GDT Sabres at Penguins 11/26/25 7pm MSG WGR550

[Taro T]

3rd game in a row that they didn't give up the 3rd shot against of the game until there were 5 or less minutes left in the 1st.

Astoundingly bad decision by Timmons to try a drop pass to no one in a game that was that tight checking to that point.  Byram made the right play, but he and UPL had bad luck in that the puck changed direction slightly and got through.  Considering that was the only scoring chance the Sabres gave up that period, would like to have seen UPL figure out a way to make the stop there.

Not sure what Östlund was doing that period.  He tried to force a puck back to the point that had no chance of getting through, made a youth hockey deke right before hitting the blue line taking both his linemates offside and had one other really boneheaded thing in the 1st.  All of which were the sort of things he was doing his 1st 2 games up; but he'd played really well since then.  Wonder if seeing Norris in practice and being able to do math had him clutching the stick a little too tight to start the game.

Quinn decided to try to force a puck back to the point that also had no chance of getting through that the Pens ended up icing for some reason.  Was expecting we'd be seeing WTF Quinn this game because of that, but that really was just about the only head scratcher he had tonight and he generated some very good chances and more or less scored both goals.  He's been looking like we'd hoped he would since Zucker has come back in the lineup.  Regardless how Lindy adjusts the lines when Norris gets back, would absolutely not break those 2 up.  Zucker really seems to help his stay focused and confident.

There was one other bad drop pass that period, but it ended up pretty harmless too.

Didn't realize Kea was 36.  Always hate seeing 36 or 39 reffing Sabres games because it always seems they have it in for the Sabres.  At least now know why 36 hates 'em.  Wonder what 39's story is?  Realize it was Crosby and he'll always get the benefit of the doubt at this stage of his career, but both the call against Timmons and the noncall when Crosby "accidentally" stepped into Dahlin should've gone the other way.  They let the Pens get away with interference all game, but they pretty much let the Sabres do so as well; so those 2 Crosby calls were pretty much the extent of lousy reffing.  Maybe 36 was in a good mood because it's Thanksgiving tomorrow.  (Considering he's a Canuck, that's not intuitively obvious, but maybe he married a Yank and she's psyched for tomorrow.)  The Sabres aren't going to get a more evenly called game than this one with 36 in control.

No idea what was said on the bench or what individual effort caused the team to collectively get their legs moving when they had the puck, but a light switch definitely got flipped 35 or so minutes into the game.  Game got much more entertaining after that.

Though thought UPL was shaky in the 1st, he got a couple of shots right into the crest to start the 2nd and he was picking his game up a lot and looked solid in the 3rd while the Sabres trailed.  Was wondering how he and the team would react to the Pens giving up on their shell hoping to get Jarry the SO, but they all spit the bit when the Pens pushed back.  Yes Timmons and his teammates should've been better there; but THAT was when they needed UPL to remain calm and bail them out.  And he panicked as much as they did.  He over reacted to the 1st shot and then was in a bad spot when the puck was back under him bouncing off the boards; lost the stick and then tried to make a blocker save 5 hole rather than just closing the 5 hole with his legs.  He said he lost the puck briefly behind Byram.  It was a tough spot to be in, but they NEEDED him to find a way to make that save.

And then on the 3rd goal, yes, with the slow line change by the Fs Power was a bit slow on getting to the guy who scored, and the goal wasn't on UPL, but goalies who's teams win on the road tend to find a way to make at least 1 of those 3 tough saves.

Jarry faced way more tough shots and ended up stopping all but 2.  They needed UPL to find a way to make at least 1 more of them.  Overall, he played well.  Still thought he was shaky in the 1st, but the team kept the Pens from getting many shots through; just like they'd done in the 1st against both Chicago and the Canes, and gave him time to get into a bit of a groove while having only given up 1 to that point.  He didn't give up any bad goals, or just the 1 bad goal, depending upon how you viewed how he got to the point he lost his stick and lost the puck; but he also didn't make any "big" save that bails his teammates out.  It's good that he didn't give up the bad goals; but if he's going to be the guy they run with out of the 3 they have, he HAS to find a way to bail them out a couple of times when they need it.  Jarry found a way to do so.  And, at the end of the day, that's the difference from stealing 2 in a place that's been a house of horrors or just going home having to take solace in having played a tormentor pretty much evenly.

Thompson and Tuch need to be better too.  Neither played badly, but they both were just off enough in the offensive zone to not find a way to at least keep Tage's point scoring streak going, if not his goal scoring streak.

Ruff said a few days ago that Samuelsson is their best D-man right now, and a modest case could be made that Dahlin has some competition for that title that he's clearly held all alone for at least the last 5 seasons and arguably the last 7 seasons.  Really liking watching his play this year.  Good to see him earning his pay.

Can we petition the league to ensure that the Sabres don't play in a game where Zamboni gravy boats are being given away that night?  2 years in a row they played well, but ran into a hot goalie and effectively lost a 1 goal game they likely deserved better than.

Head back home and make the Devils wish that they were hitting up some Boxing Day deals rather than the ice.  Expecting Lyon gets that start, but wtf knows.  

[Broken Ankles]

1 hour ago, Crusader1969 said:

I don't mind people blaming UPL in general.  I know I have lots of issues with him ! BUT tonight if you blame him  and don't mention the 2 plays by Timmins that directly resulted in the chances, then it's being lazy

If that was Ellis in net tonight, the goalie wouldn't be blamed 

Not understanding how UPL is “blameless” in the sequence in the second goal against.  He constantly over pursues and slides out of position.  His positioning caused the puck to go where it did, and him attempting to clear and eventually lose his stick.  Losing his stick was the root cause for the second goal. If he has his stick, there is not a gaping hole between his legs. If he is better positioned to begin with, he doesn’t lose his stick and the goal does not occur.

