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What the heck is with this stupid start time? Maybe a change of scenery will help the Sabres? Does anyone really care anymore? I DO!! Another meaningful game just past mid-February. It has been at least 5 years since that was a thing. MUST WIN!! GO SABRES!!

The time for fancystats is over. Tis the season to just win, baby!

Ok folks here we go! Our Sabres get ready to clip the Jets’ wings and ground them. Below is excerpts from the Winnipeg Sun and I thought it would be fun to see it from another perspective. Mr. Laine meet Mr. McCabe. Oh you’ve already met. Must have been a smashing conversation. THE BIG MATCHUP Jacob Trouba and Josh Morrissey vs. Jeff Skinner The future of the Sabres’ top goal-scorer remains a question mark, with Skinner set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. However, what’s not a question is that Skinner remains one of the top goal-scorers in the NHL (33) and he will garner plenty of attention from the Jets’ top pairing of Trouba and Morrissey. GAME DAY LINEUPS Winnipeg Jets Forwards Kyle Connor-Mark Scheifele-Blake Wheeler Patrik Laine-Bryan Little-Jack Roslovic Mathieu Perreault-Adam Lowry-Brandon Tanev Brendan Lemieux-Andrew Copp-Mason Appleton Defence Josh Morrissey-Jacob Trouba Ben Chiarot-Dustin Byfuglien Joe Morrow-Tyler Myers Buffalo Sabres Forwards Jeff Skinner-Jack Eichel-Jason Pominville Conor Sheary-Casey Mittelstadt-Sam Reinhart Zemgus Girgensons-Johan Larsson-Kyle Okposo Vladimir Sobotka-Evan Rodrigues-Tage Thompson Defence Rasmus Dahlin-Zach Bogosian Marco Scandella-Rasmus Ristolainen Jake McCabe-Lawrence Pilut SPECIAL TEAMS POWER PLAY Winnipeg: 26.5.% (4th) Buffalo: 17.8% (20th) PENALTY KILLING Winnipeg 80.4% (14th) Buffalo: 82.2% (T8th)

MUST WIN!! GO SABRES!!

Hide your wives, daughters, and girlfriends as Mr. No Means Yes and the Blackhawks come to Buffalo to take on our Sabres. Game starts at 7:00PM by which time the Me Too crowd should be in full swing. The Hawks are lighting up the West in 14th place and boasting an 18-24-9 record, 8-14-3 on the road. The Sabres sit at 9th in the East with a 25-16-9 record (Deluca .500?). Sabres are 14-6-3 at home so checking my advanced stats it looks like they have a better chance at wining this one. I think we all hope for Linus to get the start tonight but Phil is like a box of chocolates. For the bad guys Crawford is injured I believe. This leaves either Ward with a 3.87 GAA and .888 SV% or Delia with a 3.00 GAA and .923 SV%. Linus by the way has a 2.83 GAA and Hutton has a 2.79 GAA. The Hawks have a -34 goal differential compared to the Sabres -4. Good luck to those brave souls in that WNY weather who are at the game. May you get a taste of heaven while literally sitting in hell frozen over. LW C RW DRAKE CAGGIULA Rating: 70.2#101 LW JONATHAN TOEWS Rating: 78.0#32 C PATRICK KANE Rating: 84.2#2 RW FL1 Rating Rating: 77.45#18 FL1 ALEX DEBRINCAT Rating: 78.2#14 LW DYLAN STROME Rating: 70.1#161 C DOMINIK KAHUN Rating: 71.4#125 RW FL2 Rating Rating: 73.21#23 FL2 BRANDON SAAD Rating: 73.8#42 LW DAVID KAMPF Rating: 70.3#153 C MARCUS KRUGER Rating: 69.5#172 RW FL3 Rating Rating: 71.17#23 FL3 CHRIS KUNITZ Rating: 69.9#107 LW ARTEM ANISIMOV Rating: 70.5#148 C JOHN HAYDEN Rating: 67.9#135 RW FL4 Rating Rating: 69.44#27 FL4 DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS DUNCAN KEITH Rating: 72.0#74 LD BRENT SEABROOK Rating: 71.5#72 RD DL1 Rating Rating: 71.76#28 DL1 HENRI JOKIHARJU Rating: 71.4#83 LD CONNOR MURPHY Rating: 70.1#94 RD DL2 Rating Rating: 70.71#30 DL2 SLATER KOEKKOEK Rating: 68.5#122 LD ERIK GUSTAFSSON Rating: 74.9#30 RD DL3 Rating Rating: 71.68#13 DL3 LW C RW JEFF SKINNER Rating: 80.4#9 LW JACK EICHEL Rating: 81.0#14 C SAM REINHART Rating: 76.8#24 RW FL1 Rating Rating: 79.38#9 FL1 CONOR SHEARY Rating: 73.2#50 LW CASEY MITTELSTADT Rating: 71.6#117 C EVAN RODRIGUES Rating: 72.8#64 RW FL2 Rating Rating: 72.53#28 FL2 REMI ELIE Rating: 68.6#121 LW VLADIMIR SOBOTKA Rating: 68.3#184 C TAGE THOMPSON Rating: 69.5#170 RW FL3 Rating Rating: 68.81#31 FL3 ZEMGUS GIRGENSONS Rating: 70.1#160 LW JOHAN LARSSON Rating: 68.8#120 C KYLE OKPOSO Rating: 71.0#98 RW FL4 Rating Rating: 69.93#21 FL4 DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS JAKE MCCABE Rating: 72.1#71 LD RASMUS RISTOLAINEN Rating: 76.2#25 RD DL1 Rating Rating: 74.11#21 DL1 RASMUS DAHLIN Rating: 74.8#26 LD ZACH BOGOSIAN Rating: 71.5#73 RD DL2 Rating Rating: 73.11#13 DL2 MARCO SCANDELLA Rating: 71.4#82 LD NATHAN BEAULIEU Rating: 70.7#84 RD DL3 Rating Rating: 71.07#17 DL3

