GDT: 10/03/25 Buffalo Sabres @ Pittsburgh Penguins NHL Network, MSG--Radio WGR 550

[...]

We took a meaningless game to OT against a bunch of vets without several of our starters and a bunch of new people. 

I really haven't been turned off by this preseason except perhaps by the game prior. Some interesting new pieces, although they're still weak in goal, even with UPL.

Levi really needs to bust out and become an NHL goalie or they'll struggle to make the playoffs. 

[SABRES 0311]

52 minutes ago, ... said:

That contradicts the "preseason doesn't mean anything" mantra chanted by so many.

 

I think preseason means a lot. 

-Figure out line combinations and defeat pairings.

-Train to a system of play and get everyone on the same page.

-Work on individual goals (skating, shooting, two-way game).

-Instill a hard work mindset.

You know, all the stuff the Sabres don’t do.

[SabreFinn]

We have an expression here where I live, that says a bad dress rehearsal means a succesful premiere.

The problems we have however seem the same as last year. Not surprising when very little has changed from last season. 

[PerreaultForever]

33 minutes ago, SABRES 0311 said:

I think preseason means a lot. 

-Figure out line combinations and defeat pairings.

-Train to a system of play and get everyone on the same page.

-Work on individual goals (skating, shooting, two-way game).

-Instill a hard work mindset.

You know, all the stuff the Sabres don’t do.

I often wonder what the Sabres "system" is as it just looks like individuals being individuals.

If you have Prime everybody should watch the last episode of their BS behind the seasons getting ready for hockey reality show. It's all about the Panthers and their cup win but there's some interesting things in there about how they function as a unit and everybody covers for everybody else and everybody has everybody's back. That's how it is to be successful in hockey. Not whatever it is they are doing here. 

[Weave]

Question for those who watched…..

Were the Sabres able to successfully deploy  puck cycle possession in the Pens zone this game, or was most of the activity on the rush?  Does it look like the team is changing its game?

[Night Train]

1 hour ago, Weave said:

Question for those who watched…..

Were the Sabres able to successfully deploy  puck cycle possession in the Pens zone this game, or was most of the activity on the rush?  Does it look like the team is changing its game?

I would say yes, until the 3rd period. The action was almost always down in the Pittsburgh end. Plus they were quick to get back on D and break right back in. 

[Demoted]

7 hours ago, ... said:

That contradicts the "preseason doesn't mean anything" mantra chanted by so many.

 

Preseason means nothing to fans. It means lots to the teams themselves.

[Jorcus]

5 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

I often wonder what the Sabres "system" is as it just looks like individuals being individuals.

If you have Prime everybody should watch the last episode of their BS behind the seasons getting ready for hockey reality show. It's all about the Panthers and their cup win but there's some interesting things in there about how they function as a unit and everybody covers for everybody else and everybody has everybody's back. That's how it is to be successful in hockey. Not whatever it is they are doing here. 

It's not always individual play but when things start to go wrong it comes out. The Sabres system is to use speed and stretch passes to break quick out of the zone. That does help them score but when your going fast in one direction if you turn it over it's hard to go fast in the other direction. They don't really have the goaltending to stop breakaways. It's odd that the first few preseason games they seemed to play more in control then it got worse as time has gone on. 

I have a question about how a team should play with a 2 goal lead in the third. The players often say they have to keep pushing almost as if they are playing for a 3 goal lead. The D men drive down low to create offence. To me a good team plays a puck possession game where the main focus is to limit chances and burn clock. When you get a breakaway chance you take it but it's D first. The Sabres seldom play that way. I think it's more of a system issue than a player issue. They have to make better passes They have to dump in deep if there is no play. Basic defensive hockey. It's not that hard to protect a lead in the NHL I don't know why the coaches have them play the way they do. 

[LGR4GM]

26 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

It's not always individual play but when things start to go wrong it comes out. The Sabres system is to use speed and stretch passes to break quick out of the zone. That does help them score but when your going fast in one direction if you turn it over it's hard to go fast in the other direction. They don't really have the goaltending to stop breakaways. It's odd that the first few preseason games they seemed to play more in control then it got worse as time has gone on. 

I have a question about how a team should play with a 2 goal lead in the third. The players often say they have to keep pushing almost as if they are playing for a 3 goal lead. The D men drive down low to create offence. To me a good team plays a puck possession game where the main focus is to limit chances and burn clock. When you get a breakaway chance you take it but it's D first. The Sabres seldom play that way. I think it's more of a system issue than a player issue. They have to make better passes They have to dump in deep if there is no play. Basic defensive hockey. It's not that hard to protect a lead in the NHL I don't know why the coaches have them play the way they do. 

