GDT/ Buffalo Sabres @ Flyers, 7:30pm TNT WGR

[Scottysabres]

1 hour ago, Sidc3000 said:

Why? What made you think they turned the corner? 

They’ve so far avoided their annual mid/late November 10+ game losing streak. Which, as I pointed out, has become an annual event.

[Jävə Keith]

10 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Went to the David Byrne concert.  Not sorry I missed the game.  

While you were enjoying the concert, we got to watch our own Psycho Killer!
"Qu'est-ce que c'est?"  in the Sabres instance is French for WTF?

Edited 2 hours ago by Jävə Keith

[PromoTheRobot]

9 hours ago, Crusader1969 said:

I'm glad you can admit the Flyers goalie was better

If you look at the expected goals.  Flyers were at 5.38 and got 5.  So he was ok at best 

Sabres were at 5.72 and scored 2 

The Flyers goalie was clearly better 

again not blaming Ellis but he needs to be better.   
I actually want them to make him their #1 and see what he can do.   

I edited my post to an A- because of the first goal Ersson let in. (Zucker) Ellis had a far more difficult job last night because of the greater number of dangerous chances he had to stop.

Proof the NHL has different rules for the Sabres

 

 

 

 

[Slack_in_MA]

3 hours ago, #freejame said:

I don’t think it’s about jumping on the bandwagon. Speaking for myself, I want to enjoy Sabres hockey so much that I’ll tell myself they are something they’re not at the faintest glimpse of hope. I know I’m lying to myself, but I want to believe. 

I liken it to watching your kid play youth sports. You follow their every movement and see what you want to see because you want the best for them. Then they go up against “real” competition and you find out how good they really are. And it’s deflating. 

[PromoTheRobot]

12 hours ago, Crusader1969 said:

I'm glad you can admit the Flyers goalie was better

If you look at the expected goals.  Flyers were at 5.38 and got 5.  So he was ok at best 

Sabres were at 5.72 and scored 2 

The Flyers goalie was clearly better 

again not blaming Ellis but he needs to be better.   
I actually want them to make him their #1 and see what he can do.   

Let's not forget Ersson let in three goals last night but had the third overturned. He was beat by Benson moving across the crease. Before that he waves at a puck Byram scores on and let Zucker beat him five-hole on the power play. The rest of the night the Sabres hit him in the crest. 

Also the goal Ellis allowed when a Flyer hit his blocker with his stick. No GI call because Buffalo.

We seem to have different standards for goalies depending if they are Sabres or the opponent.

Edited 21 minutes ago by PromoTheRobot

[MISabresFan]

Piss poor effort.  Blaming it on puck luck.   What BS, suck it up buttercup.  This is the NHL not backyard ball.  The puck does not have a brain and if you are lazy it will find you.

[JoeSchmoe]

Man, that game was a gut punch. I thought we were different with Norris back.

[French Collection]

10 hours ago, SwampD said:

That video coach isn’t blameless, either.

That couple of minutes was a bad move and put the momentum on Philly’s side. The Sabres were done and played without the extra effort for most of the game.

There needs to be a major house cleaning but TP probably still believes the answer is in the room. This forum has way better answers.

[Scottysabres]

10 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Let's not forget Ersson let in three goals last night but had the third overturned. He was beat by Benson moving across the crease. Before that he waves at a puck Byram scores on and let Zucker beat him five-hole on the power play. The rest of the night the Sabres hit him in the crest. 

Don't forget the goal Ellis allowed when a Flyer hit his blocker with his stick. No GI call because Buffalo.

We seen to have different standards for goalies depending if they are Sabres or the opponent.

If the Sabres shooters could hit the broadside of a barn it could have easily been a 6 or 7 to 5 Sabres victory. At least 4 open nets were shot right in to the goalie or, worse, wide or high, a common trademark of Sabres shooters as of late.

Edited 2 hours ago by Scottysabres

[zow2]

Why is Ruff still the coach here?   If they get fewer than 6 points on this road trip he should be fired upon arrival back in Buffalo.

[Pimlach]

Interesting commentary.  

Pretty much everything went wrong and the Sabres once again failed to handle adversity.  

The best players did not step up once again.  Thompson’s  lazy effort on a PP leads to his hooking call that nullified the PP.  Tuch’s failure to clear the puck on a PK leads to a goal.  The failed challenge, and another goal.  The coach not calling timeout to settle things down, then another goal off of a Benson-Thompson give away.  

3 goals in 59 seconds is a BIG problem.  

After that it was still dysfunctional.  Missed opportunities, the goalie throws his stick, a power play that does not shoot.  The  Sabres finally score and then give up a goal immediately afterwards.   Then the Benson goal comes off the board, for offside   - Tochett shows Ruff how it’s done. 

Dahlin’s match penalty.  

