Sabres game is speed and accuracy on shots, how many over the net shots did we have again ?? Philly got super lucky.
How's the ice tonight?
Tuchs goal was another great play by Thompson. I can't believe how good he's become.
The defense and goaltending is the problem. The young offensive players having issues getting back defensively.
But the defense. Yuck. Finally they got Jokiharju back in last night. He, Dahlin and Samuelsson are the only guys that are solid. Power has to be played so he can grow. Outside of those 4 they can all go. Bryson, although fast, is too small and gets pushed around a lot. Lybushkin is tough, but is not that good defensively. It was written about a lot that Adams would get a veteran defender to pair with Dahlin. He didn't do that. He should have.
The goalies all suck. There isn't an NHL starter on the roster. The Anderson story is nice, but he is a 40+ year old goalie that needs to retire. Comrie is no better than UPL. And while UPL has improved, he's not more than a back-up at the NHL level at this point. He's giving up 4 goals a game.
To me they need a real veteran goaltender and a real solid veteran defender. Selling 100% youth is nutty. I've heard enough. And they aren't actually doing that: Comrie, Lybushkin, Jost. Get a goaltender and a defender.
Novacane (01-11-2023)
Asplund & Hinostroza replaced Quinn & Peterka last night.
Jokiharju was back in, in place of Bryson.
The team looked better last night defensively, but not good enough.
I think I've seen enough of Clague too. I thought I liked his play for a minute, but he's been exposed lately. IDK. 7th defenseman. Who would you keep there: Bryson, Clague, or Pilut.
Sabres open roster spot by placing defenseman Casey Fitzgerald on waivers
That happens to every team, I get it. But two nights in a row, after adding Asplund, Hinostroza & Jokiharju, and still losing to a team they've never beaten is tough. We'll see where they go. They've rebounded before. We'll see. Dahlin looks good through it all. He's really growing in to what they said he would.
When Thompson doesn't score it seems like a different team.
Last edited by swiper; 01-11-2023 at 06:27 AM.
swiper (01-11-2023)
This has been a ****ty week.
extra ****ty!
FSU WR K. Coleman #33
Utah DB C. Bishop #60
Duke DT D. Carter #95
Kentucky RB R.Davis #128
Georgia C S.VanPran-Granger #141
Washington LB Edefuan Ulofoshio #160
Troy DE J.Solomon #168
UCF OT T.Grable #204
Penn ST. CB D.Hardy #219
England OT T.Clayton #221
This team is streaky. But it feels like the wheels have come off. I still feel like we are going in the right direction. They just aren’t there yet and the playoff drought will continue.
Shots: Buffalo 41 Winnipeg 26
I'm sorry, but UPL is NOT a good goaltender. He gives up 3 to 4 goals a game. Throughout this whole game I kept saying to myself, how good would the Sabres be with a goaltender like Hellebuyck in net? A solid play-off team.
So, 3 lessons for Kevin Adams from losing this game:
1) get a real goaltender. You have money. We know you have struggled to get to the salary floor. Get a real goaltender.
2) 6' 5" Center Adam Lowry pounded on your puny, weak team. The Sabres are puny, and weak.
3) Get a center that wins face-offs. See: Mark Schiefle. The Sabres are the worst in the NHL.
When Thompson isn't scoring, this team goes dark. They have a losing record at home, 9-12-1, I think. Why do they win more on the road?
It's gotten to the point where there is too much focus, pressure on Tage Thompson. He's having trouble just playing his game. He needs the focus taken off of him. The way to do that is secondary scoring. Skinner is in a sudden drought. Mittelstadt never regained his "breakout" status before his injury. The kids went dark. Only Tuch, Olafsson, Cozens are sometimes scorers.
Granato likes Hinostroza. But he never scores. He reminds me of Brian Holzinger: fast, good hands, but doesn't score enough. Bye. Asplund too.
Last edited by swiper; 01-13-2023 at 05:26 AM.
And back one game.
Matty Berniers is making a MUCH bigger contribution to his team than Owen Power is to his. Maybe we took the wrong guy? Power is big & talented, but plays far too timid. Where is the youth guru Granato to be fixing this? Power could be as dominant as Dahlin, if not more. He needs to find his confidence. Granato is supposed to be good at this. I don't see anything yet.
Last edited by swiper; 01-13-2023 at 05:30 AM.
Players hearing a lot of booing from the home crowd.
Okposo is a nice guy. Was a good complimentary player. Was. No other team in the league would make him captain. The Sabres need to go out and get a real captain. Someone who leads by scoring, winning face-offs and protecting his teammates when they take cheap shots. Okposo does none of that. Okposo has been a 3rd-4th line winger to play against the other teams #1 line for too many years here. He's about done.
Powers play so far this season has been one of the biggest disappointments. He looked much better in his cameo last season. I still think he'll get it together. I remember thinking Dahlin was a disappointment.
swiper (01-13-2023)
Off just enough to lose games.
UPL is 6-6 and should never be laying flat on the ice with a shot coming in from the point. If he just stands there, those hit him in the chest.
Not clearing out traffic in front of our Goalie.
Getting caught pinching deep and the opponent gets in constantly with 2 on 1 breaks.
Faceoff % seems to be terrible. Lose a lot in their own end, which results in quick goals.
Fundamentals need a lot of work before dreaming of playoff games.
Anonymity is an abused privilege, abused most by people who mistake vitriol for wisdom and cynicism for wit
Novacane (01-13-2023)
There are things to like about this team, but I can't see playoffs happening. They're way too streaky and inconsistent.
Holy **** Hellebuyck is so good. Sabres had so many chances in close. When he is on, it is hard to beat him.
I thought it was going to come back to haunt us when Scheifele sailed the open net.
swiper (01-13-2023)
I agree with you. That's why I laughed at this and asked myself, "who the hell is writing this stuff? Because they're not really watching the Sabres play..."
https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/...-best-addition
Power will come around. I want to see him start playing with more confidence. Play like you belong on the ice with the other guys. He's not really doing that.