  And it happens moments after Quinners goal.  It’s a momentum shift.  If I’m on the bench I’m thinking are you ***** kidding me…again? 

Now is he the only reason? Of course not.  Plenty of blame to go around.  But he’s one of a few that bear the brunt of the blame.

Moneypuck has expected goals 4.05 to 1.65 in favor of Buffalo.  Jarrys number was 2 saves above expected, UPL was 1.35 below expected.  He contributed to the L. 

 

This is how I feel about UPL.

 

[Crusader1969]

Just now, Broken Ankles said:

Not understanding how UPL is “blameless” in the sequence in the second goal against.  He constantly over pursues and slides out of position.  His positioning caused the puck to go where it did, and him attempting to clear and eventually lose his stick.  Losing his stick was the root cause for the second goal. If he has his stick, there is not a gaping hole between his legs. If he is better positioned to begin with, he doesn’t lose his stick and the goal does not occur.

  And it happens moments after Quinners goal.  It’s a momentum shift.  If I’m on the bench I’m thinking are you ***** kidding me…again? 

Now is he the only reason? Of course not.  Plenty of blame to go around.  But he’s one of a few that bear the brunt of the blame.

Moneypuck has expected goals 4.05 to 1.65 in favor of Buffalo.  Jarrys number was 2 saves above expected, UPL was 1.35 below expected.  He contributed to the L. 

 

This is how I feel about UPL.

 

I never said he was blameless. I said you shouldn’t blame him without also acknowledging that Timmins’ play was the main contributing factor on both the first and second goals against.

 

This is crazy.  We all want to blame UPL but in reality all 3 goalies have been terrible on the road 

 

 

[LTS]

I watched the first two periods.  If I were to use recent social media speak I would classify it as "Tell me you have no interest in this game without telling me you have no interest in this game."

They were soft, slow, and disinterested.

So.. I turned it off. I'm now on my fourth black manhattan.. I'm happy; just as I predicted earlier today.

Because.. why on Earth would I care about this game if the team that gets paid stupid bucks to play it does not?

[Broken Ankles]

5 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

I never said he was blameless. I said you shouldn’t blame him without also acknowledging that Timmins’ play was the main contributing factor on both the first and second goals against.

 

This is crazy.  We all want to blame UPL but in reality all 3 goalies have been terrible on the road 

 

 

UPL contributed more on goal #2. Your defense of him is curious.  Players turn pucks over all the time. It doesn’t have to result in a goal.  

[JoeSchmoe]

33 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

I never said he was blameless. I said you shouldn’t blame him without also acknowledging that Timmins’ play was the main contributing factor on both the first and second goals against.

 

This is crazy.  We all want to blame UPL but in reality all 3 goalies have been terrible on the road 

 

 

Lyons overall numbers are respectable. I wonder why they seem to have abandoned the idea of him being the #1 unless he's nursing something minor that won't go away.

[RETURNTOGLORY]

This team constantly takes until the 2nd period to get their compete going!

That is absolutely a coaching issue!

[Crusader1969]

21 minutes ago, Broken Ankles said:

UPL contributed more on goal #2. Your defense of him is curious.  Players turn pucks over all the time. It doesn’t have to result in a goal.  

Did you actually see the turnover?  He (Timmins) put it right on the stick on the penguin player in the slot. 
I'm not defending UPL Im saying that the argument that's it's all in him is too simplistic. 

3 minutes ago, JoeSchmoe said:

Lyons overall numbers are respectable. I wonder why they seem to have abandoned the idea of him being the #1 unless he's nursing something minor that won't go away.

He's 0-3-1 on the road with a .874 save percentage.    That's not respectable 

[SabreFinn]

I expect a home win against Devils. After that they play 7 of 8 games on the road. They better figure out how to win on the road,  and fast!

[OverPowerYou]

The only hope I have left is in Josh Norris

[Spoonman]

1 hour ago, Crusader1969 said:

I never said he was blameless. I said you shouldn’t blame him without also acknowledging that Timmins’ play was the main contributing factor on both the first and second goals against.

 

This is crazy.  We all want to blame UPL but in reality all 3 goalies have been terrible on the road 

 

 

Quit with facts! They are ruining the narrative on UPL over the last 18mo! 
 

Lyon & Ellis = Sabres Saviors!!! 

[thewookie1]

@Thorny your laughter is not needed

 

Edited 43 minutes ago by thewookie1

[PerreaultForever]

and this is why you don't jump on the bandwagon with this team after a few decent games. The disappointment always follows eventually. 

There were some good things but overall for much of the game it didn't feel to me like they had a chance at all. Only in the third when it was still close. 

Now, the thing I really want to point out is WTF is Thompson doing on the second Pittsburgh goal? I see some of you bitching about UPL out of position (and he was) but go look at it again and look at Thompson. He's right in front, perfect position to get his stick in the lane and prevent or block the shot and he just floats around between players achieving nothing. Big guy like that with his reach, how does he just do nothing there? These details boggle my mind with this team cause they happen over and over again. Power of course was weak on the third goal but nothing new there. 

The other thing that bugs me is the 6 on 5. I also watched the Islanders Bruins and in that game Islanders pulled the goalie early and they had 3 guys in and around the paint. Three. Sabres have one guy in there. Just one. Who tf designs this? Is it Appert? It's the dumbest softest most futile 6 on 5 in the league. 

You just can't give away 4 point spreads to teams you are trying to catch and hope for the playoffs, you just can't.