GDT: Blues @ Sabres, 7:00pm Nov. 6, 2025, 🎙 📺 ESPN+/MSG

[msw2112]

3 minutes ago, matter2003 said:

Ruff pumping them up this morning: "OK boys!  We have a chance to set a new NHL record for most OT games in a row! Let's make sure that happens..."

If they make it to OT against a Western Conference team, that's not a terrible result.  If they make it to OT and WIN, that's a great result.  I'd also "settle" for a regulation win....All of this said, because the Blues appear to really suck this year, a win of any kind is a must.

Edited 2 hours ago by msw2112

[Pimlach]

4 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

The Blues are bad. They have the worst goaltending in the league right now. The Sabres are meh. They have half the top 9 missing. 

Can the Sabres take advantage of a team with bad goaltending? Will St. Louis kidnap Ellis on the way out of town? Will Buffalo get goalied? Will this game also go to OT so Buffalo can lose? Does Seth Appert know his pp and 3v3 strategy sucks worse than soggy wings? 

Find out tonight on another adventure of, as the Sabres turn.

I watched a lot of the Blues and Caps last night.  St Louis looked terrible and not just the bad goaltending.  The key to beating them is to outskate them like Washington did.   

10 minutes ago, Shoot da Puck said:

The Blues are in last place with 10 freaking points.

This will be an easy game

Sabres 4

Blues 1

 

 

Which is why I worry.  

Expect the Blues to try to slow the depleted Sabres  down - like Philly and Montreal do to us every game.  

If the Sabres can dictate their game and take a lot of shots then they should win it.  

 

[inkman]

25 minutes ago, Shoot da Puck said:

The Blues are in last place with 10 freaking points.

This will be an easy game

Sabres 4

Blues 1

There is NO CHANCE FOR A TIE, NO CHANCE

 

 

Have you watched the Sabres the last decade or two?  They fumble games like this routinely. Like it’s almost a certainty this game will be harder than it should with a good chance the Sabres lose. 

[pi2000]

trap game

[JohnC]

24 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

I see it the opposite.  They know what UPL is.   When UPL is in his good groove he is a 1B, otherwise he is a 2.  Unfortunately he has never shown enough consistency to be a true #1, not even in the AHL.   Everyone knows that.  Could that ever change?  Should they keep rolling the dice on UPL? 

They should be giving Ellis an equal number of games as UPL right now - both backing up Lyon.   If Ellis gets waived and becomes a solid NHL goalie somewhere else it will be another massive fail. 

They should give Ellis some games if he is healthy.  I cannot understand why they wouldn't unless they are showcasing UPL for a possible trade.  

 

A lot of people made a premature judgment on Samuelsson. The same harsh judges were adamant about their evaluation of the defenseman. They were wrong because it is evident that the scorned player is now playing well.

With respect to UPL, I, like many, are skeptical about him. What’s wrong with finding out what he is capable of? And don’t you think that if Ruff believed that Ellis gave the team a better chance to win that he would be in the net tonight?

[inkman]

6 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

trap game

Is there such a thing in the NHL?

[Pimlach]

Just now, JohnC said:

A lot of people made a premature judgment on Samuelsson. The same harsh judges were adamant about their evaluation of the defenseman. They were wrong because it is evident that the scorned player is now playing well.

With respect to UPL, I, like many, are skeptical about him. What’s wrong with finding out what he is capable of? And don’t you think that if Ruff believed that Ellis gave the team a better chance to win that he would be in the net tonight?

Ruff likes UPL.  That is a given.   

Nothing is wrong with giving UPL a chance.  They gave him a big chance in 22-23, and then again in 23-24.  They gave him a contract  in 24-25, and now more chances in 25-26.  After all of these chances, I think they know what he is capable of.  He could be good, or he could be lousy.  

Nothing is wrong with giving Ellis a chance either - unless he is still hurt.  Ellis hasn't even dressed as backup since he played his one game.  

 

[pi2000]

1 minute ago, Pimlach said:

Ruff likes UPL.  That is a given.   

Nothing is wrong with giving UPL a chance.  They gave him a big chance in 22-23, and then again in 23-24.  They gave him a contract  in 24-25, and now more chances in 25-26.  After all of these chances, I think they know what he is capable of.  He could be good, or he could be lousy.  

