GDT: Penguins 🐧@ Sabres ⚔️🦬, 7pm, Feb. 5, 2026 (MSG, ESPN+, WGR-550)

[TageMVP]

2 hours ago, JohnC said:

If Quinn is not scoring goals but instead racking up assists for his mates on the ice, then what’s wrong with that? Scorers are often streaky. And because the other team is aware of the shooters on the ice, it creates space for others.
 

I don’t get the reflexive hostility toward him. It seems that the coach is more positive about him than much of the audience is. And it should be noted that the coach has recently put him on the PP unit. Another indication that he favors this much maligned player.

Have you ever disliked any Sabres player for any reason whatsoever 

[Pimlach]

I missed the game last night.   The play that we saw, Hells Kitchen, wasn't that great either.  But the wife liked it so that is good.  

These posts tell me they came out flat and uninspired.   Like a tired team.  Very disappointing but time to move on.  

14 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Pathetic. What a ***** effort from this team. Jarmo needs to get help because this isn't good enough. 

14 hours ago, Second Line Center said:

The collective IQ of this team drops 59 points without Benson.  

 

14 hours ago, Gatorman0519 said:

Bad way to go into the break with a brutal schedule coming out of it. 

 

14 hours ago, Wyldnwoody44 said:

Should have been icing 

 

14 hours ago, Stads said:

Horrible giveaway

 

14 hours ago, Nitro60 said:

Lazy effort led to that goal.

 

14 hours ago, PASabreFan said:

The game ends as it started. Coughing it up.

 

14 hours ago, KC Scouts said:

Disappointing effort from this group

 

14 hours ago, Carmel Corn said:

I saw a LOT of laziness tonight unfortunately.  

 

The team needs to get healthy and they need some help.   Every game after the break is a playoff game.   

Edited February 6 by Pimlach

[JohnC]

12 minutes ago, TageMVP said:

Have you ever disliked any Sabres player for any reason whatsoever 

Yes, plenty. 

[Believer]

Hey All,

Missed the game last night. Read the board today.

A real stinker.  I’m really disappointed.

Pitt apparently wanted it more. 

On Ruff and team leaders.

We aren’t there yet.

Edited February 6 by Believer

[Hawerchuk]

Yes, the Sabres played lousy last night but lets face it. The Olympic schedule has really put this team in a bad spot this past week before the much needed break. They were playing every other freaking night since the start of the new year practically. An absolutely ridiculous pace! I love the winter Olympics and hockey on the world stage but it has put a serious dent in their ability to keep up the competitiveness. 

[LGR4GM]

1 minute ago, Hawerchuk said:

Yes, the Sabres played lousy last night but lets face it. The Olympic schedule has really put this team in a bad spot this past week before the much needed break. They were playing every other freaking night since the start of the new year practically. An absolutely ridiculous pace! I love the winter Olympics and hockey on the world stage but it has put a serious dent in their ability to keep up the competitiveness. 

Let's face it. The Sabres are immature and the Penguins aren't. 

[TageMVP]

7 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Let's face it. The Sabres are immature and the Penguins aren't. 

This is an immature response to Hawerchucks response 

[LGR4GM]

Kekäläinen is off to Milan but I hope he's already got the short list of needs already so he can execute the team needs once he's back. Might be the only good part of losing this game. He and Bergevin have to see the obvious issues. 

[Nacho Libre]

14 hours ago, K-9 said:

Just a pathetic display and they should be embarrassed. This team has nothing wrapped up. Not by a long shot. 

Nothing wrapped up, but we are in a really good spot relative to every other team on the outside looking in re: playoffs, other than Columbus, who seem to be the team now complicating the process for us. Gotta go to 5 points with us having games in hand, or a full 7 points to find the next closest. Columbus could get to 3 back if they win their game in hand, though we’d have the tiebreaker. 

Barring the wheels falling off for us, they are likely the only team that can realistically take a bite out of our playoff chances. And, again, we still have 3-5 points on Columbus. 

