[Incomplete Title] Sabres (21-12-5) & NHL 2018-19 - Game 39 (MSG-B) vs. BOS (20-14-4) at 7 PM ET on 12/29

[row_33]

17 minutes ago, 4merper4mer said:

The Bruins did not look that good to me at all.  The Sabres simply looked worse after the first 10 minutes which weren't bad.  The Bruins first goal was lucky inasmuch as the flow had been going the other way and the just got a bounce to start a rush.

 

After that, woof.

 

it's the fate of bad teams, they can appear to dominate but they don't score, then the other team comes down the ice once and scores a bad goal

 

and that's all she wrote

 

 

[shrader]

My lasting imagine from that game was a shot of the bench late in the first period.  They looked deflated and defeated already.  The second I saw that, I knew that game was done.  Nothing after that surprised me one bit.  It's going to take a long time to remove that mentality from this team.  It's been going on for so long now, it almost feels like it is pure luck to break free from it.  Of course, if they figure out how to bounce back in game 2 bruin-style, things can look completely different very quickly.

 

5 minutes with an extra skater at the end and they still can't even put together a single serious scoring opportunity.

[ChevyVanMiller]

Sobering Stat of the Day:


Buffalo professional sports teams are scoreless in their last 9 quarter/periods combined.

 

Sobering Stat of the Day: Buffalo professional sports teams haven't scored in 9 combined quarters/periods.

[4merper4mer]

7 minutes ago, row_33 said:

 

it's the fate of bad teams, they can appear to dominate but they don't score, then the other team comes down the ice once and scores a bad goal

 

and that's all she wrote

 

 

The commercials for the upcoming Cher concert were more exciting.

 

Eichel appears to be doing his best Gary Anderson impersonation.....hopefully that changes.  I didn't see anything that bothered me too much about Risto, Skinner, the not yet injured Reinhardt, or Dahlin.  Whoever though Thompson, who does a 5.5 40 on skates belongs on an NHL team, made a mistake.

[row_33]

16 minutes ago, 4merper4mer said:

The commercials for the upcoming Cher concert were more exciting.

 

Eichel appears to be doing his best Gary Anderson impersonation.....hopefully that changes.  I didn't see anything that bothered me too much about Risto, Skinner, the not yet injured Reinhardt, or Dahlin.  Whoever though Thompson, who does a 5.5 40 on skates belongs on an NHL team, made a mistake.

 

i watched the first period, they will have to fight hard for every point they grab this year

 

 

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[plenzmd1]

Housely gunna have no choice to sit some vets like Scandella if they have another bad day tomotroow..will be his only hope in keeping his job. I can see Guhle and Pilut up here quick

[26CornerBlitz]

Make it 30 games after review!

[row_33]

14 minutes ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

Make it 30 games after review!

 

!@#$.....

 

 

[JohnC]

2 hours ago, GG said:

 

Yes, cooler heads would suggest to let it play out a bit.

 

Yet, in the first intermission interview, Sheary let it slip that perhaps Sabres weren't ready for the intensity that Bruins brought in the 1st period after getting blown out the night before.

 

That's pretty damning

The people who should be damned are the players. With the exception for the rookie all the players have played in the league. They certainly know that a veteran team that gets embarrassed in a prior game is going to play the next game with even more intensity. That's not a surprise. In this game the losers got stymied by not only the tougher team but also the smarter team. 

 

It's absurd for so many people to act as if the ship is sinking because of one game. The roster has significantly been turned over. The players on the lines have to adjust to one another. That transition isn't automatic.  If the Sabres win the next game the sad song that so many fickle people are singing will turn into a rock n' roll song of joy. 

[K-9]

The ship is sinking? I submit this ship has been sitting at the bottom of the ocean since Housley guided them to the first 31st place finish in league history. He had no answers all of last season and I see no reason to think he will magically find them with this sorry group of under achievers. 

 

We we will know by Halloween. Until I see anything different than what we’ve witnessed the previous several seasons, I can’t be convinced Housley needs to stay. Can’t fire the players, after all. 

[GG]

1 hour ago, K-9 said:

The ship is sinking? I submit this ship has been sitting at the bottom of the ocean since Housley guided them to the first 31st place finish in league history. He had no answers all of last season and I see no reason to think he will magically find them with this sorry group of under achievers. 

 

We we will know by Halloween. Until I see anything different than what we’ve witnessed the previous several seasons, I can’t be convinced Housley needs to stay. Can’t fire the players, after all. 

