Buffalo Rick

6 minutes ago, SaucyJack said:

 Not for Philly…but it would have eliminated Washington because Detroit won their game.  (Wings would have been one point above the Caps.)

Detroit is tough to read.  They liked scary earlier in season then went on that long losing streak.  I hope Ovetchkin retires.  Even if he catch’s Wayne, I won’t respect it! 

44 minutes ago, SaucyJack said:

Yes, both in Buffalo, but I thought that was telling, too.  Games were not close, Sabres totally outplayed the Caps.

 

All the more surprising how Washington did in their last 3, earning the full 6 points, to survive. 

 

 

If Philly had won that game in OT would it have changed things?

8 hours ago, SaucyJack said:

Do not expect another #8 over #1 here, like Panthers over Bruins last year.

 

This year’s #8 in the East has had season-long difficulties in finishing an adequate % of good scoring chances.  Caps PxP man Joe Beninati even mentioned it late in the 2nd period on Monday night, in a 1-0 game where the Caps should have been 3-0 or better on Boston.

 

At least at the very end, Washington back-checked very well, limiting chances by their higher-skilled opponents, earning low-scoring victories.  That’s their one forté this season.  Their record in 1-goal games is something like 13-2.   It is so rare to see Washington blow anyone out, while they get blown out with some regularity.

 

Hence the worst team +/- of any playoff team since 1991, back when 16 of 21 qualified.  (Or so I heard said on TV today.)

 

Maybe Ovechkin can bag an OT winner for the first time.

 

Haven’t decided on the spread yet, but it would surprise to see the Rags lose this.  (President’s Trophy curse notwithstanding.)

My Sabres beat Washington two straight down the stretch.  I voted Rangers in 5.  It could be 4.

Hell no!  And I wonder if they would prefer a trip to Winnipeg over Colorado?  Let’s see if they lay down and tank this game vs the Ducks?

Seems like the Flames fan couldn’t post this fast enough!

TOTALLY NOT DESERVED was this firing!   I do not see comments by Adams so maybe , hopefully, his head rolls next?  He is the one that deserved to be fired, not Granato.  If healthy, this young team will get in next year unless the firing of Granato comes back to bite them.

Fire Adams NOW!

On 4/11/2024 at 11:40 AM, JR Ewing said:

 

No, this is one where perception, particularly from people who don't watch many western games, doesn't match reality. You'll hear that the Oilers can't defend AND have terrible goaltending, but they have the 9th-lowest GA/GP in the NHL, and the 5th-lowest since the coaching change.

Then we should see them in finals

The Islanders are the team in East that were the luckiest to get in.  The Sabres right now are better than them and Washington and losing Jack Quinn for half season cost us the seed.  That and having an idiot for a GM

Can anyone seriously see a cinch to get to the finals?  Does anyone feel confident i any team?  I know that you Flyer faithful have to be disgusted over the way the Flyers have finished.  Basically stinking up the joint.  I mean, they looked like they were in an now?  But in the East I figure that Florida, Boston, Carolina  and Toronto and maybe the Rangers are the true contenders.  I will stick my neck out on a limb and pick the Leafs to end Canada's absense from the finals.  Why not?  They are in the  top 4-5.  They have proven when they show up they can beat anyone. Florida are probably the favorites.  

The West is also crazy  I think the Blues are still alive?  If they can sneak in, look out!  But if not, Who are the favorites?  Golden Knights who have underachieved all year? The Blues can still knock them out with some help. Vancouver have really tailed off.  Edmonton has the star power but not much in keeping other teams out.  Dallas has the best record in the NHL and my Sabres fought them tooth and nail and lost a tough 3-2 contest, ending our season. But they did finish on a high note and need a couple of good moves by marble head Adams to get in next year.  Can Dallas reach the finals?  Does anyone really believe in them?  I do not.  Colorado has a shot. So does, Winnipeg.  Yes, just maybe.  I cant believe Casey Middlestadt has a ticket to the playoffs.  So for now my pick would be Toronto vs ????  Unsure about West until I know if the Blues make it.  The Kings?  How good are they really?  The Sabres beat them one night by a touchdown.  7-0.  Another team the Blues have a shot to run down.  I sure hope the Blues get in.

