Broken Ankles

You are on record for them viewing the Vegas game as an “event game”. A quote from the GDT below….. so if true, why are they tweaking the lines, again? When it was clearly a factor in the loss yesterday. Then add to that sitting Quinn, and giving Vincenzo (whom I like in a top 12 role) time on the first line? How do you reconcile the two? Seems like they are treating this game like the last few. Perhaps a few players are more motivated and come out flying, or playing in front of a bigger crowd gives some added juice but not sure how these changes “help” with a W. “Event games, these vibes games, they are a different story. The team approaches them differently imo and I think the statistics from last year clearly bear that out. Maybe they get shellacked tomorrow but I don't think so. I think they win.”

They. Pronoun's. 😉

So I’m guessing Porous Five Hole is a double entendre?

Watched late last night, but some observations. All three goals for Chicago were greasy. The lack of size and strength in front is costly. Missing mule. Victor has 6 goals in 8 games. If he weren’t scoring I could see the concern. No criticism here. And he needs to be on the first PP. Chicago had only one line working last night, and Kaner still has something in the tank. If he keeps this up he will generate a lot of interest in the off-season. Love Z but wish he had softer hands. Quinn trending up; Krebs trending down. Asplund needs to be back.

Habs PK was top 7 in the league (surprising), so the Sabres didn't show too poorly. They potted one goal. I agree with overall assessment of zone entry. No disputing that. And their PP is the abysmal. Maybe 1 goal all season? I think on the BJ's are worst with nil. So my caveat is the Sabres looked good without two key performers (Mule and Rasmus II) against a bad unit.

Not moving or widening goalposts or attempting to correlate hits to wins. In fact after watching Calgary, I can see diminished returns from too many attempted hits. Just giving my observation which is the increased number of registered hits, and the subsequent suppression of shots and high danger opportunities is one contributing factor to improved play over last years team. To the bold, sometimes. And other times, one hit ends possession. That is a good thing, and I would debate happened less frequently with last years starting line up.

In other news, water is wet. Obviously outscoring is required to win. The point made is forecheck, backcheck, and boosh-check can have a positive effect in contributing to turnovers. Guys like Dahlin, Cozens, and Mitts are showing significant improvement in the defensive zone YoY. By taking a body and separating man from puck, they improve their oppounity to suppress shots and increase turnovers. The Sabres have more physical (and obviously more talented) players like Tuch, JJP, Boosh, Mule, and Power replacing guys like Eakin, Bjork, Pysyk, Hagg and Miller. Their size, reach, strength are all contributing to solid play in the defensive zone. Evidence by reduced high danger chances and overall scoring chances against YoY. And I would wager if you threw out the third period in EDM and period two last night they tell an even better story. Why can’t you admit that improved offensive skill, slightly better goaltending and size/strength and a more aggressive tone on D can all play a factor to helping the team “out score” their opponents?

Weren’t two of Rob Rays three keys to the game the exact same? He should probably stop drafting these minutes before puck drop.

Are you selling false hope?

Introducing undrafted defenseman Arber Xhekaj. He was feeding Zack so many rights that Kassian was begging for a left. https://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/n265616

He registered zero give aways last night, but your guy Casey had two glaring turnovers in the defensive zone.

39 attempts for Oilers in 3rd period alone.

Aaron Dell in goal for the Oilers?

Cozens>Asplund>JJP>Krebs>TT = Skinner= VO > Quinn.

Still on west coast time, and get the pleasure of spending time with family in the 716. @Donny - please move Alex to FL1. Migratory Watching.

What was wrong with the call? Reilly tried glove it to himself but never played the puck, so after touched by another Leaf player, how is it not a pass?

Agree on the 7k estimate. Swaths of empty seats in the 100’s. Visiting the parents with my son this week, so I did a kids day purchase. My ticket was $39 and $15 for my son. Then made our way to section 119 for the 3rd period. One the reasons I had to leave the 300s was an annoying spotlight that was blinding me every 60 seconds. WTF, why?

Agreed. But it’s consistently a struggle for those D men not name Dahlin to exit a zone. What is the best fancy stat site to rate zone exits? Dahlin must be above average and the others below.

Can they win one face off?

And the odd man rush parade continues