So at what point does the quality of what we are putting out there on the bottom end of our roster come into play? That doesn't matter at all? We give up a ton of chances every game - that is sustainable?
- Slump Buster

Well I think we can agree that lines 1 and 2 are ok

Skimmer tags tuch
22 24 77

So 3rd line:
Casey needed 1 last look IMO.
Cant give up on our 8th OA pick.

Olofsson- just signed for 2 years 9+ million
Has 11 goals. Pretty much has been a top 5 goal scorer , and point producer and earned his contract
On pace for 35 goals - hardly a problem

Krebs - sucks ,but he's young and has potential
Asplund- analytics darling , super super soft with no goal scoring upside or size.

Line 4
Vinnie - donnie's friend
Gurgs- leadership
Okposo- leadership.

I'm still thinking goaltending is the weakest part.

Cant blame 11 goal scorer 3rd liner olo more ..... than goalies

You really think goaltending has cost them 10 games???
- Lunaion

Arguably 12 games.

Pit 7-1
Fla 4-3
Seat 5-1
Car 5-3
Tampa 5-3
Az 4-1
Vegas 7-4
Van 5-4
Ott 4-1
Tor 5-2
Tampa 6-5

How many games do nhl teams win letting in 4+ goals? A game?

1 point out of those 12 games.

Its goaltending

Well I think we can agree that lines 1 and 2 are ok

Skimmer tags tuch
22 24 77

So 3rd line:
Casey needed 1 last look IMO.
Cant give up on our 8th OA pick.

Olofsson- just signed for 2 years 9+ million
Has 11 goals. Pretty much has been a top 5 goal scorer , and point producer and earned his contract
On pace for 35 goals - hardly a problem

Krebs - sucks ,but he's young and has potential
Asplund- analytics darling , super super soft with no goal scoring upside or size.

Line 4
Vinnie - donnie's friend
Gurgs- leadership
Okposo- leadership.

I'm still thinking goaltending is the weakest part.

Cant blame 11 goal scorer 3rd liner olo more ..... than goalies
- Boss34

I guess that's where you lose me. You do a good analysis of the players and then correctly point out that several of our guys are lacking. So Ollo pumps in a bunch of empty netters and PP goals... so he is above criticism? That line has stunk. While I think Mitts is the bigger problem. Either way, that line has been terrible 5v5 and - even though they don't play much - they are regularly run over. I don't mind the 4th line but as you said it isn't moving the needle one way or the other.

Arguably 12 games.

Pit 7-1
Fla 4-3
Seat 5-1
Car 5-3
Tampa 5-3
Az 4-1
Vegas 7-4
Van 5-4
Ott 4-1
Tor 5-2
Tampa 6-5

How many games do nhl teams win letting in 4+ goals? A game?

1 point out of those 12 games.

Its goaltending
- Boss34

In how many of those games were we clearly the better team? We looked like poope in most of those.

Again, Ullmark has had a good few weeks. He was beat out by a college kid last year and was considered a disappointment.
- Slump Buster

You know he was 2.45 .917 last year, right? He did turn his season around.

I've been a staunch advocate of staying the course and I've annoyed the hell out of some of you for it. But it is time. If I can get Chiquorin and not include Savoie or Kulich, I do it. I think a part of that has to be the conclusion that 46 needs to be sitting next to 37 in the press box. I hate to say it but I am starting to have real questions about the coach.
- Slump Buster

Trade for an injury prone defenseman with 2+ years left on his contract?

Doesnt make any sense.

So we win 4 more games this season? If chickrun plays healthy?

Brings us to 83 points?

Yeah !

Arguably 12 games.

Pit 7-1
Fla 4-3
Seat 5-1
Car 5-3
Tampa 5-3
Az 4-1
Vegas 7-4
Van 5-4
Ott 4-1
Tor 5-2
Tampa 6-5

How many games do nhl teams win letting in 4+ goals? A game?

1 point out of those 12 games.

Its goaltending
- Boss34

I don't get it. How goes goaltending cost you a game if it's 4-1?

Trade for an injury prone defenseman with 2+ years left on his contract?

Doesnt make any sense.

So we win 4 more games this season? If chickrun plays healthy?

Brings us to 83 points?

Yeah !
- Boss34

he isn't my first choice but I don't know what more you're going to get right now. I don't claim to know much about him but it seems as though he was a pretty good D not too long ago. I don't know if he will ever be a top-pairing guy but he could excel on the bottom 4.

I also don't know how you could call it a 4 point swing. If we get a guy like him it could eliminate the huge hole that we have now. That has to be worth more than that.

You know he was 2.45 .917 last year, right? He did turn his season around.
- Lunaion

He did, but he did still lose his job. The bigger point is that this guy was no sure thing , not to mention his demand for 6x6.

Great post.
The sky is falling crowd is losing its' collective mind.
UPL didnt help his cause last night now doubt. But you would swear they are playing the Team Dentist in net by these posts, lol.
- IonSabres

We held Tampa to 25 shots and lost 6-5. Our penalty kill was bad, our goalie was bad.

