Season long Game Day Thread

[JATMtheJATM]

They've got a legit shot at 80 points...a nice young core to build on...they are fun to watch again...and I like the Bylsma hire a lot, so I would have to say 'yes'. I still don't, and never will, support a philosophy of tanking and feel comfortable maintaining that stance because I'll never have to defend why employing it is acceptable one season and not the next when the team isn't making the playoffs in either.

I like Eichel a lot, and if you go back to pre-draft threads you can see where I voiced an opinion that he would end up being a better pro than McDavid (which I still believe, but that remains to be seen) and I like Reinhart also, but let's face it...the vast majority of other moves the team has made over the last season or two (O'Reilly, Kane, the goalies, etc, etc, etc) that have contributed to the improvement have absolutely nothing to do with tanking, and I could argue that without tanking, those moves plus, for argument's sake, let's say drafting Larkin (15th) instead of Sam would this season's results really be that much different?

Well, I believe reinharts ceiling is higher than larkins

[JATMtheJATM]

Oh, and I don't think anyone would care if someone rooted for a tank this season. It's when people call this year a tank. It's clearly not a tank job this season.

[YardRat]

Well, I believe reinharts ceiling is higher than larkins

Maybe...only time will tell.

[JATMtheJATM]

Maybe...only time will tell.

I think reinharts an extremely smart player. Larkin, however,seems better than when he was drafted

[swiper]

Got to watch the game on local TV last night. Encouraging. Liked what I saw from Girgensons & Johnson. The Rangers have finally built a strong team and they were playing to win last night. A play-off spot to be nailed shut. They couldn't do it.

First time the Sabres beat them in 10 tries at MSG.

Was not impressed with Ristolainen's awareness on the JT Miller's goal. He should have had that guy covered.

See 4:29 mark:

https://sports.yahoo.com/video/buf-nyr-045040965.html

[swiper]

Oh, and I don't think anyone would care if someone rooted for a tank this season. It's when people call this year a tank. It's clearly not a tank job this season.

They have 77 points with 3 games left to play.

They had 54 points last season.

23 points better over a single season is not a tank. They are still not very good, but that's no tank.

Who's calling it a tank?

My barometer is can I enjoy watching a game start to finish. I did that last night. It's been a couple of years since I could do that.

But they need some stauncher defense.

[swiper]

Anyone else dream of what this team would look like with Jagr playing on it?

[swiper]

Dumb question here. Sabres play at MSG Saturday night and Prudential Center on Tuesday night. They go back to Buffalo in between or stay in NYC area?

[YardRat]

They should probably stay and take advantage of the 'Half off Sundays and Mondays' hookers and blow rates.

[POTLAND PSILBYLO]

Eichel pass to O'Reilly was just fantastic. Excited for next year....

[JATMtheJATM]

They have 77 points with 3 games left to play.

They had 54 points last season.

23 points better over a single season is not a tank. They are still not very good, but that's no tank.

Who's calling it a tank?

My barometer is can I enjoy watching a game start to finish. I did that last night. It's been a couple of years since I could do that.

But they need some stauncher defense.

Oh, people are calling it a tank, don't you worry about that

- - - Updated - - -

They have 77 points with 3 games left to play.

They had 54 points last season.

23 points better over a single season is not a tank. They are still not very good, but that's no tank.

Who's calling it a tank?

My barometer is can I enjoy watching a game start to finish. I did that last night. It's been a couple of years since I could do that.

But they need some stauncher defense.

Oh, people are calling it a tank, don't you worry about that

[swiper]

Dumb question here. Sabres play at MSG Saturday night and Prudential Center on Tuesday night. They go back to Buffalo in between or stay in NYC area?

Paul Hamilton answers this.

http://www.wgr550.com/Hamilton-Sabre...Audio/22629098

[trapezeus]

sabres lost 26 games by 1 goal. 11 were ot losses. so of the remaining games, if they could have won 7-8 games, they'd have 91 to 93 points. this would put them in the 7th spot with 3 games to play. they've been bit by the injury bug and had a stretch of pretty bad hockey in January. something a young team could improve on. and if they had depth that pushed moulson and gionta off the team, they have youth and goal scorers to make up for the lack of production. I would say they look like they are right on track to be a very good team next year if they get the breaks.

[OpIv37]

sabres lost 26 games by 1 goal. 11 were ot losses. so of the remaining games, if they could have won 7-8 games, they'd have 91 to 93 points. this would put them in the 7th spot with 3 games to play. they've been bit by the injury bug and had a stretch of pretty bad hockey in January. something a young team could improve on. and if they had depth that pushed moulson and gionta off the team, they have youth and goal scorers to make up for the lack of production. I would say they look like they are right on track to be a very good team next year if they get the breaks.

I agree with most of this, but when has a Buffalo team been known to "get the breaks?" I can think of the Comeback game and... the Comeback game.

[JATMtheJATM]

http://www.wgr550.com/pages/22631927...entId=18643850

[trapezeus]

I was saying that they could be very good without adding a ton of depth. if they took this team as is, they can be a low seed playoff team. they've battled injuries. they've dealt with inconsistency. I'm just saying, they could easily be a playoff team now that they got the early part of the season past them.

they have parts they can trade out and don't have to be reliant on drafting. to get 90pts, you have to be a .549 team. that's just straight wins. they have been better than that for the last 2 months.

if they have any level of improvement and consistency in their game, they could be fighting with good teams. even early in the season, they didn't look outclassed by dallas and TB. They played ok. I see promise without having to hope for 1,000 different scenarios (ala buffalo bill football)

[swiper]

Looks like O'Reilly will play tonight.

[JATMtheJATM]

Eichel picks up his 30th assist

[Novacane]

This team is really getting fun to watch. Looking forward to next season.

[swiper]

Watched my second full game in 3 days.

Eichel is gonna be a great player. I hope the Sabres keep him for a long, long time. The effort he gave to make that empty netter was just what the Sabres need. Not seen since Drury.

Ristolainen looked lost on the Josefson goal. He was out of position again and looked scared to block the shot. That's two strikes in past two games for him.