The bad news is a brutal schedule last 5 games.  Really need to beat Detroit today.  If they do then Washington, Pittsburgh, Philly, Detroit are all ripe for the picking.  But we have Florida, Tampa, Washington, Dallas next.   If they can beat these teams they could sneak in.  Tampa and Washington are up and down.  Dallas also in a way.  I don’t think I remember a year where things were so wide open. Is there a team anyone thinks is a cinch to win the cup?  This could be a year where some 8 seed knocks out a one. Yes I remember Boston last year.  

6 hours ago, SaucyJack said:

Not terribly brutal.  Others have games in hand on Buffalo, but you should win your next 2 home games (OTT, NJ).  In April, you get rivals Washington (twice!) and Philly at home.  

Your last week is tough, all good teams on the road, but an opportunity to play rival Detroit.  So yeah, tough, but not impossible.

Washington has played far better than I expected.  So have the Blues but it doesn’t look like they will get in?  I think they need Quinn back by weekend or it’s over.  I hope that bridge doesn’t affect anyone on the forum.  I wonder if the Orioles will open Thursday in light of this disaster?  It could be rained out anyway but I’m wondering what this might affect?  I’ve been to Camden Yards And the harbor but never to that bridge or area.  

The Sabres have a zero , 0, differential.  Only team . I just find it strange and the stellar play of Luukenen is the reason they are a middle of the pack team, not bad like Pittsburgh.  A game over 500 and recently have played well as they came out of Calgary 4-1 winners.  They have pretty much a brutal stretch to finish.  About ten games left.  Jack Quinn started skating last week so I’m hoping he returns to give the Sabres a shot in the arm.  About 3 teams are in striking range to try and sneak in.  But does it matter?  I think Florida, Boston, Toronto and the Leafs are the only real contenders in the East.  Rangers a long shot.  To me Florida is the most likely but I still believe the Leafs are dangerous if they can be consistent for a change.  The Sabres have to play them soon.  In the West it seems Vancouver has slipped a bit.  I’m starting to think Colorado is in the lead and red hot Nashville could make noise.  

I wouldn’t sell the Blues too short. They can make the playoffs and I think they will.   Then who knows what hell they might unleash!  They have been better than many expected 

On 5/27/2018 at 2:37 PM, pilldoc said:

 

Blues might have a new AHL home next season in San Antonio.  Meanwhile the AHL is looking to expand.  Currently the San Antonio Rampage are part of the Colorado Avalanche.  The thinking is to have the AHL expand to Colorado and move the Avs closer to home.  Nothing definite has bee signed.

I hadn’t heard this.  The AHL is tough to keep up with these days.

Well you Philly fans never have trouble finding something green to wear on St Patrick’s day!  

1 hour ago, Samifan said:

Don’t do it Rick, that’s how they get you! 

Yes,  and they lose to Detroit.  And the Capitals steal two out West.  They need a long streak .  Losing Quinn really set them back.  They at least finally have their goalie.  I just don’t know how Adams is still the GM.  He should be gone.  

On 3/15/2024 at 9:21 AM, TropicalFruitGirl26 said:

Well well now...
Big win indeed!

Don't look now, but these Sabres are just 3 pts out of the final wild card spot....with the Islanders, Captials, and Wings ahead of them...and NEITHER of those teams being a lock for anything!

Definitely could be an interesting stretch of games for Buffalo as the season winds down!

I really am starting to believe.  I am hoping Quinn is close to returning as he could help.  Up on the Red Wings as I type.  They have lost 7 in a row and they were playing very well not that long ago.  Thompson is heating up.  Just scored and had 6 point game two back.  Luukenen has been solid.  The Penguins are crap now.   So we should finish ahead of them.  The Blues playing well too but not sure if they will get in? 

The Sabres win over the Islanders, 4-0, might be their biggest win of the year.  They are making it interesting.  The Red Wings are next, who they not only beat the other day but Detroit has lost 7 in a row.  It’s not impossible for the Sabres to run down a team like the Islanders for the final playoff spot.  Luukenen has really come through .

