GDT: 11/04/25 Utah Mammoth @ Buffalo Sabres 7 pm MSG and Radio

[Porous Five Hole]

I don’t feel dejected because I thought the Sabres (Lyon) stole a point. Missing two guys on the top line and four forwards out of the top nine is a tough circumstance.  
 

But at the same time, a fully healthy blue line, a hot goalie, and the kids chipped in a third period goal. So I don’t know how to feel about only getting a point. 
 

Nice to see the kids contribute. Frustrating to see Tage & Tuch unable to produce when it’s absolutely necessary they do on a night like tonight. 
 

Power is a mess. 
Dahlin is only fine and the Sabres need more from him. 
 

Pretty crazy to think Benson makes SUCH a difference every night, but it’s true. 
 

Ellis revenge game on Thursday? I bet Ruff goes back to UPL, but gimme Ellis for the vibes on Thursday. BTW, Ellis is 30 days from initial waivers on Thursday. A decision on the three-headed monster in the crease may be coming soon. 

[Believer]

16 minutes ago, Stads said:

Who do you think we're getting back in that trade?

Once the word got out Power and Quinn were available, would expect Adams to answer his phone and work some magic. It’s what he gets paid to do. 

Maybe he can pick somebody’s pocket.

 

Edited 3 hours ago by Believer

[Taro T]

So glad Ruff didn't go with UPL though right after the Caps game thought that would be the right choice (see if his late game heroics could go to his head and get that January '23 juju back) but just don't see how UPL could've gotten this game to OT.  Lyon was fabulous until he got hung out to dry in OT.  Never like to see a 5 hole goal, but that was Keller and he was in clean.

Expecting UPL next game and they probably need to give him that one to keep from getting into his own head, but would like to see Ellis get a shot against his old team.

[North Buffalo]

Nother loser point oh well... this season was about show me... turning into meh

[SABRES 0311]

26 minutes ago, Believer said:

Package Quinn with Power and get a legit top 6 forward with a 200 foot game who has proven scoring skills.

Yeah and Norris’ injury susceptibility means you need another top end guy.

[Stads]

19 minutes ago, Believer said:

Once the word got out Power and Quinn were available, would expect Adams to answer his phone and work some magic. It’s what he gets paid to do. 

Maybe he can pick somebody’s pocket.

 

First time for everything I suppose

[Believer]

Just now, SABRES 0311 said:

Yeah and Norris’ injury susceptibility means you need another top end guy.

Agree. Norris is a bust, imo. Adams took a chance and lost.

So, after word gets out Power and Quinn are available, Adams answers his phone and attempts to turn a magic trick into a magic show by putting together a deal for 2 Top 6 proven scoring Forwards with speed and grit in their prime. Toss in some SC experience.

Only Dahlin, Benson, Tuch, and Levi are untouchable.

He has plenty of other cards up his sleeve he can play.

Abracadabra.

[irregularly irregular]

1 hour ago, Flashsabre said:

Yes, Brian Duff is at the top of the issues with this franchise🙄

Issues at every point on the compass with this team.

One and only answer for these issues. Sell the team Terry.

[GoPuckYourself]

32 minutes ago, Stads said:

Who do you think we're getting back in that trade?

Is Matthew Barzal still rumored to be on the block? They lost Dobson so maybe a Quinn, Power and pick or Kulich can get the deal done?

[mjd1001]

Just now, Believer said:

Agree. Norris is a bust, imo. Adams took a chance and lost.

So, after word gets out Power and Quinn are available, Adams answers his phone and attempts to turn a magic trick into a magic show by putting together a deal for 2 Top 6 proven scoring Forwards with speed and grit in their prime. Toss in some SC experience.

Only Dahlin, Benson, Tuch, and Levi are untouchable.

He has plenty of other cards up his sleeve he can play.

Abracadabra.

I'd swap Thompson for Tuch.

I sure want to keep a 28 year old Thompson getting paid $7m per year for 4 more years....rather than a couple year older Tuch who might be signed to his middle-to-late 30's for possibly 50-60% more $ than what Tage is getting.

