That Aud Smell

The guy has one authentic interest when he's on the ice: Shooting the puck. He has exhibited no aptitude for developing a defensive game.

This is a wild take. And I'm here for it. I mean, it's effing WAY out there. But it's a fun one. Phil Jackson was an average coach but for Jordan? Belichick is widely - almost universally (thanks to recency bias) - talked about as the greatest of all-time when it comes to football coaching and maybe the GOAT coach in general. So, hot-take away, my man. *Tsssssss*

Hahaha - I hadn’t intended the ambiguity - but it’s there in all its glory.

Can confirm. Bro 1: "I'm gonna go home and take a shower. I'll see you there." Bro 2: "Bet."

The Tkachuks are punks.

The vouchers are everywhere if you have e-tickets. And yes, they're meaningless -- for now. Apparently, there's still a plan to use that functionality to provide "bonuses" of sorts, such as an opportunity to buy Bandits tickets before they go on sale to the general public.

Everyone fell apart there at the end - including UPL. It would have been nice if he could have come up big on one of those 3 goals that came in rapid succession. The limitations of his game are accurately noted upthread. In my hamster-brain, I can't help but feel comforted by the fact that he's a big fella in there. "The puck's bound to hit him," my idiot inner voice tells me. Then I watch him try to move laterally and my sphincter puckers.

For real. There is that maddening tendency to look for the spectacular at home. Their road game is better.

he is an absolute anchor at this point. every time he's out there, i clench my butt cheeks.

C'mon, Sabres.

I think that's the first game I've ever attended where the (home) crowd spontaneously cheered several shifts by the Sabres, and yet the Sabres lost. Usually those games end up in wins. There were periods of time when the Sabres were skating circles around the Canadiens. And yet. I said essentially these words several times last night in that same scenario. A bunch.

At even strength. It was twice that (8) if you count the power plays. MTL tracked as having 13 high danger chances for at even strength; 17 if you include power play (3) and penalty kill (1).

Hmmm. From my Chet and Muffy perch, there were several times where I winced (groaned) at an attempt to do something slick in the O-zone (toe drag, low percentage pass), when there was a simpler play available. The volume of shots and shot attempts were encouraging. But, yeah, the MTL goalie wasn't overly troubled by most of those. In point of fact, MTL had a much larger share of dangerous scoring chances - that was according to the eye test and a subsequent check of Natural Stat Trick's game log.

I used to get gifted tickets in the oranges back in the 90s by a STH who had his seats near a dear friend of mine. He always provided the same written instruction (written on the envelope containing the ticket(s)): Enjoy. Don't forget: Stand up when we score.

This is a succinct summary of what the Sabres need to do in order to succeed (make the playoffs) this season.

Let's Go, Buffalo! The league did Buffalo a favour with a Monday game (oof), but an Original 6 opponent from Canada. There will be a LOT of red in the arena. It should be a pretty evenly split crowd. I'll be in the house with the Chets and Muffys - rattling my jewelry.

Everything about the team looked pretty good last night, so it’s hard not to make this inference. And Levi did struggle against the Flames, imo. (Made breakaway stops, but flubbed others for goals.) The evaluators clearly see special traits in Levi. His athleticism is obvious. I think it’s a safe bet that be will be a good pro goalie. But he’s 21. Relying on him as the 1 was always a gamble. If Comrie can regain his form, it’d be a huge shot in the arm. Thing is, Comrie’s track record suggests he’s good for ~25 (30?) games. Can Levi give average NHL goaltending for the other 50+? Also, spaketh not of UPL. For the love of God.

I concluded the other day that he must be playing hurt. He’s looked mostly bad.

Ooooh. Southern Junction. They moved from Chandler to ... Connecticut Street, I believe. Near Mr. Sizzle's. That place is so interesting. As the name suggests, it's American southern barbecue combined with south Asian principles of roasting and flavouring meat. We've gotten takeaway from them a few times -- really, really interesting (in a good way).

I haven't been there yet, but I am planning a pilgrimage to Nephew's on Tonawanda Street in the Riverside district of the City of Buffalo. Per Galarneau (sp? (who writes about food for the Buffalo News)), Nephew's is the successor of Lee's BBQ. As to the latter, it was "the heart of a bar-car-wash-barbecue complex that fed and employed generations on Fillmore Avenue." His write-up goes on to explain how this barbecue has created devoted followers over the decades, including many Buffalo Bills like Thurman and Bruce. Also, of interest and intrigue (from Galarneau): "Here’s a genre note: ... [Y]ou should know that these ribs are not barbecue, in the classic sense. Not Southern style, cooked long and slow in wood smoke until meat comes clean off the bone. Nephew’s ribs, and Lee’s before him, are spare ribs grilled over charcoal in covered cookers. The meat is turned and cooked and basted, with only their drippings as flavorful incense, before they’re ready. This pork popsicle is to be gnawed, for sure."

Disagree with the Rolston comparison. But I am starting to lean this way. Bring in one of the retread warhorses whose message infamously gets tuned out after a few years. In the meantime, make the gotdamn playoffs.

To each their own. We've had the Mighty debate on this board before. IIRC, @Eleven also thinks that Mighty is garbage. I funking love it - occasionally (6-8 times a year?). It just tastes like home to me.

Score one for the vibes. The guy was/is just clearly beloved by everyone associated with the team.

I've regularly driven past that intersection for the past 20+ years. I'm not sure how long they've been there. Anyway, it is never busy. Weirdly so.

Gramma Mora's started on Niagara Street. First time I went was in the mid-80s (?). And it appeared that Gramma was working in the kitchen. That place was legit - at least as far as my young culinary standards were concerned. At some point around when they moved to Hertel, the restaurant was bought out by an Italian-American family that was in the restaurant operations business. We used to laugh because there was a period of time -- maybe it's still the case? -- when a Mexican-American family was running an Italian/red sauce/pizza joint across the street on Hertel. As for El Palenque: I went a few times and will not go back. That was place was (is?) dirty. And the food was decidedly mid. I've come to conclude that they're using that place as a front for illegal activities - money laundering or some such. It has endured, yet it is not good. The location is very good. Maybe that has something to do with it. That's accurate nowadays. Gramma Mora's on Niagara Street was so damn good.