GDT: Capitals @ Sabres, 7:00pm Nov. 1, 2025, 🎙 📺 ESPN+/MSG

[Taro T]

2 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

I know about the blocked shot with Thompson but it was even before that. It was almost the whole OT. 

Thompson blocked that shot about 1-1/4 - 1-1/2 minutes into OT.  That 1st unit wasn't passive the 1st minute of OT but looked to be getting tired pretty soon after that and after Thompson was hobbling around they were fortunate to even get Tuch off the ice.

[clink]

22 hours ago, GoPuckYourself said:

Fletch and fletch lives.... Classics.

Always meant to watch them

The MEME nudges me closer to pulling the trigger...

[Doohickie]

10 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

I know about the blocked shot with Thompson but it was even before that. It was almost the whole OT. 

That's the way OTs work.  If one team gets the puck and can control it for, say, 30-40 seconds, the other team gets gassed and drops into a passive shell.

[That Aud Smell]

On 11/2/2025 at 9:29 AM, LGR4GM said:

Truthfully? 

I see some good with Buffalo. They certainly are a better checking team and the defense doesn't make me want to gouge my soul out. Kesselring is as advertised which I love. Finally prospects don't have roster spots unless injuries occur. The PK deserves praise. Lyon and to an extent Ellis and potentially Luukkonen have been solid to really good. 

A guy who knows puck. And loves the Sabres.

[That Aud Smell]

21 hours ago, shrader said:

The bonus point doesn’t go to the loser, it goes to the OT winner. That’s what happens when you create an artificial decider for ties. 
 

I don’t think people are focusing on that point. When you start so horribly, you have to get back to .500 before you get to .580 or whatever. It’s an easily recognizable point. No one is going to be able to look at the standings and say “hey, .580”. 

Yeah, I misspoke. I said "loser point" because I was typing Bettman's name.

Like some (many?), I just hate that some NHL games yield 2 points and some yield 3.

But I also understand that that's a feature, not a bug.

[That Aud Smell]

21 hours ago, Taro T said:

But WOULD say, the crowd has been louder this season, even in games where we've only had ~14k in the barn, we've been able to get loud at times.  

Yep - this was my third game. The building is livelier, for sure. That's all this home crowd needs, by the way -- a competitive team giving an honest effort.

And if'n when this team gets good? The building will be back to roaring.

12 hours ago, Taro T said:

Awful is a SLIGHT exaggeration, but not by much.  He was very bad in the 1st 60 minutes, though he did improve slightly in the 3rd.  He wasn't moving well, gave up huge rebounds, was playing small, slow to react. 

Man, I appreciate this perspective. The local beat reporters, as far as I saw, were all just like "UPL was stellar - 33 shots, 30 saves," or words to that effect (not sure of the precise SOG number).

We were at the game and found UPL to be an absolute horror show for the first 2 periods. If the Caps had been playing better (stronger to the net), they might have scored 6 or 7.

Edited 7 hours ago by That Aud Smell

[PromoTheRobot]

5 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

Yep - this was my third game. The building is livelier, for sure. That's all this home crowd needs, by the way -- a competitive team giving an honest effort.

And if'n when this team gets good? The building will be back to roaring.

Man, I appreciate this perspective. The local beat reporters, as far as I saw, were all just like "UPL was stellar - 33 shots, 30 saves," or words to that effect (not sure of the precise SOG number).

We were at the game and found UPL to be an absolute horror show for the first 2 periods. If the Caps had been playing better (stronger to the net), they might have scored 6 or 7.

You were at the game and didn't notice the awful play in front of UPL that led to those 2 goals?

[Pimlach]

21 hours ago, mjd1001 said:

I can't get a feeling for Kesserling at all yet.  Like nothing good or bad.

Maybe thats a bad thing in that I don't notice him making good plays. Maybe thats a good thing that I don't notice him making bad plays.  

Hmmm.  He is still knocking the rust off but you see nothing good?  

I see smart and heady plays .  Like using his body to block out opponents, taking smart angles to the puck, holding and protecting the puck instead of panic and coughing it up  - little things that do not get on the scoresheet.  

