GDT: Bruins at Sabres. Oct 4 7PM

[TrueBlueGED]

5 minutes ago, Randall Flagg said:

Risto is absolutely the king of the tank-style whipping the puck out to center ice, whether he has passing options or not. 

He wasn't always like this, but he was raised by the tank. 

There was potential to develop him into the best defenseman this franchise has ever had, but it didn't work out. 

Wasn't he? We literally cannot know. A big part of me thinks the high hopes when he first started in the NHL were simply a product of comparing him to Tyson Strachan. Sort of like quarterbacks and throwing with anticipation, I don't think hockey sense and vision are things that are really developed. 

[Huckleberry]

6 minutes ago, Randall Flagg said:

Also, Sobotka (who was fine) was second in ES time on ice, in a game where we were losing the whole time. 

Yeah I was wondering where the Sobotka hate was coming from.   I think he was one of few vets out there I liked.

[erickompositör72]

2 minutes ago, TrueBlueGED said:

Wasn't he? We literally cannot know. A big part of me thinks the high hopes when he first started in the NHL were simply a product of comparing him to Tyson Strachan. Sort of like quarterbacks and throwing with anticipation, I don't think hockey sense and vision are things that are really developed. 

I guess it depends on whether that tendency is a "bad habit" or just a lack of awareness. Maybe Dahlin can mentor him ?

[Randall Flagg]

2 minutes ago, TrueBlueGED said:

Wasn't he? We literally cannot know. A big part of me thinks the high hopes when he first started in the NHL were simply a product of comparing him to Tyson Strachan. Sort of like quarterbacks and throwing with anticipation, I don't think hockey sense and vision are things that are really developed. 

I think so. When I was doing d-man counting last year, I was shocked by how effective he was at starting transition with passes, as I was expecting to count dozens of Risto-clears and little else. I think there's a great defenseman buried in there somewhere. I don't think we'll ever see it, though he'll always be fine as a 3D. 

Just now, Huckleberry said:

Yeah I was wondering where the Sobotka hate was coming from.   I think he was one of few vets out there I liked.

I honestly think most players had "fine" games, outside of Jack and maybe Skinner, and Berglund defensively a few times. And some D. 

But that Phil did this scares me a bit. 

[TrueBlueGED]

4 minutes ago, erickompositör72 said:

I guess it depends on whether that tendency is a "bad habit" or just a lack of awareness. Maybe Dahlin can mentor him ?

Either way, after 347 NHL games, I'm not expecting it to change. 

[jsb]

13 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

Sir you have had very good posts before but this is pure GOLD and it needed to be said. 

There were positives in that game although reading this GDT you won't find much. It was one game, one game out of 82. If I've soured on anyone from that locker room it's Phil H. Not only putting Eichel's line on Bergeron's but for a team that played like it was their first game together (and it was their 1st real game together), Phil starts blowing up the lines to make them even more ragged. WTF was he thinking, the game was lost already just leave the lines alone and let them bond a bit. If he was going to blow things up why didn't he have this figured out during practice and the preseason games. I don't think he's capable of putting this team on solid footing. Unless they turn things around pretty quickly I'm falling into the fire him mode before he totally loses the team.

[TrueBlueGED]

4 minutes ago, Randall Flagg said:

I think so. When I was doing d-man counting last year, I was shocked by how effective he was at starting transition with passes, as I was expecting to count dozens of Risto-clears and little else. I think there's a great defenseman buried in there somewhere. I don't think we'll ever see it, though he'll always be fine as a 3D. 

I honestly think most players had "fine" games, outside of Jack and maybe Skinner, and Berglund defensively a few times. And some D. 

But that Phil did this scares me a bit. 

Fair enough, you've certainly looked more directly at it than I have. We're on the same page with him being who is is at this point, at least. 

[MakeSabresGrr8Again]

2 hours ago, That Aud Smell said:

I don't think it's a matter of being hard on the players. I take the players at their word when they say that Housley works them hard.

I heard an NHL player - seems like it was a recently retired player who had a great career - talk on WGR about Babcock when the Sabres were in the running for his services. He talked in some detail about how and why Babcock is so valuable as a coach. The player said it's Babcock's level of homework and preparation, and his teaching ability that allow him to put players in good positions on the ice.