Hell, Dunne couldn’t even convince Des Laueriers to fight.   

The team lacked cohesion and maturity last night.  This road trip will either make ‘em or break ‘em. 

1 hour ago, zow2 said:

Why is Ruff still the coach here?   If they get fewer than 6 points on this road trip he should be fired upon arrival back in Buffalo.

Terry knows him.  

Edited 20 minutes ago by Pimlach

[Mustache of God]

13 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Ellis has been bad

I don't understand why he's still on the roster. He was a waiver claim as insurance if UPL was injured longer term. Keeping 3 goalies on the roster kills the morale of your goalies. There's a reason just about every other team in the league only carries 2. Just waive him at this point. It's not a wasted asset if you gave up nothing to get him. 

[Taro T]

54 minutes ago, JoeSchmoe said:

Man, that game was a gut punch. I thought we were different with Norris back.

Was wondering how much of the incredible play on Monday had been due to the overall team adrenaline from getting Norris back finally healthy after so long and how much of it was getting a true top 6 skater into the lineup.

Hard to read too much into last night's game because of the way how that 2 minute or so streak of horrible decisions and a bit of bad puck luck torpedoed the night.  But, though Norris did have a hand in the PP goal (didn't he get the 2nd assist on the Zucker goal?), his line didn't look special even before the wheels fell off and the Appert appears to be stronger than the Norris as the PP didn't do squat after they got that 1 PP goal and it was poor play by Thompson on the PP that started the ball rolling downhill.  They moved the puck well on the PP that worked.  They did a lot of standing around waiting for Dahlin or Byram to get the puck to Thompson or Norris for a 1 timer outside of that.  Again, the Appert is strong with this crew.

Tomorrow's game will be a better indication of what they'll really get with Norris in the lineup.  Am wondering how long it takes before we see Ruff's revised original plan for how to deploy the lines with Norris in the lineup.  (Aka Thompson and Norris each centering their own lines.)

[Believer]

1 hour ago, Scottysabres said:

If the Sabres shooters could hit the broadside of a barn it could have easily been a 6 or 7 to 5 Sabres victory. At least 4 open nets were shot right in to the goalie or, worse, wide or high, a common trademark of Sabres shooters as of late.

Agree.

Only a couple of our players have demonstrated they have quick hands, puck poise before shooting in close, and the eye to snipe.

Makes you wonder what our scouts look for in prospects and what they work on in practice.

Character doesn’t shoot the puck, and frankly I haven’t seen much character from our guys anyway.

[PASabreFan]

1 hour ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I edited my post to an A- because of the first goal Ersson let in. (Zucker) Ellis had a far more difficult job last night because of the greater number of dangerous chances he had to stop.

Proof the NHL has different rules for the Sabres

 

 

 

 

Just gonna go by photos?

[JoeSchmoe]

10 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Was wondering how much of the incredible play on Monday had been due to the overall team adrenaline from getting Norris back finally healthy after so long and how much of it was getting a true top 6 skater into the lineup.

Hard to read too much into last night's game because of the way how that 2 minute or so streak of horrible decisions and a bit of bad puck luck torpedoed the night.  But, though Norris did have a hand in the PP goal (didn't he get the 2nd assist on the Zucker goal?), his line didn't look special even before the wheels fell off and the Appert appears to be stronger than the Norris as the PP didn't do squat after they got that 1 PP goal and it was poor play by Thompson on the PP that started the ball rolling downhill.  They moved the puck well on the PP that worked.  They did a lot of standing around waiting for Dahlin or Byram to get the puck to Thompson or Norris for a 1 timer outside of that.  Again, the Appert is strong with this crew.

Tomorrow's game will be a better indication of what they'll really get with Norris in the lineup.  Am wondering how long it takes before we see Ruff's revised original plan for how to deploy the lines with Norris in the lineup.  (Aka Thompson and Norris each centering their own lines.)

I personally like Thompson at C. It shouldn't be this way, but I do feel he seems more engaged there.

Send Östlund back to ROC and bring Rosen back up to play wing. Then move McLeod back to 3rd line C where he's better suited.

 

[Big Guava]

This team is basically Lucy and we are Charlie Brown.

They always suck you back in just when you say you are done and promise they will become an actual good team but right at the point you are ready to jump on board they just pull the football away as you try to kick it and you end up on your back again like you have the other 20 times it's happened over the last 15 years. 

When are we ever going to learn?

 

Edited 45 minutes ago by Big Guava

[Pimlach]

57 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Was wondering how much of the incredible play on Monday had been due to the overall team adrenaline from getting Norris back finally healthy after so long and how much of it was getting a true top 6 skater into the lineup.

