Mig22

30? Three-Zero? I would jump up and down for 20. 15 even. yes. 15.

a) Better record than last year b) weathered an unreal injury storm c) still in his second season. Bylsma stays as long as he doesn't lose the room whether the system is attractive or not. This is a long term project and this Sabres team is NOT talented enough to do more than squeak into the playoffs this year...just like almost every NHL season prediction stated. Just like the models which add up player performance numbers show (see @IneffectiveMath on Twitter for an example). Get used to Dan.

Franson also struggled with that vision problem last year. It is apparently better this year or he has learned to compensate for it. He is definitely making fewer mistakes and has maintained the physical side of his game. The shot from the point hasn't been what it was in the past though...maybe just an offshoot of the lousy offense to this point though.

This. :)

And I think it's a road game. But we're not judging.

I think if the season gets to the point where it's lost, then I would move him there. Form the basis of a team with 4 real lines next year.

An interesting parallel is the US Men's National Team in soccer from the 2010 World Cup and the leadup to it. They simply could not get going in games and continually gave away an early goal (an even bigger deal in soccer). Eventually, they would work themselves into the game and really did succeed, going deep in the Confederations Cup and reaching the knockout rounds at the World Cup. But it was baffling then and it's baffling with this team. There was knowledgeable speculation at the time that it was a poor pregame routine, either too much work the day before or not enough pregame warmup compared to other teams. Does anyone have any insight into Bylsma's morning skate routine versus other teams?

I hear you but my point was that if they continue at the points pace they have had since Jack's return, they will be on the edge of making the playoffs. This is exactly what most fans expected coming into the season: a borderline team. If they continue to be in 25th place and out of the playoff hunt with Jack and a reasonably healthy D corp then yeah, Bylsma should go. That's why I am fine with a wait-and-see attitude.

Making a statement to young Jack and the rest of the team. I'm fine with that. 50 games left. Need 13 points out of each 10 games. Let's see how the next 10 go.

I'm seriously hoping that it's just rust from their time off because they have been horrible. While Jack and Lehner didn't look good on the tying goal on Tuesday night, it was Kulikov that got worked to lose the puck behind the net. So yeah, more puck luck and getting into game shape should only help this mess.

"puck luck" PDO is the sum of a team's 5v5 shooting percentage (the number of goals they score divided by the number of shots on goal they generate) and their 5v5 save percentage (the number of shots their goalies stop divided by the number of shots on goal they allow).Aug 2, 2012 Non-Traditional Metrics Glossary: PDO - Fear The Finwww.fearthefin.com/2012/8/2/3215351/non-traditional-metrics-glossary-pdo

They have a similar situation to us. Bishop's the starter but his numbers this season are worse than Vasilevsky's by a bit. But he's still Bishop so it should be a help that he's out.

How wild would THAT be? 23 OT and shootout losses. Of course, giving up 23 points to the opposition might change the playoff cutoff to above 97 points. Just for an interesting FYI. Highest place teams with high # of OT/SO losses and high # of reg losses: 2015-6 Carolina 35-31-16 2014-5 LA 40-27-15 2013-4 Detroit 39-28-15 *** Only one on this short list to make the playoffs.

Yup. so with 51 games left, they need to do that 5 more times to get 65 more points and they will have 97 points. 1 game to spare in case of emergencies.

It's not nitpicking, the puck went right through him. But bouncing pucks are always tough and that goal was a great follow by Barkov. Lehner stopped him and then Barkov put it back from a sick angle while leaning severely. Just a good play.

I get it that we suck in shootouts but we are 1-5. If we were 50% (by definition, the average, we would have 2 more points. This one hurts because it is a team we need to pass in the standings but it's still -2 points and +2 to a random two other teams. So yes, it's a problem but it's only 2 points and it's a sample size of 6 shootouts so we'll where it goes. I wonder if it would be practical to replace Lehner for the shootout? It would be controversial to be sure.

The geek is strong in this one. I like it.

I think you set up a bit of a false dichotomy. It isn't either Greatest or Lucked into it. He moved from role to role, did well enough at each step to move forward. It wasn't like he was an assistant and the whole rest of the coaching staff above him died in a bus accident. He earned his place and while he may not succeed here, there is no reason to fault his mentality. 1.33 years in the job and the team is improving. We'll see.

My two cents. Nobody that gets to this point in a professional sport has a 'loser mentality'. It simply takes too much effort and self-belief for a weak outlook to make it. Is he cautious/calculating when the odds of success are low? Sure. But that is simply being practical.

There is no reason that this can't happen. The team has earned that 4-2-1 with a lineup getting steadily healthier and integrating players as they return. Jack is not 100% but his skating improves a bit each game. I have optimism. Some.

I'll take the Pegulas as owners all day long. Not meddlers, they give management a chance, and are willing to spend money on staff, roster, and facilities. Nothing not to like. If you don't like the choice of coaches or GMs, fine, but you can't say that the choice of coaches was unreasonable. A Stanley Cup winner and a guy who got the Jets to their only conference championship game since Namath I think. If it doesn't work out, they will get new coaches. Good ownership is about commitment and resources and nothing much else. They pass muster on both of those.

That hit he laid on Lucic was....righteous. " And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger " - J. Winfield 1994

And an editorial remark about criticizing the performance instead of the win: That Edmonton team was rested, is leading the viciously tough Pacific, and had the best road record in the league coming in. Did anyone expect the banged up Sabres to be able to play with them for 60 minutes? That is huge win and a quality performance.

Thank you kindly. And wasn't THAT fun last night (except for the part in the second when I turned off the game in disgust). And I can't seem to watch hockey and post in forums at the same time. Cheers!

Fair point ^^^ It is interesting NHL.com, NHL TV, and a couple of other outlets are treating this as a marquee matchup and not dwelling on Jack's ankle.