So I'll be at the game. If you're going to be too, look for the DFW Bills Backers group before the game at Valor Bar & Burgers in the arena. I'll be wearing a Reinhart jersey and my name is Paul. Come say hi.

After a little vacation our Buffalo Sabres travel to Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets. Game starts at 7:00 PM on MSG-B. The Sabres are 9th in the east with 54 points, four behind 8th. Dropping two out three on the recent western road trip capped a poor showing post 10 game winning streak. Although more than half of the regular season games have been played, let’s hope the Sabres set the tone for the back end of the season. By tone I mean positive playoff push. The Blue Jackets sit at 6th in the east with 59 points. They are 14-9-2 at home while the Sabres are 10-12-3 away. They possess +8 goal differential to the Sabres’ -4. Expect the Blue Jackets to come out hard in the first home game of the back end. LW C RW JEFF SKINNER Rating: 80.5#10 LW JACK EICHEL Rating: 80.9#16 C SAM REINHART Rating: 76.4#26 RW FL1 Rating Rating: 79.28#10 FL1 CONOR SHEARY Rating: 72.1#69 LW CASEY MITTELSTADT Rating: 70.8#144 C EVAN RODRIGUES Rating: 71.8#80 RW FL2 Rating Rating: 71.57#30 FL2 TAGE THOMPSON Rating: 69.4#173 LW VLADIMIR SOBOTKA Rating: 68.4#183 C JASON POMINVILLE Rating: 73.3#56 RW FL3 Rating Rating: 70.36#29 FL3 ZEMGUS GIRGENSONS Rating: 70.0#160 LW JOHAN LARSSON Rating: 69.0#119 C KYLE OKPOSO Rating: 71.4#89 RW FL4 Rating Rating: 70.14#22 FL4 DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS RASMUS DAHLIN Rating: 74.4#30 LD ZACH BOGOSIAN Rating: 70.7#84 RD DL1 Rating Rating: 72.57#25 DL1 JAKE MCCABE Rating: 72.1#70 LD RASMUS RISTOLAINEN Rating: 76.3#24 RD DL2 Rating Rating: 74.18#10 DL2 MARCO SCANDELLA Rating: 72.0#73 LD MATT HUNWICK Rating: 71.3#74 RD DL3 Rating Rating: 71.63#15 DL3 LW C RW ARTEMI PANARIN Rating: 82.8#5 LW PIERRE-LUC DUBOIS Rating: 78.8#25 C CAM ATKINSON Rating: 82.2#4 RW FL1 Rating Rating: 81.30#5 FL1 NICK FOLIGNO Rating: 73.5#44 LW BOONE JENNER Rating: 72.9#80 C JOSH ANDERSON Rating: 73.4#54 RW FL2 Rating Rating: 73.26#22 FL2 BRANDON DUBINSKY Rating: 69.7#169 LW ALEXANDER WENNBERG Rating: 70.9#141 C ANTHONY DUCLAIR Rating: 71.2#86 RW FL3 Rating Rating: 70.59#28 FL3 OLIVER BJORKSTRAND Rating: 73.0#53 LW RILEY NASH Rating: 71.3#125 C LUKAS SEDLAK Rating: 70.0#108 RW FL4 Rating Rating: 71.43#6 FL4 DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS ZACH WERENSKI Rating: 76.6#15 LD SETH JONES Rating: 80.4#6 RD DL1 Rating Rating: 78.46#5 DL1 RYAN MURRAY Rating: 72.4#60 LD MARKUS NUTIVAARA Rating: 72.2#56 RD DL2 Rating Rating: 72.33#17 DL2 SCOTT HARRINGTON Rating: 69.1#120 LD DAVID SAVARD Rating: 72.5#51 RD DL3 Rating Rating: 70.76#23 DL3