I am getting the sense that Housley just does not know how to do those things very well. Like, maybe the team looks slow and flat because Housley has done a poor job preparing them.

With further regard to what that "preparation" entails: I think sometimes people think that "failing to get them ready to play" means that Housley didn't give a Herb Brooks speech in the locker room -- didn't get the boys fired up and ready to go. I don't think that's what failing to get the team ready to play means, at all. I think the failure to prepare the team to play is more of a techniques and teaching failure.

Oh, and the failure also involves not-so-detailed things like effing matching Eichel's line against Bergeron.

Sorry, but I don't think that HCPH is the problem. Comparing him to Babcock, who's had a TON of talent to work with, has coached for a good amount of time with 2 talented teams, and has proven his abilities, is not the right thing to do. So you've proven maybe that he's not the best coach in the league but is he worse(and be able to prove) than all the other 29 coaches in the league?

Most people here have posted that we played poorly BUT...most have said things like speed is improved, time spent in our own zone improved, etc. If there is improvement in some areas then maybe in time other areas will improve also. This team is full of 1st time with Sabres players and rookies and will need some time whether Housley is coaching it or Babcock or Trotz or ?

I saw a team that didn't capitalize on some good opportunities, showed some good speed in 1st period, and crisp passing in 1st period. They somehow got away from all that as the game went on. I think we need to give them some time to gel and one game does not make a season. Besides, most don't think we were a playoff team anyhow and just wanted to see some steps forward. The positives mentioned in some of these posts ARE a step forward and I think we will see more small steps forward in time to come.   

Edited October 5, 2018 by MakeSabresGrr8Again

[That Aud Smell]

^

Good post. I hope you're right.

[eman]

2 hours ago, Eleven said:

 

 

 

I don't think we've seen you around since the board upgrade.  Welcome back.  There's a little + sign next to the quote button that lets you multiquote posts and then you can reply to all of them at once.  It's a little different than the similar feature on the old board software.

That said, how do you feel about Housley?

I know, I sound like a broken record player. This lack of effort and floating through games at times, especially when down by a goal is completely unacceptable and we have seen it way too much in recent seasons. I don't mind if they get beat but put in a good effort. That's the game. But not what happened last night.....again, in a home opener. I'm sure the players mean it when they say Phil works them hard. But does he have what it takes to discipline these guys by demoting them down the lineup and maybe even sitting some of their rear ends when they put in the lacklustre effort? This is what Babcock does well. Ron Hainsey is already on notice for his performance in their opener and Babs respects the vets. Sometimes you have to do the hard stuff. They knew from the start of this season that they had to start games much better and it was discussed. It still hasn't translated.

I haven't posted all off season because I am in "wait and show me mode" now. No more blinded optimism and being positive only to have what's left of my heart ripped out as another piece left last night. Lack of effort is completely unacceptable to me now and we got it in spades during the opener. I feel really bad for Carter Hutton.

[MakeSabresGrr8Again]

1 hour ago, jsb said:

Sir you have had very good posts before but this is pure GOLD and it needed to be said. 

There were positives in that game although reading this GDT you won't find much. It was one game, one game out of 82. If I've soured on anyone from that locker room it's Phil H. Not only putting Eichel's line on Bergeron's but for a team that played like it was their first game together (and it was their 1st real game together), Phil starts blowing up the lines to make them even more ragged. WTF was he thinking, the game was lost already just leave the lines alone and let them bond a bit. If he was going to blow things up why didn't he have this figured out during practice and the preseason games. I don't think he's capable of putting this team on solid footing. Unless they turn things around pretty quickly I'm falling into the fire him mode before he totally loses the team.

Who would you put against Bergeron's line....

2nd line had Sheary(who played in his 1st game) and the rookie TT

3rd line has Mitts, also a rookie who hasn't shown much yet

4th line would be the likeliest but why give them the ice time and take away from the rest?

He put what we thought was OUR best against THEIR best and said "show me".

