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

[JohnC]

Our middling GM placed a bet on UPL, and doubled down on him. He lost and the franchise lost. 
 

I’m not anti-UPL or any player. The GM had taken an approach of entitling players roster spots. He used prospect projections as a basis for roster decisions instead of having them compete and earn their spot. That’s how the UPL case has been handled. Bad decisions have bad consequences.

Edited 4 hours ago by JohnC

[Flashsabre]

UPL has to go. They have better options in house. If you are serious about winning this season and making the playoffs then he is not your goalie.

And it’s not “first start of the season” This is a continuation of his play from last season. That was a game they had in hand in the 3rd period that he lost for them. 
 

Enough is Enough. If you finally want to show that you are a serious team then act like it and make the decisions that put your team in the best spot to win.

I understand Ellis was supposed to play but had a tight back. That’s too bad because I would have liked to see what he had in start number 2.  UPL was next man up, I get that, but he again failed his opportunity.

Edited 4 hours ago by Flashsabre

[GASabresIUFAN]

1 hour 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.

Why the Power dislike?  Simple, the kid remains terrible defensively.  He keeps making the same mistakes that you gloss over.  For every good play, there are 4-5 bad ones.  

Yes, UPL had no business playing last night.  He was bad and the Sabres should have left him in Rochester as long as possible.  He is not and has never been a good pro goalie.  The contract years was a career year unlikely to ever be repeated.  Time to move on.  However, his deficiencies don't excuse Power for being a one dimensional offensive D who we are overpaying by $4 mill a year; money that would be better allocated elsewhere. 

[Scottysabres]

1 hour 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.

I didn’t believe pointing out the poor play ability of a player necessarily means we hate them. The kid made a terrible play that lost them the game is all. Yes the puck slid in to the corner, but both players on the ice with him were down lower as well, Tage isn’t exactly known for his speed and that showed when he couldn’t catch ole man Tavares, he actually stopped skating toward the end of Tavares rush in our zone. And while Power took the risk, he completely fumbled it. Situational awareness should lead to focus, even at those speeds, the kid lost the puck, it cost us the game, it is what it is. But nothing said it’s hateful to point it out.

[EM88]

12 hours ago, zow2 said:

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

It matters for what the standings 'look' like today, but I am not concerned right now with who wins or loses on any given night especially this early.

The Sabres need to get to 95+ points. If they do that, they will invariably give other clubs more losses along the way. The daily standings do not matter much, not nearly as much as the path to 95+ points.

[Flashsabre]

[Pimlach]

1 hour 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. 

Ok.    UPL should have been in Cleveland playing an AHL game instead of in Toronto last night.  

But I won’t accept UPLs consistent mediocrity because other goalies had bad nights.  

[tom webster]

12 minutes ago, Scottysabres said:

I didn’t believe pointing out the poor play ability of a player necessarily means we hate them. The kid made a terrible play that lost them the game is all. Yes the puck slid in to the corner, but both players on the ice with him were down lower as well, Tage isn’t exactly known for his speed and that showed when he couldn’t catch ole man Tavares, he actually stopped skating toward the end of Tavares rush in our zone. And while Power took the risk, he completely fumbled it. Situational awareness should lead to focus, even at those speeds, the kid lost the puck, it cost us the game, it is what it is. But nothing said it’s hateful to point it out.

I didn’t mean to imply that everyone was hating on Power but I do believe that your assessment of the play is incorrect. I wouldn’t want him jumping up in regulation but I want him to make that plsy in overtime 10/10 times. 

[Pimlach]

6 minutes ago, EM88 said:

It matters for what the standings 'look' like today, but I am not concerned right now with who wins or loses on any given night especially this early.

The Sabres need to get to 95+ points. If they do that, they will invariably give other clubs more losses along the way. The daily standings do not matter much, not nearly as much as the path to 95+ points.

NEWS FLASH.   The path to 95+ is directly linked to where your team sits in the standing.  

[PASabreFan]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Guess it didn't come across that I was joking

It did.

1 hour ago, Wyldnwoody44 said:

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. 

PA standings have regulation wins, losses and ties, then an exhibition record that includes OT/SO results. It's a farce and an abomination.

[Pimlach]

1 hour ago, JohnC said:

Our middling GM placed a bet on UPL, and doubled down on him. He lost and the franchise lost. 
 