Edited February 6 by Nacho Libre

[PASabreFan]

1 hour ago, CallawaySabres said:

It's a shame they lost 3 out of 4, especially to Pitt, Montreal and Tampa. I hope they came out of break healthy, but that game last night is not a good sign at all, especially at home.

The crowd was as disengaged as the team. Everyone's belly is a little full. Naptime.

[Sidc3000]

45 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Let's face it. The Sabres are immature and the Penguins aren't. 

Exactly 

[K-9]

1 hour ago, Nacho Libre said:

Nothing wrapped up, but we are in a really good spot relative to every other team on the outside looking in re: playoffs, other than Columbus, who seem to be the team now complicating the process for us. Gotta go to 5 points with us having games in hand, or a full 7 points to find the next closest. Columbus could get to 3 back if they win their game in hand, though we’d have the tiebreaker. 

Barring the wheels falling off for us, they are likely the only team that can realistically take a bite out of our playoff chances. And, again, we still have 3-5 points on Columbus. 

I can appreciate all of that. But as I stated somewhere previously in this thread, the team should be aspiring for far more than merely securing a playoff spot. We had a chance to enter the break in 2nd place in the division and well within striking distance of 1st, as well as threatening top spot in the conference.

We should have played with our hair on fire and left everything on the ice heading into the hiatus, but they came out flat as a board instead. As such, I wonder if we have the killer instinct necessary for a playoff run. 

[Weave]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

Kekäläinen is off to Milan but I hope he's already got the short list of needs already so he can execute the team needs once he's back. Might be the only good part of losing this game. He and Bergevin have to see the obvious issues. 

Milan?

Lazy.  Probably doesn’t hate losing too.

Edited February 6 by Weave

[JohnC]

4 hours ago, mjd1001 said:

My problem with Quinn comes from two places.. 

First, I think from what I watched and the numbers back it up, he may have been the worst top 9 forward in the league last year. He was absolutely awful and every way shape or form. 

Because of that he has a lot to make up to me. When a player is so bad, I need them to show me something positive before I even get to a neutral view of them. 

But more importantly, I see a better player this year, but still not a good player. When he has a good game, he's slightly above average. But he still has games where you don't see him in any positive way. I would rather have a replacement level player out there in his place. 

I think this team would be better served if he simply wasn't on it, and someone like Östlund  or Helenius would take his spot.

I hardly see him win long races to loose pucks, or accelerate to the boards to get a loose puck. I hardly see him engage in battles along the boards and come away with the puck. I rarely have ever see him hold on to the puck near the boards while an opposing player comes at him and he fends off that opposing player. Now if he was a pure sniper that was putting in 30 to 35 goals, I would be a little bit more lenient with those other issues, but he simply doesn't really do anything well at all other than shoot, and he doesn't do that enough.

He doesn't hit. He's not a great for checker, he doesn't ever come up behind a player back checking and steal the puck, he's not an agitator, he's not a guy who is great in transition at distributing the puck. What is he good at? A sniper? If he is he needs to give me more than 15 to 18 goals in a full season to justify a spot on the power play or the second or third line.

And while he's better than he was last year, in terms of going to the net... Make no mistake, He still is very much a perimeter player. And you know what? It's okay to be a perimeter player sometimes. But you have to be really good at it, not just slightly above average at it If you're hardly ever going to go crash then that as a winger or going to the corners deep and win battles.

I just don't think he's that good.

If I missing something, show me what I'm missing. I'm not being sarcastic. Maybe there's part of his game That's really good that I just cannot see it when I watch him play?

 

2 hours ago, Pimlach said:

The coach uses what he has on the bench.  It is not hostility for Quinn, it is being honest in assessing this team.   He has played 235 NHL games and is 24.  He is just about a finished product.   I could get a little better but you need to trade something to get something.  

Quinn is a finisher that does not finish enough.  He is on pace for 18 goals.   On a contending team - If you score 18 goals and 30-35 pts you need something else in your game to play top 6.  

I see nothing in Quinn's game that says he will will step up and be better in the playoffs.  I have no stats to prove this, maybe someone has fancy stats to help correlate my statement.  

