Post-Game Talk: buffalos @ RANGERS

[duhmetreE]

Maybe so. But this play he did well. He hung out in space so that if the puck came to him he could shoot or pass.

Yeah, I just don't see it that way. Fox made an unbelievable play. Zibs made a good play to see Lindgren. I'm not questioning his vision.

Kreider and Goodrow working the boards, outnumbered. Fox is the catalyst. Lindgren got engaged. Zibs is sitting and watching like he has been doing. This is more than just this play. This is a culmination of frustration with his anemic effort.

 

[Hire Sather]

Someone asked yesterday, but is there a radio call available of the game winner?

 

[Ola]

I really dislike Georgiev. This guy should have been traded over a year ago. Right now, he’s just taking up cap space.
I’d rather have kinkaid or Huska.
As far as the game goes, it’s one of those nights where even a bad team plays the rangers like it’s their Stanley cup.
I’m happy we showed Fortitude and Balls to come back and win.
Despite what some think, this is a good hockey team, and they are going to get better. We have some guys not firing on all cylinders yet and they are still finding ways to win.
Kakko looks like someone took a piano off his back, he’s got an extra jump in his step.
LaF had a good chance, but couldn’t convert. Kreider and Trouba are savages this season. Panarin and Fox look to be getting back to where they were so good last season, and our 4th line is a bunch of lunch pail workers.
They are a stabilizing force on the team. It’s really nice to have a 4th line that’s not a liability. Guys you trust to play an honest hard 10-12 min that forecheck, hit, and score once and a while.
With Blais out for the year, I still think we might add a guy like Donskoi or Jarnkrok if Gauthier cools off.
Chytil played solid, Miller played solid, our top 4 D all had good games.
Tinordi is not good.

Love what I am seeing from Kakko. 3+2 in his last 4 games. Hopefully he can build on this. Its not like he is flooding in prime chances, but I think that he is acting with a bit different swagger on the ice than we have seen before.

 

[Blais to Win]

I'm talking about his game as a whole. Not this one play. No urgency in his game.

He's been no where near what he could or should be.

I can get on board with understanding frustration that he’s been slow to start this season. But he is like this every season. So? Just wait?

Don’t think the single winning play was bad, still.

 

[jay from jersey]

Love what I am seeing from Kakko. 3+2 in his last 4 games. Hopefully he can build on this. Its not like he is flooding in prime chances, but I think that he is acting with a bit different swagger on the ice than we have seen before.

Yup, you can tell he’s getting more comfortable and relying on his skillset rather then over thinking things too much.
Hopefully he just keeps that going and gets better and better.
He’s still very young. You can tell he spent a lot of time this summer working on his leg/lower half of his body, and it shows. He’s way more sturdy on his feet now.
I’m hoping LaF sees this and he does the same this offseason.

 

[chosen]

Zib made a great pass, I don't dispute that, but he was too high on the play while Kreider and Goodrow were mucking on the end wall. Kreider's pass wasn't going to get to Zib had Fox not provided the extra bridge play there.

I don't understand how it's fair to criticize an offensively gifted player being in the right place to make the primary assist on a winning goal in the last second of the game.

 

[JimmyG89]

Don't understand the hate for Zibanjead staying high in the zone there. When the scrum began it was around the 20 second mark, it was right after he got upended. Was definitely looking to secure the point. I also think it kind of gave the Sabres a little sense of security on the play knowing it was a 2 on 3 in the corner and instead of Thompson moving the puck out of there, he held it there longer allowing Kreider and Goodrow to reengage the board battle from there.

It was smart for Fox to drop down there since there was about 6 seconds left when he did, same for Lindgren. There was a balance on the ice. It worked out amazing since Zibanejad was able to facilitate from his spot on the ice. Could have shot, could have passed.

Otherwise, Georgiev needs to go. No business being a 4-4 game there. Gallant knew it too. I understand the start somewhat. I'd expect Shesterkin to get the next 3 games in 5 days. Let him be ready for that. The Sabres have a good record for what they are, but we know we need to beat the Islanders and Bruins. Those are the teams you expect to be facing in the playoffs. Shesterkin basically got a light workout in for the 3rd period. It clearly lit a fire under the team too. Tinordi needs to be shot into the sun too. Not worth the headache.

 

[Ola]

11-4-3. Wow. Exceeded my expectations. To be honest, I'd probably coach us to 5-8-5 at this point. Because no Blackwell and no Howden.

It is early but it is nice to have 6 pts down to a PO spot, we are 7 pts up on Boston and Pittsburgh, and 13 pts up on NYI.

 

[chosen]

Because he did suck and now he doesn't.

I recall exactly zero people saying it would continue.

You must have missed the hand-wringing about there being something wrong with him and his contract etc,.