I’m not anti-UPL or any player. The GM had taken an approach of entitling players roster spots. He used prospect projections as a basis for roster decisions instead of having them compete and earn their spot. That’s how the UPL case has been handled. Bad decisions have bad consequences.

I am more upset that he was called up from conditioning so quickly, after one game.  It was obvious he was not ready to play. The team kept the shots down, they played pretty solid around him all night, that game should have never went to OT.  

I don’t faith in UPL after last season.  You can hear his teammates sticking up for him after the game.  That’s fine.  That’s good actually.   But it is possible that UPL is going to get games because they invested in him.  

The Sabres organization is looking at 15 years, and that includes 5 years with the current core.   Every game is important.  Every point is important.  Every opportunity to close out a win is a test of this team’s meddle. 

Edited 3 hours ago by Pimlach

[Mr Peabody]

34 minutes ago, Scottysabres said:

I didn’t believe pointing out the poor play ability of a player necessarily means we hate them. The kid made a terrible play that lost them the game is all. Yes the puck slid in to the corner, but both players on the ice with him were down lower as well, Tage isn’t exactly known for his speed and that showed when he couldn’t catch ole man Tavares, he actually stopped skating toward the end of Tavares rush in our zone. And while Power took the risk, he completely fumbled it. Situational awareness should lead to focus, even at those speeds, the kid lost the puck, it cost us the game, it is what it is. But nothing said it’s hateful to point it out.

My immediate reaction was not one of our forwards stayed back when a D man was going to the net.  Power had a physical mistake the other was a metal mistake.  Or as Biz would say “cheating”. 

[PASabreFan]

20 minutes ago, EM88 said:

It matters for what the standings 'look' like today, but I am not concerned right now with who wins or loses on any given night especially this early.

The Sabres need to get to 95+ points. If they do that, they will invariably give other clubs more losses along the way. The daily standings do not matter much, not nearly as much as the path to 95+ points.

I could kiss you. We do this every year. Playoff position vs. playoff pace. The first 10 game segment has not turned into the disaster it looked like it could be, but the Sabres are below a playoff pace. Even with a win on Tuesday, they likely the rest of the way will need to pick up an extra point over the 12 point per 10 game pace that almost always puts a team into the postseason.

[Pimlach]

1 hour ago, Scottysabres said:

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.

Power took a gamble going deep when both forwards were deep, and he failed.  The puck was moving crazily and he missed it, despite his having good hands.  Yes, he blew it too, but he was given a green light to do that and just about every coach would agree with it   

UPL was called on to bail them out.  He inexplicably took the wrong angle, then he fell to his knees and made himself smaller, giving a sniper like Taveras the top of the net.  

Did you see Ellis on the breakaways that he stopped?  He did the opposite of UPL.  He took away a lot more net by coming out correctly and challenging the shooter. 

UPL’s ability to anticipate what the shooter can do is a major weakness for him. 

[R_Dudley]

When I peeked at NHL scores at the start of the game and saw UPL as starting goalie I hate to say I expected what I just finished reading about here, a loss. 

I am happy they got a loser point but agree with PA that every ten game segment is important to make it above the playoff line. A one game conditioning assignment after a single pre-season period is just another example of the asinine management practices of the idiot GM this team has. 

When he is finally fired I guarantee you will never hear or see of this person in an NHL management decision making role.

He should be cleaning all the restrooms after games at the rink. 

[Jorcus]

44 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Ok.    UPL should have been in Cleveland playing an AHL game instead of in Toronto last night.  

But I won’t accept UPLs consistent mediocrity because other goalies had bad nights.  

It's really the state of goaltending period. If a Stanly cup winner and last years presidents trophy runner up had worse nights than our goalie who missed a big portion of training camp, it's just something that happens. I would describe the frustration with UPL as a state of Inconsistency. Even last year he had good periods of play in the fall and early winter. 

What I would add that goaltending in the NHL is not what it used to be. Lets look at the number of goaltenders with a save percentage better than .910 by year

season ending            number

25                                  10

24                                  16     UPL was 16th.

23                                  17

22                                  26

21                                   25

20                                  30

19                                   29

18                                   31

 

I am not pointing this out to excuse UPL, just to say that there are very few magic bullets out there. You could turn to the unknown quantities but shooting is getting better and will probably end up torching unprepared rookies.  Lots of teams are looking for that guy who can give you .910 all season long. 

Edited 3 hours ago by Jorcus

[JohnC]

1 minute ago, Pimlach said:

I am more upset that he was called up from conditioning so quickly, after one game.  It was obvious he was not ready to play. The team keep the shots down, they played pretty solid around him all night, that game should have never went to OT.  

