Practice Report: Monday, 11-12-2018

[Doohickie]

Yeah.  On paper it looks like a good line.  Didn't work right out of the gate, but now that we've seen a Jack-Skins pairing succeed, maybe Reino patterns his role after the successful Pommer and doesn't try to "drive" the line.

[WildCard]

 

[Taro T]

4 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

Yeah.  On paper it looks like a good line.  Didn't work right out of the gate, but now that we've seen a Jack-Skins pairing succeed, maybe Reino patterns his role after the successful Pommer and doesn't try to "drive" the line.

It was given less than 1 game to work.  HtF can it legitimately be said that it didn't work?  It essentially hadn't been tried until Eichel's last ~3 shifts of regulation Saturday.

And if Reinhart is trying "to drive" the Eichel-Skinner line, perhaps his hockey sense isn't all it was cracked up to be.

[nfreeman]

59 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Sorry to beat dead horses @nfreeman but Reinhart is a faster skater and a much faster hockey player than Pominville.

Well, I'd probably bet on Pommer to win a race between the 2 of them after a couple of days' rest.  But not in the 3rd period of an NHL game, which is what matters.

In any case, I did not intend to slight Reino in my post -- just the opposite, in fact.  I think Reino is fast enough, and he's certainly skilled enough, to play with those guys.  I just think it's better for the team for Reino to be on a line where he gets the puck more in the offensive zone, especially in his office below the goal line.  I think inevitably he'll get the puck less, and have fewer chances to make plays, if he's up with Jack and Skinner. 

Overall, I think swapping Reino for Pommer will, I think, hurt ERod & Sobotka's line more than it will help Eichel and Skinner's line. Eichel and Skinner don't need Reino -- they just need a non-gassed Pommer.

[Taro T]

11 minutes ago, nfreeman said:

Well, I'd probably bet on Pommer to win a race betweifn the 2 of them after a couple of days' rest.  But not in the 3rd period of an NHL game, which is what matters.

In any case, I did not intend to slight Reino in my post -- just the opposite, in fact.  I think Reino is fast enough, and he's certainly skilled enough, to play with those guys.  I just think it's better for the team for Reino to be on a line where he gets the puck more in the offensive zone, especially in his office below the goal line.  I think inevitably he'll get the puck less, and have fewer chances to make plays, if he's up with Jack and Skinner. 

Overall, I think swapping Reino for Pommer will, I think, hurt ERod & Sobotka's line more than it will help Eichel and Skinner's line. Eichel and Skinner don't need Reino -- they just need a non-gassed Pommer.

The bolded is very possible.  Which is why after Pominville has actually had a couple of maintenance days rather than 3rd line duty, I am fine w/ going back to the lines that have been working.

But I definitely want to see Reinhart on that 1st line for at least 2 games to see whether those 3 together is additive, subtractive, or better yet multiplicative. ;)

Reinhart is IMHO best when around the net.  Looking for tips in front or dishes behind/besides the net.  He also makes a very nice outlet pass.  Playing with two fast, good forecheckers that also have soft hands can let him play to those strengths.  He won't need to win nearly as many battles playing with those 2 as he would on any other line.  (Probably a big part of why his other homeis with Rodrigues & Sobotka, they are better, again IMHO, along the boards than Reinhart is.)

[WildCard]

 

[MakeSabresGrr8Again]

Being only 5pts behind TBL is a good thing....this is a 4pt game.

GO SABRES

[TheAud]

I like Jeff Sagarin's rating system published in USA Today. Here is a snapshot of how it currently stands:

