I honestly just think it's taken this long for everyone to get used to each other. People were not giving enough credence to the fact of the turnover and new coaches/system. It takes way longer than people want to believe. It takes a full season pretty much for just a new system with established players. But we had neither a system nor established players.

Who is playing significant time up front that played significant time last year? Girgensons that's it. And he's gotten Richard for ice time lately. Gionta somewhat too, but he's been playing less and less relative to November and December as well. But we had no Kane, ROR, Eichel and Reinhart and worse still they were all playing on different teams in different leagues.

On the backend you have Risto. And Bogo somewhat the last 2 months of last year and he has been dealing with a nagging injury until the last few weeks or so when his game has finally picked up. Gorges too. Weber I guess, although I wouldn't exactly consider his playing time this year "Significant". McCabe and Pysyk at least played together in Roc.

Throw all of those guys together in a new system and you have the time to jell plus the time to learn the system and it's tough to get anything done, but the past month or so they've made some big strides. Sure they've taken their lumps too, but they've played a much more complete "team" game. The passing has been extraordinary the past little while here, guys are confident they know where their mates are going to be, and that's huge.

Plus the fact we've played the majority of the season with a guy who's never played on NA ice and a career backup in goal. And Lehner has as many minutes as Ullmark. And clearly still has the ankle nagging him as evidenced by the unscheduled time off last week and now seems to be shut down. And he was playing nothing short of excellent when you factor in not playing for almost a year except for training camp/preseason which doesn't really count for all that much. Compared to last year he's a half a goal a game better and 2 full percentage points, well 1.9%, better in SV% while hurt. That's extraordinary.

Also we've been without our best player from last year for the last 50 games. That's not any kind of recipe for success. Or consistency.
- Wetbandit1

this may be a very good post, I will read (reed/reid) it when I wake up

- homiedclown

bump

bump
- homiedclown

Still have my doubts.

I'm a cheap franker and it's gonna cost a lot b

Updated bottom standings

23rd Arizona 69 pts 70 GP
24th Buffalo 68 pts 72 GP
25th Vancouver 66 pts 70 GP
26th Calgary 66 pts 71 GP
27th Edmonton 65 pts 74 GP
28th Columbus 64 pts 70 GP
29th Winnipeg 63 pts 61 GP
30th Toronto 59 pts 70 GP
- bluengold12

Look at all of those Canadian teams.

10-6 yesterday in bracket

22-10 after first rd


I am done though, had michigan state losing the finals to kansas, and had pitt moving on to the sweet 16


at least syracuse now has a path to the sweet 16

Still have my doubts.

I'm a cheap franker and it's gonna cost a lot b
- Der Kaiser

people pay to get wet kaiser

Look at all of those Canadian teams.
- mhp

if the sabres leap frog over the habs and sens, I may be a trolling a$s this off season

people pay to get wet kaiser
- homiedclown

You have a point.

Look at all of those Canadian teams.
- mhp

my golf team this week

a flight
moore, every(m/c)

b flight
rose, mcllroy, knost, howell III

c flight
kaufman, o hair


my c flighters are doing the best, too bad I can only start 1

if the sabres leap frog over the habs and sens, I may be a trolling a$s this off season
- homiedclown

I look forward to it.

my golf team this week

a flight
moore, every(m/c)

b flight
rose, mcllroy, knost, howell III

c flight
kaufman, o hair


my c flighters are doing the best, too bad I can only start 1
- homiedclown

Looks like a mixed bag for you this week. I'm looking good with Stenson, Rose, Scott and Steele. I have Zach and McGirt in my bench but I won't need them. Next week's match play will be tough.

if the sabres leap frog over the habs and sens, I may be a trolling a$s this off season
- homiedclown

Can troll them either way you know...

Looks like a mixed bag for you this week. I'm looking good with Stenson, Rose, Scott and Steele. I have Zach and McGirt in my bench but I won't need them. Next week's match play will be tough.
- mhp

I am holding back the big guns, due to number of starts allowed

we have the puerto rico tourney next week for yahoo

Can troll them either way you know...
- RhinoFan

we have yet to win a cup, it's hard to be an effective troll w/o that carrot


after saying that, I led off the sens blog with a f the sens


it would be nice to see ten or 12 more of those on their front page guys

First game live that I have seen Eichel play as a Sabre...well worth the wait

Him and Reinhart seem to have almost a LaFontaine Mogilny like chemistry building.