With Norris on this team they need 7 legitimate top 6 players.   Östlund can bump up to top 6 for awhile.   Helenius looks good but they are rushing him, and Jarmo said he would not do that, so I expect him to play on Rochester once the vets come back.  

Jarmo must upgrade the top 6 and add a defenseman that can help the PK.    Quinn is a piece that can be  moved to help in that cause.  

Playoffs are not a given.   There is a lot of hockey to play and the Sabres are the least seasoned team in the running.  Montreal is just as young but they have already had success.  A few smart moves could make all the difference.    

 

I'm aware that I come off as a broken record but for now I'm sticking with my more positive view of Quinn than the crowd here. The same denigrating crowd wanted to cast away Sammy. They were wrong. And the same finger-pointing crowd wanted to dispatch Power. They were wrong. I'm open to him or anyone being moved if there is an upgrade. There's no need to continue to go back and forth on this issue. All I'm recommending is to be more patient and allow the Quinn scenario to play out longer. I simply see more potential in him than many others do. My recommendation is give him more time before making an definitive decision on him. TBD.   

[Cityo'Rasmii]

We hear you @K-9

[LGR4GM]

1 minute ago, Weave said:

Milan?

Lazy.  Probably doesn’t hate losing too.

For the Olympics. 

[Weave]

Just now, JohnC said:

 

There's no need to continue to go back and forth on this issue.

And yet here you are.

Just now, LGR4GM said:

For the Olympics. 

Don’t harsh my buzz.

[Nacho Libre]

1 hour ago, K-9 said:

I can appreciate all of that. But as I stated somewhere previously in this thread, the team should be aspiring for far more than merely securing a playoff spot. We had a chance to enter the break in 2nd place in the division and well within striking distance of 1st, as well as threatening top spot in the conference.

We should have played with our hair on fire and left everything on the ice heading into the hiatus, but they came out flat as a board instead. As such, I wonder if we have the killer instinct necessary for a playoff run. 

Imo Treating every game like a must win in February becomes a problem as soon as you lose the first one you “had” have. What do you tell yourself then? Even if they came out like their “hair was on fire”, wouldn’t it be rendered a waste if they laid an egg the next game? To me, I think I saw someone else mention it, the most important thing right now is not getting too high with the highs or too low with the lows. What made the streak actually special is that when we lost after it, it didn’t become a trend. We can afford to lose some games here and we are going to lose some games, here. Realistically if we mix is merely AS many wins as we do losses, we’ll make the playoffs. 

It’s still about playoffs for me. I like the idea of striving for more, honestly mostly because it creates a cushion to ensure the playoff berth takes place. 

Yes it would be nice to have an extra million or two in playoff series wins but the first $100,000 that removes your debt and grants you the freedom to do whatever you want going forward is still by far the most valuable step forward. The rest really is gravy. Just make the playoffs. Need to shatter that obstacle. It’s still what defines this franchise - don’t make the mistake of thinking we are free until we are.

I’m also pretty convinced we are a good team now. Perhaps a really good team. I don’t think we are really an elite team though, even though the standings had been verging on saying that for a bit. That helps too with keeping the goal the same 

Edited February 6 by Nacho Libre

[mjd1001]

27 minutes ago, JohnC said:

 

I'm aware that I come off as a broken record but for now I'm sticking with my more positive view of Quinn than the crowd here. The same denigrating crowd wanted to cast away Sammy. They were wrong. And the same finger-pointing crowd wanted to dispatch Power. They were wrong. I'm open to him or anyone being moved if there is an upgrade. There's no need to continue to go back and forth on this issue. All I'm recommending is to be more patient and allow the Quinn scenario to play out longer. I simply see more potential in him than many others do. My recommendation is give him more time before making an definitive decision on him. TBD.   

The reason to go back and forth on this issue is that when someone replies to you and disagrees with you, you like to respond to them.  That is basically the definition of the start of a 'back and forth'.

If everytime someone responds to you with a different opinion, you reply back, you are pushing forward the back and forth. The only way to stop it is for someone to post someone to hear a different opinion and then not to continue to post their own in response.

Personally, I like the back-and-forth and as long as there is a difference of opinion, there will be, and there is reason for having it.

