Scottysabres

REDEMPTION!!!!!!

Reinhart, unimpeded, didn't shoot? Why? The replay clearly shows his stick was still free.

Yikes! Point with a point blank shot

I think they should do a commercial time out and open a voting pole during the 60 second time slot by 716 area code fans to pick PP1 and PP2 for that power play and make Phil adhere to it. Can't do any worse than him and his staff anyways. PGE can market package it as a real-time fan inter-action, wave of the future ?

Missed a few in a row now Ink. Bought that AHLTV package for the season (thanks for that by the way, I have enjoyed it). Are the Marlies drained talent wise from Toronto or did the Amerks just steam roll them?

No, I realize the stats show they exceeded expectations, but I'm merely questioning why all 10 wins or 10 wins in a row had to be labeled lucky bounces is all. I concede completely the streak was unexpected, but I watched all 10 games, stats put aside for a moment, they appeared to me in any in event, in that stretch, to have more pep in their step, more focus, they looked like they were having fun. The real issue with that label to me is this, they showed they can do it. I don't expect 10 in a row every 25 games, but I since they showed they can do it, and now that they're back to nearly fully healthy since then, I see no reason why they shouldn't be able to sustain a more consistent win % is all. As a number of posters pointed out here, .500 hockey should be attainable.

It's only factually incorrect by "underlying metrics". Please point to every "lucky bounce" through the entire 10 games. If you can do this, I will concede. I'm strongly betting you can't.

Ahhh, but there in lay the problem with the "win streak was a series of lucky bounces" mindset. It wasn't. The team actually performed better for a majority of that streak, "Lucky bounces" played a minimal role imo. The team can and has, play better than what has been witnessed since the streak. Indeed, the 1st loss against the lightning they still performed at a higher level than what has been recently witnessed imo.

I'm looking at the teams situation from a 3 group perspective. The owners - The Pegula's expectations of this season specifically. They, above any other group in my listing are well aware of their tenured time with the playoff drought, the inability to find a cohesive, workable on ice product and subsequently the decision to go full on "from the foundation up rebuild". Sure there has to be patience in a situation like this, but this is not 2014, the year is 2019, they've accumulated some core pieces, so where are the complimentary pieces? They have to be asking themselves this as well I would imagine. The Pegula's don't strike me as the "we have another yr or 2 before the playoffs" type of owners. They are well aware of the youthful yrs of their core pieces slipping away...… The GM and Coach/Coaching Staff - This group above all others is full on aware of the short comings of the talent on the roster and in their system. Identifying such isn't the issue, it appears to be a strategy of this group to allow "time" to the current roster to try and find the answers within themselves. We've seen this before, and it didn't turn out well then (the post Drury/Briere era, pre-Pegula is a striking example of this), as a matter of fact, the success rate for such a strategy isn't remotely attainable in most cases. This group above all others must act, and in 2 key area's, 1. remove players without the necessary motor's to strive successfully to achieve success, and 2. adapting on ice strategies with the group they shape to take advantage of their strengths while minimizing the exposure of their weakness's. To date, Botterill is methodical in his personnel approaches, this could work, but "time" is not a luxury he can afford to lean on, he must act imo. As for Housley, I am now becoming increasingly alarmed at his on ice personnel usage, his apparent inability to get this group of players to find consistent game play and particularly he and his staff's inability to find any shred of successful formula with the PP special teams play. Very disturbing indeed given this groups skill level. The players - I only have one question for this group, where is the locker room leadership on the current circumstances of this season? Each and every one of them know they can achieve wins in many of these games, they've proven that to themselves early in the season. So when is enough enough on this current slide of bad games? A group of players in that room needs to, nay, MUST step up and hold their team mates accountable for what they bring game in and game out on the ice. While they are still in the playoff race, that simply is not and should not be good enough. They must do better. They are team mates, word is a family like atmosphere, which can be a great thing. But with that atmosphere of good, the bad must be addressed. It is high past time for some "in-house" tough love. Eichel, Bogo, Risto, Okposo, these guys must verbally unleash what is expected, and not only to the others in the locker room, but hold those standards up even higher as an example unto themselves. As the opening sentence of this group opined, Where is the locker room leadership group on this team? Really where I stand at this time with this team. Cheers all!

BINGO!!!!! We Have A Winner Johnny! Winner in aisle 11 Irv, do you know where your children are?

Deserved loss. I don't mean to be an alarmist, but Botterill has to do something. the playoffs are fading fast and while it's nice to believe futures may step in right away, the reality is the here and now is so much more important for this teams confidence. Botterill simply cannot continue to wait imho. P.S. I really liked both Ferland and Faulks game tonight.

Some of it I'm sure is coaching, but an overwhelming majority of this game is on ice player decisions.

The Sabres have way to many passengers still. They need to shed the dead weight. On the flip side, the Hurricanes look fast, hard nosed and know how to play defense and transition hockey.

I really like Ferland's game. Just a puck hound, able to join rushes, uses his body fairly well and isn't afraid to mix it up. Ferland and Faulk (RHD), I am on board with getting them to Buffalo. It never will be. He lacks the foot speed. His best shot is an Andreychuck light type career.

I think he does. He'd be worth every bit of 8.5 to 9 for 8 years. I don't see his skating slowing down for the next 6. He's just a pure sniper, you have to keep him. My concern isn't re-signing Skinner, it's building a line 2 comparable to keeping up with the Jones's (Toronto, Tampa, Boston) for the next 8 yrs without sacrificing defense.

And the Legend of Skinner Grows........................…. poetic justice

I would say puck luck, but these guys need to do what they did during the streak, pump the legs, keep moving in the O zone, don't just carelessly throw it in no mans land.

Me too ?

Skinner reminds me a lot of Rick Martin with his skating (I think Skinner is actually better) and his uncanny knack to pick corners on net. So many games I remember Martin wrist shooting to the upper corner from the left boards. Just a childhood memory that he brings out in me. I was at a Montreal/Sabres game as a kid and Martin just picked his corner............Skinner, so Martin like, to me in any event.

Good call TW, and glad to see you again. I like Ferland's "potential", as a 2 to 3 yr Sabres come the off season when he's a UFA, but I'm not moving any of those 1st's unless the return fits a solid player control scenario for the team.

I am hoping they sign him for the full 8 yrs, after the deadline is it?

Michael Ferland, after a skewed brief education on him with another couple board members, I watched what highlights I could find and what scouting reports on him. What I read over the past couple of days he is definitely a player that interests me. Carolina also has a couple of RD's that interest me.

Pilut looked really good tonight. The Legend of Skinner Grows...……….for how much and how long? Reinharts CF 77% topped all players. Botterill's interview revealed nothing we didn't already know. Beer night ?

I wouldn't necessarily tie the players skills and abilities with their desire to compete. I have to believe the players play to win. I would imagine a combination of factors go in to why they are falling short, skill, chemistry, inexperience at the pro game level are a few examples. I guess the only thing I am looking at is they're falling short collectively, as a group. These aren't the droids we're looking for. Which means getting new droids, by hook or by crook.

While I don't disagree with this, I wonder if the players who have an internal desire to compete feel the same way. I mean, honestly, do they say to themselves, "next years our year"? Something tells me they don't.