Those two dominated play like they were on a power play almost all game long. Get them a winger who can keep up and finish and work the corners and you will have something very very special. Girgensons is not that player (no I am not saying he is useless) he just looks out of place with those two. The score could have easily been 8-2 Buffalo last night.

Pysyk was Neil's b!tch all last night. After every whistle Pysyk was taking rabbit punches from him. I kind of wish the Sabres had a player like that to keep players like Neil honest (but can also play the game).

Risto needs a top pairing D to play with. It's pretty evident live where a bounce here or there could easily end up in the back of our net.

Can Evander Kane score on a damn breakaway??????? I like him with O'Reilly though. I am curious as to what Tyler Ennis would look like on that line...

Oh and F the Sens...twice

we have yet to win a cup, it's hard to be an effective troll w/o that carrot


after saying that, I led off the sens blog with a f the sens


it would be nice to see ten or 12 more of those on their front page guys
- homiedclown

It gonna get ugly over there.

It gonna get ugly over there.
- Der Kaiser

added my thoughts on Sir Richard (d!@&) Neil

That was probably my favorite game of the year so far. Can't wait until next season. You can see something special brewing with this core. For real this time.

First game live that I have seen Eichel play as a Sabre...well worth the wait

Him and Reinhart seem to have almost a LaFontaine Mogilny like chemistry building.

Those two dominated play like they were on a power play almost all game long. Get them a winger who can keep up and finish and work the corners and you will have something very very special. Girgensons is not that player (no I am not saying he is useless) he just looks out of place with those two. The score could have easily been 8-2 Buffalo last night.

Pysyk was Neil's b!tch all last night. After every whistle Pysyk was taking rabbit punches from him. I kind of wish the Sabres had a player like that to keep players like Neil honest (but can also play the game).

Risto needs a top pairing D to play with. It's pretty evident live where a bounce here or there could easily end up in the back of our net.

Can Evander Kane score on a damn breakaway??????? I like him with O'Reilly though. I am curious as to what Tyler Ennis would look like on that line...

Oh and F the Sens...twice
- Stripes77

The guy generates so many scoring chances with his speed. I really would like someone to work with him on his shot accuracy in the off-season. He could have scored 3 or 4 goals last night and has many good looks in most games.

Missed most of the game last night. Anyone have links to the Phaneuf and Neil plays?

Missed most of the game last night. Anyone have links to the Phaneuf and Neil plays?
- ImThatGuy

Replay is on MSG right now

Also...

"Reinstone Cowboy"

That rivals
HDTV
Staff Injection
Killer Miller

Replay is on MSG right now
- jdfitz77

Traveling for work and In Fredericksburg, VA.

No MSG here.

First game live that I have seen Eichel play as a Sabre...well worth the wait

Him and Reinhart seem to have almost a LaFontaine Mogilny like chemistry building.

Those two dominated play like they were on a power play almost all game long. Get them a winger who can keep up and finish and work the corners and you will have something very very special. Girgensons is not that player (no I am not saying he is useless) he just looks out of place with those two. The score could have easily been 8-2 Buffalo last night.

Pysyk was Neil's b!tch all last night. After every whistle Pysyk was taking rabbit punches from him. I kind of wish the Sabres had a player like that to keep players like Neil honest (but can also play the game).

Risto needs a top pairing D to play with. It's pretty evident live where a bounce here or there could easily end up in the back of our net.

Can Evander Kane score on a damn breakaway??????? I like him with O'Reilly though. I am curious as to what Tyler Ennis would look like on that line...

Oh and F the Sens...twice
- Stripes77

From what I understand from the commentary during the game that Pysyk had the Sens chasing him all over the place. He may have eaten some Neil shots, but I don't expect him to fight that man...would not be pretty. Neil should have been jumped for that knee on Eichel, but you are right we don't necessarily have that "guy" anymore.

Oh and F the Sens...thrice.

Traveling for work and In Fredericksburg, VA.

No MSG here.
- ImThatGuy

My bad
The Neil thing wasn't really that bad, just him being a Richard
Phaneuf hit was up high, but Reinhart had the puck... Maybe he gets a game suspension