Porous Five Hole

We can agree to disagree on this point (and I strongly disagree), but I think it’s too passive of an approach. What if an eagles DB slips and the Bills break off a big play? The what if’s can go both ways. At the end of the day, McD is the DC too. His unit needs a stop in OT to win the game. Just don’t give up a TD. Yes the Eagles are at home and are great, but his unit gave up the overtime TD. Where else should the buck stop?

Can you expand on this? I’ve been lurking here every single day since 2010 and finally made an account in 2021. I don’t agree with you, so I’m wondering what I’m missing?

I think flubbing the time outs, especially trying to ice the kicker, was an unforced error. It was compounded by kneeling with :20 to go and one time out (should have been two). The fanbase had to deal with :13 seconds. Josh Allen is an alien and Diggs is elite. This was an opportunity to beat that back. But McD was too afraid of a turnover (or something). That’s why people are upset with him right now.

Oh BTW, the Rangers are 13-1-1 in their last 15. Gulp.

The Bills are the 40th team since the 1970 Merger to have 500 yards, 10 third down conversions and a positive turnover margin in a game. They are the first team to lose in that scenario. Teams were 39-0 entering today, per @ESPNStatsInfo.

Goaltending isn’t killing them relative to the rest of the league. But it sure feels that way.

Amerks outshot 49-15 last night and lose 5-4. They had a third period lead, but gave up two goals while trying to kill penalties. With one more game yet to be played to get to the quarter pole, ROC is now 10-5-2, tied for second in the division (one point out of first).

I think we all expected the Sabres to be the youngest team in the NHL. But I doubt anyone expected the team to get YOUNGER from opening day to this point. The Sabres now have nine players on their active roster under the age of 23: Zach Benson (18) Jiri Kulich (19) Isak Rosen (20) JJ Peterka (21) Owen Power (21) Devon Levi (21) Peyton Krebs (22) Ryan Johnson (22) Dylan Cozens (22) (Quinn would qualify as #10 if he were healthy)

Isak Rosen lives in Jersey? 🤣😇

With the Greenway snd Girgd injuries, he should keep his cell phone close by tonight and tomorrow morning.

They are for a generation of the fanbase and they were for the last Cup run. Live and let live.

Rosen with the OT GWG tonight.

Amerks score with one second left to go in the first period (Davies). They lead 1-0.

Not sure if I should pin this on Granato or Adams. But I am puzzled and annoyed about tonight’s lineup. Granato is playing 7 D again tonight because the Sabres don’t have any extra forwards. Kulich is one hour away. So stupid. The Sabres could’ve sent Levi down and he wouldn’t even have to go…Just a paper transaction. I don’t get it. Instead, we are going to get eleven minutes of Erik Johnson and jumbled partners of forwards and defensemen everywhere.

One team has hall of famers and one team has teenagers. I think I’ll sit the rest of this one out. Good luck gents ⚔️

Vasy back for the Lightning tonight. The Bolts went 9-6-5 with Jonas Johansson and someone worse than that. I was really hoping to have a little cushion once I knew Vasy was going to miss 25% of the season. Unfortunately the opposite has happened.

I am coming around to your line of thinking. Levi may get sent down. But Levi is also not hurting the Sabres. The Sabres are hurting all goalies by continuing to give up a ton of high danger shots to opponents. The Sabres are not giving up the same GA at this point in the season compared to last year, but they’re still not taking good care of their goalies. Im not saying 2023-24 is another development year, but Buffalo needs to decide where it is best to develop Levi (Buff or Roc) and soon. Giving each goalie a week between starts isn’t doing any of them any favors.

Is it time to waive Bryson and get a forward like Kulich in the mix? Or can the protected minutes of RJ be a little less protected? It’s only a few games, but is it time to lean on Ryan more than Meatballs has so far?

Hall gone, Perry scratched... they're really just leaving Bedard out there by himself

Three time Cup winner. And never been in trouble like hometown boy.

Sign Phil Kessel. Probably has as much in the tank that P Kane would have on one hip.

This has been another real life example of why citing their work or getting your information from them is so problematic. I hope you find new places to read the news.

So we agree. 🍻

To be honest, I think the blame for this slow start should be targeted toward roster construction (i.e.the GM). It was criminal to set the expectation of the playoffs given the youngest team in the league (youngest team in the league for the second season in a row BTW—and no one in the crease had 50 GP life to date). The coach only works with what he’s been given. Either the fanbase needs to reset expectations to align with the GM’s timeline of success—or hold the GM accountable. To me, the issues of this team are not within the coaches control.

Man, I am going to feel dirty in the morning when I revisit this (given UPL’s issues with rebound control), but I think his size saved one of these GA. The first one was a deflection that length might have gotten to? This is a guess, but Levi looked inadequate. Willing to let it go either way. The second goal was a juicy rebound. Hard to argue UPL would have swallowed given his history, but it was bad nonetheless. The third goal is on the defense and not the goalie. The OT goal was a 2 on 1, but if the goalie has the shooter…it was a poor effort by the goalie. I cannot claim UPL would have been better, but he would not have been worse. It’s time to re-evaluate the plan to develop Levi in the NHL.