GDT: Buffalo Sabres @ Toronto Maple Leaves 25 Oct 2025 5:00 pm ET TV: MSG-B, SN1, Radio: WGR 550

[Crusader1969]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

Here is what stinks about the breaking news that Ellis did not feel good. 

UPL was back on the Sabres roster after just one game in Rochester.   That is NOT a conditioning assignment.   So, why the hurry?   

Did Ellis actually get hurt in the Detroit game?  

 

 

I believe Ellis was sent to Toronto on Friday in order to play today.  So we all need to stop with the conspiracy theories 

maybe he got Blue Jays Fever? 

[zow2]

Every other Atlantic division club won tonight so this was a pretty bad blown 3rd period lead. and OT loss.

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

Here is what stinks about the breaking news that Ellis did not feel good. 

UPL was back on the Sabres roster after just one game in Rochester.   That is NOT a conditioning assignment.   So, why the hurry?   

Did Ellis actually get hurt in the Detroit game?  
 

 

Someone here posted when UPL came back up that the Sabres had a plan to give each goalie 1 game of these 3.  And guess it makes sense to have UPL as the backup in both Loaf games to get him back to a "normal" NHL situation.  And if Ellis really couldn't go tonight, it makes sense to give UPL the game.  Better than risking an injury/ exhaustion to Lyon and you weren't likely getting Levi from Cleveland to TO in a handful of hours before the early start.  

Am glad they got the lower point (that didn't happen in this sort of a situation last year), but they had a real chance to convert a 0-3 start into a 6-4 start which is exactly what they need for playoffs.

Doubt they give up on UPL immediately.  But he has to be on a short leash, and the team HAS given up on him before on a few occassions.  Could see him in Ta-cha-cha legitimately by Thanksgiving, if not sooner should the rest of the squad get healthy and he not get his head out of his bippy.

And, yeah, he gave up 3 bad goals, but he easily could've given up 8 if TO didn't shoot every other chance just wide.

Play Lyon or Ellis vs C-bus, win in trip 2 to Beantown & give Lyon the Caps game.

And if Ellis IS legitimately going to miss time, flip Levi & UPL and hope the Blues return the favor when UPL is on waivers.

[LGR4GM]

4 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Someone here posted when UPL came back up that the Sabres had a plan to give each goalie 1 game of these 3.  And guess it makes sense to have UPL as the backup in both Loaf games to get him back to a "normal" NHL situation.  And if Ellis really couldn't go tonight, it makes sense to give UPL the game.  Better than risking an injury/ exhaustion to Lyon and you weren't likely getting Levi from Cleveland to TO in a handful of hours before the early start.  

Am glad they got the lower point (that didn't happen in this sort of a situation last year), but they had a real chance to convert a 0-3 start into a 6-4 start which is exactly what they need for playoffs.

Doubt they give up on UPL immediately.  But he has to be on a short leash, and the team HAS given up on him before on a few occassions.  Could see him in Ta-cha-cha legitimately by Thanksgiving, if not sooner should the rest of the squad get healthy and he not get his head out of his bippy.

And, yeah, he gave up 3 bad goals, but he easily could've given up 8 if TO didn't shoot every other chance just wide.

Play Lyon or Ellis vs C-bus, win in trip 2 to Beantown & give Lyon the Caps game.

And if Ellis IS legitimately going to miss time, flip Levi & UPL and hope the Blues return the favor when UPL is on waivers.

Good ole Ta-cha-cha.

 

Have to tell my buddies in Ra-cha-cha about that. 

[Big Guava]

6 minutes ago, zow2 said:

Every other Atlantic division club won tonight so this was a pretty bad blown 3rd period lead. and OT loss.

Something we never had to worry about under Granato that we strangely seem to have happen a lot more under Ruff

[Taro T]

2 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Good ole Ta-cha-cha.

 

Have to tell my buddies in Ra-cha-cha about that. 

Whatevs.  Haven't bothered finding the tablet's keyboard from the suitcases and the little hunt & peck keyboard doesn't just suck it also autocucumbers a LOT.

[Taro T]

4 minutes ago, Big Guava said:

Something we never had to worry about under Granato that we strangely seem to have happen a lot more under Ruff

They never blew 3rd period leads because they rarely had leads before then.  They were awful in the 1st under Granato (especially hos last year) and bad in the 2nd throughout his tenure.  They had to pour it on at the end to get their W's.  Way easier to protect a lead for 4 minutes than for 40.

