Richard Noggin

I first saw it on Instagram, of all platforms. The comments there were a one-sided deluge of "fire Adams!" tropes. So I came here, and I'm pleasantly surprised by the board's measured optimism. Appreciate the honesty here about your reaction to the initial social media "consensus" response, which is predictably negative, but then you show your work as you think through things logically and strive for some sober truth. I'm not easily swayed by internet reply-guys, but can absolutely appreciate the emotional noise it creates for so many. Buffalo is easy to root for when things trend up, and even easier to drag when things don't.

Was that Krueger he (Montour) played under and/or Housley? Seeing as it's actually both, I mean...that was a toxic time from top to bottom for the organization. Those coaches were brutally overmatched and out of touch. Those locker rooms were cliquey and aloof, especially with respect to vets vs prospects. Seeing how they dined (at Tempo, both privately and for sanctioned parties) was a steady glimpse into the disfunction, or at least distance, between players. I served Montour's first Tempo reservation after he arrived in Buffalo. 6-top of what seemed to be him and his nuclear family. He was incredibly detached, which could mean anything/nothing, but there were also other Sabres tables there that night and aside from I think Reinhart (?) paying his brief respects, none of the various Sabres present interacted beyond stiff greetings in passing. The outgoing vets had badly lost the highly drafted youngsters by that point. And those coaches were complicit.

Khruangbin tonight at AKG in the rain was solid. Better than when they played Artpark a couple years ago; they're growing as musicians and as performers. Good stuff.

Khruangbin at the AKG Orville Peck at Artpark Regina Spektor in Albany (The Egg) -- first concert for my 7-year old daughter) King Gizzard in Queens NYC Spoon at Electric City Maybe Talking Dead Heads and Dirty Work at Larkin

But you don't get the OPPORTUNITY to do a thing for that long unless you do it fairly well. That is just obvious.

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?