Mig22

The entire team has looked good tonight. Tidy after the first half of the first period where they gave up some odd-man rushes and such. They are better than AZ and it shows. EDIT: Sorry team...jinx

bye bye Nilsson. And who else? For what?

And the Leafs only got one. Matthews with 2 goals but got stoned on a clear breakaway in OT.

How can the Rangers have so many points and be so fragile? Does anyone else see this team being anything other than a convincing first round exit?

Mr Ennis is ours, for good or bad. Any contribution that is not negative at this point is a bonus (same as getting some goals out of Moulson this year). Coach had it right...he needs to make the best of whatever role the team has for him. I hate to use +/- but he has been about even in February and THAT is something I can get behind.

Isles getting slapped by CBJ and Rags over Devils 2-0 in the second. This day is starting well.

yeah, he got busy eventually. Evidently, I should have shut my pie-hole.

and the Leafs can't stand success and give up a goal at the death of the second...just after tying it. Laine...again. And I watched for the last 8 minutes of the second and heard Matthews' name once. interesting game, to be honest. As is TB-EDM

Yeah, they just swept Cali. And they looked in disarray when they fired Gallant. Amazing turnaround.

At least Ristolainen had 7 PIM last night and only played 23:40 or so. He'll be (relatively) fresh.

Yes, this. And "Gotta Simplify".

This is such a quality piece of history and perspective. It brings hope while I hope it happens a bit sooner, I can bide my time. I'm 52, I have a few years left on this earth. I can last til 60 to see a Cup come to Buffalo.

Damn, I was thinking just that. Wow, do I want them to win this game tonight.

Oh, don't worry about disagreeing as it surely won't hurt my feelings. But it was clear that he was pissed off about being booed and he statement about being loved after they won was clearly sarcastic. His remarks to the News today were reinforcing that image especially his concluding "so be it". That's fine, he can take whatever tone he wants. My point was that the fan base will not put up with indifferent efforts AND (again perceived) snarky remarks. Whether the kid has a bad attitude or just questionable skills at the podium, who knows. But "fan" is short for "fanatic" and they will turn on him given half the chance. Fair? Probably not.

After young Jack has continued to comment on his post-game remarks , he better play better than he did for two periods on Tuesday. This little hissy fit he is having over being booed will not sit well if he isn't 'generational' tonight. This is the kind of thing that sours a fan base to a (perceived) failed golden-boy.

So let me get this straight. (Almost) Everybody agrees he is not going anywhere this season barring a total collapse, right? So this entire thread is just...what? Outrage porn? Learning new ways to say that you don't like the coach? A truly internet phenomenon. I think he will do good work for the team, may not get us to the Cup (given the 10-1 odds against even a very good team each season). They will improve, are improving, and he's our boy for a while. The rest is just playing sit-and-spin.

Ding ding! Spreading the (somewhat thin) talent is clearly intentional by the coach. And let's be honest, the team is scoring goals right now. If a lot of them are PP goals, that's in part because they are drawing those penalties by rolling three lines that can score. Cheers.

COR waived.

I'm seriously enjoying this team. As they've become healthier, they are scoring, pushing the issue, and getting some points. Perfect? hardly. But Dudacek's...thorough post was spot on. It's a likable team even if the hockey in the first 25-30 games was painful. Cheers.

Pretty good summary. We DO have 3 more against the Leafs. I'd like to return to the days of b-slappnig the Leafs every time we needed a win. 2 regulation wins and an OT loss in those 3 make a nice 5-2 edge. Narrows the gap a bit. Of course, that's pie in the sky but hey, why not?

Hockeyviz.com has Ottawa and Toronto as 79% and 59% likely to make the playoffs. That's using a model based on roster performance over the last 24 months (weighted for recency I think). Toronto is still borderline...Senators less so.

Lots of smart points in the post. Notes: Kane is passing more but wow, he is still a crappy passer. He does so much else right though. Bogosian is skating so much better in the last 4-5 games and it is taking the pressure of HIS crappy passing. Those 2-3 extra strides are putting him into a position to make easier passes on the zone exit. He needs easier passes. Drastic improvement. Maybe that bum leg is finally back to 100%?

He was smooth skating as usual, made a couple of positioning mistakes, but moved the puck well which is of course crucial for the Sabres. For the first game back, I was happy. He was not on the good side of the 5v5 shot attempts though.

the numbers say 86 or 87. A certain small optimism along with the settling of the top 6 for a bit and an improving Jack and I'll say 91. probably miss the playoffs but demonstrate improvement. Edit: the numbers extrapolating the results since Jack returned.

You are missing the point, which is probably my fault for not being explicit. There will always be some large percentage of posters on boards like this that will bitch about the coach, management, etc. They will find the numbers that back up their point (and usually ignore facts that contradict their point). Bylsma's system is unattractive to watch and it makes me as sad as anyone. But his career win/loss and that Cup, which many are so eager to dismiss, are facts. There is the coherent, evidence-based argument. Our beloved Sabres are a team that was forecasted, by just about every expert, to be a bubble team this year based on its roster versus other teams' rosters. If at the end of the season (or before if it's clear ) they have not improved their record measurably) then sure there is an argument for firing him. Then yes, there will be evidence that he is not a 'good coach' for this situation. But the team is performing right where everyone thought they were going to.