According to score effects data, it's actually moderately hard to protect a lead for a long period of time in the NHL. That said, Buffalo sucks at closing games, we all remember Colorado last year. 

[Flashsabre]

I caught parts of the game with the Pittsburgh feed. The announcers were the most low key boring guys I have ever heard.

I flipped back and they said Norris was hobbled trying to get off the ice.

PLEASE tell me Norris isn’t hurt.

[LGR4GM]

1 minute ago, Flashsabre said:

I caught parts of the game with the Pittsburgh feed. The announcers were the most low key boring guys I have ever heard.

I flipped back and they said Norris was hobbled trying to get off the ice.

PLEASE tell me Norris isn’t hurt.

Blocked a shot but was fine. 

[Pimlach]

Preseason training and practice means a lot.  

Preseason games, not as much when you are looking at AHL players and below.  
 

My big concern is if the goaltending holds up, and can even steal some games early, while the team comes together.  

 

[JohnC]

24 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Preseason training and practice means a lot.  

Preseason games, not as much when you are looking at AHL players and below.  
 

My big concern is if the goaltending holds up, and can even steal some games early, while the team comes together.  

 

Even if UPL was healthy I see Lyon as the better (safer) option in net. 

I hope Norris can stay healthy. He can put the puck in the net. A first line with Tage and Norris should be productive. My preference would be to include Tuch on that first line but it appears that Ruff sees it differently. 

[7+6=13]

8 hours ago, SabreFinn said:

We have an expression here where I live, that says a bad dress rehearsal means a succesful premiere.

The problems we have however seem the same as last year. Not surprising when very little has changed from last season. 

31-37% of our starting roster has changed.

[Pimlach]

Lyon is a key, no doubt. 
 

Norris was very good with Ottawa, he just needs to stay healthy.  
 

You need 2 scoring lines.  Tuch helps us get that.   With Peterka gone they needs others to step up and produce more goals (Quinn, Benson, Kulich) while still maintaining the contributions from McLoed and Zucker.  

[7+6=13]

8 hours ago, SABRES 0311 said:

I think preseason means a lot. 

-Figure out line combinations and defeat pairings.

-Train to a system of play and get everyone on the same page.

-Work on individual goals (skating, shooting, two-way game).

-Instill a hard work mindset.

You know, all the stuff the Sabres don’t do.

I just don't think these things are determined in pre-season games. I agree that some data is used from the games. I believe pre-season matters, just not a lot.  It's more relative IMO.

They know what the lines will be to start the season, minus a minor tweak or two or injury. The lines get established and often change for various reasons, for even the excellent teams.  The system is also established in practice, film room and throughout the season.

Hard work mindset, well that's a tough one and I can't imagine pre-season games are a large factor.

 

 

Edited 3 hours ago by 7+6=13

[dudacek]

For the first 45 minutes the Sabres were in total control, as in Pittsburgh could create absolutely nothing.

And then that happened. Again the goalie and the PK didn’t get it done, but that went deeper.

Id shrug and say it’s just preseason fuel for the real season, but the inability to close was their primary characteristic last year and what they needed most to address.

Troubling.

[7+6=13]

3 minutes ago, dudacek said:

For the first 45 minutes the Sabres were in total control, as in Pittsburgh could create absolutely nothing.

And then that happened. Again the goalie and the PK didn’t get it done, but that went deeper.

Id shrug and say it’s just preseason fuel for the real season, but the inability to close was their primary characteristic last year and what they needed most to address.

Troubling.

Definitely not what you want to see, even if you put it into perspective.

[DarthEbriate]

12 hours ago, thewookie1 said:

Can anyone tell me what exactly Geogiev was trying to accomplish in OT? he's a big goalie, he doesn't need to take overt risks like Levi to make up for his size.

Didn’t see the game, but do want to point out that Georgiev is not a big goalie. He’s 6-1 178 compared to Levi at 6-0 192.

Luukkonen and Leinonen are the bigs in the system. 

[SabreFinn]

1 hour ago, 7+6=13 said:

31-37% of our starting roster has changed.

Really?? That much? Why does it feel like the same then?

[LGR4GM]

1 hour ago, SabreFinn said:

Really?? That much? Why does it feel like the same then?

Yea but it's kinda fake math. We replaced a top 6 forward with a top 9 forward. We replaced a bottom pair defender with a top 4 and bottom pair defender. We moved out a couple 4th liners for different 4th liners. It's like putting new rims and tires on you dodge neon and calling it a Ferrari. Sure, we changed out stuff but the engine, suspension, and pit crew are all the same.