[North Buffalo]

Bergeron/ Sobotka and or KO with ERod simple a checking line a la Luce/Ramsey and whomever...

[Sabres Fan in NS]

5 minutes ago, North Buffalo said:

Bergeron/ Sobotka and or KO with ERod simple a checking line a la Luce/Ramsey and whomever...

Not to pick on your idea here, but the example you used for a 'ckecking line' is not a real good one.  In 1975 the Sabres 'checking line' of Luce, Ramsay and Gare had a 26 goal scorer a 31 goal scorer and a 33 goal scorer on it.

[SDS]

4 minutes ago, N S said:

Not to pick on your idea here, but the example you used for a 'ckecking line' is not a real good one.  In 1975 the Sabres 'checking line' of Luce, Ramsay and Gare had a 26 goal scorer a 31 goal scorer and a 33 goal scorer on it.

Ugh. 1975.

[Cheektorado]

This is Jack's team now.

If he succeeds the team will do much better.  If he doesn't they won't.

Jack did not have a good game yesterday.  Let's hope the next game is better.

[SDS]

SOG changed during the 3rd when the game was almost out of reach. However, those pushing the "didn't hit anything" narrative may be disappointed. The FO percentage is pretty nice without ROR.

I think the story here though is GVA. That's the game I saw.

[MakeSabresGrr8Again]

18 minutes ago, North Buffalo said:

Bergeron/ Sobotka and or KO with ERod simple a checking line a la Luce/Ramsey and whomever...

I will assume you meant Berglund but it seems you would change the whole line-up ....am I correct?

[MODO Hockey]

I think some of us are missing one important point here,

Why do teams have preseason (?) 
Obviously it is to prepare for what is comming ahead as much as you can.

If you seriously believed that Sabres came prepared for their home opener your wrong.
You cant say "Well, its only the first game.. " "give it 15-20 games and we will know.." with that opener as fact, that is just wrong.

This team has been hurtning for so many years, it should be enough to look over how you prepare your self and that has obviously not been done no matter what
skill you bring to the game it is utterly with shame how they performed last night.

[That Aud Smell]

11 minutes ago, SDS said:

SOG changed during the 3rd when the game was almost out of reach. However, those pushing the "didn't hit anything" narrative may be disappointed. The FO percentage is pretty nice without ROR.

I think the story here though is GVA. That's the game I saw.

GVA are giveaways?

I didn't get to watch the game, but was somewhat intrigued to see that the basic Corsi had SAT in favor of Buffalo 62-45. Interesting that neither the fans nor the coach saw the game as tilted in Buffalo's favour, though.

[Sabres Fan in NS]

GVA, FO%, Corsi blah, blah ...

None of that matters.  We all know the only stat that matters, eh?

[North Buffalo]

GVA was the crucial nut especially in the offensive zone... led to 2 goals.

One at least was on Jack.

[erickompositör72]

12 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

GVA are giveaways?

I didn't get to watch the game, but was somewhat intrigued to see that the basic Corsi had SAT in favor of Buffalo 62-45. Interesting that neither the fans nor the coach saw the game as tilted in Buffalo's favour, though.

TBH, I don't think the Sabres ever really looked "outmatched" last night. They had plenty of chances in which Halak rose to the occasion.

I think the giveaways is the best indication. Housley said it too- some very poor decisions with the puck.

We actually had moments where we looked really good- the first half of the first period it looked like a whole new team, in a good way. There were some mental breakdowns, it seems, and then a feeling of deflated-ness after Boston put a few in the net.

[SDS]

16 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

GVA are giveaways?

I didn't get to watch the game, but was somewhat intrigued to see that the basic Corsi had SAT in favor of Buffalo 62-45. Interesting that neither the fans nor the coach saw the game as tilted in Buffalo's favour, though.

https://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/popups/Glossary.asp?s=hockey

that is the way I understand it. 

[North Buffalo]

Would love to see breakdown of giveaways by Sabres

[Cheektorado]

10 minutes ago, North Buffalo said:

Would love to see breakdown of giveaways by Sabres

Hockey Reference has the Sabres with 1 takeaway and 18 giveaways.

