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GAME DISCUSSION THREAD GAME #76: BUF (21-45-9) at STL (51-17-7) – THU APR 3 – 8:00 PM EDT – MSG-B, BELL TV – WGR-550 BUFFALO SABRES Final Lineup 23 Ville Leino – 63 Tyler Ennis ("A") – 27 Matt D’Agostini 19 Cody Hodgson ("A") – 28 Zemgus Girgensons – 65 Brian Flynn 82 Marcus Foligno – 22 Johan Larsson – 44 Nicolas Deslauriers 32 John Scott – 37 Matt Ellis – 88 Cory Conacher X: 17 Torrey Mitchell (undisclosed), 21 Drew Stafford (undisclosed), 24 Zenon Konopka (back), 80 Chris Stewart (ankle) 10 Christian Ehrhoff ("A") – 55 Rasmus Ristolainen 6 Mike Weber – 4 Jamie McBain 29 Jake McCabe – 5 Chad Ruhwedel X: 20 Henrik Tallinder (undisclosed), 52 Alexander Sulzer (LBI), 57 Tyler Myers (LBI) 50 Nathan Lieuwen 31 Matt Hackett X: 1 Jhonas Enroth (LBI), 34 Michal Neuvirth (LBI) Lineup News & Notes G Jhonas Enroth (LBI), F Torrey Mitchell (undisclosed), F Nicolas Deslauriers (personal), F Zenon Konopka (back), G Michal Neuvirth (LBI), D Alex Sulzer (LBI), D Tyler Myers (LBI), and F Chris Stewart (ankle) were scratches in Tuesday's 3-2 SO win vs New Jersey. Tallinder, Weber, and Stafford will be game time decisions. Weekly Transactions 03/30: Reassigned C Mikhail Grigorenko to Rochester (AHL) from Quebec (QMJHL). 04/01: Signed C Justin Kea to a three year ELC. 04/02: Signed D Jake McCabe to a three year ELC. According to the Stats In the last 10 games, the Sabres have gone 2-7-1. Tyler Ennis scored two goals against the Devils on Tuesday. SAINT LOUIS BLUES Final Lineup 26 Dmitrij Jaskin – 42 David Backes ("C") – 74 T. J. Oshie ("A") 10 Brenden Morrow – 17 Vladimir Sobotka – 9 Jaden Schwartz 56 Magnus Paajarvi – 21 Patrick Berglund – 29 Steve Ott 12 Derek Roy – 40 Maxim Lapierre - 75 Ryan Reeves X: 20 Alexander Steen (UBI), 32 Chris Porter (healthy), 91 Vladimir Tarasenko (hand) 27 Alex Pietrangelo ("A") – 19 Jay Bouwmeester 22 Kevin Shattenkirk – 13 Carlo Colaiacovo 33 Jordan Leopold – 46 Roman Polak X: 28 Ian Cole (healthy), 5 Barret Jackman (LBI) 1 Brian Elliott 39 Ryan Miller Lineup News & Notes St. Louis scratched F Dmitrij Jaskin, D Ian Cole, F Chris Porter, D Jordan Leopold, and F Vladimir Tarasenko in Tuesday's 1-0 SO win vs Philadelphia. T.J.Oshie named NHL Third Star of the Week Weekly Transactions None According to the Stats In the Last 10 Games St. Louis has gone 7-3-0. Alexander Steen has three goals and four assists in the past five games. PREGAME LINKS 04/01 – GAME RECAP: LIEUWEN EARNS 1ST VICTORY IN SHOOTOUT WIN OVER DEVILS (Chris Ryndak – Sabres.com) 04/01 – GAME RECAP: Oshie, Miller help Blues edge Flyers in shootout (Louie Korac – NHL.com) 04/02 – GAME PREVIEW: Goaltender Miller sits as Sabres visit Blues (David Kalan – NHL.com) 04/02 – Sabres’ Cody Hodgson happy with move to wing (Bill Hoppe – Olean Times Herald) 04/02 – NEWS: SABRES SIGN 2012 DRAFT PICK JAKE McCABE (Sabres.com) 04/02 – With West showdowns looming, Blues will sit Miller against Sabres (Mike Harrington – buffalonews.com) 04/02 – Rolling 10-Game Average TOI (Ian Ott – Sabres PR) 04/02 – Game Preview: 4/3/14 at St. Louis Blues (Ian Ott – Sabres PR) 04/02 – Ryan Miller talks about last night's shutout and the emotions of seeing his Buffalo teammates in town. <5:20> 04/02 – Brian Elliott, Derek Roy and Ken Hitchcock talk after practice. <4:45> 04/03 – Sabres at Blues Game Notes PDF (Ian Ott – Sabres PR) 04/03 – Press Clips: 4/3/14 at St. Louis Blues (Ian Ott – Sabres PR) 04/03 – Game DAY BLOG: Elliott Starts, Ott Ready to Face Sabres (Chris Pinkert - St. Louis Blues) 04/03 – Steve Ott, Jordan Leopold and Ken Hitchcock are interviewed before the April 3 game vs. Buffalo. <5:57> 04/03 – Ted Nolan speaks with the media following Thursday's morning skate at Scottrade Center. <4:11> 04/03 – Jake