We outchanced them in HDCF 18-10.

I guess that's where you lose me. You do a good analysis of the players and then correctly point out that several of our guys are lacking. So Ollo pumps in a bunch of empty netters and PP goals... so he is above criticism? That line has stunk. While I think Mitts is the bigger problem. Either way, that line has been terrible 5v5 and - even though they don't play much - they are regularly run over. I don't mind the 4th line but as you said it isn't moving the needle one way or the other.
- Slump Buster

I guess olofsson should learn how to play defense?
They signed him knowing he was a goal scorer/ pp guy
He has 11 goals, exactly what they want....

MIT's it's just too early too cut him. IMO
Tons of injury history ect. Young out of shape.

Neither or these 2 are losing us games in their 9 minutes each of ice time. Vs a 60 minutes goalie

I'm not saying they have a perfect team, but goaltending is the glaring weakness.

You know he was 2.45 .917 last year, right? He did turn his season around.
- Lunaion

I wonder if this has anything to do with Boston always being at the top of PK %
Youd have to excuse me my Ohara education I may not be too smart but I think there may be a correlation

In how many of those games were we clearly the better team? We looked like poope in most of those.
- Slump Buster

Of course you are going to look like poop when your goalie cant make big saves.

The games the Sabres have won, the goaltending has been good.

Just goes to show you

We held Tampa to 25 shots and lost 6-5. Our penalty kill was bad, our goalie was bad.

We outchanced them in HDCF 18-10.
- TheSabresTaco

Yea but Elliott let in a bad goal….

I guess olofsson should learn how to play defense?
They signed him knowing he was a goal scorer/ pp guy
He has 11 goals, exactly what they want....

MIT's it's just too early too cut him. IMO
Tons of injury history ect. Young out of shape.

Neither or these 2 are losing us games in their 9 minutes each of ice time. Vs a 60 minutes goalie

I'm not saying they have a perfect team, but goaltending is the glaring weakness.
- Boss34

man alive, I don't get it. So the good players all look great and have great numbers despite the (allegedly) bad goaltending, and our poor players look like crap and have terrible numbers because of.... bad goaltending.

agree to disagree

I don't get it. How goes goaltending cost you a game if it's 4-1?
- Lunaion

Obviously you get it.

You would need 5 goals to win. Makes it difficult.

I guess olofsson should learn how to play defense?
They signed him knowing he was a goal scorer/ pp guy
He has 11 goals, exactly what they want....

MIT's it's just too early too cut him. IMO
Tons of injury history ect. Young out of shape.

Neither or these 2 are losing us games in their 9 minutes each of ice time. Vs a 60 minutes goalie

I'm not saying they have a perfect team, but goaltending is the glaring weakness.
- Boss34

3rd line gave up 2 goals last night and generated 1 shot. #1 reason they lost last night.

Of course you are going to look like poop when your goalie cant make big saves.

The games the Sabres have won, the goaltending has been good.

Just goes to show you
- Boss34

The answers are super easy when you start with the result (a win) and then work backwards (the goaltending must have been good if they won).

Again, last night's game was a tossup. A bounce or two changes and this isn't even a conversation. Don't play pond hockey and things will go smoother.

The answers are super easy when you start with the result (a win) and then work backwards (the goaltending must have been good if they won).

Again, last night's game was a tossup. A bounce or two changes and this isn't even a conversation. Don't play pond hockey and things will go smoother.
- Slump Buster

“A bounce or two changes everything” ~Sabres fans the last 10 years.

“A bounce or two changes everything” ~Sabres fans the last 10 years.
- ImThatGuy

When you look at a single game that is in overtime, its true. That's why you can't get your panties into a jumble over one game. The bigger point was that if we win 6 - 5 in OT or 5 - 4 in regulation we aren't even discussing any of this. That says a lot.

man alive, I don't get it. So the good players all look great and have great numbers despite the (allegedly) bad goaltending, and our poor players look like crap and have terrible numbers because of.... bad goaltending.

agree to disagree
- Slump Buster

Seriously, take a look at the nhl goaltending stats.

Anderson 25th
Comrie 45th
In goals against

Take a long look at the stats and get back to me.

Obviously you get it.

You would need 5 goals to win. Makes it difficult.
- Boss34

Kind of. Both their 4-1's include an EN.

Score 1, blame the goalie doesn't make sense to me.

We held Tampa to 25 shots and lost 6-5. Our penalty kill was bad, our goalie was bad.

We outchanced them in HDCF 18-10.
- TheSabresTaco

Nah goaltending was fine.

Olofsson's and Casey's fault.
Terrible 1/8 of the game they played.

3rd line gave up 2 goals last night and generated 1 shot. #1 reason they lost last night.
- Lunaion

Disagree

Maybe if we lost 2-1.

Score was 6-5. Upl was terrible

Some good stuff going on here. Great team effort last night