[pi2000]

Ellis was unable to go tonight with a stiff back.   UPL was the next option.

[PerreaultForever]

1 hour ago, Big Guava said:

Something we never had to worry about under Granato that we strangely seem to have happen a lot more under Ruff

Huh? Is your assertion that they'd be better off if Granato was still coach? Otherwise, what is the point of that comment?

[Trettioåtta]

Sabres entered this game in a playoff position

UPL played

The Sabres are no longer in a playoff position

[North Buffalo]

So Power choked... and then Leaves player said let me show you how its done... sigh so Sabres

Edited 6 hours ago by North Buffalo

[Big Guava]

7 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

Huh? Is your assertion that they'd be better off if Granato was still coach? Otherwise, what is the point of that comment?

No, just that we were the best in the NHL at not losing 3rd period leads with him.

8 hours ago, Taro T said:

They never blew 3rd period leads because they rarely had leads before then.  They were awful in the 1st under Granato (especially hos last year) and bad in the 2nd throughout his tenure.  They had to pour it on at the end to get their W's.  Way easier to protect a lead for 4 minutes than for 40.

Not true. They were something like 60-2-6 under Granato when leading after 2.

Edited 5 hours ago by Big Guava

[LGR4GM]

9 hours ago, Taro T said:

Whatevs.  Haven't bothered finding the tablet's keyboard from the suitcases and the little hunt & peck keyboard doesn't just suck it also autocucumbers a LOT.

Guess it didn't come across that I was joking

[LGR4GM]

Upl was awful. His post game comments about not seeing the release on Dakotas shot just speaks to a guy who isn't an nhl starter. It was a clear shot. Then he couldn't stop Tavares because he did what he always does, see someone about to shoot, drop. He got beat high and he's 6'4" or whatever. Move on, how many years are we going to waste? Well Liger, some day he might be a league average goalie! Idc, move on. 

[Scottysabres]

2 hours ago, North Buffalo said:

So Power choked... and then Leaves player said let me show you how its done... sigh so Sabres

Exactly. The Toronto goalie wasn’t put in the position UPL was. Not that I’m defending UPL, because honestly, that 3rd Toronto goal was all on UPL’s inability to make a clutch save, further bolstering the belief he’s not the droid we’re looking for. But Power just losing that puck after deciding to leave the defensive coverage while going in alone on the goalie was a massive mistake. That was the cause of Tavares game winning goal. If UPL is not put in that position or Powers simply puts a shot on net or god forbid, scores, the goal against UPL doesn’t exist.

If your going to leave the back end, you better dam well be sure there is coverage of the hole you just left or win the game. Power is the reason they lost, UPL was secondary imho.

Edited 4 hours ago by Scottysabres

[GASabresIUFAN]

I wasn’t able to watch the game after the first period, but wasn’t surprised by the results especially with UPL in net.  

I hate that we coughed up a 3rd period lead.  Power losing control of the puck in OT that lead to the breakaway was par for the course.  

I’m over both UPL and Power.  We can do better, especially for $13 mill of cap.  Power gets a life line when Kesselring returns, but UPL has to be on a short leash if Lyon and Ellis continue to play well. 

[JohnC]

Frustrated at the final result. On the other hand, being able to get the loser point might be a sign distinguishing this team from prior years when the team would freeze and the momentum would swing to other team snatching a win from us.
 

 I thought that the Sabres had the slight edge in play. But as @Taro T pointed out if the Toronto shooters were more accurate hitting the target this would have a been a different game.

 

One big positive was the play of Tage. I liked the play of Timmons. He’s a no frills solid defenseman. 
 

Quinn is getting better and playing with more grit and speed.

How can someone not like how Benson plays?  In a couple of years when he is more physically developed he is going to be a gem.

The Toronto player who stood out to me was McCabe. He was the toughest player in the game.

The loss was disappointing but getting 3 points in a back to back is a positive.

[tom webster]

The Power hate is amusing. He makes a great play to help seal the game the night before but he gets killed for losing control of the puck the next day. He’s not supposed to sit back in overtime. He did everything he’s supposed except lose control of the puck. It happens. They lost the game because UPL was terrible and because they didn’t bury a couple of other opportunities to score.