And Levi also?  He might be good, but he hasn't shown me anything yet that would make me think at the NHL level he's better than anyone else they currently have.

[Porous Five Hole]

Greenway has been helpful since he’s been back. Not a top line guy, but someone who finishes checks and makes this team harder to play against. He kills penalties well and helps hold things together. Need him to contribute this until the injuries sort themselves out. 

[Thorny]

17 minutes ago, Believer said:

Agree. Norris is a bust, imo. Adams took a chance and lost.

So, after word gets out Power and Quinn are available, Adams answers his phone and attempts to turn a magic trick into a magic show by putting together a deal for 2 Top 6 proven scoring Forwards with speed and grit in their prime. Toss in some SC experience.

Only Dahlin, Benson, Tuch, and Levi are untouchable.

He has plenty of other cards up his sleeve he can play.

Abracadabra.

Why is Levi untouchable 

[Believer]

2 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

I'd swap Thompson for Tuch.

I sure want to keep a 28 year old Thompson getting paid $7m per year for 4 more years....rather than a couple year older Tuch who might be signed to his middle-to-late 30's for possibly 50-60% more $ than what Tage is getting.

And Levi also?  He might be good, but he hasn't shown me anything yet that would make me think at the NHL level he's better than anyone else they currently have.

Good swap. Makes much better sense.

Levi is a bet on the future. Given his age, Lyon is not the future. UPL’s prospects are uncertain, and Ellis is a promising unknown.

Levi is percolating nicely in Rochester. He has started the season with a 5-0-0 record, with a 1.80 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage in five appearances so far.

Over his career with the Amerks, he has a 41-19-8 record and 7 shutouts in 68 games, and this season he is off to his best start in the AHL.

Let him percolate.

[Crusader1969]

20 minutes ago, Believer said:

Agree. Norris is a bust, imo. Adams took a chance and lost.

So, after word gets out Power and Quinn are available, Adams answers his phone and attempts to turn a magic trick into a magic show by putting together a deal for 2 Top 6 proven scoring Forwards with speed and grit in their prime. Toss in some SC experience.

Only Dahlin, Benson, Tuch, and Levi are untouchable.

He has plenty of other cards up his sleeve he can play.

Abracadabra.

Why the heck would Tuch be untouchable? 

[Thorny]

Just now, Believer said:

Good swap. Makes much better sense.

Levi is a bet on the future. Given his age, Lyon is not the future. UPL’s prospects are uncertain, and Ellis is a promising unknown.

Levi is percolating nicely in Rochester. He has started the season with a 5-0-0 record, with a 1.80 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage in five appearances so far.

Over his career with the Amerks, he has a 41-19-8 record and 7 shutouts in 68 games, and this season he is off to his best start in the AHL.

Let him percolate.

No matter how much he percolates at the AHL level it’s never going to bridge the skill level gap to the NHL because he isn’t going to grow in size - and that’s the differentiating factor where Levi is concerned

it’s not that most goalies don’t make mistakes in their positioning, it’s that their sizes bails them out more often than not. Levi doesn’t get the benefit of that and AHL shooters don’t have the ability to expose it 

[Crusader1969]

Just quickly scrolled through the game on replay

My simple analysis is : 

Our guy Tuch missed a wide open net 

their guy Schmaltz buried his chance with the open net 

I do like Tuch but really really wished he could be a slight more accurate on his shots. Too many glorious opportunities where he completely misses the net

Not too disappointed overall with the game   Good bounce back by Lyon from his last start   
 

need to beat the Blues on Thursday 

 

 

 

[Believer]

2 minutes ago, Thorny said:

Why is Levi untouchable 

We are the second youngest team in the NHL. After we breakout of our playoff slump this season, expect the Sabres to contend for the Cup for several years given our depth of talent on the roster and in the pipeline. Not even Adams can ball it up. Hoping Levi can lead the Amerks to a Calder Cup and bring that experience with him when he is the Sabres goalie. Lot of assumptions, I know. Just how I see it.