NHL 2018-2019 through games of 2018 November 11 Sunday                                                                                          
                                RATING    W   L   T  SCHEDL(RANK) VS top 10 | VS top 16 |  PREDICTOR   | GOLDEN_MEAN  |  RECENT    
                HOME ADVANTAGE=[  0.32]                                                   [  0.32]       [  0.32]       [  0.32]
   1  Nashville Predators     =   4.80   13   3   0    4.09(   8)   5  1  0 |   9  2  0 |    4.82    1 |    4.98    1 |    4.74    1  CENTRAL (west)
   2  Tampa Bay Lightning     =   4.45   12   5   0    3.86(  30)   2  2  0 |   4  2  0 |    4.54    2 |    4.59    2 |    4.16   10  ATLANTIC (EAST)
   3  Boston Bruins           =   4.42   10   7   0    3.89(  28)   1  1  0 |   3  2  0 |    4.41    5 |    4.33    6 |    4.51    2  ATLANTIC (EAST)
   4  Minnesota Wild          =   4.37   11   6   0    4.03(  10)   2  3  0 |   5  3  0 |    4.36    6 |    4.38    5 |    4.50    3  CENTRAL (west)
   5  Winnipeg Jets           =   4.37   10   6   0    3.94(  21)   2  4  0 |   4  5  0 |    4.46    4 |    4.50    3 |    4.04   12  CENTRAL (west)
   6  Toronto Maple Leafs     =   4.36   11   6   0    3.92(  25)   3  2  0 |   4  5  0 |    4.46    3 |    4.43    4 |    4.00   17  ATLANTIC (EAST)
   7  Pittsburgh Penguins     =   4.20    7   8   0    3.96(  18)   1  1  0 |   2  3  0 |    4.27    7 |    4.21    8 |    3.91   21  METROPOLITAN (EAST)
   8  Colorado Avalanche      =   4.19    8   9   0    4.14(   5)   1  4  0 |   3  7  0 |    4.25    8 |    4.17    9 |    3.93   19  CENTRAL (west)
   9  San Jose Sharks         =   4.12    9   9   0    3.99(  14)   2  0  0 |   6  4  0 |    4.15    9 |    4.12   10 |    4.02   14  PACIFIC (west)
  10  Florida Panthers        =   4.11    6   8   0    3.97(  16)   1  2  0 |   3  4  0 |    4.07   13 |    3.99   13 |    4.49    4  ATLANTIC (EAST)
NHL 2018-2019 through games of 2018 November 11 Sunday                                                                                          
                                RATING    W   L   T  SCHEDL(RANK) VS top 10 | VS top 16 |  PREDICTOR   | GOLDEN_MEAN  |  RECENT    
                HOME ADVANTAGE=[  0.32]                                                   [  0.32]       [  0.32]       [  0.32]
  11  Calgary Flames          =   4.08   10   8   0    4.12(   6)   5  3  0 |   5  4  0 |    4.14   10 |    4.22    7 |    3.80   24  PACIFIC (west)
  12  New York Islanders      =   4.08    8   8   0    4.16(   2)   3  6  0 |   4  6  0 |    4.09   12 |    3.96   16 |    4.04   13  METROPOLITAN (EAST)
  13  St. Louis Blues         =   4.06    6   9   0    3.83(  31)   2  4  0 |   3  5  0 |    4.07   14 |    3.95   17 |    4.07   11  CENTRAL (west)
  14  Dallas Stars            =   4.06    9   8   0    4.01(  11)   3  4  0 |   3  5  0 |    4.11   11 |    4.09   11 |    3.83   23  CENTRAL (west)
  15  Philadelphia Flyers     =   4.02    9   8   0    3.96(  17)   1  5  0 |   1  7  0 |    3.98   16 |    4.01   12 |    4.35    6  METROPOLITAN (EAST)
  16  Columbus Blue Jackets   =   3.95    9   8   0    3.88(  29)   3  1  0 |   6  1  0 |    3.96   18 |    3.98   14 |    3.98   18  METROPOLITAN (EAST)