I don’t faith in UPL after last season.  You can hear his teammates sticking up for him after the game.  That’s fine.  That’s good actually.   But it is possible that UPL is going to get games because they invested in him.  

The Sabres organization is looking at 15 years, and that includes 5 years with the current core.   Every game is important.  Every point is important.  Every opportunity to close out a win is a test of this team’s meddle. 

You and I are in accord that we don't believe that UPL will be the answer in net. As I stated in a prior post, KA jumped the gun in his evaluation of him. He made an overvalued projection based on a good season. You are presenting a key question as to whether the organization will continue playing him because they have invested in him? Smartly run organizations wouldn't do so, especially for this mercurial position.  Few hockey people would consider the Sabres to be a smart organization. 

UPL playing last night was due to uncontrollable circumstances. Reports are that Ellis was supposed to get the start but had a stiff back. So the choice was between playing Lyon on consecutive nights or rushing UPL in. In my view, playing UPL last night was a reasonable decision. 

On WGR a couple of days ago, Bulldog's son who works for WGR and was a goalie pointed out that Ellis has had a better developmental career than UPL leading into their NHL play. As you well know, KA gets invested in players and doubles down on them. When you make bad decisions on such a critical position, you handicap yourself.  

[Pimlach]

15 minutes ago, Mr Peabody said:

My immediate reaction was not one of our forwards stayed back when a D man was going to the net.  Power had a physical mistake the other was a metal mistake.  Or as Biz would say “cheating”. 

The forwards were already deep.   Quinn was first in, he was very deep and never cycled back.  Tage was next in and was flying, when he missed his shot the puck was loose.  Power could hang back and face a likely 2 on 1, normal for OT hockey, or come up and take a high danger shot to win it.  

He made the right choice but could not control the puck.  All three skaters failed to convert and all three were deep.  

From there the Sabres needed a play from the goalie to stay alive.  Thompson got back just enough to keep Taveras from moving inside, actually making UPLs job a little easier.  But the goalie had the wrong angle and decided to drop to his knees, exposing the top of the net.   

Tough bounce, bad luck, and poor play all rolled into one. 
 

[Broken Ankles]

25 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

I am more upset that he was called up from conditioning so quickly, after one game.  It was obvious he was not ready to play. The team kept the shots down, they played pretty solid around him all night, that game should have never went to OT.  

I don’t faith in UPL after last season.  You can hear his teammates sticking up for him after the game.  That’s fine.  That’s good actually.   But it is possible that UPL is going to get games because they invested in him.  

The Sabres organization is looking at 15 years, and that includes 5 years with the current core.   Every game is important.  Every point is important.  Every opportunity to close out a win is a test of this team’s meddle. 

Agreed on this point.  I feel like Lindy had the decision on starting Ellis, and made the right one.  Unfortunately, injury prevented him from starting.  Plan B could have been bring up Levi or Gorgiev from Rochester to take the game and keep UPL in The AHL for the allotted time for rehab (2 weeks I read in another thread?).  This is an Adams decision that played out to be ill conceived.  
 

 What’s abundantly obvious is Lyon is THE number one, but the board sentiment, and maybe even our coaching staff has Ellis as a clear number 2.  Especially after Mr. softies -1.9 expected last night.  

[Pimlach]

5 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

It's really the state of goaltending period. If a Stanly cup winner and last years presidents trophy runner up had worse nights than our goalie who missed a big portion of training camp, it's just something that happens. I would describe the frustration with UPL as a state of Inconsistency. Even last year he had good periods of play in the fall and early winter. 

What I would add that goaltending in the NHL is not what it used to be. Lets look at the number of goaltenders with a save percentage better than .910 by year

season ending            number

25                                  10

24                                  16     UPL was 16th.

23                                  17

22                                  26

21                                   25

20                                  30

19                                   29

18                                   31

 

I am not pointing this out to excuse UPL, just to say that there are very few magic bullets out there. You could turn to the unknown quantities but shooting is getting better and will probably end up torching unprepared rookies.  Lots of teams are looking for that guy who can give you .910 all season long. 

Thanks.  

I want to be wrong on UPL.  I want him to have success.  I just don’t see it.  I thought I did a few years ago.   

 

 

 

[bob_sauve28]

13 hours ago, Porous Five Hole said:

Interestingly, everyone else in the division won their most recent game except Buffalo.  
 

