GDT: Sabres @ Flames, Dec 8, 2025, 9pm. WGR, MSG, ESPN+(out of market)

[LGR4GM]

Welcome to another excited edition of Sabres hockey. Todays questions are simple but important.

WHY THE ^**($#)%&)(#&$)(*#& is Greenway on the first line? Which goalies name will be picked from the helmet and get the start tonight? Does Noah Östlund enjoy free flights from Calgary to Rochester? Did he get miles? What if Zach Benson scores a goal that isn't disallowed? Will the Universe end? What would happen if Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch both decided to drag this team into the playoffs? Would we give them a key to the city? If a goalie makes a saves in Calgary but no one is watching, is it goalie interference?

Find out tonight on Sabres after dark, the show where the lines are made up and the defensive zone doesn't matter. That's right the defensive zone is like Kevyn Adams haircut, no one cares. 

Edited 2 hours ago by LGR4GM

[SABRES 0311]

If they **** this one up then I support a post KA full rebuild. Players, management, support staff, etc.

[Shoot da Puck]

This game should enhance the Holiday spirit in me.

Can't wait...

[Mustache of God]

9PM PUCKDROP ET FOR THOSE INTERESTED.

[Pimlach]

6 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Welcome to another excited edition of Sabres hockey. Todays questions are simple but important.

WHY THE ^**($#)%&)(#&$)(*#& is Greenway on the first line? Which goalies name will be picked from the helmet and get the start tonight? Does Noah Östlund enjoy free flights from Calgary to Rochester? Did he get miles? What if Zach Benson scores a goal that isn't disallowed? Will the Universe end? What would happen if Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch both decided to drag this team into the playoffs? Would we give them a key to the city? If a goalie makes a saves in Calgary but no one is watching, is it goalie interference?

Find out tonight on Sabres after dark, the show where the lines are made up and the defensive zone doesn't matter. That's right the defensive zone is like Kevyn Adams haircut, no one cares. 

WHY THE ^**($#)%&)(#&$)(*#& is Greenway on the first line?  I think that Lindy thinks this will add defense to the line.  He was going to make a "beard line" but none of Tuch, Greenway, or Zucker can play center, so he decided on a tall line instead.  

Which goalies name will be picked from the helmet and get the start tonight?  Lyon, unless the players want UPL in the net, gonna have to check with Dahlin first.  

Does Noah Östlund enjoy free flights from Calgary to Rochester?   Not in coach, no.   Did he get miles?   All flights are charged to the Sabres Team AMEX Card and the airline loyalty points are collected under the name of Kelly Pegula.  (All part of a EEE cost savings strategy she recommended to Daddy).  

What if Zach Benson scores a goal that isn't disallowed?   Is this a trick question.  He cannot score.   Will the Universe end?   No, but is possible that at least WNY and parts of Southern Ontario will vaporize.  

What would happen if Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch both decided to drag this team into the playoffs?    They would be pretty tired by the trade deadline and at that time Tuch will be sent to Boston for a protected first rounder and a prospect that currently leads the AHL in penalty minutes.   

Would we give them a key to the city?  No, not since Terrell Owens lost the keys in Canton, Ohio.  

If a goalie makes a saves in Calgary but no one is watching, is it goalie interference?  No, NHL rules clearly state that only if he lets in a goal will goalie interference be called.  

[JoeSchmoe]

I said this before... There's the right way, the wrong way, and there's the Greenway. The Greenway is the same was the wrong way, only lazier 

[PASabreFan]

1 hour ago, SABRES 0311 said:

If they **** this one up then I support a post KA full rebuild. Players, management, support staff, etc.

Because? Say it. They sho... shou...

Flames 6-3-1 in last 10.

[PonyBoy2]

The Sabre's are the better team. Should be an easy win....😂

[Weave]

3 minutes ago, PonyBoy2 said:

The Sabre's are the better team. Should be an easy win....😂

Are they really?

[ponokasabre]

UPL was in the starters net yesterday at practice....ugh 

 

But on the bright side that means he wont be playing tomorrow

[Thorny]

1 hour ago, SABRES 0311 said:

If they **** this one up then I support a post KA full rebuild. Players, management, support staff, etc.

And if they win, maybe Adams’ plan is working after all 

like sand through the hour glass..

[Taro T]

34 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

Because? Say it. They sho... shou...

Flames 6-3-1 in last 10.

Post-Covid Sabres in Calgary 3-1-0

Post-Covid Flames in Buffalo 4-1-0

Last year was the only time they flipped the results.  Don't know why the Flames tend to play well in Buffalo and the Sabres tend to play well in Calgary.  They just do.

Why did Buffalo go 12-2-1 over 11 seasons against the Snarks with the only drubbing against being the Thornton game?  Sometimes stuff just seems to happen.

 

Though really not happy UPL is getting the start.  Maybe they SHOULDN'T win afterall.  😉 

[PASabreFan]

2 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Post-Covid Sabres in Calgary 3-1-0

Post-Covid Flames in Buffalo 4-1-0

Last year was the only time they flipped the results.  Don't know why the Flames tend to play well in Buffalo and the Sabres tend to play well in Calgary.  They just do.

Why did Buffalo go 12-2-1 over 11 seasons against the Snarks with the only drubbing against being the Thornton game?  Sometimes stuff just seems to happen.

