GDT:Home Finale 4/4/19 Ottawa Senators at Buffalo Sabres 7pm MSG

[PerreaultForever]

Olofsson definitely has some speed skill and speed and should help this team next year. not sure he has the size or physicality for an 82 game schedule or a playoff grind but he can definitely contribute. 

At the start it looked like they were going to go out heads hung low but they picked it up, got a few bounces and faced an iffy not ready goalie so a good result for a final home game. Nice icing for Pommer to get one more goal. I would be surprised if we see him here next year though. Skinner? Who knows. 

So I guess a glimmer of hope. 

[Thorny]

1 hour ago, SwampD said:

That puck was in the net before the pass even reached his stick.

He's got an incredible shot. We also shouldn't underestimate the perfect set-up from Dahlin, here. It looks like a simple pass, but it's right in VO's wheelhouse, allowing for the perfect release. I can't count how many times I've seen a one-timer opportunity missed because someone on the team handcuffed the guy waiting for it with the pass. 

[nucci]

7 hours ago, ... said:

Bring him back as a coach.

why do you think he'd be a good coach?

6 hours ago, Thorny said:

The Sabres, as bad as this season has been, finish with a winning record at home. For the first time since 2011-12. Additionally, at 21-15-5,  they finish with 47 points in 41 home games (A 94 point pace over 82, for what it's worth). 

What does that say? Anything about coaching? I honestly have no idea. 

not much, another season with no playoffs

[Huckleberry]

6 hours ago, inkman said:

I could get used to seeing this

 

 

Dhalin having two players with a wicked shot he can feed to is nice, the other two just need to hang around the net and do some screens.

[PASabreFan]

2 hours ago, nucci said:

why do you think he'd be a good coach?

The person to ask is Terrence.

[PASabreFan]

9 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

For Olofsson, It's 4 points in 5 games. HockeyDB already updated. 

Eichel sitting at 80 points in 76 games. 

Point a game is something you used to be able to hang your hat on. It's a small step up for Jack, but next year needs to be a bigger leap.

[French Collection]

6 hours ago, Thorny said:

He's got an incredible shot. We also shouldn't underestimate the perfect set-up from Dahlin, here. It looks like a simple pass, but it's right in VO's wheelhouse, allowing for the perfect release. I can't count how many times I've seen a one-timer opportunity missed because someone on the team handcuffed the guy waiting for it with the pass. 

He also hit the net, which a large number of our shooters have failed to do on grade A chances.

[Pimlach]

11 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

Olofsson definitely has some speed skill and speed and should help this team next year. not sure he has the size or physicality for an 82 game schedule or a playoff grind but he can definitely contribute. 

At the start it looked like they were going to go out heads hung low but they picked it up, got a few bounces and faced an iffy not ready goalie so a good result for a final home game. Nice icing for Pommer to get one more goal. I would be surprised if we see him here next year though. Skinner? Who knows. 

So I guess a glimmer of hope. 

I think Ollie has enough frame to work with.   I think an off season  dedicated to strength training (while maintaining speed) is in order for Olofsson, Dahlin, Nylander, and especially Mittlestat.   

Especially Mittlestat.   

Edited April 5, 2019 by Pimlach

[...]

3 hours ago, nucci said:

why do you think he'd be a good coach?

I didn't say whether I think he'd be a good coach, did I?

[nucci]

27 minutes ago, ... said:

I didn't say whether I think he'd be a good coach, did I?

No, I guess you didn't ..do you think he'd be a good coach?

[LGR4GM]

Fun fact:

Eichel, had the exact same number of powerplay assists this year as last year (17) but had almost double the number of regular assists (35 v 20).  He had almost the exact same number of ES goals but had more pp goals. 

Now imagine if we had a good powerplay as opposed to the garbage we do have. Would Eichel getting more than 17 pp assists help increase his scoring... well golly gee I think it would. 

[dudacek]

5 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Fun fact:

Eichel, had the exact same number of powerplay assists this year as last year (17) but had almost double the number of regular assists (35 v 20).  He had almost the exact same number of ES goals but had more pp goals. 

Now imagine if we had a good powerplay as opposed to the garbage we do have. Would Eichel getting more than 17 pp assists help increase his scoring... well golly gee I think it would. 

Imagine how many power play assists Eichel would have if he moved the puck more quickly on the PP, or shot low for rebounds that Jeff and Sam could bury, instead of trying to pick corners?

?

Edited April 5, 2019 by dudacek

[Sabres Fan in NS]

Fantastic!!

[LGR4GM]

2 hours ago, dudacek said:

Imagine how many power play assists Eichel would have if he moved the puck more quickly on the PP, or shot low for rebounds that Jeff and Sam could bury, instead of trying to pick corners?

?

Imagine if he had a coach who taught him/told him/forced him to do such a thing. Imagine if Skinner and Sam actually moved on the powerplay so Eichel could get them the puck. 

Eichel was good this year. We missed the playoffs because of others. 

[#freejame]

41 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Imagine if he had a coach who taught him/told him/forced him to do such a thing. Imagine if Skinner and Sam actually moved on the powerplay so Eichel could get them the puck. 

Eichel was good this year. We missed the playoffs because of others. 