Rk	Player	Age	Pos	GP	CF	CA	CF%	CF% rel	FF	FA	FF%	FF% rel	oiSH%	oiSV%	PDO	oZS%	dZS%	TOI/60	TOI(EV )	TK	GV	E+/-	SAtt.	Thru%
1	Nathan Beaulieu	26	D	1	12	5	70.6	12.4	9	5	64.3	6.5	0.0	100.0	100.0	80.0	20.0	14:13	14:13	0	1	0.4	3	33.3
2	Patrik Berglund	30	C	1	15	9	62.5	2.8	12	8	60.0	1.4	0.0	83.3	83.3	80.0	20.0	15:16	12:57	0	1	-0.4	2	50.0
3	Rasmus Dahlin	18	D	1	23	14	62.2	2.8	17	12	58.6	-0.6	0.0	87.5	87.5	77.8	22.2	22:37	21:36	0	1	-0.6	2	0.0
4	Jack Eichel	22	C	1	20	17	54.1	-10.4	16	15	51.6	-12.2	0.0	90.9	90.9	76.2	23.8	21:31	19:04	0	2	-0.1	8	50.0
5	Zemgus Girgensons	25	C	1	14	7	66.7	8.0	12	5	70.6	14.9	0.0	100.0	100.0	30.0	70.0	13:02	11:41	0	0	1.3	1	0.0
6	Jake McCabe	25	D	1	12	14	46.2	-19.6	8	13	38.1	-28.6	0.0	90.0	90.0	54.5	45.5	18:22	17:13	0	0	-0.8	6	33.3
7	Casey Mittelstadt	20	C	1	14	6	70.0	12.1	11	5	68.8	12.3	0.0	100.0	100.0	84.6	15.4	14:03	13:09	0	0	0.4	1	100.0
8	Casey Nelson	26	D	1	17	10	63.0	3.5	13	9	59.1	0.2	0.0	100.0	100.0	62.5	37.5	19:07	17:46	0	1	0.5	3	33.3
9	Kyle Okposo	30	RW	1	15	7	68.2	10.1	13	6	68.4	12.5	0.0	100.0	100.0	75.0	25.0	16:20	15:03	1	3	0.4	6	33.3
10	Jason Pominville	36	RW	1	15	6	71.4	14.1	11	4	73.3	17.8	0.0	100.0	100.0	33.3	66.7	11:57	11:45	0	0	1.3	3	100.0
11	Sam Reinhart	23	RW	1	19	16	54.3	-9.6	15	14	51.7	-11.5	0.0	90.9	90.9	76.2	23.8	20:17	18:10	0	1	-0.1	4	75.0
12	Rasmus Ristolainen	24	D	1	29	17	63.0	5.0	26	13	66.7	15.4	0.0	87.5	87.5	68.2	31.8	24:12	22:19	0	2	1.3	4	50.0
13	Evan Rodrigues	25	LW	1	14	7	66.7	8.0	11	5	68.8	12.3	0.0	100.0	100.0	30.0	70.0	11:58	11:19	0	0	1.0	2	100.0
14	Marco Scandella	28	D	1	22	16	57.9	-4.2	19	12	61.3	3.8	0.0	87.5	87.5	60.0	40.0	18:50	18:11	0	1	1.1	7	71.4
15	Conor Sheary	26	LW	1	14	9	60.9	0.6	11	8	57.9	-1.4	0.0	80.0	80.0	83.3	16.7	14:25	14:05	0	2	-0.3	3	66.7
16	Jeff Skinner	26	LW	1	17	14	54.8	-8.2	13	12	52.0	-10.3	0.0	90.0	90.0	92.9	7.1	17:01	14:54	0	2	-0.3	5	40.0
17	Vladimir Sobotka	31	C	1	16	10	61.5	1.5	13	9	59.1	0.2	0.0	100.0	100.0	68.4	31.6	18:42	18:42	0	0	0.3	1	100.0
18	Tage Thompson	21	C	1	10	9	52.6	-9.7	7	8	46.7	-15.2	0.0	83.3	83.3	75.0	25.0	11:22	11:02	0	1	-0.7	1	0