The Sabres play tonight ... so forget all your duties, oh yeah ... ? Seems like we will not be able to watch our Swedish hottie(s) take on their Swedish hottie. Just give me another win and I do not care how, or what it looks like. I can fly to Europe much faster than I can get to see duda, buno, or Rick ... this geography lesson brought to you by NS. The most MUST WIN!! since the last MUST WIN!! So, MUST WIN!! GO SABRES!!

My banishment is over, I say (and I may be the only one saying it, but too bad ... all you guys have not had any luck at starting these either). This is the most MUST WIN!!, of all the MUST WINS!! GO SABRES!!

Monday, 14 January 2019 the Buffalo Sabres visit the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place. Game starts at 9:00 PM EST. Oilers are 11th in the Western Conference with a 21-21-3 record. Captain Connor McDavid has 27 goals, 40 assists for 67 points in 44 games played. Impressive considering the dumpster fire that has been Edmonton for a long time. Oilers are 11-10-1 at home and coming off a loss to Arizona. Sabres are 9th in the Eastern Conference with a 23-16-6 record. Captain Jack Eichel has 15 goals, 34 assists for 49 points in 42 games. Sabres are 9-10-3 away and coming off a double loss weekend. A win tonight and Montreal loss would put us back in 8th. Completely doable provided the Sabres play a complete game. The number one matchup we are looking forward to is Eichel/McDavid but don’t forget Risto likes to get under the skin of Lucic. Along with Kassian they bring a physical aspect the Sabres seem to have trouble dealing with offensively. Sabres need to bear down on this first game of a western road trip. Play fast and creative because the Oilers are who they are for a reason. Apologies on the lineup. It’s the best I could do but I don’t think TT is on Jack’s line. Could be wrong. MUST MUST WIN!!! LW C RW JEFF SKINNER Rating: 81.3#6 LW JACK EICHEL Rating: 80.3#18 C TAGE THOMPSON Rating: 69.9#171 RW FL1 Rating Rating: 77.15#17 FL1 CONOR SHEARY Rating: 71.9#72 LW VLADIMIR SOBOTKA Rating: 68.7#188 C SAM REINHART Rating: 76.3#29 RW FL2 Rating Rating: 72.32#24 FL2 ZEMGUS GIRGENSONS Rating: 69.8#172 LW CASEY MITTELSTADT Rating: 70.8#152 C JASON POMINVILLE Rating: 74.0#47 RW FL3 Rating Rating: 71.52#21 FL3 EVAN RODRIGUES Rating: 71.6#82 LW JOHAN LARSSON Rating: 68.8#126 C KYLE OKPOSO Rating: 71.7#76 RW FL4 Rating Rating: 70.70#10 FL4 DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS LAWRENCE PILUT Rating: 73.4#48 LD RASMUS RISTOLAINEN Rating: 77.0#20 RD DL1 Rating Rating: 75.23#18 DL1 RASMUS DAHLIN Rating: 74.1#32 LD ZACH BOGOSIAN Rating: 71.3#69 RD DL2 Rating Rating: 72.74#20 DL2 MARCO SCANDELLA Rating: 72.0#70 LD JAKE MCCABE Rating: 71.9#71 RD DL3 Rating Rating: 71.95#12 DL3 LW C RW RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS Rating: 74.6#51 LW CONNOR MCDAVID Rating: 90.7#1 C TY RATTIE Rating: 68.8#116 RW FL1 Rating Rating: 78.04#11 FL1 MILAN LUCIC Rating: 68.5#130 LW LEON DRAISAITL Rating: 80.1#19 C ALEX CHIASSON Rating: 70.4#95 RW FL2 Rating Rating: 73.00#18 FL2 RYAN SPOONER Rating: 69.8#113 LW JUJHAR KHAIRA Rating: 68.5#131 C JESSE PULJUJARVI Rating: 70.1#101 RW FL3 Rating Rating: 69.47#31 FL3 TOBIAS RIEDER Rating: 69.1#123 LW KYLE BRODZIAK Rating: 69.4#177 C ZACK KASSIAN Rating: 68.5#119 RW FL4 Rating Rating: 68.99#30 FL4 DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS DARNELL NURSE Rating: 73.5#46 LD KRIS RUSSELL Rating: 71.5#81 RD DL1 Rating Rating: 72.53#27 DL1 CALEB JONES Rating: 72.0#6 LD ADAM LARSSON Rating: 71.3#71 RD DL2 Rating Rating: 71.63#27 DL2 KEVIN GRAVEL Rating: 70.0#114 LD MATT BENNING Rating: 71.2#73 RD DL3 Rating Rating: 70.62#24 DL3