Eichel isn’t infallible, yet you’ve been treating him as such. Yes, it’s not his fault we are a *****-ass team, but he certainly could have been better. He’s the face of the franchise and the captain of the team. Right or wrong, people are going to expect more out of him than everyone else. You keep saying what about this guy or that guy, and yes those are valid points, but your franchise player is always going to be the most talked about and most scrutinized. It’s a much bigger deal when Eichel doesn’t perform or lollygags around the ice or to the bench on shift changes or displays a pisspoor attitude. Every Sabres fan knows Jack Eichel and has certain expectations of him that go far beyond the scoresheet. You keep deflecting away from Eichel to others, but guess what—most Sabres fans care far more about Eichel than anyone else in the organization so he’s going to be the most discussed and scrutinized. You don’t need to chime in every thread that he’s criticized with deflecting responsibility. 

[Brawndo]

14 hours ago, WildCard said:

You better come to the next meetup

 

I was at the Washington Meetup this season, unfortunately the Section in 300’s where my seats are is on the opposite side of the escalators, so making it down to the 100’s during intermissions is difficult at best. I do like the Idea of getting seats in the 300s for next  year so it’s easier to buy seats together. 

[PASabreFan]

11 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

I was at the Washington Meetup this season, unfortunately the Section in 300’s where my seats are is on the opposite side of the escalators, so making it down to the 100’s during intermissions is difficult at best. I do like the Idea of getting seats in the 300s for next  year so it’s easier to buy seats together. 

Yes. What hockey rubes would want to sit down that low?

Now I have this vivid image of The Sentinel perched above the fray, seeing all. Also fitted with some kind of periscope gizmo that allows you to simultaneously watch the lake for monsters, invading pirate ships and such.

[PerreaultForever]

7 hours ago, Pimlach said:

I think Ollie has enough frame to work with.   I think an off season  dedicated to strength training (while maintaining speed) is in order for Olofsson, Dahlin, Nylander, and especially Mittlestat.   

Especially Mittlestat.   

Don't forget Thompson. Without muscle added he will be a dud. 

[dudacek]

5 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Fun fact:

Eichel, had the exact same number of powerplay assists this year as last year (17) but had almost double the number of regular assists (35 v 20).  He had almost the exact same number of ES goals but had more pp goals. 

Now imagine if we had a good powerplay as opposed to the garbage we do have. Would Eichel getting more than 17 pp assists help increase his scoring... well golly gee I think it would. 

This inspired me to take a look at our PP stats, where I stumbled up this:

Sam Reinhart is only 6 points behind Jack in even-strength scoring this year - 55 to 49. Sam is tied with Kuznetsov and Backstrom for 45th in even-strength scoring in the entire league this year.

Wasnt he getting flack for being a  2nd-line PP specialist earlier this year?

EDIT: moving this to the Reinhart thread where it better belongs.

https://www.sabrespace.com/community/topic/25831-reinhart-the-force-awakens/?page=10

 

Edited April 5, 2019 by dudacek

[dudacek]

Also, Kyle Okposo hasn’t been on the #1 PP in months, but is just one goal off the team lead. He has a history of being excellent on the PP. I know there has been frustration with his turnovers there, but maybe he should have had more time.

Dahlin’s 19 assists, mostly in the 2nd half, prove it was smart to hand him the QB reins though. I look forward to him feasting on the PP next year, particularly if he adds a shot to his arsenal.

Finally, what is Skinner’s PP role? I understand it’s shooting from the slot and pouncing on rebounds, but he goes entire PPs without touching the puck. Is he not being utilized, or not getting to the right spots?

Edited April 5, 2019 by dudacek

[SwampD]

8 hours ago, dudacek said:

Imagine how many power play assists Eichel would have if he moved the puck more quickly on the PP, or shot low for rebounds that Jeff and Sam could bury, instead of trying to pick corners?

?

I’ve noticed another troubling trend. Eichel has caused so many offsides by not using his line mates in the neutral, zone that now they are actually slowing down or hesitating in the neutral zone instead of charging across the blue line with speed. This has to be addressed.

Now for a positive. Watching Jack defend on the PK is a thing of beauty. The way he shadows whomever he is defending is like watching some sublime dance.

[PerreaultForever]

19 hours ago, SwampD said:

I’ve noticed another troubling trend. Eichel has caused so many offsides by not using his line mates in the neutral, 

Is it Jack not using his linemates or is it his linemates relying on him to carry the puck too much. Skinner heads to the net well but is not a puck carrier by any stretch. All too often I see Rinehart throw the puck to Jack rather than carry it himself. 

[SwampD]

3 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

Is it Jack not using his linemates or is it his linemates relying on him to carry the puck too much. Skinner heads to the net well but is not a puck carrier by any stretch. All too often I see Rinehart throw the puck to Jack rather than carry it himself. 

It’s Jack.

[PerreaultForever]

6 hours ago, SwampD said:

It’s Jack.

is it?

[inkman]

On 4/5/2019 at 6:58 PM, SwampD said:

I’ve noticed another troubling trend. Eichel has caused so many offsides by not using his line mates in the neutral, zone that now they are actually slowing down or hesitating in the neutral zone instead of charging across the blue line with speed. This has to be addressed.

Now for a positive. Watching Jack defend on the PK is a thing of beauty. The way he shadows whomever he is defending is like watching some sublime dance.

Doesn't he lead the league in successful zone entries?