pi2000

Comrie has earned the start tonight.

Makes you wonder how different this season may have gone if he signed last year. I don't think Roch is going to help him much. He needs to be challenged at the highest level. The way he moves, doing the splits etc, reminds me of Jonathan Quick who is similar stature and athleticism.

Yes, I'm sure somebody does.

Miller wasn't nearly this good at 21. He blossomed at 26 after a few years in Roch w occasional call ups.

He's been playing back to backs for 2 years now. It's what he does.

Levi allowed 2 goals on 3.64 xGA. In a one goal game, that's the difference between a win and a loss. That's how you make the playoffs.

I'm in California and have Hulu Live with ESPN+ add-on. That said, I have no means to watch this game legally unless I sign up for Fubo or Sling, which AFAIK are the only streaming providers who carry NHLN.

You'd think by chance, at some point, a goaltender would eventually step up and play half-way decent.

To clarify, the frozen four concludes next week, Thur 4/6 - Sat 4/8. Buffalo's final game in April 14th. Rochesters final regular season game is the 16th, so I'd image he might get a game or two in Buffalo then head to Roch for the playoffs.

The goaltending has been utterly abysmal the past 6 years. As fans we've been conditioned to accept average goaltending performances as exceptional. Is today the day that changes? Total Goals Allowed Above Expected previous 13 years +---------+-------+----------------+ | year | GAAE | team | +---------+-------+----------------+ | 2010-11 | 7.36 | Buffalo Sabres | - Miller / Enroth | 2011-12 | 5.51 | Buffalo Sabres | - Miller / Enroth | 2013 | -3.78 | Buffalo Sabres | - Miller / Enroth | 2013-14 | -4.79 | Buffalo Sabres | - Miller / Enroth | 2014-15 | 18.28 | Buffalo Sabres | - Enroth / Neuvirth | 2015-16 | 3.30 | Buffalo Sabres | - Johnson / Ullmark / Lehner | 2016-17 | -3.80 | Buffalo Sabres | - Lehner / Nillson | 2017-18 | 41.06 | Buffalo Sabres | - Lehner / Johnson | 2018-19 | 39.71 | Buffalo Sabres | - Hutton / Ullmark | 2019-20 | 25.44 | Buffalo Sabres | - Hutton / Ullmark | 2020-21 | 32.99 | Buffalo Sabres | - Ullmark / Hutton / Tokarski | 2021-22 | 41.64 | Buffalo Sabres | - Anderson / Tokarski / Dell | 2022-23 | 28.46 | Buffalo Sabres | - UPL / Anderson / Comrie +---------+-------+----------------+ 13 rows in set (0.00 sec) NHL rank: 2017-18: 30th 2018-19: 29th 2019-20: 26th 2020-21: 29th 2021-22: 27th 2022-23: 30th If Levi can simply provide average NHL goaltending it will put this team in a wildcard spot next season.

This is his audition for next season and dictates the course this franchise takes over the summer.

Wonder if KA/DG consulted with KO regarding DL. After all, KO told KA not to sent UPL down a few months ago.... and that worked out great 👁👄👁

Buffalo is giving up the 7th most shots agains/60min, and 4th mosts high danger chances against/60min. I agree, they definitely need to play better team defense. That said, on home ice (as of March 22) their goaltending has given up a league high 35 goals above expected, 135% worse than the 5th worst team... and 493% worse than the 10th worst team. Here's a post from March with more home ice goaltending stats... basically they'd be a wildcard team if they simply had average goaltending performances at home.

My source confirms they have no choice but to go with the goatheads as Levi still doesn't have a set of blue/gold home pants.

ceiling Jokiharju floor Fedun

Goaltending is the most obvious issue, with depth on defense also a concern. That said, I believe they have more to gain by committing to sound team defense rather than upgrading the depth on the blueline. I do agree the coaching staff needs to implement a defensive system which the rostered players are capable of executing. I believe Granato and his staff are knowledgeable enough they should have some effective defensive systems in their playbook. It's not rocket science. Is the coaching staff putting an emphasis on team defense during practice and team meetings? Maybe? Maybe not? Does Donny hold players accountable for losing their defensive assignments? Probably not? He doesn't aggressively bench players, but I don't know what else goes on in the room. Are the players holding each other accountable? They all seem to like each other and get along, maybe a bit too much such that they're reluctant to point fingers. Sometimes calling out a teammate (behind closed doors) is a good thing.

It's probably more about the fact they finally found him some team pants that fit.

It's difficult to teach young offensive minded players to play team defense. It requires experience, discipline and trust. If one player on the ice is caught out of position, the entire system breaks down. They'll get better at it over time, but was disappointed not to see improvement in that area as the season progressed. At some point Granato and his staff need to make it a priority.

Just as Comrie is healthy and playing well. Maybe Comrie gets Philly on the back-end? UPL? He can go fly a kite. 🤌🏻 🪁

Yes

Do you mortgage the future just to make the playoffs next year, or continue the draft, develop and retain approach building a sustainable pipeline of prospects? I'm not sure making the neccessary moves to make the playoffe next year and building a sustainable pipeline are mutually exclusive.

Congratulations on your first NHL goal in your first NHL shift, and a 2 point night... smell ya.

My source say he pulled his groin due to poor fitting pants.

Comrie played great. .927 sv%, allowing almost 2 goals fewer than expected. That's a massive goaltending improvement on home ice, one of the top 3 performances of the season. Unfortunately they gave up way too many high danger chances, 21... the second most they've allowed on home ice all season. In their 14 home wins, they're averaging 11 high danger chances against per game. It's frustrating. They finally get a quality goaltending performance and let it go to waste with careless defense.