Doohickie

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.

If Sabres can't win on the road they're doomed. They're not good enough at home to carry a losing road record.

I think everyone is recognizing what I was seeing last year. He was an NHLer then, just not enough roster spots. I think we're going to see the same thing this year with Rosén and Östlund: Looking like they're ready, just figuring out how and where they fit in. This is what normal depth development looks like.

Now is the time LG….. SELL, SELL, SELL 😅 Based on who plays now that all are healthy, Is Lyon the one on the trading block?

The corollary is that it's still relatively early in the season and even an modest win streak can bump up the win % significantly.

Out of all the teams in the wildcard race, only Buffalo and Philadelphia are on winning streaks (both W2). Montreal is the only other team in the race that did not lose their last game. We've got a lot of teams to pass, and none of them are perfect teams. They all have their warts. If the Sabres can work themselves out of this injury hole *and* beat the teams they should beat, playoffs are possible for this team.

No maybe about it. It was on NHL Network. As far as I can tell you can only get NHL Network as part of a larger programming package on Spectrum, Fubo, maybe YouTubeTV, or the like. With my Spectrum I get NHL Network with the Sports Pack which is I think $5 per month. Usually the NHL Gameday page for the game will say if it's an NHL Network game but it didn't for today's game against Carolina.

They weathered the storm, eh?

fify

Careful, now....