[JohnC]

7 minutes ago, tom webster said:

The Power hate is amusing. He makes a great play to help seal the game the night before but he gets killed for losing control of the puck the next day. He’s not supposed to sit back in overtime. He did everything he’s supposed except lose control of the puck. It happens. They lost the game because UPL was terrible and because they didn’t bury a couple of other opportunities to score.

You are absolutely right that in OT when you have an opening on offense, you should go for it. Is it a risk that you are leaving yourself defensive vulnerable? Of course it is. But in a 3 on 3 format the worst strategy you can take is a passive approach. 

[Pimlach]

24 minutes ago, Scottysabres said:

Exactly. The Toronto goalie wasn’t put in the position UPL was. Not that I’m defending UPL, because honestly, that 3rd Toronto goal was all on UPL’s inability to make a clutch save, further bolstering the belief he’s not the droid we’re looking for. But Power just losing that puck after deciding to leave the defensive coverage while going in alone on the goalie was a massive mistake. That was the cause of Tavares game winning goal. If UPL is not put in that position or Powers simply puts a shot on net or god forbid, scores, the goal against UPL doesn’t exist.

If your going to leave the back end, you better dam well be sure there is coverage of the hole you just left or win the game. Power is the reason they lost, UPL was secondary imho.

There should not have not been an OT.   UPL giving up the tying goal was pathetic.   He is late coming out of the net.   He whiffed on the third goal, he was a coward on the 4th one.    We were on the bad side of the officiating but we dominated the 5v5, only the goal tending was not good enough.  

this team was every intention on giving UPL games to get him in shape.  This will cost them in the standings.  He just cost them one point already.  

Power blew a play, but UPL showed us who he is again, a marginal backup. 

[Jorcus]

Last night 24 goalies started NHL games. only 9 had a save percentage over .900. UPL was bad but he had company. Watch Binnington blow a 4 goal lead or Lindgren get torched by the Sen's. No one is getting bought out or waived especially after season start number 1. 

[Wyldnwoody44]

Let me add again that the 3 on 3 OT, while more exciting... Is a farce, and should not be used to determine playoff seeding over the season where in the playoffs it goes away. 

10 minutes of 5 on 5 maybe 4 on 4 and then maybe a Shootout or just call it. 

NHL is behind the times still on this, I was stuck at work so missed the end, just saw some highlights but my point still holds. 

[LGR4GM]

7 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

Last night 24 goalies started NHL games. only 9 had a save percentage over .900. UPL was bad but he had company. Watch Binnington blow a 4 goal lead or Lindgren get torched by the Sen's. No one is getting bought out or waived especially after season start number 1. 

Upl barely had a sv% over .800, let alone .900

Also who the ***** cares? Why do I need to care that Jordan Binnington sucks? Or Lindgren? Justin Fields sucks so that means Josh Allen can play like crap too? 

[kas23]

12 hours ago, DarthEbriate said:

But he's months from potentially being bought out (and unlikely) and he's not being waived. If the agent complains about the conditioning assignment, again -- full NHL salary -- then you tell the agent that their client played 1 period of hockey since last season and you're in 3rd place in the division.

If they want to request a trade, so be it. But the agent knows his client has no trade value.

The road to the buyout is starting right now. If UPL loses his starting job, he is toast and the money his agent would get is as well. If UPL was to stay down in Rochester for the full 2 weeks and Ellis lights it up, it would likely be light out for UPL. And as you said, UPL has no trade value. There’s really one possibility if UPL doesn’t have a role in the Sabres goalie rotation going forward. 

[Scottysabres]

52 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

There should not have not been an OT.   UPL giving up the tying goal was pathetic.   He is late coming out of the net.   He whiffed on the third goal, he was a coward on the 4th one.    We were on the bad side of the officiating but we dominated the 5v5, only the goal tending was not good enough.  

this team was every intention on giving UPL games to get him in shape.  This will cost them in the standings.  He just cost them one point already.  

Power blew a play, but UPL showed us who he is again, a marginal backup. 

I addressed that 3rd goal early in my post. But I hear ya and agree. But Power…….blew it equally as bad if not worse.

Edited 2 hours ago by Scottysabres