Pimlach

Oh, I thought it was last night. Felt bad for you guys to have to watch that game last night.

Yes. Trap game. The Blues were playing bad, they were embarrassed the night before, so their coach took action. Montgomery said his players should be breaking other players legs to get to the puck first. He did not rest them, he skated them. Remember when Terry flew to Montreal, give his inspirational speech, cancelled the practice, and fly back to the big boat only to have his charges lose 5-1 to the Canadians? As I recall the Sabres cancelled at least two practices during that winless streak of 13 game (11 loses and 2 OTLs). Instead Montgomery skated his team in between a back to back. They worked on fundamentals, and then he benched two significant players. Put good ol' Joe Hofer in net, who knew he had a SV of 1.000 versus Buffalo, and who knew he would pitch a shutout? I did predict the Blues would try hard to slow the Sabres down, limit their scoring chances, control the neutral zone, and wait for the Sabres to leak. Looking at the Sabres depleted roster and all the factors leading up to this game, a Sabres let up was exactly what I expected from this group. The Sabres coaching staff was completely outmatched putting out a jumbled mess of forward lines and another night with a totally impotent PP. Remember that recent game on TNT? The praise that Ellis got, the positive vibes the Sabres created for one night with the National media. Fast forward to now. Since that night the Sabres have a bunch of "celebratory" OTL's that are keeping them alive for now. That Ellis kid has not played another minute since that night either. UPL is back and he is making a lot more clams than both Colton Ellis and good ol' Joe Hofer. That's the way it works in Sabreland.

So how was the meet up, the pub, the food, the talk? Never mind on the game.

I can still golf, weather matters.

It’s too early in the season to overreact to how a single game or two impacts the standings. They simply have to avoid two losses in a row and they need wins, not OTLs. They can’t fall into the same old bad habit of accepting losses or this will unravel quickly This team takes periods off, sometimes entire games off. They lose to teams they should beat. The outcome of the Blues game was predictable. All the signs of a trap game were there The Sabres are poorly coached. They start slow, they finish slow. The top 6 is a shambles right now, but even without the injuries it is not that good. The center spine is a weak. Josh Norris was a big and stupid gamble that a GM with 5 straight losing seasons should not have made. Thompson and Dahlin are not doing enough. I fear more inner turmoil is brewing Goaltending will be the key. History says Lyon will not hold up. History says UPL is not good enough. We have seen Ellis once and he stole a win yet he can’t get back on the ice.

Explain this please.

Yes. And do not forget that the Blues coach benched Kyrou and Sunquist on top of that.

There were SEVERAL veteran coaches out there when Lindy was hired. NONE OF THEM WERE FORMALLY INTERVIEWED.

The coaching is terrible. The lines were terrible. There was no effort to counter the simple game that the Blues were playing. The decision to play UPL, the power play, etc.

Quinn doesn’t surprise me, but the other two do. Doan should be parked in front of the blue paint on the PP.

Executive Hair?

Now the Blues will never trade us Kyrou for UPL.

Ellis playing tonight might have revved up the Sabres. The Blues were certainly playing for pride. Past culture responds, if only temporarily.

They tend to play better on the road when they are done sucking at home.

They need centers. But if the centers play like Benson I’m ok with it.

Most of the home town fans are gone. Gonna miss the comeback.

Blues announcers not happy with UPL. Claiming a deliberate trip.

10 minutes left. The Blues have to be gassed. Their coach skated them today. This is ridiculous Sabres. Start skating.

Too many passes. No net front presence.

Oh my, Son of Snuggerud.

Blues broadcast showed a graphic, Blues won 62.5% of the loose puck battles.

Soft, supple and dewy.

Agree. They are not helping him at all.

The one after it was worse.