Getting a point tonight was huge, but it was RIGHT THERE for them. Survived UPL to steal a point.  Time for him to watch for a while since we don’t have a back to back for two weeks. 

Ya, Florida beat the crap out of Vegas and Ottawa crushed the Caps. Sabres, Senators, Islanders, Maple Leafs and Flyers all with 9 points with Bruins, Blue Jackets and Rangers all just a point back. 

 

Every single point is so important. Blowing a third period lead to a division rival really stinks 

[kas23]

12 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

It's really the state of goaltending period. If a Stanly cup winner and last years presidents trophy runner up had worse nights than our goalie who missed a big portion of training camp, it's just something that happens. I would describe the frustration with UPL as a state of Inconsistency. Even last year he had good periods of play in the fall and early winter. 

What I would add that goaltending in the NHL is not what it used to be. Lets look at the number of goaltenders with a save percentage better than .910 by year

season ending            number

25                                  10

24                                  16     UPL was 16th.

23                                  17

22                                  26

21                                   25

20                                  30

19                                   29

18                                   31

 

I am not pointing this out to excuse UPL, just to say that there are very few magic bullets out there. You could turn to the unknown quantities but shooting is getting better and will probably end up torching unprepared rookies.  Lots of teams are looking for that guy who can give you .910 all season long. 

Undoubtedly the quality of goaltending is decreasing, but I wouldn’t describe approximately 1/3 of goaltenders last year as “very few magic bullets”. And in the year before, half the league had “magic bullets”. I know as Sabres fans we are shell shocked. But we are allowed to have nice things. 

[Pimlach]

20 minutes ago, JohnC said:

You and I are in accord that we don't believe that UPL will be the answer in net. As I stated in a prior post, KA jumped the gun in his evaluation of him. He made an overvalued projection based on a good season. You are presenting a key question as to whether the organization will continue playing him because they have invested in him? Smartly run organizations wouldn't do so, especially for this mercurial position.  Few hockey people would consider the Sabres to be a smart organization. 

UPL playing last night was due to uncontrollable circumstances. Reports are that Ellis was supposed to get the start but had a stiff back. So the choice was between playing Lyon on consecutive nights or rushing UPL in. In my view, playing UPL last night was a reasonable decision. 

On WGR a couple of days ago, Bulldog's son who works for WGR and was a goalie pointed out that Ellis has had a better developmental career than UPL leading into their NHL play. As you well know, KA gets invested in players and doubles down on them. When you make bad decisions on such a critical position, you handicap yourself.  

Yes, I get that Ellis was supposed to get the net last night.  Again, the Sabres roster should not have been in the 3 goalie configuration at that point.  UPL should have been in Cleveland, that would have been better for him.   Last night might have been Levi if possible, or Lyon once again.  

Giving Lyon a rest, and still getting 1 point is not the worst outcome.  

[Taro T]

4 hours ago, Big Guava said:

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

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

Their rarely having early leads under Granato isn't true?  Don't know if your stat is correct or not, but will give you the benefit of the doubt it is for sake of discussion.

Donny coached them for 274 games.  You've got them having a lead going into the 3rd 68 times.  That's having a lead heading into the 3rd just under 25% of the time.  How seldom does it have to happen to be considered "rare?"

Under Donny they were rarely ready to go to start the game.  He did have them play better in the 3rd (and playing well in the 3rd is truly important, but so is showing up to start the game) but they were regularly behind the 8 ball by then and score effects are real especially when a good team doesn't take a bad team seriously.

[LGR4GM]

33 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

It's really the state of goaltending period. If a Stanly cup winner and last years presidents trophy runner up had worse nights than our goalie who missed a big portion of training camp, it's just something that happens. I would describe the frustration with UPL as a state of Inconsistency. Even last year he had good periods of play in the fall and early winter. 

What I would add that goaltending in the NHL is not what it used to be. Lets look at the number of goaltenders with a save percentage better than .910 by year

season ending            number

25                                  10

24                                  16     UPL was 16th.

23                                  17

22                                  26

21                                   25

20                                  30

19                                   29

18                                   31

 

I am not pointing this out to excuse UPL, just to say that there are very few magic bullets out there. You could turn to the unknown quantities but shooting is getting better and will probably end up torching unprepared rookies.  Lots of teams are looking for that guy who can give you .910 all season long. 

Upl literally has never done that again. Thxs for proving he's bad.