GASabresIUFAN

Last night: Lucky For the season: inconsistent, mediocre, incompetent, cooked, etc….

This is true, but the Sabres still gave up 45 shots on goals including 10 HDC. Sabres lose this game but for the video replays and UPL’s excellent play.

3 stars 1. UPL 2. Sabres video staff 3. Crosby

I wouldn't read too much into it. He has been great in the WHL with 2 pts per game and was very effective in his limited time in Rochester. Now that he has been traded to Moose Jaw, let's see how he does with his new team and in the WHL playoffs.

With the World Jrs now complete, how did our prospects do and did it change the rankings? 1. Kulich was as expected. 6 goals, 12 pts, captain for the Czechia team and tourney all-star. Helped Czechia metal for the 2nd straight year, earning a Bronze metal. 2. Östlund was better than I expected. Excellent speed and maybe Sweden’s best driver of offense. 3 goals, 10 points and a Silver metal. Still needs more muscle mass if he is going to make an impact in the NHL. Ryan Leonard (USA) out muscled him for a goal late in the gold metal game. 3. Strbak was also better than expected. He was Slovakia’s best D, skating over 23:30 per game and added 1g 7 pts in only 5 games. 4. Wahlberg was solid for the Swedes. 2nd youngest player on the roster. 3 pts in 7 games including a GWG. 5. Savoie was a huge disappointment as was Team Canada. 1 pt in 4 games before getting hurt. 6. Panocha - Skated a regular shift for Germany playing in all 5 games. 7. Ratzlaff - The goalie did not appear in a game for Canada. I’m not sure the rankings I posted earlier change, except I’d upgrade Strbak to our 9th best prospect and might slot Wahlberg 10th.

He is currently the NHL leader in goals by a D with 11.

Question Amerks fans; Have the additions of Bryson and Stillman made the Amerks better?

What timeline issues? Komarov and Lindgren will be 20 before next season and Komarov is already signed to his ELC. I don't see any reason that either guy would return to Jrs for an overage season. Once in Rochester, we'll get a better feeling for their future. Strbak played nearly 24 minutes a game for the Slovak team and was, by all accounts, a rock for them. I can see him returning to MSU for a 2nd season, but after that, KA will get him to Rochester. Also, don't forget that Rochester has a much older D group. Novikov is the youngest D currently in Rochester by 5 years. Bryson, Clague, Stillman, Cecconi, and Davies are all on expiring contracts. As to Novikov, he is 3rd among Amerks D in pts with 11 and the D leader in +/- with +4. This is also his 3rd pro season (2 in the KHL ) and will be 21 in July. He is also huge at 6'4 209. Honestly, I would be surprised if he doesn't make a run at a job with the Sabres in the fall.

I was watching Seinfeld.

I have said this often the last few years, but it’s changing fast. In fact our top D prospect, Ryan Johnson, is already in the NHL. Novikov is possibly our best D in Rochester. After those two, we have another 3 good to excellent prospects in Lindgren, Komarov and Strbak. Novikov may make the Sabres as early as next season. Lindgren and Komarov are both going to be in Rochester next season. Strbak was a rock for Slovakia at the World Jrs and he is doing well at MSU. He could be forcing his way up the pipeline sooner than later.

The truth is the Bills need to win the division and get a home playoff game. We are better than Miami and if we lose to a banged up Miami team we don’t deserve to be in the playoffs anyway.

Östlund Swe player of the game. Howard for USA.

Östlund gets out muscled by Ryan Leonard - USA 5-2. 6-2 USA on an empty netter

3-1 US. Howard with 2 goals in the second. Östlund is flying, but team USA has to many weapons so far.

You do realize that Mitts is 11th in the NHL with Even Strength Points with 29. 11th and only 2 points out of 6th. That’s all-star worthy.( It may even be sponge worthy).

You can vote for 8 skaters. Vote for both.

https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/buffalo-sabres-how-to-vote-in-the-2024-nhl-all-star-fan-vote-nhl-all-star-game-toronto-february-3-2024-rasmus-dahlin

Did we finally see a new PP set up last night? The Sabres went 2/4 on the PP (net 1 because of the SHG allowed). Both goals were scored the same way on passes through the crease to an open player on the side of the net.

Yep. He has been the Sabres best and most consistent player this season. He also is the team's leading scorer and is in the top 10 in the NHL in 5 on 5 scoring. He is also the team's leader in +/- at +7. Dahlin is a team worst -14.

So that is what a complete effort looks like. Wow! Nice to see for a change. That said, what a lazy crap play by Dahlin on the PP to allow that SHG. Also really nice goals on the PP. Finally they are trying something other than the slapper from TNT. It's amazing what happens when the puck moves quickly and you get the PK out of position.

I think you're missing the broader point. That Caps team couldn't become a Cup contender without a change in how they played the game. We can't become even a playoff team without a similar change in philosophy.

I’m going it have to disagree. We currently have 3 players at or near 1000 games. We have physical players as well. Greenway, Dahlin, Clifton, Tuch Eric Johnson and Girgensons are all physical players. We even have a pest is Skinner. What we don’t have is proper coaching and goaltending. We also don’t have defensive buy in from the forwards.

This organization has a choice to make similar to the one Wash made a few years ago. The choice is do we stay a free wheeling team and try to win 5-3 each night or do we fire the coach and bring in a new coach with a defensive first system? Wash chose the latter and won a Cup because their O talent was enough to counter punch off the defensive transition. I’d like to see a similar change in Buffalo, but we need buy in like Wash received from Ovie.

…. and Mitts is on pace for his first 20+ goal season.