Porous Five Hole

I’m stuck at BNA waiting for my parents to arrive to then drive home to Rochester. So, I had some time. The Sabres (16-21-5) open a three-game homestand against the Seattle Kraken (17-22-3) at 4 p.m. on Saturday. It will be Kids Takeover Day at KeyBank Center, with young fans assuming roles such as junior reporter, in-arena host, and more. Mattias Samuelsson remained absent from the Buffalo Sabres’ practice at KeyBank Center on Friday due to an illness and is not expected to play against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, coach Lindy Ruff said. Beck Malenstyn, who has missed the past two games, was back on the ice for practice but remains questionable for Saturday’s game. “I would say low on energy,” Ruff said. “Got to make a decision on him.” If Malenstyn does remain out against the Kraken, the Sabres could opt to stick with the 11-forward, seven-defenseman lineup that played in Ottawa on Saturday. The benefit of the 11-7 split, Ruff explained, is extra minutes for the middle-six forwards – which can lead to more of a rhythm in their game. Go Sabres ⚔️

Devon Levi is 12-2-1, 2.12 GGA, .918%.

I kinda feel like all pro is a stat award and value to his team is for MVP. Give Josh nine pro-bowlers to work with like Lamar and his stats would be nuts. Or maybe mvp is a stats award too. I would like to think there’s some nuance there to voters.

I like your post, but I have a slightly different take on the matter of Patty. This is going to be a long one. We’ve heard wild rumors of LaFontaine’s argumentative state and mood swings supposedly from his concussion history. Rumors of NDA’s. Playing into the stigma of his clinical depression that LaFontaine was very transparent about after his playing career ended. https://www.ourmental.health/stars-struggles/hockey-heros-heartache-pat-lafontaines-battle-with-clinical-depression BTW, the embedded video from the webpage was from approx 2013…the same year he was hired in Buffalo. Next, let’s see if we can learn anything from the public comments of an irritated and supportive (to Patty) head coach, Ted Nolan. Nolan on his future with the team after Pat allegedly resigned: “Right now is not about my contract,” he said. “It’s about the situation that just happened, what transpired in this organization, what happened to a very dear friend. We’ll leave it at that.” “That was the main reason I got here is to try to turn things around and coach the Buffalo Sabres,” Nolan said. “Right now, especially, I’m going to really concentrate on that because we traded our franchise player (Miller). We traded our captain (Vanek). That’s tough enough as it is. Then, all of a sudden, a situation happens with Patty.” BTW, LaFontaine didn’t fade into oblivion to never work again. He went back to work as the NHL’s vice president of hockey development, the position he left to join the Sabres. https://www.buffalohockeybeat.com/sabres-insist-pat-lafontaine-wasnt-fired-ted-nolan-upset-over-departure/ LaFontaine was President of Hockey Operations from November 13, 2013 to March 1, 2014. A total of 108 days. He hired Tim Murray on Jan. 9, 2014. LaFontaine was Murray's boss. Murray reported to Patty and not to Pegula. LaFontaine and Murray worked together for 51 days. Here is what I understand happened. Tim Murray wanted to do whatever it took to draft McDavid, but LaFontaine was unwilling to take it down to the studs. He was fine with retooling or getting younger, but no tanking. LaFontaine understood the culture of a locker room. He knew tanking didn’t guarantee McJesus. He also told Murray that the 2014 and 2015 drafts were top heavy and we would be fine wherever we landed. LaFontaine wanted leaders in the room and knew Ryan Miller would have kept the Sabres in games. LaFontaine knew the risk of tanking. His boss and his subordinate did not. Murray wanted to trade Ryan Miller and LaFontaine said no. So, instead of following his boss's orders, Murray went directly to Pegula to get permission. Pegula gave him the green light. On February 28, 2014, Murray traded Miller to St. Louis. The next day LaFontaine quit. That day ended up being a day of infamy. It killed the concept of a senior hockey executive running a hockey department in Buffalo. It killed the relationship with a former star player. It enabled/empowered Pegs to be closer to hockey decisions. But most importantly, the risk of tanking that was ignored back then…well, how we feelin now boys? Thanks Terry! TL/DR: I agree with Pimlach’s conclusion that you cannot defend Terry’s hockey record and I am here to tell you Pat LaFontaine tried to save us.

You truly did see into the future.

Moneypuck is predicting 84 points for the last wildcard spot in the East. Imagine that? All it takes is 85 pts and the Sabres still couldn’t break the drought.

Sure do. 2.6% to make the playoffs, and 8.1% to win the lottery. https://moneypuck.com/predictions.htm

He seems quite vocal, but maybe not so much between whistles?

Dan calls poor play by play for a television broadcast. He has not adjusted his presentation for radio/simulcast. To be fair, neither did RJ, but no one cared because we all wanted to hear as much of him as possible.

🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️

I made it two minutes and bailed 🤮

Sunday 1pm playoff game!!!

Ever since the Rona, I cannot stand cilantro. Strangely, I didn’t lose my sense of taste when I got sick in 2021. I used to love cilantro.

If you can’t beat them, beat them up?

Not expecting it, but how about some puck luck and we get a couple. Something good is bound to happen at some point!

Looking at his overall play lately and not just this first period, there’s no doubt Dahlin is trying to do too much and pressing. It appears it is making him even more boneheaded than usual.

I’ll have to watch it again, but I felt like he tried to take away the play of the odd man rush by peeling off. It almost worked. The trailer was the one who scored, and that was JJP’s man. He didn’t even try. He appeared to be in a glide and did not play the stick or the body. It was infuriating.

Jeeeeez Byram was in no man’s land and NAK was asleep as the help. I know the Knights are good, but this is embarrassing.

It was unconventional, but it kind of worked. He slowed the puck carrier down by peeling off his man and stepping up. That goal is 100% on JJP.

Peterka should be stapled to the bench for basically not trying

I want to be good asap. Gimme Petts with Byram and Cozens versus the concept of Misa & Petts in 2027-28.

IF Vancouver would bite on the concept, I would do it. Why hold the 2025 pick and hope you get an elite guy in 2-3 years time…when that pick can be used to acquire Pettersson, a guy you *hope* said 2025 pick would turn into one day…and you get the player right now. See if you can grab some advanced stat graphs from Petts 22-23 and 23-24 seasons. The guy is elite. It’s a unique situation. Vancouver would have to decide 1) Miller & Pettersson will be problematic for the locker room forever, 2) Miller’s no trade protection gets them pennies on the dollar for JT in a trade, and 3) the Canuck’s need to move Petts before his NMC kicks in for max value. The Sabres are one of a few teams who can absorb Petts AAV and they will have ammo to make a deal.

Helenius assists on all four goals, including the OT PP winner. Finland wins and will be waiting for the winner of our game tonight. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Third period push by Sweden. Shots are 12-1 Swedes and they tie the game on a leaky goal. 3-3 with 8 min to go.