 

But we'll be thanking him for Dahlin for a long time, I hope.

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[JohnC]

3 hours ago, K-9 said:

The ship is sinking? I submit this ship has been sitting at the bottom of the ocean since Housley guided them to the first 31st place finish in league history. He had no answers all of last season and I see no reason to think he will magically find them with this sorry group of under achievers. 

 

We we will know by Halloween. Until I see anything different than what we’ve witnessed the previous several seasons, I can’t be convinced Housley needs to stay. Can’t fire the players, after all. 

Housely guided the worst team in the league to where their talent level and mix brought them. He's not a magician. Our first game was a dud. We lost to a better and a more experienced team. Let's wait until at least this home stand is completed before a conclusive determination is made about this team. I consider this team at best to be a contending fringe playoff team. That would be a major leap forward from last year. 

 

If the Sabres play another dud game in their second game then I will start to get shaky. But because there are so many new players I'm willing to be more patient so the line combinations and defense pairings can be sorted out. 

[plenzmd1]

on the drive to Buffalo yesterday, listened to Shoop show on GR..seems not only was the game awful..everything was awful. Kept tickets prices the same, but beer was jacked by $3.00. Concessions were a mess, 20 minute waits for cold or non-existent food. 

 

I love what the Pegulas have done for Buffalo, but if these reports are true it is not good. Will see tonight and report. 

 

I am not one to boo..no promises for tonight. Ever the optimistic sort, I am expecting a big dominating win tonight

[26CornerBlitz]

 

Game Preview: 10/6/18 vs. NY Rangers

 

GAME-DAY RESOURCES

 

Game Notes

NHL Stats

Press Clips

 

LAST GAME
Thursday, October 4
Boston 4 at Buffalo 0
Goals: N/A
Goalie: Hutton (22 saves/25 shots); 1 ENG
PP: 0/2; PK: 0/1; Shots: Buffalo 32 – Boston 26

 

CURRENT INJURIES – (Man Games Lost: 5)
Player (injury, first game missed) – total games missed
Zach Bogosian (lower body, Oct. 4) – 1 game
Matt Hunwick (neck, Oct. 4; injured reserve) – 1 game
Johan Larsson (lower body, Oct. 4; injured reserve) – 1 game
Sean Malone (knee, Oct. 4; injured reserve) – 1 game
Scott Wilson (ankle, Oct. 4; injured reserve) – 1 game

 

TRANSACTIONS IN PAST 7 DAYS
9/29: Assigned D Lawrence Pilut to Rochester (AHL)
9/30: Assigned F Justin Bailey and F Nicholas Baptiste to Rochester (AHL)
10/1: Acquired D Jack Dougherty from Nashville in exchange for F Nicholas Baptiste; Assigned D Jack Dougherty, F Alexander Nylander, D Brendan Guhle and D Brandon Hickey to Rochester (AHL)
10/2: Claimed F Remi Elie off waivers from Dallas; Placed F Johan Larsson, F Sean Malone, F Scott Wilson and D Matt Hunwick on IR

 

UPCOMING GAMES
Monday, Oct. 8: Vegas at Buffalo, 3 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 11: Colorado at Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 13: Buffalo at Arizona, 9 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 16: Buffalo at Vegas, 10 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 18: Buffalo at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.

 

TONIGHT’S GAME
RANGERS at SABRES

• This is the first of three meetings between the Sabres and Rangers this season.
• Next meeting: Sunday, Nov. 4 in New York
• Last meeting: New York defeated Buffalo 4-3 in New York on March 24
• The Sabres are 3-5-2 in their last 10 games vs. the Rangers; 2-5-3 at home
• This is the 181st game all-time between Buffalo and New York; Buffalo has an 81-64-35 series record.
• The Sabres are 48-28-15 at home against the Rangers all-time.

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[njbuff]

I thought us Bills fans were hard on the Bills, but, you Sabres fans are even harder on the Sabres.

 

I understand it, but it’s one game folks.

 

It might be suicide watch if the Sabres aren’t ready for a horrific Rangers team tonight. The Rangers have very little talent and if the Sabres are improved, they will put a bad opening night loss behind them and beat the Rangers. I mean, they have to, right?

[BillsFan4]

Very curious to see if the Sabres can rebound tonight. 

 

There are fewer excuses against the Rangers.

