in this game. It would help if we had scored a couple for him, must be something about these Swedish goalies..... too many meatballs maybe??? Nice goal by Kane also by the way, he now leads the team in hits which is pretty impressive since he's missed 10 games and and is 1 behind Eichel in SOG for the season. Personally I think he's the most scary player to play against for us. A forechecking demon also. I am really starting to love this guy. Another item is we have really improved getting the puck out of our zone quickly. I think the addition of Pysyk and the pairing of Bogo and Risto have really helped.

Great posts in here!!!! If they can swing Boedker, I don't think they can afford Yandle. Goligoski will be cheaper. Pluses are we will be both younger, bigger and faster. I've been so impressed with the Bogosian-Risto pairing, I want them to stay together. I also want McCabe and Pysyk to play together again also. My dream team 1a Kane-ROR-Reinhart 1b Boedker-Eichel-DraftChoice (1 of the Finns hopefully) 3 Girgs-Larrson-Fasching 4 Foligno-Schaller-Gionta Bogo-Risto Goligoski-(Whoever we can coup from the inevitable Ennis-Weber-Johnson-Franson trades coming up) McCabe-Pysyk Lehner Ullmark

WildCard, you have done another great job with this. Appreciate your time in doing these for not only the info but the entertainment factor. Thanks.

I think unless we go on a unforeseen role to end the season, there are just too many teams in front of us to be able to push on thru to the playoffs this year. Having said that, the top 5 teams in the West...Chicago, LA, Minnesota, St.Louis and Dallas, we have already played them 8 of the 10 times we'll see them this year. Of the top 6 teams in the East presently, Florida, Detroit, Tampa Bay, Washington, NYI and the Rangers, we have played 14 times and have only 7 games left with these teams. So we have already played presumably the best teams in the NHL at total of 22 times in our first 46 games. The schedule does get a lot easier in that scenario but that means we have to win a big majority of our games against the teams that are still in front of us. The rosy part of this scenario is we are presently playing our best hockey of the season right now, not just in winning 4 or our last 5 but our overall play. The kids are starting to understand their roles and have gained confidence plus they appear to have gained a new found confidence in themselves and their teammates. I can only think of 2 games out of our last 15-20 that we've looked bad, the Florida game and the Boston game a few games back. All the rest we've at the very least have been very competitive in even when we lost. So there's hope until Melissa McCarthy starts singing.

Moulson and Lehner are definitely top 2 right now. Franson has actually played much better with McCabe on his wing.

OMG..... You biotch about the Pegulas You biotch when someone doesn't write nice about the Pegulas You biotch when the team loses You biotch when the team wins What does that make you???? Buffalo Sabre Biotchers!!!!!!!!!! Reference notes..... stolen but not necessarily word for word from the movie Bull Durham

Nice catch Aud.... thanks for sharing

Don't forget Reinhart going off for Roughing too....... Just saying

Bogosian doing a very nice job on the left side with Risto also...... Could this be a future pairing??

I'm guessing although ROR and Kane are probably not enthused about not making the playoffs, I don't think this is a tank move and they both knew what the Sabres have been the past few years and couldn't have expected this to be a SC year. I agree with you about Ullmark, I think he was starting to play really well and if Johnson does get traded as I expect, he'll be back up shortly.

They get a 1/2 season to see what Lehner has to offer. Ullmark gets quality games/minutes in Rochester. They get The Real Johnson some more games to hopefully raise his trade value for an extra month. All good things. They most likely are not playoff participants this year anyway so even if he technically is not ready for prime time that'll improve their draft stock for this summer. Another good thing. That will leave a top 2 LHD and most likely a draftable top 6 forward in the draft to pick up for next season's run to the playoffs. Another good thing. The rebuild is coming along just fine. As for MODO, I'm guessing a case of Konig and a pint of Absolut Vodka will keep him happy :w00t:

That was too awesome!!!!!

Your 4 RD's.... Risto-Bogo-Franson-Pysyk Your 4 LD's..... Gorges-McCabe-Weber-Colo It will be interesting if anything much changes besides Pysyk getting a few minutes here and there until DB has faith in him to handle 3rd line minutes. I don't foresee him getting left side minutes though. When he's ready it looks like Franson may be the recipient of the odd man out.

I agree with the white collar/blue collar guy. The majority of season tickets at one time were purchased by the diehard fans. When ticket prices went thru the roof the majority of season ticket holders became corporate sponsors. Instead of people who lived and died with the Home team it's now date night and hey I won free tickets to the game, let me ask my buddy who also doesn't really give a hoot about the team. Just a completely different fan at the games now a days. It's ok by me because one I don't like the drive in town anymore and I like the cheaper beer and parking in my garage as opposed to paying some extravagant price to park in the city's garage and $9 beers. The atmosphere won't get any better until the team starts winning big-time and the ticket holder becomes cool to be seen at the games. Unfortunately 21st century sports. As for the players, they are bigger, faster and have better skills than at anytime in history. I realize it's my opinion but bigger rinks, smaller gkeeper padding and calling interference would kick up scoring a bunch, but that's in a different thread I think. Merry Christmas by the way, my hockey fix has been helped by getting GCLive and finding this site. Have a fruitful Holiday Season my fellow Sabre fans.

Heartbreaking loss but if you had told me we'd take 7 points in our last 5 games against the Blackhawks, Kings, Red Wings, Devils, and Ducks especially after the 3 road losses, I'd have jumped all over it. Should have been 8 with a little more luck but a very nice ending before the break. The team is slowly but surely getting better against some of the best teams. A time to let this particular game go and be optimistic.

Man I have to give you guys major props, how you watch the game and comment here is nothing short of amazing to me, tried but can't do it myself.

Don't look now but Arizona and Edmonton are presently in the playoffs if they started today. WOW,

+1 and another +1

Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down big boy, his avg. TOI is 5-6th Dman this year. Far far away from best Dman status. He's basically was getting Weber and Colaiacovo minutes. Again far far away from best Dman status. I like the kid long term but he's no savior now nor will be in the future.