Pimlach

Given the problems this franchise has had lately in finding, developing, and keeping a goalie, all we need to hit on is Levi. Kulich is like 100% pure profit if Levi hits.

Agree that if UPL and Comrie are good enough and holding up the fort then Levi could be getting better in Rochester. A backup that plays every third game still gets lots of practice and all of the extra shots in practice that he wants. 3 goalies in practice is a pain and one more thing to manage.

Great post. I bolded a key point. I think you named all the key players that started slow and are behind compared last years effort. It seemed that Tuch and Cozens started out hurt, and then continued to have health issues. Tuch seems to be back. Cozens played better the past two games and the shield is gone so maybe he keeps progressing. Tage was a slow starter last year too. He contributed in other ways but we need that shot. As you point out, the PP is bad. Kyle, Krebs, Muel, and Power all need to snap out of it. Obviously Kyle has very little in the tank. This preseason was different. It was geared heavily on looking at prospects, even prospects still in college or juniors got long looks. We rarely saw the real Sabres and I just think that is part of the slow start. Fans expected them to come out fast and look like last year and it hasn’t happen but for a few periods here and there. Goaltending is considered to be at least average this season. The Levi situation is unique (can’t think of another word). How many GMs put so much on a 21 year old rookie goalie with 2 years of ncaa experience? We are fortunate that UPL is stepping up. It’s gotta be hard for any of these goalies to stay sharp in a 3 goalie rotation. Three goalies still means you don’t have a goalie. I wonder where this goes as the season forges on.

Opps. I just noticed we are road. Ugh

I can barely remember Comrie’s last game. The time is now to start winning. It’s a back to back. Last nights third period level of play has to happen in the first and second.

Last nights game was fun. Well, the 3rd period was. It reminded of the good hockey they played last season. They can do that if they just take the play to the opponents. They are in a tough race. Realistically about 5 to 7 points out of a wild card if you consider games played. Montreal and Detroit also won. Ottawa has 5 games in hand. It’s time to get on a win streak.

Thanks. Didn’t know that.

Eichel is not generational. Generational players are not behind 4 others. That is not generational. He has a cup, great. He played great in the playoff with the best supporting cast. Reinhart left because he hated playing for a dysfunctional franchise that was entering another rebuild He seemed to like Adams, and he played hard for DG. He took this good advice - Play hard, shut up, and then move on. Risto is a big, and strong, and mostly bad player. He is a bottom pair on the Flyers when he plays.

I would not say overlooked but he got a lot of scrutiny because his weight was listed in the 150’s when he was drafted. He has gained about 20 pounds in the past few years. Amerks list him at 173. Still growing at 20. Good luck to him tonight. First game and on home road ice.

Middle 6 - we like to say 2nd and 3rd lines but they can be equal in ice time. In our future I think they will be mostly equivalent and it appears they will both be talented scoring lines. Which is why we need a re- hauled 4th line for checking and shutting down opponents. Diversity of hockey skills.

Sometimes fancy stats alone do not tell the story. Olofsson has had a few decent games, I’ll give him that. Yet, I watch him and just shake my head as he plays so passive, with reluctance, and no physical presence. Even his good forecheck at the end of the game looked half hearted. Is there a stat for Cozens play that prevented icing, and a 6v5 faceoff in our zone, with 19 seconds left. How many games were blown in that situation in the past 12 years?

The facility needs a lot of work. As many problems as the old Aud, with none of the charm, and way worse sight lines.

Wilson wants to initiate fights yet he wears a visor. That is ridiculous.

Ask the team shrink.

Not me. He did more but he still a reluctant player. Not what I want.

We dressed 11 forwards. I want to believe that his hand hurt from punching a visor and a helmet. Just speculation on my part.

According to Tuch on the postgame , the boos got them mad. Just as it was the crowd booing, coupled with their bad play, that pissed of Cozens, leading to him pick a fight with a heavyweight. Some of them care.

Girgensons got hurt. On top of that we only played 11 forwards with Greenway out.

They were playing like that regularly for good stretches last year. Just gotta get it back. If we can keep pace for awhile and then hopefully we get a big boost from Tage and then again by Quinn, we will be in the race. Then it’s up to Adams to improve the team by the trade deadline.

Big win. Big win.

Dylan Cozens plays to the end. Even on a simple play like wiping off an icing call.

Well. We got some rest. We only have 3 lines with Girgs and Greenway out.

Damm that LeTang

Tuch that was great.