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

[RETURNTOGLORY]

18 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

Rob Ray would agree with you. 

I find the whole "just shoot it from anywhere as soon as you get the puck" argument to be, well, wrong. 

Pass the puck, pass it often, look for the great play and score. Passing creates scoring opportunities 

Maybe I should have been more concise. I see MANY good to very good shot opportunities that are "passed" on. Literally. I guess I take this a bit more personal because I played in Europe for two years and scored a lot of what some would call " Non traditional goals" because I shot often.  

We're ranked 20th out of 32 teams in regards to Shots on Goal. Tied for 5th in the league for goals scored. Simple math dictates if we were at least in the top third of the league in shots taken, then statistically, we would be most likely #1 in goals scored AND would have more wins right now.  

I mean Jesus, we have the #5 PP scoring percentage BUT are 18 out of 32 teams in PP shots taken!

Same issue with our PP. Looking for the "perfect" shot instead of getting shots on net a looking for rebounds, etc.

We have way to many PP's where we record ZERO SHOTS ON GOAL!

SHOOT THE PUCK MORE GUYS!
 

Edited February 3 by RETURNTOGLORY
Spelling error

[quill]

2 hours ago, Doohickie said:

Honey Badger don't give a f*&% about pain.  He'll play.

You are absolutely right. As you can see in this future fight between Zach Benson and Mathieu Olivier, there is nothing that will stop Benson.

[GASabresIUFAN]

This is the 8th set of back to back games this season.  The Sabres have done very well, especially in the 2nd game, which is amazing because almost all have been n the road

In the first game, the Sabres are 4-4-0 including last night's win.  They are 3-1-0 at home, but only 1-3 on the road.

Here is the amazing part (and the team refuses to get screwed by the schedule maker).  In the 2nd back, the Sabres heading into tonight are 5-1-1.  Of those 7 games only 1 has been at home (a 5-3 win over the Habs).   The rest have been on the road where the Sabres are 4-1-1 with another road game tonight.  3 of the 7 2nd games have gone past regulation and the Sabres are 2-1 in those games.  In does seem just a little unfair the 7 of our 8 back to backs are on the road.  Good for the Sabres for fighting through these games and finding a way to win.

If I had to predict tonight's game, the Sabres win in OT.

PS: The Sabres will play 4 more back to back sets before the season ends.  Only 5 of the 12 games 1st games will be at home.  Even more BS, only 3 of the 12 2nd games will be at home.  Who thought of this f'd up scheduling.

Edited February 3 by GASabresIUFAN

[Indabuff]

Stamp on Tamp.

Smite the Blight.

L F G

 

[eball]

Still getting over the Bolts coming back on Boston from 5-1 down to win the outdoor game Sunday.  That was a really fun watch.

[OverPowerYou]

3 minutes ago, eball said:

Still getting over the Bolts coming back on Boston from 5-1 down to win the outdoor game Sunday.  That was a really fun watch.

Nhl does a terrible job advertising things. I remember when I could know when and where the game was being played and what channel it was on. Now? I have no idea about any winter classics 

[K012010]

Can we all just preemptively give our goalie a break tonight whoever it is

If you’re thinking we can hold this team under five goals, you’re gonna be in for a very frustrating night. They have way too much skill to keep them off the board. Anything under four would be a miracle.

If we win, it’s gonna be a high scoring affair

[Brawndo]

4 hours ago, Pimlach said:

Tamp Blighting is now a heavy team.   This will be another big test on B2B and 3 game in 4 nights. 

I doubt we see Benson which is big.  Krebs will probably move up to "top line". 

Ellis needs to be good tonight.  He needs to cover the puck better than his last few games.  

If Ellis is solid we have a chance.   Looking for some others to step up, maybe get a 4th line goal?  Maybe Kesselring gets his first?  

Rosen had 3:08 TOI last night.  Will Helenius be back in the lineup with a rocket up his azz?   Will Greenway play? 

Calling @Brawndo 

I’m thinking Helenius is back in.

Greenway traveled to another city for another opinion per Ruff on WGR this AM 

1 hour ago, Spoonman said:

@Pimlach

I am no @Brawndo…..but on Greenway: He stayed back from trip for Dr appt on his ongoing pain issues from offseason surgery (abdominal). 

Hell on uusse - maybe (Lindy said he is a 19yr old learning to play in the league). Was pulled for rest of game after bad coverage on MTL GW goal along w Kesserling.

I imagine it’s a recurring sports hernia 

[Scottysabres]

Should be a good game tonight. Would like to see the boys take the 2 points in regulation.

GO SABRES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nacho Libre]

30 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

This is the 8th set of back to back games this season.  The Sabres have done very well, especially in the 2nd game, which is amazing because almost all have been n the road

In the first game, the Sabres are 4-4-0 including last night's win.  They are 3-1-0 at home, but only 1-3 on the road.

Here is the amazing part (and the team refuses to get screwed by the schedule maker).  In the 2nd back, the Sabres heading into tonight are 5-1-1.  Of those 7 games only 1 has been at home (a 5-3 win over the Habs).   The rest have been on the road where the Sabres are 4-1-1 with another road game tonight.  3 of the 7 2nd games have gone past regulation and the Sabres are 2-1 in those games.  In does seem just a little unfair the 7 of our 8 back to backs are on the road.  Good for the Sabres for fighting through these games and finding a way to win.