They don’t have an experienced veteran team anymore. They are a young rebuilding team just like us. They have a new coach fresh from the college ranks. New system. New faces in the lineup (not sure if they’ve had quite the turnover we have though). 

 

This should be a game we win. But at the absolute bare minimum I want to see guys playing the right way. 

[plenzmd1]

Hutton tonight??? My Venmo  memo to nephew for tickets just said "waste of time and money"...but just cant not go....

Edited October 6, 2018 by plenzmd1

[26CornerBlitz]

 

 

[26CornerBlitz]

Eichel, Sabres look to get back on track vs. Rangers

 

 

Lineup notes

 

Vladimir Sobotka will not play after missing practice on Friday with an upper-body injury. Sobotka skated on his own Saturday morning and remains day-to-day. He'll be replaced in the lineup by Remi Elie, making his Sabres debut.

 

You can read more about Elie, who was claimed off waivers from Dallas earlier this week, here.

 

Sobotka, who has experience at center and on the wing, was used in a support role on Casey Mittelstadt's line against Boston, often taking defensive-zone draws in place of the young center. Zemgus Girgensons will be bumped up to Mittelstadt's line in his absence.

 

Housley used Girgensons in that role alongside Mittelstadt during the team's preseason game in Toronto on Sept. 21, when the young center often found himself lined up against Maple Leafs star John Tavares. While Housley still found it important to give Mittelstadt veteran support against the Rangers, the coach has seen improvements in his defensive game in recent weeks.

 

"He's put a lot of time and effort into his game since the start of training camp," Housley said. "His first couple exhibition games there were some defensive breakdowns, but he's really worked hard on that part of his game and you could see the development in the [preseason finale against the Islanders] and even in the game against Boston.

 

"I really liked the way he attacked the game. He was very defensively sound, he came through the neutral zone with speed, so his development's moving in a good direction."

 

Conor Sheary will remain on the top line with Eichel and Sam Reinhart, while Jeff Skinner is expected to skate alongside Patrik Berglund and Kyle Okposo. Here's how the lineup could look based on Friday's practice, with Carter Hutton slated to start in net:

 

43 Conor Sheary - 9 Jack Eichel - 23 Sam Reinhart

53 Jeff Skinner - 10 Patrik Berglund - 21 Kyle Okposo

28 Zemgus Girgensons - 37 Casey Mittelstadt - 72 Tage Thompson

81 Remi Elie - 71 Evan Rodrigues - 29 Jason Pominville

 

6 Marco Scandella - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen

19 Jake McCabe - 26 Rasmus Dahlin

82 Nathan Beaulieu - 8 Casey Nelson

 

40 Carter Hutton

35 Linus Ullmark

[26CornerBlitz]

Preview: Rangers Open Two-Game Trip in Buffalo

PROJECTED LINEUP

Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Pavel Buchnevich
Jimmy Vesey-Kevin Hayes-Mats Zuccarello
Ryan Spooner-Filip Chytil-Jesper Fast
Cody McCleod-Brett Howden-Vinni Lettieri

 

Brady Skjei-Adam McQuaid
Brendan Smith-Kevin Shattenkirk
Marc Staal-Neal Pionk

 

Henrik Lundqvist
Alexandar Georgiev

[plenzmd1]

Okay biotches. I am in 323 and 115 tonight. Will have a red Denison Swimming hat that looks like a MAGA hat on. Say hi if ya see it. 

 

Can also buy buy me a beer if it feels right!

Edited October 6, 2018 by plenzmd1

[snafu]

11 minutes ago, plenzmd1 said:

Okay biotches. I am in 323 and 115 tonight. Will have a red Denison Swimming hat that looks like a MAGA hat on. Say hi if ya see it. 

 

Can also buy buy me a beer if it feels right!

 

Have fun watching a WIN.  Go Sabres!

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[26CornerBlitz]

Nice Shot Sheary!

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[BillsFan4]

Well... after 1 period, they look MUCH better than last game. 

 

It really looks like Housley got through to them because they are playing with much more structure in all 3 zones. They are also keeping things more simple and taking what the NYR are giving. They actually look like they’re playing like a team so far. 

I love the fire and effort level I am seeing from just about every single Sabre, too. Especially the main guys like Eichel, Reinhart, Skinner, Sheary, Risto etc. 

 

I am still seeing a few things to clean up, like breakdowns in coverage and dumb decisions with the puck. But that is fully expected. Everything isn’t going to be fixed overnight. I just want to see continued progress... 

