FrenchConnection44

They could schedule it better. If they did just home and home for the Western conference (32 games), then same for the other division in one’s own conference - for Sabres, would be Met division (16 games), that leaves 34 games. They could play every team in their division 4 times (28 games) and then either rotate the other 6 games with the 8 teams in the Metro each year, or do an additional home and home with 3 teams in the Met and rotate through the 8 teams over 3 yrs.

Where are all the fans? Ton of empty seats. And a ton of red jerseys. One wonders what the attendance would be if there were no Canadian fans there?

Team looked tired and lethargic and out of position. Disappointing after getting a day off. Even still we had a shot in the third. The negation of the Quinn goal really hurt. 4-2 and we have an adrenaline rush and momentum. Different period then. It was a great goal. Great pass from Skinner and great read on the goalie. Middlestedt should be crushed for that. Maybe the coach will use him as an example in a film session. He should apologize to the team. We also didn’t and are not playing with enough physicality. We can’t sustain a season with losing the hits battle every single game. But that is largely because the players are just not as physical - in terms of their strength and power - in the way they need to be. Talent is there. The discipline (on and off Ice - getting stronger and more physical) - is not there yet. I harp on this but nearly every one of our young skaters 25 and under needs to get physically stronger and tougher in the off season. We don’t need to be the broad street bullies. We just need to play a more physical game - including using our speed and getting some more hits in as well as endurance and being able to grind. This next game could be a sign of where they are mentally. Do they grind for 60 minutes, play aggressive and disciplined, and use their speed? Or do they play more akin to last night’s effort?

Great start, again. I’ve said this already. Really like the young players and their potential. I am bullish on them the next 2-4 years. That said, we have seen fast starts before fizzle out. 2019-20: 9-2-1 2020-21: 4-3-1 2021-22: 5-1-1 They really need to demonstrate mental and physical toughness. First, to not fall prey to youthful complacency. But especially when they start to lose a few games. Can they quickly right the ship? I do like a lot of what they do. They skate fast. They back check pretty well (it’s really about effort; fighting for the whole ice). They have talent who have potential to score. And goaltending so far has been great. Have to remain healthy there and overall. I don’t like that we take a lot more hits than our opponents. Out hit every game: 18-9; 12-11; 28-16; 29-11; 40-17 We are not a big physical team and even some of our bigger players are not the dominant physical types so we aren’t going to outhit teams. But still need to maintain physical play and try to avoid hits when we can. It’s one reason I really want to see several of these players do more in the weight room in the off season. Add 5-10 LBs of muscle without losing speed and we can be an even tougher out. Plus that will give us more endurance. That really needs to be an emphasis team wide this off-season, imo. Maybe add another physical enforcer in the off season. Depending on how the season goes overall

Hope it’s not too serious and he can be back. Good player for us.

Anderson can only do so much. We are letting them have way too much unharrassed possession in our end.

The best to hope for, imo, is a Sprained knee and not a full tear. In that case it could still be several weeks / a few months. It’s impossible to surmise based on his limping off. I’ve seen plenty of players limp off with a torn ACL. Hoping for the best. But the actual replay and his reaction are not good signs.

Dang it! that looks like a bad injury. We just can’t have good things. 😩😡

Dahlin!!!!

Somehow we need to learn to win more face offs.

Yes. What I meant to say but left out was a contender for the Cup over the next few years. Though not a similar make up it reminds me of the early-mid 70s team in that they are young with a lot of good skaters and potential to put up a lot of goals.

That wrister is deadly. 4 in a row, baby! Let’s go Buffalo!!

Still can’t love the youth on this team enough. 13 players 25 and under right now. And 19 under 30. And the 30+ players aren’t slowing down. If we stay healthy and the goaltending holds up (always a key) this team could be a contender.

How many posts were hit? I think the announcers missed a couple. Uncanny. Tage could have had 2 goals tonight. I think we score 2-3-4 or more goals with slightly more accurate shots. Tuch was amazing. Hope he out scores Eichel this year. We keep working on shooting and we could have 5-6 30+ goal scorers in a season over the next 2-3 yrs as young as we are. The skating and passing was electric tonight. Gotta stay healthy. Getting a little banged up the past couple of nights. Especially on D. obviously a lot to work on. Which is a positive. We are winning games where we still have a lot of room to improve. Keep this team together! Love

Just a really great offensive night. Still a bit careless and need to be a bit stronger but man, the youth and talent is there. High ceiling for this team.