  17  Arizona Coyotes         =   3.95    8   8   0    3.99(  13)   1  3  0 |   2  6  0 |    3.97   17 |    3.89   21 |    3.91   20  PACIFIC (west)
  18  Washington Capitals     =   3.94    7   9   0    3.93(  23)   2  3  0 |   3  5  0 |    4.00   15 |    3.98   15 |    3.47   28  METROPOLITAN (EAST)
  19  Vegas Golden Knights    =   3.94    7  11   0    4.10(   7)   1  5  0 |   2  7  0 |    3.95   19 |    3.92   19 |    3.89   22  PACIFIC (west)
  20  Vancouver Canucks       =   3.85   10   8   0    4.15(   3)   7  2  0 |   8  3  0 |    3.79   23 |    3.90   20 |    4.22    9  PACIFIC (west)
NHL 2018-2019 through games of 2018 November 11 Sunday                                                                                          
                                RATING    W   L   T  SCHEDL(RANK) VS top 10 | VS top 16 |  PREDICTOR   | GOLDEN_MEAN  |  RECENT    
                HOME ADVANTAGE=[  0.32]                                                   [  0.32]       [  0.32]       [  0.32]
  21  Montreal Canadiens      =   3.84    9   8   0    3.94(  22)   3  2  0 |   6  3  0 |    3.82   22 |    3.81   23 |    4.02   15  ATLANTIC (EAST)
  22  Buffalo Sabres          =   3.83    9   8   0    3.90(  27)   0  3  0 |   0  5  0 |    3.76   24 |    3.79   24 |    4.26    8  ATLANTIC (EAST)
  23  Edmonton Oilers         =   3.81    8   9   0    4.16(   1)   3  7  0 |   3  7  0 |    3.86   20 |    3.94   18 |    3.41   30  PACIFIC (west)
  24  New Jersey Devils       =   3.81    6   9   0    4.15(   4)   3  5  0 |   4  7  0 |    3.86   21 |    3.89   22 |    3.44   29  METROPOLITAN (EAST)
  25  Carolina Hurricanes     =   3.73    7  10   0    4.04(   9)   2  4  0 |   3  7  0 |    3.75   25 |    3.74   25 |    3.65   26  METROPOLITAN (EAST)
  26  Anaheim Ducks           =   3.72    7  11   0    3.91(  26)   1  2  0 |   5  5  0 |    3.74   26 |    3.72   26 |    3.63   27  PACIFIC (west)
  27  New York Rangers        =   3.71    8   9   0    3.95(  19)   4  1  0 |   5  2  0 |    3.58   27 |    3.58   28 |    4.30    7  METROPOLITAN (EAST)
  28  Detroit Red Wings       =   3.64    7  10   0    3.94(  20)   1  4  0 |   3  5  0 |    3.38   30 |    3.43   30 |    4.41    5  ATLANTIC (EAST)
  29  Los Angeles Kings       =   3.56    5  11   0    3.92(  24)   0  5  0 |   1  9  0 |    3.56   28 |    3.60   27 |    3.65   25  PACIFIC (west)
  30  Ottawa Senators         =   3.53    7  11   0    4.00(  12)   2  5  0 |   3  6  0 |    3.31   31 |    3.38   31 |    4.01   16  ATLANTIC (EAST)
NHL 2018-2019 through games of 2018 November 11 Sunday                                                                                          
                                RATING    W   L   T  SCHEDL(RANK) VS top 10 | VS top 16 |  PREDICTOR   | GOLDEN_MEAN  |  RECENT    
                HOME ADVANTAGE=[  0.32]                                                   [  0.32]       [  0.32]       [  0.32]
  31  Chicago Blackhawks      =   3.51    6  11   0    3.99(  15)   0  3  0 |   3  6  0 |    3.54   29 |    3.55   29 |    3.36   31  CENTRAL (west)

