Jump to content

GDT: Buffalo at NJ, 7 pm ET 4/21/22, MSG & WGR


Doohickie

Recommended Posts

Just some quick thoughts about the game. What becomes a stark and obvious reality in the NHL is that the key to success is the quality of play of your goaltenders. The Sabres won because Anderson played well; and the Devils lost because their goalie let in a couple of brutal goals. Okposo's shot was a knuckleball shot that at the end of its course dropped off the table. Instead of flailing at it with his glove the goalie should have stayed in front of it. The next goal by Tuch was a bad angle ricochet shot off a VO breakaway. That was another bad goal let in. Both these goals were shorthanded goals. That sequence was the difference in this game. On balance we outplayed the Devils but not noticeably so.   

I thought VO played well. He has shown that he is not a specialist player but a good all-around player. Skinner is another player who I thought stood out. He has become one of our best passing forwards. The pass to Power when he was doing a whirly on the ground was a heads-up play and terrific! 

When watching the game and then trying to come up with who played well it is becoming difficult to single out players. Everyone is playing hard on both ends. There are no slackers. That collective effort is what has been impressive over the past month or so. That's players playing for one another.

The player I have been watching most closely is Mitts because if he materializes as a good player that will give this team an added boost in the future. In my eyes although the point production hasn't been exceptional (it has been good) he has become one of our best two-way players. This was a player a couple of years ago who many thought was soft. Not now! He is an embodiment of what this team has become i.e. a young player who has bought in and who plays with effort.

Power is going to be a special player. And what is already evident about him is his scintillating potential on offense and defense. You can already see ready to jump to the offense and then smoothly get back when the play goes the other way. As far as I'm concerned his best attribute is his hockey intelligence. 

It's so enjoyable watching this team play well and win. And this team is entertaining to watch. Keep it up!

 

  • Like (+1) 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

One other thing that hopefully comes out of this game is Granato remembering who the D pairing was at the end of the 2nd.  That play should be a stark reminder why so many of us really dislike that particular combination and why he shouldn't go back to it regardless to how much it seems right to him.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, Taro T said:

One other thing that hopefully comes out of this game is Granato remembering who the D pairing was at the end of the 2nd.  That play should be a stark reminder why so many of us really dislike that particular combination and why he shouldn't go back to it regardless to how much it seems right to him.

Jokiharju hesitated on that play and didn't attack his man in time allowing him to get behind him. Dahlin tried to block the pass but failed and Cozens instead of coming to the front of the net peeled off to the far post. Total breakdown. I think Tuch was the late trailer who didn't tie up the stick of the goal scorer. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, nucci said:

Why would Ruff make a good team president? He's been a coach his whole career. He was my favorite coach but he's not needed here. We finally may be making progress

I'm with you that hire makes no sense. Even outside of the Sabres why would he be in that role

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, NJhopelessSabresfan66 said:

Ok, so i did not get to watch the game (Damn blackout!) but i was able to watch the extended highlights. Happy that the Sabres seemed to keep coming but damn, did NJ get their goalies from the gutter?? He was 100% horrible. 3 of the goals were garbage crazy bounce goals. The look on Lindy's face was so damn funny!!!

They picked up that goalie from the Sabres. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is OLD. A NEW topic should be started unless there is a VERY SPECIFIC REASON to revive this one.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...