Richard Noggin

Benson has shown the resilience, tenacity, and instincts to overcome his physical shortcomings (and the beating he's taken all year) enough to belong on the Sabres NHL roster. He goes to the front of the net more than his well-paid teammates. Definitely needs to work hard in the weight room and the cafeteria, but he's already flashed more toughness and compete than many of the Sabres' other diminutive prospects. Possible, seeing as he still hasn't backed down at all even after a full season of grown men bullying him all over the ice. MacKinnon reminded me of Pavelski when I used to frequently wait on visiting athletes at Tempo: smug, joyless, intense dudes a good team needs but no one actually "likes." Do the Sabres have a guy like that? Maybe TNT if he cuts out the visible frustration and ramps up the on-ice arrogance?

Don't blame yourself.

Currently talented hands and determined net-front presence, obviously flourishing on a GOOD team. Amazing (and likely not replicable) PP production. Previously skilled but "slow/weak" C/W tweener on a mediocre team. Probably mismanaged, in retrospect. Showed flashes.

Thought I saw something around 7% before the game.

So what's the deal? Sabres still alive with like a 10% probability?

Refs just trying to get this game over with

Rayzor chuckling at the no-call was pretty funny

Tuch maybe fits as a 2nd line winger and Cozens would make a solid 3rd line center. Maybe Peterka also makes a great 3rd line winger? If numbering the lines is still a thing lol. Otherwise, I agree that everyone else (minus Skinner) is playing WAY up tonight.

The most obvious dive I've seen in an NHL game in a LONG time. Incredibly ratty. Was really stunned by the overt embellishment at the time. Obviously the Sabres were incensed enough over it and the refs' blindness to it that they came undone and lost a close one because of it. No place for it. Make a mockery of the sport when it works. Makes a mockery of the player when it doesn't.

First game I've attended in 10 years tbh...and they looked a little gassed on back half of b2b home games. I have Bills seasons, but have always found the Sabres home experience to be absolutely depressing since I came back to the area in 2012 (left in 1996...loved The Aud). Those Sabres games in 80s and 90s were ELITE gameday experiences.

At no point in the bolded above is an actual opinion shared lol

Notice how no one else was moving forward on that play EXCEPT JJ? What the eff. There is a reason that kid is flashing and almost no one else is.

I think if they lose this one I'm going to cancel my MSG+ subscription. Just not worth it.

It ain't pre-meditated or intelligently designed to turn out this way, unfortunately. But the lack of organizational structure and accountability and roster-building urgency sure does seem to invite such mediocrity, innit? Which is maybe worse?

Evander effing Kane cares about functionality and leadership? Edit: I'll leave the above because it's a happy mistake. And I look really dumb, which is fun.

"Eff off. Effin get out of here...effing [inaudible insult]"

Unfortunately, I have been moving in this direction for a while now. Wanted Donny to be the guy, but there is obviously something missing with him and his staff. Not to mention, firing him could be the wakeup call these immature, talented a-holes need.

Gotta call that a win, all things considered. And also highlights the absolute necessity of goaltending.

Does MSG usually have a shot tracker next to the score? Or was that just the last TNT game that spoiled me?

Feels like a problem with the org chart tbh. Missing a layer of experience, assessment, and accountability between the HC+GM and the owner. And that particular owner REALLY needs another layer of advice.

Isn't a coaching change like the obvious move here for Buffalo? I wish Granato was guiding this team to the growth many were expecting, but it's not happening. Don't coaching changes in the NHL usually work a little better, a little faster, than in the NFL?

Seems to be a pattern.

Showoff.

WGR - Bulldog - kept repeating tonight that puck drop on TNT would be around 10:22pm because apparently that's how TNT games go?