And I was not one of the people all over Power, I was for sure on the side of giving him more time, a lot more time.  And I'm not rooting against Quinn. I'd love it if his complete game improves and he can become a consistent 20-25+ goals scorer.  I just don't see it. I WANT to see it, and yes, he may turn into that, but until he does he's not helping the team.

Edited February 6 by mjd1001

[JohnC]

24 minutes ago, Weave said:

And yet here you are.

 

You may not be aware of it that I was responding to posts who responded to me.  I wasn't responding to you. If you are bothered by it just ignore them. 

[PASabreFan]

31 minutes ago, JohnC said:

 

I'm aware that I come off as a broken record but for now I'm sticking with my more positive view of Quinn than the crowd here. The same denigrating crowd wanted to cast away Sammy. They were wrong. And the same finger-pointing crowd wanted to dispatch Power. They were wrong. I'm open to him or anyone being moved if there is an upgrade. There's no need to continue to go back and forth on this issue. All I'm recommending is to be more patient and allow the Quinn scenario to play out longer. I simply see more potential in him than many others do. My recommendation is give him more time before making an definitive decision on him. TBD.   

They weren't wrong. More info. just became available. Do you want Bryson gone? Most do. What if he becomes the Conn Smythe winner in next year's playoffs? Was everyone wrong? Gotchas suck.

Edited February 6 by PASabreFan

[JohnC]

3 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

The reason to go back and forth on this issue is that when someone replies to you and disagrees with you, you like to respond to them.  That is basically the definition of the start of a 'back and forth'.

If everytime someone responds to you with a different opinion, you reply back, you are pushing forward the back and forth. The only way to stop it is for someone to post someone to hear a different opinion and then not to continue to post their own in response.

Personally, I like the back-and-forth and as long as there is a difference of opinion, there will be, and there is reason for having it.

And I was not one of the people all over Power, I was for sure on the side of giving him more time, a lot more time.  And I'm not rooting against Quinn. I'd love it if his complete game improves and he can become a consistent 20-25+ goals scorer.  I just don't see it. I WANT to see it, and yes, he may turn into that, but until he does he's not helping the team.

I'm being criticized by someone for responding to someone who responded to my particular post. (Not you.) On this issue it's gotten to the point where the argument becomes circular. As I said in my last post, let's just see how this plays out. 

[JohnC]

1 minute ago, PASabreFan said:

They weren't wrong. More info. just became available. Do you want Bryson gone? Most do. What if he becomes the Conn Smythe winner in next year's playoffs? Was everyone wrong? Gotchas suck.

The critics of Sammy were definitely wrong as demonstrated by his current play. Your question regarding Bryson is perplexing. He's a utility defenseman who could easily be replaced if a better option is available.

[msw2112]

I don't think the Sabres were completely flat last night, but the Pens definitely had a better game plan and better execution.  The Sabres also missed a lot of nets and/or shot directly into the center of the goalie's chest, whereas the Pens were more accurate with their shots, leading to a couple more goals.  Also, 2 of the Pens goals were on defensive breakdowns by Bryson.  In sum, I don't think it was a lack of effort, but I do think that the Pens simply played better/were the better team on the ice last night.  Why is harder to quantify.  I want to say that the Pens have a lot more experienced and talented veterans who are used to stepping up in big games (which is true), but most of their goals were scored by rookies, including 2 by an AHL callup who was playing in his first NHL game....

Edited February 6 by msw2112

[TageMVP]

42 minutes ago, JohnC said:

 

I'm aware that I come off as a broken record but for now I'm sticking with my more positive view of Quinn than the crowd here. The same denigrating crowd wanted to cast away Sammy. They were wrong. And the same finger-pointing crowd wanted to dispatch Power. They were wrong. I'm open to him or anyone being moved if there is an upgrade. There's no need to continue to go back and forth on this issue. All I'm recommending is to be more patient and allow the Quinn scenario to play out longer. I simply see more potential in him than many others do. My recommendation is give him more time before making an definitive decision on him. TBD.   

This guy could be a bot