Thanks! Loooooooooooong time lurker, finally got myself a screen name.
I'm not worried. I look at this team and see a roster that is set up to compete for the next 5-10 years. During the winning streak it occurred to me that to take the next step - sustained success - the Sabres need to lose some games (and possibly some players to injury) in order to understand how to fight through adversity, how to learn to win, and - critically - how to hate losing. They need some hardship in order to forge the iron in fire, so to speak.
This year has been a revelation. Simply put, the team is watchable for the first time in years. Passes are hitting tape (that alone is a MAJOR, and welcome change). Players are forechecking and digging pucks out of corners. There is skill out there on nearly every shift and there is even more to come out of Rochester and next year's draft. The goaltending is keeping us in games and actually giving us a chance in shootouts. Defensemen are involved in the offensive zone like we thought they would under Phil. It's just very good hockey on display most nights and honestly, we fans deserve it.
The last two games have shown us what needs to be addressed - guys sitting back, not dictating the play, not fully engaged in their defensive responsibilities, and not staying focused enough to avoid stupid penalties. Tampa came out playing playoff hockey from the gate and for the most part, I thought the Sabres matched it - it looked like a playoff game and the hair on the back of my neck stood up for the whole contest. When is the last time we had that kind of atmosphere, really? Over a decade. It's marvelous.