Porous Five Hole

Buffalo is on the road to take on the New York Rangers tonight, opening up the first of two back-to-back sets this week. The Sabres remain in the mix as one of four teams still vying for a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. For their best shot at making the playoffs, they'll need to win all of their four remaining games to reach 93 points and then they'll need some help from the teams playing the Panthers (max. 95 points), Islanders (max. 95 points) and Penguins (max. 94 points). Following tonight's game, the team will head to New Jersey for a match against the Devils tomorrow night at 7.

Why have a little Bryson when you can have a Big Johnson

Sure. This team is not the 2023 Bruins. Was that what you expected when the puck dropped to the start of this year? To win every game they were “supposed” to? This team is clearly building to something bigger than a what we’ve previously seen, and I’m here for it. I’m sorry a 75 point team last year didn’t meet your expectations, but calling fans suckers for meaningful games in April is misguided.

This is true. I guess I was trying to understand why someone is calling fellow fans suckers for supporting the Sabres today. It just seems misplaced. Yes there were times the fanbase was frustrated, but the big picture is bright and colorful. With that said, like your style. I hope people haven’t ignored your posts.

We in Sabresland are all disappointed that the playoffs are unlikely. But posts like this are so pathetic. Yes the playoffs are very unlikely, but who here is calling fans suckers for attending a meaningful game for the team in April other than you? Especially after beating the second best team in the NHL today where the opponent needed to win. The Sabres have posted a ten point improvement over last year with four games to go. Virtually no one expected the playoffs with this roster a year ago today. Troll if you must, but it’s poor form.

Agree with this. He’s much more sturdy both on his skates and with the puck. He’s not a blazing skater, but his burst is noticeably better and the puck sticks to him more. He’s playing himself into the core of the squad and I’m happy for him.

Bleak. The Sabres tragic number is down to 3. So any combo of lost points by Buffalo or gained points by two of the Isles/Pens/Fla eliminates Buffalo.

There’s the penalty

Ok 3-1 Pens. Detroit isn’t dead yet.

Pens now up 3-0 😡

Not much shootout success in Rochester over the last two years. Current Amerks: Rousek 2/5 40% Jobst 2/4 50% Kulich 0/4 0% Kisakov 2/3 66% Weissback 2/3 66% Davies, Rosen, Tishke, Biro all 0/1. Kulich has big NHL expectations. Rousek has NHL expectations. FYI on current Sabres AHL performance: Peterka 3/5 60% Quinn 2/4 50% Krebs 1/1 100%

Old friend Alex Nylander just scored to put the Pens up 1-0

You’re right. Here is some light reading on the matter, if anyone is interested. https://www.dogonews.com/2023/2/13/utahs-great-salt-lake-could-dry-up-in-five-years

I don’t know the rule book inside and out, but I’m surprised that didn’t warrant a misconduct penalty.

I don’t watch much D1 hockey, so this is the first I’ve seen of Aaron Huglen (4th round, 2019). He’s having a good tourney. Since he’s 22, I assume he isn’t in the Sabres plans (even if just for ROC). Is that a fair assumption?

Letting an asset go for nothing? Isn’t that how the expansion draft works?

My wife said Levi should start and she’s right about everything (just ask her), so I voted for Comrie 😄

Actually, first tiebreaker is regulation wins, and then ROW wins second. https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/nhl-playoff-push-who-hold-the-tie-breaker-advantages/sn-amp/

Welcome to the board!

LOL the poster is well liked and lives in Texas. This type of work isn’t easy for everyone. I suggest you just keep scrolling next time.

Paging @In The Buff for a PM

My understanding is he can sign an ATO with the AHL club and let his soon-to-be signed ELC slide to next year. But there’s no reason for him to delay the start of his ELC. That just delays the signing of his second contract by a season. So super duper unlikely. As we have all said, to have Johnson sign here and forgo UFA in four months, the Sabres would need to put him on the big club to burn a year of his ELC (just like we did with Levi & Power before him). Johnson certainly would go to free agency this summer if the Sabres were/are unwilling to do this. So no AHL playoffs for Johnson this year.

I’ll take the unknown over the known of UPL & Andy, and Comrie isn’t playing back to back. Money Puck has our playoff odds at 2.8% anyway. I would hate to damage that 2.8% lol