Hat trick
- lung3r

Oh yeah, haven't had one of those in awhile

I'm getting pretty worried now. We're only 6 points up and now have 2 games in hand. That's not good. On top of that, our goalie is hot and our team seems to really play hard most nights. We're not the pushover that we were earlier in the season. On top of that, we face everyone's backups.

Then, you have to factor in the Oilers schedule. They are absolutely awful as well and have a very tough schedule ahead. I am not sure when they will win again.

You factor all this together, it doesn't look good at all. Sure, we will lose some, but, unfortunately, this team isn't mailing it in like many of the other terrible teams right now.

Also, Arizona is TERRIBLE as well. Yeah, we have a couple more point lead on them, but they are another team that is going to be doing a lot of losing. I am not sure when they will win again either. Luckily, Toronto got some separation on us earlier in the season or they would be terrifying as well. Their win helped tonight. If they can find 5 more wins the rest of the way, we should be good with them.

Edmonton and Arizona are going to be major problems. As bad as we have been at times, they might be worse right now and have schedules that I just can't see them picking up too many points with in the near future. Everyone that has been saying we have this locked up is just not paying attention. This is going to get tighter really fast. Honestly, even with the lead and as bad as we have been at times, I am liking our chances less and less each day. Gonna get scary.
- sven233

TM won't let it happen. He's this close to getting a generational player.
He'll trade away someone if it means missing out on the tank now.

This team will look a bit different a week from Tuesday with some of the UFA's dealt and who knows who else. If Neuvirth is traded it could be smooth sailing along with Stewart, Torrey Mitchell on the PK. Not sure who else could be wanted.
- GilPerreault11

Well, I do agree that if those guys are indeed moved.......especially Neuvirth, I would feel a lot better. Having whatever is left in goal after he is dealt will help a lot. Stewart and Mitchell being moved would help as well.

It's been a strange year. That 10-3 stretch has absolutely killed us with all of those shootout wins. I mean, we should be 12-15 points up at this point and this shouldn't even be an issue, but with all of these useless shootout points have really come back to haunt us.

I don't know......if we can somehow lose our next few games and get to the trade deadline with no more points than where we are right now, we might be in better shape. But right now, we are in just about every single game and a couple of unlucky bounces get us within a couple points of the Oil.

We are, by far, probably the worst team in the league, but the 6 point gap doesn't reflect that. Hockey is the 1 game where being the worst, by far, doesn't mean you will finish last.

Secondary assists are just as useless of a stat as +/-
- lung3r

No they aren't. Sometimes one of the most important players in a play might not even get an assist.

Myers was an important factor in that goal being scored.

TM won't let it happen. He's this close to getting a generational player.
He'll trade away someone if it means missing out on the tank now.
- Pairo11

I hope so. To this point, he has been the GM I have always wanted...... He has done just about everything I would have tried to do as GM.

But, to me, he will be rated on 1 thing going forward......locking up 30th place this season. That is what this entire season has been about and if he doesn't finish this job, then he's done a terrible job. If he gets us to last, then he should be GM of the year! Fine line!!!! HA!

No they aren't. Sometimes one of the most important players in a play might not even get an assist.

Myers was an important factor in that goal being scored.
- Herzeleid

Yes he was...the peg and tor goal

And this represents the fan base?
- Sabresfan-365

No, he doesnt....Hanleyj does though

Texas and Calgary are basically the same place
- DDM-Coga

I'd like to think that........

But just look at what happened with the Oil...... we were 8 points up with the same amount of games played and now are only 6 points up with 2 games in hand. We get 3 points in those 2 games and all of a sudden, the lead is pretty much gone.

But yes.....AZ is a little further away at this point. But I think they need to win at lease 7 more times this season to be far enough away from us and, if you look at their schedule, where are their wins coming from? God forbid we beat them twice next month....that happens, a 9 point lead becomes 5.....not to mention that gains up on the Oil at the same time.

These 3 teams are probably going to finish in the bottom 3. If we had bad goaltending, I wouldn't be worried, but, for whatever reason, our goaltending is stealing points we don't deserve. Has been all season......
- sven233

So in reality we gained 2 points on the Oilers? When we play our extra two games in hand we should statistically do what we have been doing....losing.

I'm getting pretty worried now. We're only 6 points up and now have 2 games in hand. That's not good. On top of that, our goalie is hot and our team seems to really play hard most nights. We're not the pushover that we were earlier in the season. On top of that, we face everyone's backups.

Then, you have to factor in the Oilers schedule. They are absolutely awful as well and have a very tough schedule ahead. I am not sure when they will win again.

You factor all this together, it doesn't look good at all. Sure, we will lose some, but, unfortunately, this team isn't mailing it in like many of the other terrible teams right now.

Also, Arizona is TERRIBLE as well. Yeah, we have a couple more point lead on them, but they are another team that is going to be doing a lot of losing. I am not sure when they will win again either. Luckily, Toronto got some separation on us earlier in the season or they would be terrifying as well. Their win helped tonight. If they can find 5 more wins the rest of the way, we should be good with them.