Tuch!! What a goal.

That goal at the end of the 2nd and not getting the goal on the Tage shot really hurt. This will be a tough game to win at 4-3 and they have the Adrenalin pumping.

How many posts are we going to hit? Could / should be 6-7 to 2 by now. And two other really close calls by a second chance from Tage on the blocker save and Casey had a really close call (looked like it was a Stupid Ref! Gets an assist!

The youth and talent on this team is just great to watch. So much potential. Still a year or two away. But love how they play.

Insane goaltending by Comrie. He was a beast. We may have struck gold there. Loved the second period. Some really good plays. Nice to see Power play well but still lot of room for improvement from him. Dahlin really coming into his own as a top end Defenseman. Played well on both ends. Tage’s goal was world class. A lot to like about this young team. Peterka with a nice goal. He’s got talent. Still, the Oilers just dominated them for the entire 3rd period. Wore us down. The talent is there but we still need to get stronger. I said this last year. There are several players who need to hit the weight room in the off season and add some physicality to their game. Cousins is a prime example. Really good, smart player. Unselfish. Made a very good play at the end to help seal it. But at 6’3 with that frame, he needs to be playing in the 205 range, not 185, if he is going to hold up against guys like McDavid and Draisaitl. Has to get more physical for those face offs and overall. Really could say the same for Power and a few other young guys who could stand to add some more leg power and upper body muscle over the next couple of yrs. But have to love the fight in this team. Good back checking and intensity the whole game in spite of wearing down physically in the 3rd period. Let’s Go!!!

2006/07? 2012/13? The Sabres have been tanking since they fired Lindy Ruff. But really the gradual tank started after the 06/07 season when the let both Briere and Drury leave.

Eichel In Free Skate Just really infuriating that we could not let him have his surgery. Went out to eat the day of. Already on the ice. What is up with these owners? Not that we are struggling to score goals or anything. SMH.

You know, I’d have preferred we let him get his surgery in the off-season. That said, Krebs is young and talented. Tuch is a solid player. Speed and size. I like what both will bring. And the first helps. No idea how good Vegas will be but we have two firsts in 2022 (or 2023) right now so we need to do something there. I also like that we are already a team with some speed and we just got faster. And will eventually be deeper. Tuch had his surgery the last week of July (reported July 30) and the report was this is a known hockey injury with a full recovery. That means he should be back in early February if all goes well. If Buffalo actually stays in contention for the playoffs, Tuch could be a fantastic addition. Glad it is over and look forward to the future with these new guys. Key will be playing together as a ‘team’. “There can be no doubt that a tribe including many members who, from possessing in a high degree the spirit of patriotism, fidelity, obedience, courage, and sympathy, were always ready to aid one another, and to sacrifice themselves for the common good would be victorious over most other tribes; and this would be natural selection.” Charles Darwin, The Descent of Man

It's pretty clear with both the picks that the Sabres were looking for some speed. Both can skate. They also wanted size up front which they have been sorely lacking. There's just not a lot of physicality on the front line and Cozens with his size (he'll add another 20 lbs plus over the next 3-4 years) and speed will bring that. And, I think in Johnson the expectation is that he won't play for Buffalo for at least another two years. He's the 3rd youngest player in the draft at only 17. In that time, they expect to see his offensive talents develop. I was hoping for one of the top forwards as well but I think they decided to go with a kid who has raw talent and skating ability who can develop with a very high ceiling. Here's what Chris Peters at ESPN had to say about Johnson:

I'm very happy with this. The guy on NHL net compared him to Eric Staal. I think that's a pretty ideal comp. We needed some size as well as offensive talent. He's a great skater, with size and can score. So he has the raw necessities that give him a high ceiling. Early on, he could play some wing with Eichel - probably in year after next. Eventually, in 3 years, he'll have his own line. That he is a high character kid is also important - he'll be dedicated to his craft and as he grows into his frame, he'll add another 20 lbs over the next 4-6 years, he'll be a force. When everyone is drafting 18 year olds, you want the raw skills to develop. Physicality and offense are something Buffalo has been lacking and so this is a real positive. I think over time, in 2-3 years, you'll see him become an excellent 2-way, 200 foot center.