Curt

Chart says that Sabres are just slightly on the good side, but also have been extremely lucky.

So, Risto checks and a Sobotka shot leads to a goal. It’s been a strange game indeed. I feel like they haven’t been getting beat as badly as the score. They are absolutely capable of coming back in the 3rd. If they come back to at least force OT, I will be pretty fricken bought in that this is a playoff team.

Hmm, hey Dahlin. Watch out for Panarin.

Looking forward to watching this one after missing most of the last one. Win one in MSG!

Well, no one except McDavid deserves to get lumped in with Crosby. Matthews is a good, but not elite passer. He is an elite goal scorer. One of the best 5 in the league. I think where he can improve most is in transition, in winning more puck battles, and on defense. He often doesn’t give the effort on winning pucks or on D that you would want to see, and he doesn’t carry the puck up ice as much as his talent says he probably could. IMO

Haha, sorry. I thought you were the one who was originally asking. I throw my full support behind his pronunciation.

To my understanding, the correct pronunciation is Yokee-har-yu

This always gets me. When the team is successful under Krueger, his impassive, non-reactive bench demeanor is a reflection of his stay calm mantra. When the team is unsuccessful under Housley, his impassive, non-reactive bench demeanor is a reflection of his inability to inspire the team and a sign of poor leadership. Not saying you specially ever said that about Housley, freeman, but I saw it many times from several people. I just find it funny.

And Alex Nylander’s advanced metrics are horribly terrible, and he’s been scratched a couple times so far this season.

Didn’t say anything about a trade. Could be as simple as reshuffled lines that place a different player in Sobotkas spot. Even if a trade happens, there is no guarantee that the incoming player swaps in for Sobotka.

A question for those who would be hesitant to make a lineup change “upgrading” from Sobotka on the 2nd line. What would need to happen to change your mind? What if Sabres lose 3 of 4 and the 2nd line goes scoreless in those games? Then is it ok to change?

Hecht=much better than Sobotka. Gaustad=also never a 2nd line player

I don’t think he was referred to as “first choice”, but supposedly Botterill did speak with Krueger before the Housley hire. Krueger wasn’t in a situation to come back to NHL coaching at that time though.

Yes, I mostly subscribe to the notion. Can’t know for sure though, of course. I also subscribe to the notion that Pegula refused to pay the O’Reilly bonus and forced an artificial deadline on the trade. Also unverifiable. Basically any poor Botterill move, I blame on Pegula. ?

I have an unverifiable suspicion that Pegula had heavy influence on the hiring of Housley.

I think so, yes. Hammond will be the 3rd goalie if needed.

Try this again after Sabres lose 3 out of 4, or the Skinner line goes 5 games without a goal. Some people just don’t want to touch a thing because they are afraid that everything will crumble. If the Sabres really are better and/or Krueger really is a very good coach, then everything will not crumble from changing one player.

He should be fired immediately for this??? No, wait. I think that’s wrong. Seriously though, I’ve always liked Botterill’s style of the slow, sometimes cautious, build. Even if I didn’t like every individual move that he’s made. I don’t think this is going to be a 120 point team this season, but I think/hope that we will continue to see gradual improvement with this team over the next couple years. Botterill is good in my book.

I feel like they’ve been getting the opponents top line more often, but that’s just my unscientific observation, could be wrong.

Math can attempt to predict such things, just as anyone who watches games can. Neither will be correct all the time. Which will be right more often, I can’t say for sure.

I have to agree, I think they are getting harder matchups. They haven’t had great results at 5 on 5 as a result I think.

He hasn’t been dominant, for sure, but I see improvement in him as a player that makes me think he can be that. His skating, strength on the puck, physical presence and shot all look better.

Maybe he lost his love for the game again. He should look between the couch cushions, that’s where I always find mine.

I mostly see “driving a line” as being able to advance to puck up the ice, zone exits and entries. Johansson has done more of that I think, while Skinner is more opportunistic, always in position to pounce of chances. Everyone has their own definition for what “driving” is though, which is why I put it in “ “.

I think Dahlin-Jokiharju could be a nice D pair for the next 15 years or so.