McCabe ready for NHL debut; Chris Stewart could return this season (Bill Hoppe – Olean Times Herald) 04/03 – THE MORNING SKATE: McCABE READY TO DEBUT AGAINST BLUES (Chris Ryndak – Sabres.com) 04/03 – Dan Dunleavy previews Thursday night's game against the Blues at Scottrade Center. <3:38> 04/03 – Chris Stewart speaks with the media following Thursday's morning skate at Scottrade Center. <1:11> 04/03 – Jake McCabe speaks with the media following Thursday's morning skate at Scottrade Center. <4:25> 04/03 – Ryan Miller speaks with the media before playing against the Sabres for the first time since being traded. <8:02> 04/03 – Teppo Numminen speaks with Sam Korotkin prior to Thursday night's game against the Blues at Scottrade Center. <0:46> POSTGAME LINKS 04/04 – GAME RECAP: SABRES PUT IN STRONG EFFORT AGAINST LEAGUE'S BEST (Chris Ryndak – Sabres.com) 04/03 – Brian Duff and Dan Dunleavy recap the Sabres 2-1 loss to the Blues. <4:04> 04/03 – Ted Nolan speaks with the media following the Sabres 2-1 loss to the Blues. <2:39> 04/03 – Nathan Lieuwen speaks with the media following the Sabres 2-1 loss to the Blues. <1:59> 04/03 – Nicolas Deslauriers speaks with Brian Duff following the Sabres 2-1 loss to the Blues. <1:59> 04/03 – Cody Hodgson speaks with the media following the Sabres 2-1 loss to the Blues. <1:47> 04/03 – Jake McCabe speaks with the media following the Sabres 2-1 loss to the Blues. <1:38>

Inspired by the Steve Ott booing comments thread, and repeated references to fans being sick of this team, I want to know: "how bad is it?" Forget about logic and reason. Don't worry about potential, how good a player may or may not be, the available alternatives, or what kind of assets somebody would fetch in a trade. This is only about emotion. All I want to know is how we (the true Sabre fans) really feel about our team. Has the love affair gone sour and who is at fault? I have chosen four phrases: 1) I love that guy! 2) He can play on my team. 3) I wouldn't cry if he went elsewhere. 4) Get him out of here now! I'd like you to slot key components of the current franchise experience under the heading that best describes the way you feel about them. My picks: 1) I love that guy! Players: Mike Weber, Thomas Vanek, Steve Ott, Marcus Foligno, Christian Ehrhoff, (included because he was the captain and the trade is so fresh) Jason Pominville Others: Rick Jeanneret 2) He can play on my team. Players: Ryan Miller, Tyler Myers, Mark Pysyk, Cody Hodgson, Tyler Ennis, Pat Kaleta, Ville Leino, Corey Tropp, Others: Terry Pegula, Ted Black, Mike Robitaille, Paul Hamilton 3) I wouldn't cry if he went elsewhere. Players: Jhonas Enroth, Andrej Sekera, Adam Pardy, Kevin Porter, Brian Flynn, Jochen Hecht, John Scott, Mikhail Grigorenko, Matt Ellis, Cody McCormick Others: Ron Rolston, Rob Ray, Harry Neale, John Vogl 4) Get him out of here now! Players: Drew Stafford, Nathan Gerbe, Luke Adam, Others: Darcy Regier, Jerry Sullivan, Bucky Gleason, Mike Harrington, the fans in the arena

I know it's early, but the season is lost and the chatter is already started in other threads. I used Capgeek to put together this primer for easy reference. I'll try to edit it as we move along. If you see any errors and omissions, let me know. Projected cap is $71.1 million. Floor is projected at about $52 million. Anaheim: ($3.5 million to spend per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $21.7 million Players under contract: 17 Key free agents: Koivu, Selanne, Penner, Winnik, Silfverberg (RFA), Perreault (RFA), Hiller Bad contracts: none Pending 2015 free agents: Souray, Fasth, Allen, Beauchemin, Sbisa, Boston: ($1.5 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $9.1 million Players under contract: 17 Key free agents: Iginla, Thornton, Smith (RFA) Krug (RFA), Bartkowsi (RFA) Bad contracts: none Pending 2015 free agents: Krecji, Campbell, Paille, Soderberg, Boychuk, McQuaid, Hamilton (RFA) Buffalo: ($3.6 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $34.1 million Players under contract: 14 Key free agents: Conacher (RFA),Ennis (RFA), Konopka, Foligno (RFA), Scott, D’Agostini, Tallinder, McBain (RFA), Sulzer, Bad contracts: Leino ($4.5), Stafford ($4) Pending 2015 free agents: Stafford, Enroth, Stewart,Neuvirth, Calgary: ($3.2 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $35.5 million Players under contract: 12 Key free agents: Camalleri, Butler, Russell Bad contracts: none Pending 2015 free agents: Glencross, Backlund, Brodie, Rammo Carolina: ($2.1 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $22.5 million Players under contract: 12 Key free agents: Tlusty (RFA), Gerbe (RFA), Hainsey, PItkanen, Komisarek, Khodubin, Peters Bad contracts: none Pending 2015 free agents: Sekera Chicago: ($1 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $7.3 million Players under contract: 16 Key free agents: none Bad contracts: none Pending 2015 free agents: Kane, Toews, Kruger (RFA), Saad (RFA), Oduya, Leddy (RFA), Roszival Colorado: ($3.6 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $29.2 million Players under contract: 15 Key free agents: Stastny, O’Reilly (RFA) Giguere, McGinn, Sarich, Barrie (RFA) Bad contracts: none Pending 2015 free agents: Hejda Columbus: ($3.2 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $22.1 million Players under contract: 16 Key free agents: Mackenzie, Johansen (RFA), Nikitin Bad contracts: none Pending 2015 free agents: Dubinsky, Foligno, Lestestu, Bobrovsky (RFA) Dallas: ($2.9 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $20.6 million Players under contract: 16 Key free agents: Whitney, Fiddler, Eakin (RFA), Robidas Bad contracts: none Pending 2015 free agents: Horcoff, Cole, Peverley, Gonchar Detroit: ($3 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $21.3 million Players under contract: 16 Key free agents: Legwand,Alfredsson, Bertuzzi, Cleary, Eaves, Sheahan (RFA), Tatar (RFA) Quincey, DeKeyser (RFA), Gustavsson Bad contracts: none Pending 2015 free agents: Nyqvist (RFA), Smith (RFA) Edmonton: ($2.7 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $33.8 million Players under contract: 11 Key free agents: Smyth, Schultz, Schultz (RFA) Bad contracts: Pending 2015 free agents: none Florida: ($3 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $36.8 million Players under contract: 11 Key free agents: Gomez, Kulikov (RFA), Gilbert, Gudbranson (RFA), Thomas Bad contracts: Campbell ($7.1) Pending 2015 free agents: Fleischmann, Kopecky, Upshall, Bergenheim, Shore (RFA), Bjugstad (RFA), Huberdeau (RFA), Jovanovski Los Angeles: ($2.2 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $15.3 million Players under contract: 16 Key free agents: Gaborik,Lewis, King (RFA), Frattin (RFA), Mitchell, Greene Bad contracts: none Pending 2015 free agents: Williams, Stoll, Clifford, Toffoli, Regehr, Martinez, Muzzin (RFA) Minnesota: ($3.5 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $21.7 million Players under contract: 17 Key free agents: Neidereiter (RFA), Stoner, Heatley Bad contracts: Heatley Pending 2015 free agents: Brodziak, Harding, Coyle (RFA), Grandlund (RFA), Brodin (RFA) Montreal: ($4.3 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $25.9 million Players under contract: 17 Key free agents: Gionta, Eller (RFA), Markov, Subban (RFA), Bouilon, Murray, Diaz, Vanek Bad contracts: none Pending 2015 free agents: Fisher, Cullen, Wilson, Smith Nashville: ($3.2 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $23.7 million Players under contract: 16 Key free agents: Del