[Believer]

18 minutes ago, Thorny said:

No matter how much he percolates at the AHL level it’s never going to bridge the skill level gap to the NHL because he isn’t going to grow in size - and that’s the differentiating factor where Levi is concerned

it’s not that most goalies don’t make mistakes in their positioning, it’s that their sizes bails them out more often than not. Levi doesn’t get the benefit of that and AHL shooters don’t have the ability to expose it 

I get it. Levi is 6 ft, most NHL goalies are 6’ 3+. UPL is 6’5”. Levi has to depend on quickness.

[GASabresIUFAN]

I don't know why people are upset about this result.  Utah is the better hockey team and the Sabres have no idea how to win in the NHL.  

[Goldseatsaud]

2 hours ago, K012010 said:

Completely disagree that they look disinterested. They’ve played well. We’re down a bunch of important guys if you didn’t realize it. Lyon has also played out of his mind. He’s very interested it appears. 

What is Tuch, Thompson and Greenway doing?

31 minutes ago, Thorny said:

Why is Levi untouchable 

I thought he was the Sabres goalie. He was up with the Sabres at one time

[Crusader1969]

The OT winner has nothing to do with Quinn. It’s Tuch’s assignment and he gets beat to the inside. That’s the breakdown. Period.

Also worth remembering:

Tuch had an uncontested shot from the slot and didn’t score

Tuch had a wide-open 3-on-1 and missed the net completely 

But everyone’s dumping on Quinn and Power because it fits the narrative.   
 

 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by Crusader1969

[PerreaultForever]

5 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I don't know. Have the Mammoth played any physical teams yet? The Western looks like the weaker conference. They have two quality wins over Colorado and Winnipeg but 5 wins over sub-.500 teams.

You were correct here. Sabres being the physical team was a new thing in this era. Aside from the OT, this is not the same Sabres team as last year. Much much better. The OT, well, that looked like the same old Sabres. Quinn just waiving his stick in the guy's direction and letting him go right to the net. You just have to play the man and the body there. But lots of things to like in the game as a whole. The Swedish kids have some chemistry too. 

Quinn is the weakest link. 

[Crusader1969]

Just now, PerreaultForever said:

You were correct here. Sabres being the physical team was a new thing in this era. Aside from the OT, this is not the same Sabres team as last year. Much much better. The OT, well, that looked like the same old Sabres. Quinn just waiving his stick in the guy's direction and letting him go right to the net. You just have to play the man and the body there. But lots of things to like in the game as a whole. The Swedish kids have some chemistry too. 

Quinn is the weakest link. 

Rewatch.  That's 100% on Tuch. 

[PerreaultForever]

2 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

The OT winner has nothing to do with Quinn. It’s Tuch’s assignment and he gets beat to the inside. That’s the breakdown. Period.

Also worth remembering:

Tuch had an uncontested shot from the slot and didn’t score

Tuch had a wide-open 3-on-1 and missed the net completely 

But everyone’s dumping on Quinn and Power because it fits the narrative.   
 

 

 

You might want to put this narrative forward and it might be Tuch's man, but go ahead and explain what Quinn is doing there. If he steps up and plays the body the play doesn't happen but since he's soft, he waives his stick and does nothing. When a player loses his man (like Tuch did) it's incumbent on the next guy to step into that gap and take him. Quinn was right there. 

[Crusader1969]

1 minute ago, PerreaultForever said:

You might want to put this narrative forward and it might be Tuch's man, but go ahead and explain what Quinn is doing there. If he steps up and plays the body the play doesn't happen but since he's soft, he waives his stick and does nothing. When a player loses his man (like Tuch did) it's incumbent on the next guy to step into that gap and take him. Quinn was right there. 

Quinn has a responsibility of his man. He gets caught flat footed as he first moves towards his man before realizing Tuch got beat 

bottom line. That was Tuchs responsibility.  
he should get called out, just like anyone else on this team