So far I am happy with him.  

[mjd1001]

25 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Hmmm.  He is still knocking the rust off but you see nothing good?  

I see smart and heady plays .  Like using his body to block out opponents, taking smart angles to the puck, holding and protecting the puck instead of panic and coughing it up  - little things that do not get on the scoresheet.  

So far I am happy with him.  

I know it's early but I actually don't really see much. I watched the last couple of games and he just doesn't seem that noticeable to me. 

And as far as him making good plays with the puck? I guess so. I don't see a lot of bad stuff. But again I don't see him doing things that any defenseman should not be doing.

[That Aud Smell]

38 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

You were at the game and didn't notice the awful play in front of UPL that led to those 2 goals?

I'm not even talking about the goals, really. I'd have to go back and watch. My sense, in general, from watching him is that he was fighting the puck, putting himself out of position, and exhibiting poor control over rebounds.

[SwampD]

On 11/1/2025 at 9:41 PM, GoPuckYourself said:

Oh no it's overtime.... Im ready now.

 

On 11/1/2025 at 9:43 PM, clink said:

What the heck is THIS from???

It looks like Chevy Chase hoarfing down an eightball in a single snort 

Pretty sure that that is from Modern Problems, not Fletch.

[That Aud Smell]

42 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

You were at the game and didn't notice the awful play in front of UPL that led to those 2 goals?

but since you asked: 1st goal, wristed muffin from the point with some net front presence, UPL graciously directs the puck into the slot and fails to put himself in a position to make a play on the follow-up shot. the skatersdidn't help their goal. UPL didn't help them either.

2nd goal, 2 on 0 madness. not blaming him there, obviously.

[PromoTheRobot]

30 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

I'm not even talking about the goals, really. I'd have to go back and watch. My sense, in general, from watching him is that he was fighting the puck, putting himself out of position, and exhibiting poor control over rebounds.

When you say "control over rebounds" are you referring to every time he kicks a rebound to the side? Not every shot sticks to a goalie. Sometimes the best thing you can do is kick it with your pad towards your defenseman. However the rebound of his pad on goal #1 did go directly to a Caps player.

[JohnC]

39 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

but since you asked: 1st goal, wristed muffin from the point with some net front presence, UPL graciously directs the puck into the slot and fails to put himself in a position to make a play on the follow-up shot. the skatersdidn't help their goal. UPL didn't help them either.

2nd goal, 2 on 0 madness. not blaming him there, obviously.

You have to consider that he hadn’t played a game for quite awhile. So a little shakiness in the beginning of the game shouldn’t be a surprise. Late in the game and in overtime he faced a barrage of shots and stood tall. In the SO he was stellar. 
 

I’ve been a critic of him because of his up and down play. In this game, it should be acknowledged that he was a big factor in the win. 

[That Aud Smell]

45 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

When you say "control over rebounds" are you referring to every time he kicks a rebound to the side? Not every shot sticks to a goalie. Sometimes the best thing you can do is kick it with your pad towards your defenseman. However the rebound of his pad on goal #1 did go directly to a Caps player.

I'm referring to his play generally. And, yes, I'm aware that goalies have to give up rebounds as part of their play. (And, bro, seriously - that's a condescending thing to say to a regular on this board.) 

I don't have one of those photographic memories where I can recount in detail the shots that made me wince or clench my tush. It's a feeling I took away from the game. I didn't like his play at all in the 1st and 2nd. If the Caps had been playing a harder, more aggressive game, I think they would have been up by a bunch.

25 minutes ago, JohnC said:

You have to consider that he hadn’t played a game for quite awhile. So a little shakiness in the beginning of the game shouldn’t be a surprise. Late in the game and in overtime he faced a barrage of shots and stood tall. In the SO he was stellar. 
 

I’ve been a critic of him because of his up and down play. In this game, it should be acknowledged that he was a big factor in the win. 

I think is not unfair. He was better in the third. And certainly in OT and the SO he was good.

I just don't believe in him.