My point is that Panarin would have to be playing a lot worse for me to be worried about him.

It's funny that Panarin was ever so slightly behind his normal output and people were piling on him.

Gauthier doesn't look terrible and people rave about how great he is.

 

[Siddi]

He didn't do shit perfectly. Fox did. Fox timed it to perfection.

He was sitting there letting the entire unit do all the work. In no mans land, he would have played no part. THAT IS NOT WHAT WE WANT FROM OUR $68M CENTER. He makes it so easy for the other team

Dont let your feelings for his current play cloud your judgement on that particular play. He showed hockey IQ not joining the mucking in the corner. Had he joined Kreider this game would have gone to OT.

 

[will1066]

I don't understand how it's fair to criticize an offensively gifted player being in the right place to make the primary assist on a winning goal in the last second of the game.

Not going to explain this again. The crux of it is more about Fox making an elite play, which triggered the sequence and set the table for Mika, than Mika making a bad play by staying high.

 

[duhmetreE]

Dont let your feelings for his current play cloud your judgement on that particular play. He showed hockey IQ not joining the mucking in the corner. Had he joined Kreider this game would have gone to OT.

Doesn't have to join the board play... but he himself wasn't made available until Foxy did Foxy things. He could have been more engaged and harder to defend.

This cherry picking/floating is not the Zibs I want to see for the next 9 years.

 

[Siddi]

I'm talking about his game as a whole. Not this one play. No urgency in his game.

He's been no where near what he could or should be.

We are literally discussing that one play. You said:

He was sitting there letting the entire unit do all the work. In no mans land, he would have played no part.

 

[chosen]

Dude...

Panarin wasn't playing as well as Panarin can play. Panarin said it. Gallant said it. Anybody with eyes could see it.

Why is this something that you think buoys up an argument for ZBad? He also could be playing better. Though he isn't playing nearly as bad as Panarin was to start the year.

Dude....

The point is that players like Panarin and Mika get a longer leash because they're proven offensive stars. I won't worry about those types of players until far deeper into the season.

 

[duhmetreE]

We are literally discussing that one play. You said:

Yes, my frustration is not from this one play. My issues with his game is not how he played this one play. It's just something I see, even though it worked out.

Chew on the meat, spit out the bones. His play is not good enough. He's not engaged like he used to be.

 

[Siddi]

Just to remind you that play doesn’t happen without Kreids doing the dirty work on the boards digging out the puck from 3 Sabres and getting it out to fox who then did what fox does!

People are just omitting the fact that Mika dished it perfectly to Lindgren?!

 

[Siddi]

Maybe so. But this play he did well. He hung out in space so that if the puck came to him he could shoot or pass.

This! Shit on him all you want but that particular sequence was great from Mika.

 

[Siddi]

His play is not good enough. He's not engaged like he used to be.

On this we can agree.

 

[chosen]

Not going to explain this again. The crux of it is more about Fox making an elite play, which triggered the sequence and set the table for Mika, than Mika making a bad play by staying high.

Thanks for this being the last time you'll explain it.

Fox made his usual great play. Everyone knows this, but if Mika had done what you wanted him to, they go to OT. The place where you think Mika should not have been is exactly where he should have been as evidenced by the result.

Criticizing Mika for being in the right place to make the right play to win the game makes zero sense.

Mika is playing below what is expected, so some fans complain about everything about his game even when it's the right play.

So often, some fans bitch and moan that no one is in position to make the play instead of overloading another spot on the ice that can't result in a goal. Then when Mika does exactly that they still complain. Agendas are way too important to some fans.

 

[Harbour Dog]

Dude....

The point is that players like Panarin and Mika get a longer leash because they're proven offensive stars. I won't worry about those types of players until far deeper into the season.

I agree. The way you frame just always gets under my skin haha

 

[Siddi]

If Mika joined the battle on the boards Fox wouldnt be able to make his elite play people are gushing over. Every one was doing exactly what needed to be done for that goal to happen. Change one thing and this game would go to OT. The winning goal was a great team effort all around.

 

[Quinnisinoverhishead]

Absolutely loving Troubas game right now.

 

[Ola]

While our record is great, we haven't played great either, but its important to remember that our play when tied has been perfectly OK:

Hopefully we can keep it up.

 

[haveandare]

Needless to say probably but Nemeth-Tinordi is a terrible pair. Just awful puck skills on both of them. I don’t know why there’s talk of going after a middle 6 forward when our bottom pair is so rough. Get an upgrade on Tinordi, send him down and rotate Nils, Nemeth and that new guy.

 

[Ola]

Yes, my frustration is not from this one play. My issues with his game is not how he played this one play. It's just something I see, even though it worked out.

Chew on the meat, spit out the bones. His play is not good enough. He's not engaged like he used to be.

Which is a fair point for sure!