 

Though really not happy UPL is getting the start.  Maybe they SHOULDN'T win afterall.  😉 

The only working theory I've come up for these phenomena (and some date back decades, like Buffalo's woes in Pittsburgh) is that each successive group of players is infected by those who stick around and are "in the players ears," like the broadcast crew, trainers, medical/therapy folks, equipment managers and the like. Is the chatter going into Pitt, "Oh man we never play well in that building." Not a great theory, tbh. As Rummy said, there are unknown knowns.

[Thorny]

2 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

The only working theory I've come up for these phenomena (and some date back decades, like Buffalo's woes in Pittsburgh) is that each successive group of players is infected by those who stick around and are "in the players ears," like the broadcast crew, trainers, medical/therapy folks, equipment managers and the like. Is the chatter going into Pitt, "Oh man we never play well in that building." Not a great theory, tbh. As Rummy said, there are unknown knowns.

No, you’re right 

I know for a fact they detail the stick salute fiasco to newcomers like Kesselring 

They don’t claim the drought. No one does. There’s a disenfranchisement made known to every employee who dons the logo 

[Ctaeth]

this feels like a must win.  i hope that the players/coaching staff have the wherewithal to realize that and act accordingly

[Gatorman0519]

Game 29 and we are 8 points out with everyone ahead of us in the conference. The math is already becoming difficult to overcome without a near miraculous run the rest of the way. 

[Thorny]

The person that fixes it is the person who says “we know we owe the fanbase for what WE have put them through.” Only upon acknowledging the franchise they work for is one that needs a fix relative to what it has become *regardless of their presence* can it be fixed. The fix is relative to what the franchise *is*, no one gets to avoid that fact because they fancy themselves not a part of the original sins

the franchise needs the medicine it needs. KA thinking a fresh plan could be instituted in 2021 without it being reflective of the mess it was being lumped onto was the key failing of this GM. 

[jad1]

3 minutes ago, Ctaeth said:

this feels like a must win.  i hope that the players/coaching staff have the wherewithal to realize that and act accordingly

Lindy put Greenway on the 1st line.  What else do you want him to do?

[Pimlach]

6 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

The only working theory I've come up for these phenomena (and some date back decades, like Buffalo's woes in Pittsburgh) is that each successive group of players is infected by those who stick around and are "in the players ears," like the broadcast crew, trainers, medical/therapy folks, equipment managers and the like. Is the chatter going into Pitt, "Oh man we never play well in that building." Not a great theory, tbh. As Rummy said, there are unknown knowns.

Players who listen to and are actually affected by team folklore from the broadcast crew, trainers, and other staff members seems a bit far fetched.    

Frank and Rip would disagree with you.  

New Coaches have enough problems to worry about and cannot be bothered replacing trainers and equipment managers as you suggested in the past. That would probably be more disruptive than helpful. 

A modern day NHL coach has an average tenure of about 2 years.  

[pi2000]

This feels like a pivotal game on the roady, a turning point for the season... or perhaps the franchise as a whole.

Maybe they finally pull it together? UPL shines and with growing confidence they string together some wins, vaulting themselves into playoff contention by the turn of the new year.

[Pimlach]

25 minutes ago, Thorny said:

The person that fixes it is the person who says “we know we owe the fanbase for what WE have put them through.” Only upon acknowledging the franchise they work for is one that needs a fix relative to what it has become *regardless of their presence* can it be fixed. The fix is relative to what the franchise *is*, no one gets to avoid that fact because they fancy themselves not a part of the original sins

the franchise needs the medicine it needs. KA thinking a fresh plan could be instituted in 2021 without it being reflective of the mess it was being lumped onto was the key failing of this GM. 

This in bold, plus lets face it, he doesn't have a clue as to how to build a roster or hire a coach.   He thought that "wants to be here" was a fix.   

"Wants to be here" just got him players that were ok with the status quo.    

[LGR4GM]

14 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

This feels like a pivotal game on the roady, a turning point for the season... or perhaps the franchise as a whole.

Maybe they finally pull it together? UPL shines and with growing confidence they string together some wins, vaulting themselves into playoff contention by the turn of the new year.

[PASabreFan]

Would a loss tonight mark the lowest point in Sabres history?

[SABRES 0311]

7 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

This feels like a pivotal game on the roady, a turning point for the season... or perhaps the franchise as a whole.

Maybe they finally pull it together? UPL shines and with growing confidence they string together some wins, vaulting themselves into playoff contention by the turn of the new year.

I don't think any one game is a defining moment in time for the franchise. IMO, a defining moment would be an ability to win consistently at or above .600 for a quarter of the season. Specifically, the first or second quarter of the season. It seems we have multiple "must wins" and "defining" games which just doesn't make sense to me. This team is so inconsistent in effort and execution that one single game does not define what type of team they are because the next game they too easily revert to garbage or be lights out. When there is no foundation there can't be any definition.

I appreciate your optimism, and I really wish it were so, but this team lacks an ability to put individual skillsets together to form a team of players that compliments each other. Even if they win 10-0 tonight, it is not indicative of turning a corner. They have to win consistently for an extended period of time for that to happen. Unfortunately, it's something this team has been unable to do for years, and time is running out.

[Pimlach]

3 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

Would a loss tonight mark the lowest point in Sabres history?

Heck no.   

A loss tonight coupled with a Vancouver win drops them from 29th to 31th.    That is still 2 solid points ahead of Nashville.  

But a win, well that puts them only 6 points out a four-way tie for the playoffs (assuming a Detroit loss).  

They are just an 8 game winning streak away from solid contention!   It can be done.