 

Sabres are 22nd overall, although their "Recent" rating (more weight on recent games) puts them in 8th. 

An interesting item was the Sabres are the only team winless vs. Sagarin's current top 16 teams...0-5. 

Next 4 games are vs. teams currently ranked 2, 5, 4, and 7. Good opportunity to see where this team is at. 

Edited November 12, 2018 by Sakman

[pi2000]

Skinner was producing with Pominville... changing it up is a mistake.   

I'll bet Skinner goes scoreless for the next 3 games.

[WildCard]

1 minute ago, pi2000 said:

Skinner was producing with Pominville... changing it up is a mistake.   

I'll bet Skinner goes scoreless for the next 3 games.

If he does it will be because he's playing against Hedman, Byfgulien, and Suter/Brodin. It won't be because of Jason Pomminstein 

[WildCard]

https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/casey-mittelstadt-shootout-goal-sabres-practice-report/c-301862626

Quote

Eric Schierhorn still recalls situations when the Minnesota Golden Gophers were tied or trailing late last season, and an 18-year-old Casey Mittelstadt - playing his first and only season of college hockey - would skate by the net to offer reassurance.

"He'd come skate by me if there was a faceoff in our end and be like, 'Hey, we're going to get you one. I'm going to get you one,'" Schierhorn, now a senior goaltender at Minnesota, said by phone Monday. "He's putting it on his shoulders that he's going to win us the game. He wants to be that guy."

...

Mittelstadt won those battles more often than not. Schierhorn estimates it took all of 10 minutes for him to be taken back by the freshman's skill when they first shared the ice. As for the rookie's confidence - Schierhorn doesn't think he's bluffing when he says he's doesn't get nervous.

"Yeah, I believe it," he said. "He's a stud, he's a gamer. So, he wants the pressure. He wants to be the guy who scores the goal. He sees it as an opportunity to succeed or make a big play. He doesn't see it as an opportunity to fail, if that makes sense."

Edited November 12, 2018 by WildCard

[Doohickie]

2 hours ago, Taro T said:

And if Reinhart is trying "to drive" the Eichel-Skinner line, perhaps his hockey sense isn't all it was cracked up to be.

I just mean his natural tendency is as a setup man; he needs to be a trigger man  on this line.  If they get chemistry this could be a fantastic line, but they weren't creating chances the first time around. 

[R_Dudley]

2 hours ago, nfreeman said:

Well, I'd probably bet on Pommer to win a race between the 2 of them after a couple of days' rest.  But not in the 3rd period of an NHL game, which is what matters.

In any case, I did not intend to slight Reino in my post -- just the opposite, in fact.  I think Reino is fast enough, and he's certainly skilled enough, to play with those guys.  I just think it's better for the team for Reino to be on a line where he gets the puck more in the offensive zone, especially in his office below the goal line.  I think inevitably he'll get the puck less, and have fewer chances to make plays, if he's up with Jack and Skinner. 

Overall, I think swapping Reino for Pommer will, I think, hurt ERod & Sobotka's line more than it will help Eichel and Skinner's line. Eichel and Skinner don't need Reino -- they just need a non-gassed Pommer.

While I agree with Taro that i would like to see what they do as a top line I am more in line with nfreeman and not sure I would be making this change right now going into a tough stretch of top teams when the team has been playing well and we have had better support from the 2nd and 3rd lines.  

Unless they know Pommers is just flat out hurt or hit a wall I am concerned secondary scoring goes missing putting possibly our 3 best players on one line. Will it be feast or famine with that change... 

We will know soon enough 

[...]

I could very well be their analytics are painting a specific picture compared to the upcoming competition.  Perhaps Pommensteinski placed on those lower lines is meant to jump-start them. Maybe he's credited internally for helping Skinner-Eichel get it together.

[bg17]

19 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

Skinner was producing with Pominville... changing it up is a mistake.   

I'll bet Skinner goes scoreless for the next 3 games.

I’m just glad Skinner produced with Sam to get it to 3-2 on Saturday. More mistakes like that please. 

[Doohickie]

2 hours ago, nfreeman said:

I just think it's better for the team for Reino to be on a line where he gets the puck more in the offensive zone, especially in his office below the goal line.  I think inevitably he'll get the puck less, and have fewer chances to make plays, if he's up with Jack and Skinner. 

That's my fear too.  Then again, on the second goal Saturday, how did the play develop?  Oh yeah, with Reino in his office, below the goal line.

 

[Doohickie]

9 minutes ago, R_Dudley said:

Unless they know Pommers is just flat out hurt or hit a wall I am concerned secondary scoring goes missing putting possibly our 3 best players on one line. Will it be feast or famine with that change... 

