PickaPecaPickles

I think they win tonight. The last game in TB, they were without Dahlin, Mule, and Joki. Their D consisted of Power, Bryson, Lybush, Clague, FitzG, and Pilut.

An Athletic article this a.m. ranks the 10 best rookies of this season so far: Power at #3 and Quinn at #5 (Beniers #1 and L. Thompson #2). https://theathletic.com/3925974/2022/11/24/nhl-rookies-owen-power-logan-thompson/

A lot of good quotes on Quinn and the Young-guns line from Fairburn's Athletic article: On Quinn: On their line: https://theathletic.com/3930511/2022/11/24/sabres-blues-jack-quinn-upl/

It was a comment about the overall, season-long D and what they would need to put them in the hunt come spring. Staying healthy, including GTs, would help bring their GAA down some (currently at 3.58). The young guys creating a stronger second scoring line was the other ingredient.

Hopefully it happens early enough to put them in the playoff race at the finish line. The top line (I know they haven't played together every game), has 30 of their 69 goals. When this young gun line starts shooting straight, they will be a dangerous team. I also expect the GA will come down a bit, now that the defense is back to full strength.

So, I was looking at the standings to see where the Blues stand, and noticed this random stat: there are 12 teams with a record of .500 or worse, and the Sabres are the only team with a + goal differential (+1), and the closest team following is the Wild at -5. Expanding the criteria to teams with 20 or fewer points (there are 17), again, the Sabres are the only team with a positive goal differential (Panthers are even). Is this just a fluke stat, or does it describe something meaningful about this team that belies its recent losing streak?

Samuelson

4-4 at the end of regulation. Buffalo wins it in "OOOOOOOHHHHHVVERR Time!"

After he said "I have 78 more games and work to do", it's too bad one of the reporters didn't follow up with "does that mean you expecting 82 goals? 🍺

They've been fun to watch since Granato took over, well about 10 games after with the adjustment. I can't see that last point(bottom 5) happening at all. Where they end up comes down to goal tending. Over the past 2 seasons, they've averaged 3.5 ppg against, whereas they've increased their scoring average from 2.39 to 2.79. That uptick in scoring got them out of the bottom 5. I expect their scoring to rise a bit higher this year, so better GT could put them closer to contending for a playoff spot (closer, they may not be close enough yet). I also expect the D to be a bit better, which should also improve their goals against. So, barring a slew of injuries in goal again, I think they'll most likely end up middle of the league pack (16-20?).

Both goals were impossible to stop--rockets, high at the corners.

Wondered why ESPN was showing a score of 7-5.

This was on my Twitter feed...Ouch!

Not the big climactic ending I was expecting, but enjoyable and satisfying all the same. In the end, Saul was admired by his peers, and Jimmy regained Kim's love. So many great characters I will miss.

There's still time.

I think they've shown tidbits of her past so that one can see her as not necessarily a victim of Jimmy. Specifically, that flashback as a child stealing from a store, then watching her mom con the manager. Certainly Jimmy pulled out that aspect of her persona, and it was all fun games to focus on Howard who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. The traumatic experience of his death ended it, but then had to live with it for the next 6 years or so in almost a catatonic state. Jimmy's call brought it all back which forced her need to resolve it somehow. At this point, I don't know how she can go on?

Whatever happened with that phone call to Kim definitely sent him down a self-destructive road. Seems as if he may not have anything to live for now, and while I can't see him wanting to get caught, I can see him going out a la Thelma and Louise.

It's a close one. Seems more and more college players are being drafted over HS kids for that reason?

Thanks for the detailed response. When I say "my uneducated opinion" it's not sarcasm. I never played the game, so I would never claim any expertise. One thing I will certainly agree with, the hockey draft is probably the biggest crapshoot of any of the major sports because of the age of these kids. And totally agree we won't know who is the better prognosticator for another few years.

It's my uneducated hockey opinion based on my reading of their opinions--which is why I started with "I think". The one example I gave to support Pronman is based on the fact that people who get paid a lot of money picked the guy he had #1 while Wright got picked #4. This article from the Athletic also made me lean more toward his opinons on propects: https://theathletic.com/3376976/2022/06/23/nhl-draft-top-prospects-debate/

I don't think he's as good as Pronman, the other Athletic analyst. For example, one point of comparison, Pronman had Slafkovsky as his #1 prospect where Wheeler had Wright.

Scott Wheeler came out with his top 50 this morning: https://theathletic.com/3415068/2022/07/25/nhl-prospects-rankings/ 1. Power 9. Savoie 36. Quinn 40. Krebs Surprisingly JJP didn't make the cut.

Two related points above suggest a little more patience with Cozens. Fiala had time to "develop", playing almost two full seasons in the AHL, whereas (as you mention) Cozens essentially went straight to the NHL--he was rushed. Given his drive and attitude, he could break out this year, but my expectations are for incremental improvement.

If recent history is any indication, who are the 5th and 6th goalies?