Doohickie

I've got that on CD...

They did it in less than 3, actually. They were dead last in the conference on Dec 17.

Against the Lightning, it was this:

I usually put a music video in each GDT based on how I feel about the game. Last night's was this:

A tale of two teams.

"I think I need a bigger box."

Does it? Just because the Sabres chose to trade, say, JJP for Doan and Kesselring, doesn't make JJP a bad draft pick (same with Cozens, Mitts, etc.) It's more of an indicator, I think, of the Sabres having consistently high draft picks from their years wandering in the wilderness and with those picks you take the best player available rather than the player to fill a need on the team (based on existing prospect pool). That BPA can later be cashed in for what a team needs. In the NFL teams are picking league-ready prospects after several years of college (which is like the minor leagues for the NFL). Most NHLers are picked at 18 before they've done any development at the adult level, so you don't know how that player will turn out. It makes sense to see a lot of swapping of NHL prospects since most were picked years before being NHL read (honey badgers notwithstanding). Same is true of MLB. It's not necessarily a failing by the Sabres, it's the nature of the business.

I kind of like the fighting stance of the Sabres the last couple games: they don't seek to start anything but they sure as hell will finish it.

It isn't a shark, it's a swordfish. Get it?

...and yet we're still yippin' at Carolina's heels.

Actually I saw him in the SJS zone and everyone starting skating up ice toward the Sabres zone and left him in the dust. That's why I said he was slow.

He had more TOI than Kesselring tonight and well over 2X when Bryson/Metsa were playing. If he can hold his own defensively he may actually be the 5D slot. I've suspected this for some time now.

Only a select few remember that.

The winning goal in the 1997 Cup final was by fourth line grinder Darren McCarty. Beck is starting to remind me a lot McCarty.

Yikes. I thought he was frightfully slow.

...and his hair was perfect.

The Hockey Guy put them at #1 in the league in Sunday's rankings. He's very slow, but the rest of the team (especially forwards) are fast to get back to cover for him. He's better in his zone than I thought he would be.

Eight.

Well darn you're right. We're still yippin' at their heals though. Not as bad as I thought it was going to be. First wave is past and it's quieting down. Another wave on the way.

B!tch, I'm a TRAIN!

Plus the Sabres still have another game head-to-head. The Sabres control their own destiny with respect to the division. And now they can push for the conference. I think the fact that in this climb up the standings, there's always been a realistic goal to strive for after reaching each goal has given them motivation. If they pass CAR I hope the Avs drop a few so they can try to catch them too.