I wonder if this is a roster adjustment designed to get Tage Thompson more playing time.  If Pommer really is as decrepit as some here are describing, perhaps they will leave the fourth line alone and instead platoon Tage with Pommer.  Maybe Pommer takes every third or fourth game off and Tage jumps into that line.  They can limit the minutes that line gets and it's not a primary scoring line, so he can get sheltered minutes against lesser opponents.

[pi2000]

38 minutes ago, WildCard said:

If he does it will be because he's playing against Hedman, Byfgulien, and Suter/Brodin. It won't be because of Jason Pomminstein 

Ahh, the built in excuse.   How convenient.

21 minutes ago, bg17 said:

I’m just glad Skinner produced with Sam to get it to 3-2 on Saturday. More mistakes like that please. 

Skinner prolly scores two in the closing minutes with the Pomeranian feeding him.    

 

[WildCard]

1 minute ago, pi2000 said:

Ahh, the built in excuse.   How convenient.

Skinner prolly scores two in the closing minutes with the Pomeranian feeding him.    

?

[R_Dudley]

22 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

I wonder if this is a roster adjustment designed to get Tage Thompson more playing time.  If Pommer really is as decrepit as some here are describing, perhaps they will leave the fourth line alone and instead platoon Tage with Pommer.  Maybe Pommer takes every third or fourth game off and Tage jumps into that line.  They can limit the minutes that line gets and it's not a primary scoring line, so he can get sheltered minutes against lesser opponents.

Well Tage has the wheels and youth going for him but Pommers has experience and a better feel for the game. Going some where fast vs. knowing when and where to go can easily balance out. 

Even if that's the case given what I've seen from Tage's play I'm not sure getting him ice time against some of the better teams we have played is the right time to be doing that. 

If we are worried about the team speed of the teams we are going to be facing moving Ba-lou to a forward and putting Nelson in on D is also an option if you want to be creative, now I'm not saying i would do that but I have seen it done...       

[Taro T]

33 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

I wonder if this is a roster adjustment designed to get Tage Thompson more playing time.  If Pommer really is as decrepit as some here are describing, perhaps they will leave the fourth line alone and instead platoon Tage with Pommer.  Maybe Pommer takes every third or fourth game off and Tage jumps into that line.  They can limit the minutes that line gets and it's not a primary scoring line, so he can get sheltered minutes against lesser opponents.

Pretty sure nobody here is saying he is decrepit, but IMHO, he could sure use some maintenance time.  And, IF he does, putting him on a line where he'll necessarily have a larger role might not be the best thing for him nor the team at present.

And agree that, at least as long as it is going well, leave the Larsson line alone.

[MattPie]

35 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

I wonder if this is a roster adjustment designed to get Tage Thompson more playing time.  If Pommer really is as decrepit as some here are describing, perhaps they will leave the fourth line alone and instead platoon Tage with Pommer.  Maybe Pommer takes every third or fourth game off and Tage jumps into that line.  They can limit the minutes that line gets and it's not a primary scoring line, so he can get sheltered minutes against lesser opponents.

I was thinking something similar. Taken to an extreme, alternate Pommer and Thompson (or similar) as scratches. I wonder if Pommer would be primed for the playoffs playing 41 games rather than 80+. Of course, this probably doesn't work in the room or for Pommer...

[Doohickie]

I don't know that every other game would be the plan though.  It might be that Tage plays every third or fourth game (more than he's playing so far), against teams that aren't as much of a challenge, or possibly where his speed will be an asset compared to Pommer.  Upcoming this month the only teams that easily fit that description would be Detroit and Florida.  Maybe you sneak him in against Pittsburgh although that will probably be a tough game for the Sabres.

Edited November 12, 2018 by Doohickie

[Formerly Allan in MD]

A player who can't keep up on a top line projects more defensive coverage on the other two forwards.  Keep the D guessing.

[mjd1001]

3 hours ago, pi2000 said:

Skinner was producing with Pominville... changing it up is a mistake.   

I'll bet Skinner goes scoreless for the next 3 games.

Maybe Housley want to see more combinations...and it is best to try things out early in the season.  Move things around...so he can get an idea as to what he thinks will work or won't work...for later in the year especially if injuries hit.