Pimlach

So far Krebs has 1:25 more TOI than McLeod. Cozens and Benson getting a lot of time vs Wild top line.

The Sabres played good. One costly shift with an error.

Can we end the Benson-Cozens-Krebs experiment?

So they mic’ed up a guy that doesn’t talk?

You gonna decrement his expected GF? Foligno can toss Quinn around anytime he wants.

Pretty goal by MW. Our top line stayed out too long and got too deep.

Good evening Teammates, I am looking forward to Sabres hockey I’m happy to say. MUSCLE WEIGHT

He was much better than Krueger for sure.

To the bold I would say I don't think so. Granato is good coach for an all star team tossed together for a tournament. That's about it. I doubt he gets another NHL HC gig.

McLeod will be used to help shut down Minny's top line. We have the last change. McLeod will get his minutes.

You are singing my song Taro.

We have seen successful roads trips fade into oblivion when followed by uninspired play on home ice. Lindy needs to continue to exercise these demons and make this team come out fired up and ready to win in front of the home town crowd. Wild are good so they boys better being their A game. Hope to see Tage back in the lineup. Keep Kulich in the lineup for middle 6 and PP2. UPL in the net.

Weather on TV is nutso. The national media makes all weather events cataclysmic. In another News Flash - airports are crowded for Thanksgiving and Christmas travel. This is headline news every year on mainstream media. Long lines and delays at airports - imagine that? Meanwhile they sell stories that airlines are not making any money, and we get to see people wearing their pajamas while on airplanes, and fighting with other people because "they know their rights".

They need 2C (assume Cozens goes to wing or) or a top 6 winger (Assume Cozens stays at C). They also need 4D (assume Muel is moved to 3rd pair or gone). Trading Joki is just a piece of whatever multi-player deal brings in one of those players.

No. Quinn straight up for Jiricek is were I would start, but even that would take some convincing. We really need a smart, strong, and steady defense first top 4 guy. Jiricek is not that kind of defenseman right now, and if he can be someday, I don't want to wait 3 to 4 years for him to figure it out. Peterka is a much better player right now than Jiricek is. No way would I consider trading him for this guy. Kulich is just now emerging and we need help at center, so no to this trade.

No surprised here. You could see this from a mile away.

I don’t think anyone associated with the Sabres needs this data to know what Gilbert’s role is and what his limitations are. Is anyone surprised? Gilbert played in 7 games, and he averages ~11 minutes TOI. The team was 5-2 in those games. He got his games at a critical point too, when the team started to turn things around, and he did fine. He is here for a physical presence, he is a low cost 8th D option, and he is not going to score many goals. Can we do better? Of course. Ryan Johnson is in Rochester. So is Novikov. Let them continue to develop in the AHL and let Gilbert be the 8D. I like it set up the way it is and I have no problem with Gilbert at 8D at this point in the season.

Joker had 38 games in Chi town Tage had 41 in St Lou. They are primarily Sabre grown.

I’ll bet it’s the later. Funny you mention this. I know a former Sabres employee/coach. He once said he feels sorry for the coach that replaces Granato. Based on the context I interpret what he meant was the young team was not getting the proper coaching. Consider this. Most of the players that are most consistent, and some even look elevated, have played for other teams - Zucker, McLeod, Tuch, Greenway, Clifton, the fourth liners, etc. Yes, they also have experience. Peterka, Power, Benson, and Krebs are doing fine in their roles. Dahlin started slow (could have been be injuries). Quinn is struggling. Cozens is inconsistent and carrying a big load as 2C with an “A”. Muel was lost and also with an “A”. Joker was benched. But it only makes sense that a few of the home grown “Sabres only” players could take awhile given the past circumstances coupled with the new found high demands and urgency.

Isn’t expected goals percentage still a function of expected goals ? Seems like it would be to me. Ruff usually plays the 4th line against scoring lines and they get defensive zone starts when he can get the match up. Sometimes they line up against the other 4th line. Strategy changes as the game evolves and depending on who gets the last change. Now, if the opponents 4th line is a defensive shut down line, and our fourth line is playing against them, would that make it even harder for our 4th line to score? Seems like it would. If I’m playing against the Sabres, and I want to score a goal, then I want to play against Cozens and Quinn’s line, especially if Bryson is out there with them.

How many teams have 4th lines that are NOT the bottom line in “expected goals”? I think Malenstyn is doing what was expected. Lafferty too. My eye test says that Abe-Kubel has been the least productive of the 4th liners. Ruff has played him the least games by far (only 7 games). He has no goals, no points, and only 4 SOGs. Due to injuries, he did recently did get shifts on the higher lines and now all of a sudden he has higher ExGF, he actually is rated with the better scorers on the team. That seems flawed. Fancy stats are nice but you cannot use them stand alone. His “real” production is not remotely close to “expected”. If he played more games this would likely change.

I will at least wait for the Minnesota Wild home game to make any detailed comments. After that game is Thanksgiving. That game will say a lot. - getting to 4 wins in a row, its been awhile for that - Playing good hockey at home and making the KBC a harder place to visit. - beating another top tier team that you are not taking by surprise - pushing into the race for 3rd in the division Winning home games with Wild on Wednesday, and the Canucks on Friday, will look very favorable for the Sabre's chances. Right now you can at least say they are still in the WC race.

Are you talking about

I don't think I would call his mistakes unforced though, if anything they are the result of high minutes and high pressure. He absolutely does take a few bad penalties that he needs to avoid doing, he has to correct that and not try to be superman. The cross check versus SJ was unnecessary but came out of his own duress to get to the puck when he didn't have to. He was in good position, the opponent was skating away from the net and not a threat. He was trying to get to the puck by going thru him. It was a mistake, he was already in perfect position to defend. He tries to do too much at times. The delay of game happens to everyone. The best players in the league have the occasional delay of game. When you play the hard minutes, and the PK, and take a lot of defensive zone starts you will eventually get this penalty. He will clear the next 999 pucks cleanly, in the air and over everybody, and then get another one for a penalty. And most of us will remember the one that gets a penalty. Unforced icings? I don't see a problem with this. He is very reliable and only getting better.

Buffalo is one of the last places he would pick to play in. He wants to play in St Louis (hometown), or be with his big brother somewhere. St Louis would have to gut their team to get him. Florida cannot fit him in either.