Edmonton and Arizona are going to be major problems. As bad as we have been at times, they might be worse right now and have schedules that I just can't see them picking up too many points with in the near future. Everyone that has been saying we have this locked up is just not paying attention. This is going to get tighter really fast. Honestly, even with the lead and as bad as we have been at times, I am liking our chances less and less each day. Gonna get scary.
- sven233

Settle the (frank) down...you guys aint passing nobody in the standings.....might lose the lottery though

- homiedclown

Well, I do agree that if those guys are indeed moved.......especially Neuvirth, I would feel a lot better. Having whatever is left in goal after he is dealt will help a lot. Stewart and Mitchell being moved would help as well.

It's been a strange year. That 10-3 stretch has absolutely killed us with all of those shootout wins. I mean, we should be 12-15 points up at this point and this shouldn't even be an issue, but with all of these useless shootout points have really come back to haunt us.

I don't know......if we can somehow lose our next few games and get to the trade deadline with no more points than where we are right now, we might be in better shape. But right now, we are in just about every single game and a couple of unlucky bounces get us within a couple points of the Oil.

We are, by far, probably the worst team in the league, but the 6 point gap doesn't reflect that. Hockey is the 1 game where being the worst, by far, doesn't mean you will finish last.
- sven233

Look at youy, a nervous wreck about not being garaunteed Mc David.....I would imagine on lottery day you'll have the blankets pulled up to your eyes and a diaper full of poop.

Our next dinner out better be special.
- nfph

- whipper334

hey buddy,fancy seeing you here.

Settle the (frank) down...you guys aint passing nobody in the standings.....might lose the lottery though

- Jeropotato

This is true. Except I would change "might" with "most likely".

This is true. Except I would change "might" with "most likely".
- PrinceChill

80% , yup

This is true. Except I would change "might" with "most likely".
- PrinceChill

Hey take you and your math out of here.

Hey take you and your math out of here.
- Mentalorgasm5

I like the new math, works way better for me than the old math. Just a matter of preference.

Look at youy, a nervous wreck about not being garaunteed Mc David.....I would imagine on lottery day you'll have the blankets pulled up to your eyes and a diaper full of poop.

- Jeropotato

This has nothing to do with McDavid. In fact, I haven't given 2 seconds of thought to him being a Buffalo Sabre. It isn't going to happen. This season has been about 1 thing from the very beginning......guaranteeing the 2nd overall pick. THat is all I care about. If we won the lottery, that is just a bonus, but I don't really care about that. I want the 2nd pick locked up. That is all that I, and most Sabres fans care about. If we win the lottery, that's just found money. But selecting 1st isn't what this is about. It is about picking in the top 2.

Settle the (frank) down...you guys aint passing nobody in the standings.....might lose the lottery though

- Jeropotato

Lose the lottery and pick 2nd? Where do I sign? I'll do it right now.

This season is about 1 thing.....picking in the top 2. If I can guarantee the 2nd pick right now, I would do it in a heartbeat.

This has nothing to do with McDavid. In fact, I haven't given 2 seconds of thought to him being a Buffalo Sabre. It isn't going to happen. This season has been about 1 thing from the very beginning......guaranteeing the 2nd overall pick. THat is all I care about. If we won the lottery, that is just a bonus, but I don't really care about that. I want the 2nd pick locked up. That is all that I, and most Sabres fans care about. If we win the lottery, that's just found money. But selecting 1st isn't what this is about. It is about picking in the top 2.
- sven233

Dont act like this whole rebuild and tank is all for not if you draft 3rd though. Keep your chin up and have some faith in your GM.

Lose the lottery and pick 2nd? Where do I sign? I'll do it right now.

This season is about 1 thing.....picking in the top 2. If I can guarantee the 2nd pick right now, I would do it in a heartbeat.
- sven233

Uh...yeah you explained this in the post above.

Dont act like this whole rebuild and tank is all for not if you draft 3rd though. Keep your chin up and have some faith in your GM.
- Jeropotato

Oh....I have faith in the GM. But anyone would have to agree that there is a BIG drop-off after the top 2 picks. Might not be as big a deal for the Oilers because they need so much help on defense, but our team needs so much offensive help. So, not picking in the top 2 just makes the re-build a lot harder for an offensively challenged team. That's all. Not saying we won't get there if we don't pick in the top 2, but it might take a lot longer.

Dont act like this whole rebuild and tank is all for not if you draft 3rd though. Keep your chin up and have some faith in your GM.
- Jeropotato

This is good advice and I agree with it. But everyone here wants maximum return on this dismal season.

Oh....I have faith in the GM. But anyone would have to agree that there is a BIG drop-off after the top 2 picks. Might not be as big a deal for the Oilers because they need so much help on defense, but our team needs so much offensive help. So, not picking in the top 2 just makes the re-build a lot harder for an offensively challenged team. That's all. Not saying we won't get there if we don't pick in the top 2, but it might take a lot longer.
- sven233

Not really. You have a legit future #1 in Reinhart, dont rest on your laurels once you get a mcEichel...look at the Pens.....one cup early and then nothing.