GDT: Sabres (Buffalo) @ Lightning (Tampa Bay), 7:30 p.m., February 3, 2026 (ESPN+/HULU XCLUSIVE, WGR-550)

[Pimlach]

1 hour ago, K012010 said:

And based on the ESPN guys tonight, apparently Pittsburgh is the most interesting and fantastic franchise of all time with the greatest story in sports history so we will have our hands full

We will have our hands full. Pittsburgh is a veteran team and will show up.  

[K012010]

11 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

We will have our hands full. Pittsburgh is a veteran team and will show up.  

Pittsburgh is always tough for us no matter what the situation is between the two teams. I would love to win that game that would give me some seriously good feelings going into the break.

[Spoonman]

1 hour ago, Scottysabres said:

It was a long trip across the glades, not much to do but avoid alligators and *****?

Frozen Iguanas?

[K012010]

7 minutes ago, Spoonman said:

Frozen Iguanas?

so we have iguanas, Nile crocodiles multiplying, monitor lizards, Burmese pythons, of course alligators…

It’s a mess down here

*just the invasive species aside from the alligators by the way!

there are also the Bufo frogs, water moccasins, diamondbacks, and some other fun creatures.

so who’s ready to come visit?

Edited February 4 by K012010

[bunomatic]

1 hour ago, K012010 said:

To hear Matthew Tkachuck say that on an individual basis, we are significantly more talented than the Panthers was genuinely crazy. I think maybe he was blowing a little smoke because they do have like seven guys or eight guys out but he was emphasizing talent specifically.

We have the attention of the league. And now the talent is finally starting to play as a unit.

Tkachuck was sending a subtle msg to his gm ahead of the trade deadline. Essentially saying hello we need help here.

[K012010]

Just now, bunomatic said:

Tkachuck was sending a subtle msg to his gm ahead of the trade deadline. Essentially saying hello we need help here.

This is a great point that I had not considered. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

14 minutes ago, K012010 said:

Pittsburgh is always tough for us no matter what the situation is between the two teams. I would love to win that game that would give me some seriously good feelings going into the break.

A win guarantees us 3rd in the Atlantic at worst heading into the break.  Det, Mon and Bos all in action tomorrow.  Hopefully Utah, Wpg and Fla can help us out and beat our Atlantic foes.

[OverPowerYou]

This is the first time in over a decade where most people on here are upbeat and optimistic even after blowing a lead with 25 seconds left and then losing in overtime. It’s nice to see for a change. Winning cures all 

Edited February 4 by OverPowerYou

[PASabreFan]

An OK result to come home to.

[PASabreFan]

1 hour ago, Taro T said:

Picked up 7 points this past 5 game segment.  Better than the pace likely to be needed.

Now pick up 2 points in the 1st game of the next 5 game segment.

When did you convert to Half Segmentarianism?

[Wyldnwoody44]

15 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

An OK result to come home to.

Pancakes... But no syrup 

[K012010]

7 minutes ago, Wyldnwoody44 said:

Pancakes... But no syrup 

I’m actually a pancake and butter only guy, but I’m also a very odd person

[Wyldnwoody44]

1 minute ago, K012010 said:

I’m actually a pancake and butter only guy, but I’m also a very odd person

If the batter is right then it's acceptable 

[FrenchConnection44]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Hope Krebs buys everyone dinner after that.

If anyone should buy the team dinner it’s Power after that display of weak play after weak play. Still lapsing into soft mode. Dude has to get stronger and play stronger. 
 

 

[FrenchConnection44]

On the one hand, that is a really disappointing loss. Having a lead into the last minute and losing sucks. Add the OT chances and that makes it worse. 
 

On the other had we came out with a point in a game in which we were largely dominated. The Lightning had so many great chances! If it weren’t for Ellis that score easily could have been 6-3. There have been a lot of games in this stretch won by great goaltending in which the team really was outplayed. Thats a game where stats like save % belie the reality. 

Still, It would have been mad theft to win this game. That would have made it even more sweet.

Samuelsson. Man. The whole team should buy him dinner. Two phenomenal goals. What a deadly shot that dude is developing. (Speaking of which, that shot by Raddysh was unfair. Wow).

However, Power played a really weak game. He got manhandled and looked like an 18 year old out there at times. Soft is the operative word for much of his play tonight.  

[SabreFinn]

What doesn't kill us makes us stronger. I expected the worst of this Florida trip, so I am happy with three of for possible points.

[Demoted]

4 hours ago, Pimlach said:

We will have our hands full. Pittsburgh is a veteran team and will show up.  

Yea Pittsburgh will have their hands full, Sabres are a tough matchup and will show up.

[triumph_communes]

7 hours ago, SDS said:

He just isn’t a smart hockey player. That’s why he has to skate around as fast as he can in the hope that effort overcomes his $.10 head.

I’m with ya. But I blame the coach for putting him out there in OT. Not necessary 

 

also blame the coach for not benching power and Tuch early on when they were dogging it. Power at least normalized but Tuch was his lazy as self throughout OT

Edited February 4 by triumph_communes

[Cityo'Rasmii]

9 hours ago, K-9 said:

Then so was Muel for that matter. 

Yep, I saw the replay and you're right. Hard to knock "Michael" considering his sweet scores tonight.

[French Collection]

6 hours ago, Wyldnwoody44 said:

Pancakes... But no syrup 

I make a few gallons of maple syrup every spring but I don’t eat it. Only if my wife makes butter tarts with it.

I have a sweet tooth but not for syrup, fudge etc…

[Doohickie]

8 hours ago, Forecheck said:

TB knows how to play playoff hockey, which tonight’s game felt like. Sabres still have some learning and growing to do. Playoffs will be much faster and grittier than February games. 

Meh.  If Benson or Norris played that game, Sabres win.  They were one stud player short, especially on the second night of a back to back.  The point they earned puts them back in third place.  In a long season I'll take 3 out of 4 points on a Florida road trip.

The Sabres are what their record says they are and for the first time in many years, that's not that bad.

[Archie Lee]

7 hours ago, Indabuff said:

There is under 20 seconds to go in 3 on 3 OT. Not real OT, but 3 on 3, everyone gets a point, next-up is a shoot-out (against maybe the best goalie in the world) OT. Guentzel is almost at centre ice before Kucherov secures the puck. If Dahlin wins the battle and feeds it out front and we win, is Guentzel the goat for blowing the zone early? Guentzel took a chance on one of the best players in the world winning a puck battle. So did Krebs. I’m not taking a shot against Darlin, who might have won the battle if he wasn’t held. But it was a made up scenario  that doesn’t happen in real hockey. Dumping on Krebs for this is silly. 

[Shoot da Puck]

It was a bummer but I am happy. Tells you how far the Sabres have gone this season. 

Congrats to Kevin Adams, nice team.

[Wyldnwoody44]

As I say with every OT loss. 

I despise the setup, whoever decided 3v3 in the regular season to determine points and standings can be exiled with the same person who decided that THIS playoff format is acceptable. 

Bush league 

[Mango]

9 hours ago, Pimlach said:

It does because we were just 25 seconds away from 2points.  There are 82 games.   They must move on and beat Pittsburgh at home before the Olympic break.   They got 1 tonight.  

The announcers parroting "Since December 9th, these are the best two teams in the NHL", didn't help either.

Plus we were on the cusp of getting to 3 points back on first and a point back on second.