Hard to read too much into last night's game because of the way how that 2 minute or so streak of horrible decisions and a bit of bad puck luck torpedoed the night.  But, though Norris did have a hand in the PP goal (didn't he get the 2nd assist on the Zucker goal?), his line didn't look special even before the wheels fell off and the Appert appears to be stronger than the Norris as the PP didn't do squat after they got that 1 PP goal and it was poor play by Thompson on the PP that started the ball rolling downhill.  They moved the puck well on the PP that worked.  They did a lot of standing around waiting for Dahlin or Byram to get the puck to Thompson or Norris for a 1 timer outside of that.  Again, the Appert is strong with this crew.

Tomorrow's game will be a better indication of what they'll really get with Norris in the lineup.  Am wondering how long it takes before we see Ruff's revised original plan for how to deploy the lines with Norris in the lineup.  (Aka Thompson and Norris each centering their own lines.)

Taro, to me it is easy to read into last nights game. It shows something massive about the character and maturity of the team.  They are a work in progress.  Still lacking some key pieces, and we saw example of good game day coaching (Tochett) and bad game day coaching (Ruff).  How many times have they won 2 in a row and failed to show up to get a 3rd win?  Did they look hungry?   They expect teams to roll over for them.  

All the events that preceded the 3 goals in 59 seconds says a lot.  Their inability to regroup and come back, they had a lot of time to get back in the game.  

By far the worse line out there was Benson-Thompson-Norris, the line you expected to carry the team was not at all in sync.  The only line I liked all night was Östlund's line.   

So, after two games I am ready to break up Thompson and Norris to see what else they can do.   

I think Tage is mediocre center, but as a winger he doesn't seem to know how to get himself open for a clear shot.  So put Norris with other players and see what else we have.   I also think its time to move Benson off of the 1st line.  ZERO goal production and the season is more than 1/4 over.  That is not first line worthy.   Maybe Benson can work with Östlund?   Try a savvy vet like Zucker with Norris?     

On a side note:  I find it odd that Dunne challenges Deslauriers once before the game, and again during the game - only to have Deslauriers pass.   

My interpretation is that Dunne is viewed as insignificant, and Deslauriers did not want to risk losing a fight and letting Dunne influence the games momentum which turned to all Flyers after the first 5 minutes and 30 seconds -  the time that Tage Thompson took a lazy penalty on a power play after playing lazy in his own zone.    

Note to Dunne, stop looking for silly staged fights.  Fight only when it means something, and don't wait for an invitation or for clearance.  Just go.  

Deslauriers waited until the game was all but over to get involved in any scrums, he took an extra 2 minute roughing penalty on Dunne, and then watched as our PP failed to put a shot on net for 2 minutes.  

Tochett told the TNT guys he wanted to control the ice in front of both nets and they did. That is were hockey games are won.  

Edited 18 minutes ago by Pimlach

[Pimlach]

48 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

Just gonna go by photos?

Sure.   Only you stop the photos in the frames that best proves your point.  

"begin the unnecessarily slow moving dipping mechanism"  ... 

 

Edited 17 minutes ago by Pimlach

[Crusader1969]

52 minutes ago, Mustache of God said:

I don't understand why he's still on the roster. He was a waiver claim as insurance if UPL was injured longer term. Keeping 3 goalies on the roster kills the morale of your goalies. There's a reason just about every other team in the league only carries 2. Just waive him at this point. It's not a wasted asset if you gave up nothing to get him. 

What if he is better than either Lyon or UPL? Or worse yet , better than both 

I say trade / release Lyon and let's be a real franchise with 2 goalies on the roster, for at least 2 mins anyways 

[inkman]

1 hour ago, zow2 said:

Why is Ruff still the coach here?   If they get fewer than 6 points on this road trip he should be fired upon arrival back in Buffalo.

Because Terry’s cheap and won’t pay for anyone not employed by the team.  

[inkman]

1 hour ago, Scottysabres said:

If the Sabres shooters could hit the broadside of a barn it could have easily been a 6 or 7 to 5 Sabres victory. At least 4 open nets were shot right in to the goalie or, worse, wide or high, a common trademark of Sabres shooters as of late.

 

42 minutes ago, Believer said:

Agree.

Only a couple of our players have demonstrated they have quick hands, puck poise before shooting in close, and the eye to snipe.

Makes you wonder what our scouts look for in prospects and what they work on in practice.

Character doesn’t shoot the puck, and frankly I haven’t seen much character from our guys anyway.

None of the shooting % stats indicate that shooting is a Sabres issue.  They are above average in almost every shooting metric. 
 

 

[Pimlach]

4 minutes ago, inkman said:

 

None of the shooting % stats indicate that shooting is a Sabres issue.  They are above average in almost every shooting metric. 
 

 

Goals scored needs to be better,  no?  

[Scottysabres]

19 minutes ago, inkman said:

 

None of the shooting % stats indicate that shooting is a Sabres issue.  They are above average in almost every shooting metric.