Zotto (RFA), Ellis (RFA) Bad contracts: none Pending 2015 free agents: none New Jersey: ($2.3 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $24.9 million Players under contract: 13 Key free agents: Bernier, Carter, Jagr, Zidlicky, Fayne, Brodeur Bad contracts: Clowe ($4.8), Ruutu ($4.7) Pending 2015 free agents: Ryder, Brunner, Salvador, Greene New York Islanders: ($3.7 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $34.7 million Players under contract: 14 Key free agents: Martinek, Nabokov Bad contracts: none Pending 2015 free agents: Visnovsky, Carkner New York Rangers: ($2.3 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $29 million Players under contract: 10 Key free agents: Brassard (RFA), Boyle, Zuccarello (RFA), Kreider (RFA), Girardi, Stralman Bad contracts: Richards ($6.6) Pending 2015 free agents: Stepan, Hagelin, Staal, St. Louis, Ottawa: ($3 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $24.4 million Players under contract: 16 Key free agents: Michalek, Phillips, Corvo, Lehner (RFA), Hemsky ($5) Bad contracts: none Pending 2015 free agents: Spezza, Ryan, MacArthur, Methot, Anderson Philadelphia: ($1.6 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $12.6 million Players under contract: 15 Key free agents: Downie, Schenn (RFA), Timmonen, Meszaros, Gill, Emery, MacDonald Bad contracts: none Pending 2015 free agents: none Phoenix: ($3.2 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $22.5 million Players under contract: 16 Key free agents: Morris, Halpern, Vrbata Bad contracts: none Pending 2015 free agents: Vermette, Boedkker (RFA), Michalek Pittsburgh: ($1.9 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $15.4 million Players under contract: 15 Key free agents: Goc,Jokinen, Sutter (RFA), Pyatt, Glass, Orpik, Niskanen, Vokoun, Stempniak, Bad contracts: none Pending 2015 free agents: Bennett (RFA), Martin, Adams, Fleury San Jose: ($2.3 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $11.7 million Players under contract: 18 Key free agents: Wingels (RFA), Boyle, Demers (RFA), Hannan Bad contracts: Havlat ($5) Pending 2015 free agents: Havlat, Kennedy, Stuart, Braun St. Louis ($2.9 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $23 million Players under contract: 15 Key free agents: Roy, Berglund (RFA), Morrow, Schwartz (RFA), Sobotka (RFA), Elliott, Miller Bad contracts: none Pending 2015 free agents: Paajarvi (RFA), Tarasenko (RFA), Jackman, Leopold Tampa: ($2.3 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $18.5 million Players under contract: 15 Key free agents: Johnson (RFA), Killorn (RFA), Salo, Aulie (RFA), Lindback (RFA), Callahan, Bad contracts: none Pending 2015 free agents: Malone, Brewer, Bishop Toronto ($2.1 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: : $21.6 million Players under contract: 13 Key free agents: Bolland, Raymond, Kulemin, McClement, Ashton (RFA), Holland (RFA), Franson (RFA), Ranger, Gardiner (RFA), Reimer (RFA) Bad contracts: Clarkson ($5.2) Pending 2015 free agents: Kadri, Bernier Vancouver ($1 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $9.5 million Players under contract: 18 Key free agents: Santorelli, Kassian (RFA), Tanev (RFA) Bad contracts: Booth ($4.2) Pending 2015 free agents: Richardson, Booth, Matthias, Washington: ($5.1 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $10.2 million Players under contract: 21 Key free agents: Grabovski, Orlov, Halak, Bad contracts: Erat ($4.5) Pending 2015 free agents: Ward, Johanssen (RFA), Fehr, Beagle, Green Erskine, Holtby (RFA) Winnipeg ($3 million per roster spot) Room under projected cap: $23.8 million Players under contract: 15 Key free agents: Jokinen, Setoguchi, Frolik, Stuart, Ellerby (RFA) Bad contracts: none Pending 2015 free agents: Slater