If I had to predict tonight's game, the Sabres win in OT.

PS: The Sabres will play 4 more back to back sets before the season ends.  Only 5 of the 12 games 1st games will be at home.  Even more BS, only 3 of the 12 2nd games will be at home.  Who thought of this f'd up scheduling.

Schedule being compressed due to Olympic break is a big part of it 

[Broken Ankles]

6 minutes ago, K012010 said:

Can we all just preemptively give our goalie a break tonight whoever it is

If you’re thinking we can hold this team under five goals, you’re gonna be in for a very frustrating night. They have way too much skill to keep them off the board. Anything under four would be a miracle.

If we win, it’s gonna be a high scoring affair

Sabres have just as many GF as Tampa (Sabres have two more games played that TBL), or 3.56 /game.  The surprising stat is the Lightning goals against is a league leading 136.  But the last stretch the Sabres have scored 5-4-5-7-4-4-5.  That’s 5 per game.  Cirelli - their top +|- is out. As is Pointe. Play your game. 
 

Maritime Weather. 

[K012010]

Just now, Broken Ankles said:

Sabres have just as many GF as Tampa (Sabres have two more games played that TBL), or 3.56 /game.  The surprising stat is the Lightning goals against is a league leading 136.  But the last stretch the Sabres have scored 5-4-5-7-4-4-5.  That’s 5 per game.  Cirelli - their top +|- is out. As is Pointe. Play your game. 
 

Maritime Weather. 

If we take it to the lightning tonight I will genuinely be ecstatic. I’m really curious to see if the boys can handle them on a back to back.

[GASabresIUFAN]

9 minutes ago, Nacho Libre said:

Schedule being compressed due to Olympic break is a big part of it 

Part, but it doesn't explain why 9/12 of the 2nd games this season are on the road.

[kas23]

19 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

I’m thinking Helenius is back in.

Greenway traveled to another city for another opinion per Ruff on WGR this AM 

I imagine it’s a recurring sports hernia 

Sounds like LTIR for at least the rest of the regular season. 

[sabresouth]

Also, not sure how many times it's happened to the Sabres but I can recall at least twice where the second game of the back to back was against a rested team that didn't play the night before. The second game should only be against a team that is on their second of a back to back.

[Taro T]

23 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Part, but it doesn't explain why 9/12 of the 2nd games this season are on the road.

Well, part of the explanation for why 9 of the 12 2nd games are on the road is because it's actually 9 out of 13.  😉   There's 13 btb's, not just 12.  4 trips that split HA or AH.  3 start in Buffalo and end on the road.  The last one starts on the road and ends in Buffalo.  6 entirely road trips; 3 entirely home stands.  

(Btw, have we mentioned that for the most part btb's at home stink for the fans that don't live in Erie or Niagara Counties?)

The Sabres only have 5 Sunday games the entire year and only 2 of those are home games.  Expecting the lack of Sundays to have something to do with the breakdown of how the btb's are distributed.  Pretty much everybody wants to play on Saturday night.  The Sabres have a lot of road Saturdays and a fair number of home Fridays.

Of those 6 btb road games, the Sabres may have requested those.  Utah Denver, Calgary Edmonton, FLA TB x2, Carolina Nashville, and LA Anaheim.  Because the flights are really short on all those trips, could see the Sabres logistically asking to have them btb to build an extra rest day in during other parts of the schedule.

And, had the Sabres been willing to take a home Sunday game, could've seen the H&H w/ the Loafs ending in Buffalo rather than starting there on Friday.  Flip that one and then it would've been 2 HA and 2 AH btb's.

The Sabres fans certainly don't want home btb games.  That's why there are only 3 of those but due to travel 6 road btb's.

[PickaPecaPickles]

It's like a different world reading this board now compared to a few months ago.

[FrenchConnection44]

3 hours ago, Pimlach said:

To paraphrase Mike Singletary, “I like that kind of 6/7 party!”

[thewookie1]

Do not leave Tampa without a point, and 2 in regulation if possible. We can head to the break with between 69 and 73 pts, the more the better

[FrenchConnection44]

I’m not expecting a positive outcome. Especially if Benson is not 100%. But I also wasn’t expecting a positive outcome after the 0-2 start last night. Or even going into the 3rd period at 3-3. So there’s that. 

Main thing I am hoping for is a close game and playing really competitive. 

If we come back from the Olympic break healthy and can take two from the Lightning I think that would amazing and awesome, regardless of this game. 

Also, speaking of the Olympics, Lindsey Vonn still choosing to race in the Downhill on Sunday despite a torn ACL is goddess level epic —if it happens. 

[Flashsabre]

Point and Cirelli being out is huge for them.

Take it to them toniight

Edited February 3 by Flashsabre

[FrenchConnection44]

 

[bunomatic]

2 hours ago, JustOneParade said:

I have no earthly idea what that GIF means. But maybe its because there's only one thing I see (OK, two things) when I look at it.

Yeah yeah its always the udder things with you isn’t it.

[Carmel Corn]

20 minutes ago, FrenchConnection44 said:

 

Here’s hoping we see him ready to go post Olympic break (fingers crossed)!

[Slack_in_MA]

Just stack wins! LFG!!!!!!!!!!

Edited February 3 by Slack_in_MA