Nothing is wrong with giving Ellis a chance either - unless he is still hurt.  Ellis hasn't even dressed as backup since he played his one game.  

 

UPL Is 26.

Has a goalie ever drastically improved at age 27 or older?   

This should be prime UPL, but in a way it feels like he's still somewhat of a project. 

[Thorny]

20 minutes ago, inkman said:

Is there such a thing in the NHL?

Not for a team that hasn’t made the playoffs in 1.5 decades that’s for sure 

10 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

UPL Is 26.

Has a goalie ever drastically improved at age 27 or older?   

This should be prime UPL, but in a way it feels like he's still somewhat of a project. 

Tim Thomas 

[Pimlach]

3 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

UPL Is 26.

Has a goalie ever drastically improved at age 27 or older?   

This should be prime UPL, but in a way it feels like he's still somewhat of a project. 

Binnington came to my mind but even he was 25 when he made the big jump.   Other that that I don't know.   Ellis is 25 and still looking for a shot. 

My assessment is that UPL is inconsistent.  Good UPL is a #1B while he is hot.  Bad UPL is a back up #2.    

[pi2000]

4 minutes ago, Thorny said:

Tim Thomas 

[Brawndo]

The Blues did have a full practice this AM 

 

 

[Pimlach]

1 minute ago, Brawndo said:

The Blues did have a full practice this AM 

 

 

We need to skate hard and fast and wear them down.  

[Stads]

Just because I'm sick of overtime at this point in time, I'm going to change it to Must Win in Regulation (MWIR)

Mustard Was Inserted Rectally

[LTS]

11 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Binnington came to my mind but even he was 25 when he made the big jump.   Other that that I don't know.   Ellis is 25 and still looking for a shot. 

My assessment is that UPL is inconsistent.  Good UPL is a #1B while he is hot.  Bad UPL is a back up #2.    

Interesting choice given that he's part of the goaltending problem of the Blues right now.  He has his moments but more often than not he doesn't.

[K012010]

I just can’t wait to see some more three on three hockey tonight. I feel like if we can just get another four or five cracks at it we can figure it out.

[pi2000]

I view this game as a litmus test.

In recent years the Sabres would come out flat against inferior opponents, only to wake up in the final 10 minutes of the game falling just short of a comeback.

Either we see more of the same, or they come out with their hair on fire and try to grab an early lead.

 

[oddoublee]

6 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

I view this game as a litmus test.

In recent years the Sabres would come out flat against inferior opponents, only to wake up in the final 10 minutes of the game falling just short of a comeback.

Either we see more of the same, or they come out with their hair on fire and try to grab an early lead.

 

The sabres have no inferior opponents. Especially with half the top 9 out. Or, even with them in. 

[Taro T]

42 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

UPL Is 26.

Has a goalie ever drastically improved at age 27 or older?   

This should be prime UPL, but in a way it feels like he's still somewhat of a project. 

You mean besides Roloson (who completely changed his game) and Thomas (who was simply a unicorn)?

None come immediately to mind.

[Taro T]

30 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

The Blues did have a full practice this AM 

 

 

So, come out with their own hair on fire and wear the Blues out.

No excuses for a loss tonight.

[Stads]

17 minutes ago, K012010 said:

I just can’t wait to see some more three on three hockey tonight. I feel like if we can just get another four or five cracks at it we can figure it out.

[sabresouth]

ka is too heavily invested in upl

[pi2000]

5 minutes ago, Stads said:

+305 on bovada to go to OT 👀

[DarthEbriate]

Peak Hasek didn't appear until a playoff game in his age 28 season. (Not that he wasn't good earlier, but at that point he went ascended saiyan goalie.)

[pi2000]

1 minute ago, DarthEbriate said:

Peak Hasek didn't appear until a playoff game in his age 28 season. (Not that he wasn't good earlier, but at that point he went ascended saiyan goalie.)

 

53 minutes ago, Thorny said:

Tim Thomas 

Based on historical data.... we can expect UPL to fall somewhere between Tiim Thomas and Dominik Hasek 👍