 

 

The real test will be to see if this team can maintain this structure and effort level for an entire game. And even more so when they hit some adversity.

 

[snafu]

10 minutes ago, BillsFan4 said:

Well... after 1 period, they look MUCH better than last game. 

 

It really looks like Housley got through to them because they are playing with much more structure in all 3 zones. They are also keeping things more simple and taking what the NYR are giving. They actually look like they’re playing like a team so far. 

I love the fire and effort level I am seeing from just about every single Sabre, too. Especially the main guys like Eichel, Reinhart, Skinner, Sheary, Risto etc. 

 

I am still seeing a few things to clean up, like breakdowns in coverage and dumb decisions with the puck. But that is fully expected. Everything isn’t going to be fixed overnight. I just want to see continued progress... 

 

 

The real test will be to see if this team can maintain this structure and effort level for an entire game. And even more so when they hit some adversity.

 

 

What I see is that they need to keep the Rangers from sustaining pressure in the Sabres zone. And they are really sloppy with the puck. Not going to win much if your team can't control the puck for long stretches. Hutton has been the star of the first period. Dahlin will be good someday. He's not good yet. 

 

 

[T&C]

Is it just me or is Eichel hesitant to shoot the puck? Drives me nuts...

[Figster]

Awesome game by Carter Hutton

[K-9]

Except for Hutton, a resounding “meh” because they were outplayed and outcoached once again. And against one of the worst teams in the league to boot.

[zow2]

The difference thus far between this years team and last years is they have a better goalie now.  But their puck possession is weak and they give up lots of quality chances.  That’s a recipe for another. Non-playoff season 

[26CornerBlitz]

 

 

[snafu]

Vesey outplayed Eichel by a mile. 

[JohnC]

13 minutes ago, snafu said:

Vesey outplayed Eichel by a mile. 

I thought Vesey played well. You must have watched a different game than I did to conclude that he outplayed Jack. If I have a criticism of Jack in the first two games it's that he is over passing trying to get his mates involved. 

[snafu]

1 minute ago, JohnC said:

I thought Vesey played well. You must have watched a different game than I did to conclude that he outplayed Jack. If I have a criticism of Jack in the first two games it's that he is over passing trying to get his mates involved. 

 

Several times last night Eichel decided to put his head down and dick around with the puck, turning his back to the play, giving a Ranger an easy opportunity to dispossess him and take the play in the other direction.  Eichel's overall game was completely ineffective.  He looked like the third option on his line, behind Sheary and Rineheart. He couldn't win defensive zone faceoffs.  If Eichel is going to be considered one of the best in the league, he needs to play better than that.  

[JohnC]

11 hours ago, K-9 said:

Except for Hutton, a resounding “meh” because they were outplayed and outcoached once again. And against one of the worst teams in the league to boot.

I don't understand your comment that Housley was out-coached by the other coach? I'm not saying that Housley out-smarted the other coach because I don't think that is an accurate takeaway from this game. 

 

This was not a very complicated game. Two teams battled with both goalies being the instrumental players for their respective team. 

 

The Sabres were the worst team in the league last year. In my opinion they will move up the ranks to the middle of the pack and be a fringe playoff team. That is a quantum leap forward. Once the new players get more comfortable with their line-mates and it is better determined who plays with who there will be less scrambling and more coherent play. 

 

One of my takeaways from this game that gets me excited is that Dahlin was not a standout but he played a very mature game. Once he gets comfortable his dynamism will be on display. 

2 minutes ago, snafu said:

 

Several times last night Eichel decided to put his head down and dick around with the puck, turning his back to the play, giving a Ranger an easy opportunity to dispossess him and take the play in the other direction.  Eichel's overall game was completely ineffective.  He looked like the third option on his line, behind Sheary and Rineheart. He couldn't win defensive zone faceoffs.  If Eichel is going to be considered one of the best in the league, he needs to play better than that.  

Are you aware that this is only the second game? I agree with you that he played with the puck too much but it was done in his attempt to create something when not much was there to work with. Because he handled the puck along the boards he actually did create a play that resulted in a pass to Reinhart who made a beautiful cross pass to Sheary for a goal. So without question Eichel's play was decisive in the win. 

 

There has been a lot of changes to the roster. It's early in the season and players are trying to figure out each other and develop some chemistry. It's not instantly created. It takes a little time. Let's be reasonable here.