Saturday, 12 January 2019 the Buffalo Sabres take on the Tampa Bay Lightening in Buffalo. Game starts at 7:00 PM EST and broadcast through MSG-B and SUN. Tampa has a +58 goal differential and is 15-4-2 on the road. They are 9-1-0 in their last 10 with the most recent victory coming against the Hurricanes who just beat the Sabres. Buffalo is 14-5-3 at home with a +3 goal differential. They are coming off a loss to Carolina as the spiral continues. Not exactly an optimal team to play against as we try to right the sinking ship. As Hutton played against the Canes and Ullmark having a good weekend record I expect the latter to get the start. Below are potential starting lineups. Obviously Tampa has a working formula so I don’t expect much deviation barring injuries. Buffalo on the other hand is struggling to find competent combinations for the middle six so I would not be surprised if we see a slightly different lineup. LW C RW ONDREJ PALAT Rating: 74.4#36 LW STEVEN STAMKOS Rating: 81.7#11 C ALEX KILLORN Rating: 72.6#90 RW FL1 Rating Rating: 76.24#21 FL1 TYLER JOHNSON Rating: 74.8#49 LW BRAYDEN POINT Rating: 84.2#7 C NIKITA KUCHEROV Rating: 88.8#1 RW FL2 Rating Rating: 82.60#1 FL2 ADAM ERNE Rating: 72.5#70 LW ANTHONY CIRELLI Rating: 73.5#72 C YANNI GOURDE Rating: 75.6#31 RW FL3 Rating Rating: 73.85#4 FL3 DANICK MARTEL Rating: 73.3#52 LW CEDRIC PAQUETTE Rating: 69.4#178 C MATHIEU JOSEPH Rating: 73.2#53 RW FL4 Rating Rating: 71.98#6 FL4 DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS VICTOR HEDMAN Rating: 80.5#3 LD DAN GIRARDI Rating: 71.8#60 RD DL1 Rating Rating: 76.15#11 DL1 RYAN MCDONAGH Rating: 76.2#19 LD ERIK CERNAK Rating: 72.8#42 RD DL2 Rating Rating: 74.50#10 DL2 BRAYDON COBURN Rating: 71.4#87 LD ANTON STRALMAN Rating: 74.1#33 RD DL3 Rating Rating: 72.76#9 DL3 LW C RW JEFF SKINNER Rating: 81.4#5 LW JACK EICHEL Rating: 81.1#16 C TAGE THOMPSON Rating: 69.8#172 RW FL1 Rating Rating: 77.46#15 FL1 CONOR SHEARY Rating: 71.1#102 LW VLADIMIR SOBOTKA Rating: 68.3#188 C SAM REINHART Rating: 76.3#31 RW FL2 Rating Rating: 71.89#24 FL2 ZEMGUS GIRGENSONS Rating: 69.7#173 LW CASEY MITTELSTADT Rating: 70.0#165 C JASON POMINVILLE Rating: 73.5#52 RW FL3 Rating Rating: 71.06#24 FL3 EVAN RODRIGUES Rating: 71.0#104 LW JOHAN LARSSON Rating: 68.5#141 C KYLE OKPOSO Rating: 70.7#87 RW FL4 Rating Rating: 70.03#20 FL4 DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS LAWRENCE PILUT Rating: 73.1#52 LD RASMUS RISTOLAINEN Rating: 76.6#23 RD DL1 Rating Rating: 74.82#18 DL1 RASMUS DAHLIN Rating: 73.1#51 LD ZACH BOGOSIAN Rating: 71.0#76 RD DL2 Rating Rating: 72.06#22 DL2 MARCO SCANDELLA Rating: 71.6#78 LD JAKE MCCABE Rating: 71.4#88 RD DL3 Rating Rating: 71.51#15 DL3

Sabres take on the Windbags in Carolina Game Time Discussion further here known as GTD not GTM or any other variation I have come up with... Game Starts at 7:30p EST. down in Carolina https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-car/2019/01/11/2018020683#game=2018020683,game_state=preview Carolina has been playing better of late but were schooled last night so for those going to the game I except a report on baby eating an pillaging. Anything less than 30 babies eaten will be considered unacceptable. I hope the Sabres make Rob Brindamore's nose more crooked... Have at it.