A nightmare for Bettman and NHL

36 minutes ago, radoran said:

 

Which Schenn?

 

Brayden.  Blues

Not that it would matter, but looking at the standings I don’t think it’s impossible.  Washington and Islanders playing great so forget about catching them. I am not sure of timetable on Quinn but he would be a big lift.  Luukenen has been solid regardless of what happens.  So I think the Sabres have their goalie in Luukenen 

Trading Carter and Schenn were maybe worst trades your Flyers ever made.  

8 hours ago, TropicalFruitGirl26 said:

 

Since the Sabres don't look like they will be making the playoffs, I think they did absolutely wonderfully in that trade.

Sure, Mittelstadt is having a career year (or close to it....would have to look more closely at the numbers), but how many times  have the Sabres given "the ball" to Mittel, and he hasn't lived up to it yet?
Your team did what most GM's SHOULD do.... trade away a still good player when he is on a 'high', like Mittelstadt is, if he has shown in the past that he is inconsistent at best.

And when the return is a potential steal in Bown Byram, well now....like I said...Sabres did wonderfully.

Dahlin, Power, Byram.
Those are three very, very dynamic type defenseman who are still very young, and while Dahlin is obviously the most NHL established of the three, once the other two learn to be true NHL'ers, the Sabres will have a very dangerous potential for offense comeing from that blue line to support the forward lines.

If those three young players can do well as part of the Buffalo defensive core, then all the Sabres would need to do is find established stay at home type defensemen (easier to acquire than dynamic puck movers like those guys), to compliment those young players.

But I even think those three young players can be more than just offensive types.
All three can turn out to be very good two way players.
If that happens, then this is a landslide win of a trade for the Sabres.....and Atlantic division rivals will have nightmares trying to contain the Buffalo top six AND attacks from the blue line, while having trouble getting through the neutral zone past those guys as well.

Not making the playoffs sucks for your team, I get it, and the regression is disappointing, but I think the team has done very well in trying to reset things moving forward again for next season, and having Byram in there with the two young blueliners you already have helps give optimism.

I still would fire Adams for how he handled the Eichel situation. But that aside, Making the playoffs just to be eliminated after on round really matters not that much.  My biggest worry moving forward would be the Sabres being able to sign these young guys without them being stolen from teams like the Rangers and such.  The injury to Quinn to me was huge  It kept them from moving forward this year.  He is a big piece in the lineup they now have and they could not afford to have him go down again.  They need to get a couple of good forwards.  Trade that big guy they got from the Wild.  And likely time for Okposo to go also.

On 2/26/2024 at 11:15 AM, TropicalFruitGirl26 said:

Yea, Buffalo is technically under .500 still....and likely will stay that way.

If I am the front office, I examine every aspect of the team and see where the regressions were and see what can be done to not have this happen again next season.....and while they are at it, of course, try to get whatever they can for older players or expiring contracts they know they aren't really interested in keeping long term.
Get the analytics guys in on that too, they'd probably be a world of help looking at trends and helping to predict future performance based on personnel.

I think with 20+ games left, and the Sabres 11 pts behind the wild card spots, their best bet is to look past this season starting now.
The players on the ice, of course, should try to continue to win......their job isn't to worry about the future of the franchise and long term competitiveness. Only to win when they step onto the ice if they can.

Front office though? Definitely some hard looks need to be made at this team.

Well they just traded Middlestadt for a young defenseman.  Not sure what to think.  The Sabres are just young and players in early 20s are not going to win vs 30 plus yr old veterans most of the time.  Luukenen has been a bright spot.  Need a reliable backup as the loss to Winnipeg was first time I think I’ve ever seen Sabres start a goalie back to back nights.

The Blues will finish ahead of the Wild and I stand by they can beat anyone when Binnington is in

The Sabres are not out of it if you look at how well they have been playing and Luukenen has been fabulous. But now that they  have reached the elusive .500 they go to Florida and Tampa, the first being far tougher, and then Vegas and Jets are in. A split here and a run after that would give them a shot of running someone down.  But I sure wish Quinn had not been injured.  I have seen no moves by Adams.  Cant stand what he has done. The only smart thing was sticking with Luukenen