Doohickie

Granted they screwed the pooch against CGY, but in general this team is bringing it more often than not. I think the current roster is playoff-worthy, but they're in a hole. On the other hand, more help should come when Kulich and Norris return. And the bottom six is more effective than it's been in years. To be honest, I'm okay with the D situation. Bryson's been playing pretty well.

You're steadier than I am. I'm planning the parade with every win, ready to abandon the team with every loss.

So he didn't report? Or just scratched?

He's a role player. Every great team has role players that do the dirty work. On this current Sabres squad I see role players just nailing their roles and providing unexpected bonuses, like Beck's goal. When the Red Wings won their first Cup in 42 years, it wasn't Sergei Fedorov who scored the Cup clinching goal, it was Grind Line winger Darren McCarty, on a goal similar to Malenstyn's, similar to May Day. Playoff games are won by bangers like Brad May, Darren McCarty, and yes, Beck Malenstyn.

He did. He propped up the bottom six with improved players. He's got youth pushing up from Rochester, not because they don't have anyone else, but because they deserve their NHL shot, and they're making the most of it.

No, I grant the excuse. My dudes, you're looking at this all wrong. The Sabres have been playing through injuries most of the season and they're still at a .500 points percentage. And what's more, they climbed back to .500 and they still are playing through significant injuries. They're learning how to win without Norris, Kesselring and Kulich. Of course Kulich is only in the conversation because of Norris's injury, but he's been a top six C and he's out. And yet we have a center spine of Tage (really best at wing), McCleod (possibly best as a 3C), and Östlund, Kozak and Krebs in the bottom six. And... we're winning more than we're losing. I think the current roster *is* a playoff roster, and getting our centers back will make this an even more formidable squad. The injuries are not an excuse, they are an opportunity for players to show what they're made of, and for players like Kozak, Östlund, Rosén, to show what they are capable of, to show that they belong. And players like Kulich (although currently injured) and Quinn, they are getting the opportunity to demonstrate that they can be contributing stars on this team. I love Tage and Tuch and Dahlin, but this team is making a playoff push and it's the AHL subs and the role players that are making it happen. To be honest, I'm kind of geeked up about this team.

The best reaction by Ray to a goal: EEEEEYAAAAHHHHHHH!!

Well he set up Malenstyn yesterday....

I didn't play anything more than flooded backyard hockey and street hockey with the other neighborhood kids. I only knew of one guy who got anywhere in sports- made it into the NJ Devils farm system; never heard how far he got but it wasn't very far because he doesn't show up on any of the stats websites (granted, this would have been 40+ years ago, so prior to the stats websites themselves, but they do have some historical records).

Heck, Krebs was a first rounder, wasn't he? Solid 4th liner, not totally out of place up higher, as much as we criticize him. I'm sure he's someone that, at lower levels of play, looked like he had elite offensive skills. He's got speed and is willing to do whatever he's asked, but his offensive skills aren't quite top nine level.

The 2022 Kentucky Derby winner wasn't even supposed to be in the race- Number 21 in a 20 horse field. He's circled in yellow If Rich Strike can do it, so can the Sabres.

They'd feel like love taps compared to NHL slashes.

Even Matt Ellis would skate circles around anyone that posts on this forum.

One thing that was discussed in the JJP trade was whether Jack Quinn could help fill the scoring void when JJP was traded. It's a relatively small sample size, but Quinn has been playing better of late. I think it's particularly relevant to note that since Zucker's return, Quinn has had a couple of very good games. I think Zucker is leading that line, ensuring that there are no passengers, and teaching the kid how NHL hockey should be played. And Quinn is a willing student. So Doan is already filling in for JJP's scoring, but Quinn is rounding into form, which also helps.