You all asked for it. Have at it. Let's see if the "day before" juju was a fluke or if it really works.

Since we have been in such a funk, I am going to try my hand at starting the GDT thread in order to change our luck around. After dropping games to both the Blues and NY Islanders, this Panthers game becomes even more of a MUST WIN if we want to keep holding on to playoff positioning. Practice report lines from last practice - expect Eichel is out for a bit with an Upper Body Injury.

MUST WIN!! GO SABRES!!

JUST BEAT THESE GUYS!! AVENGE PARK!! OK SWAMPD ... I WON'T CALL THEM ... (YOU KNOW WHAT)!! MUST WIN!! GO SABRES!!

The Sabres get right back up on that horse in the last contest before the Christmas break. Not sure what happened last night (it's early), but saw a 2 -1 score for the Caps. Lets get these guys. MUST WIN!! GO SABRES!! +++++ 'This is what you wanted. This is what you're going to get' Aaayyyyyy Oohh!!

This is what you wanted. This is what you're going to get. Aayyyyyyy Ooh!! +++++ MUST WIN!! MUST GO SABRES!! MUST STOP OV!! I would have Girgs and Larry stapled to OV in an attempt to try to do the third must item. Stay out of the box and that would help. Stay away from that Wilson punk and no one will get hurt. Let's hope that no one does.

Let's see if the Sabres can avenge their OT loss a couple weeks ago against the Panthers. Buffalo is heating up again, taking 7 out of their last 8 points. If they're a real playoff team they need to knock of middling teams like this. The Panthers are beginning a four-game road trip. … Florida (12-13-6) is looking to gain ground in the Eastern Conference wild-card standings. … The Panthers are eight points out of a playoff spot. … Florida beat Buffalo in overtime, 3-2, at home on Nov. 30. … The Sabres (20-9-5) are coming off a 4-2 win over the Boston Bruins. … Buffalo has won three of its past four. … Jack Eichel leads the team with 45 points (14 goals, 31 assists). … Jeff Skinner has 35 points, (24 goals, 11 assists), while Sam Reinhart has 32 (eight goals, 24 assists). GO SABRES!

MUST WIN!! Our pretty hot again Sabres travel to DC for a tilt with the defending champs. The Caps are plying well after a bit of a hangover from last spring. It will be a good test for both teams, I hope. The key to a Sabres victory ... score more goals. Yup. I don't care how many and when and how. Just more. I think it's on TV of some sort? None of the letters make any sense to me ... NBC (and then a whole bunch more). GO SABRES!!

For the first time ever I am the only member signed on this fine morning. +++++ This is what you wanted ... this is what you are going to get ... Aaaaayyyyyyyy, Oh!! Our beloved Sabres are taking on the most dastardly Flyers, AKA Cryers, in a nooner in Buffalo. The Sabres are a bit dull at the moment with 4 Ls since the 10 game W streak that had visions of cusps, at least, dancing in the fans heads, but are still way further ahead than anyone expected this season. Firmly in a playoff spot at this point and most importantly playing fun, entertaining and good hockey most of the time. The Flyers have not been playing well lately, but always seem to get it going in games against the Sabres. That won't happen today. I expect a blow out win for the Sabres ... 6 - 2 ... and it will not be as close as it appears on the scoreboard. My hatred of the Flyers (who will not be the most dastardly in a few days when we play the equally dastardly Bruins, who will become the most dastardly on that day ... the two teams are interchangeable) knows no bounds. They all are, but his one really is a must win. I don't care how it looks. I think the game is on SN nationally in Canada, MSG and NBC, as well. Of course, it will be on a radio, or satellite, near you. LETS GO BUFFALO!! MUST WIN!! GO SABRES!!

Thanks to our fan in Baltimore who is up with the crows for getting us up and going last night in Nashville, but I will give this a go ... I know many Sabres fans hate Toronto, but my hatred is all encompassing for The Great Satan. My hockey hatred is saved for others. JUST WIN, BABY!! I don't care how it looks. MUST WIN!! GO SABRES!!

The Sabres make their way acrost and down the state of Florida for a tilt with the Panthers. Let's start a new streak guys. We will see what these guys have on a back-to-back after a tough loss. I would think that we shall see Ullie. Not sure of TV, but I am sure it will be on a radio, or satellite, near you. MUST WIN!! GO SABRES!!

'This is what you wanted! This is what you're going to get'! These guys don't scare me at all. WE WANT 11!! MUST WIN!!!!! GO SABRES!!