Sabres vs. Blues | How to watch, lineup notes, and storylines | Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres conclude a 3-game homestand against the Blues.
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GDT: Sabres vs Blues 7:30 PM ET - TV:ESPN+, Hulu Radio:WGR550 - T'No'T
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Zman5778
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I'll be watching this one live, so at least they'll have a chance.
They'll probably still lose.....but they'll have a chance.
They'll probably still lose.....but they'll have a chance.
Dubi Doo
Registered User
- Aug 27, 2008
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I just want to care again. Is that so much to ask?
Zman5778
Moderator
Sabre the Win
Joke of a Franchise
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They were one game from being over .500 and they then had possibly their worst game of the season against Montreal in almost all measures.
Absolutely inexcusable
I expect a bounce back today and if not then I'm writing them off because losing to Montreal like that, Columbus like they did, blowing the lead against the Kings and not finding ways to win against the Penguins are really ominous signs that this core just cant figure out how to actually win a hockey game yet and they most likely never will at this point.
Absolutely inexcusable
I expect a bounce back today and if not then I'm writing them off because losing to Montreal like that, Columbus like they did, blowing the lead against the Kings and not finding ways to win against the Penguins are really ominous signs that this core just cant figure out how to actually win a hockey game yet and they most likely never will at this point.
GrierIsGod123
Registered User
Been a bit removed from being able to watch every game closely of late...a few questions for the board:
-What are the thoughts on Krebs so far? His analytics look rougher than usual, but they're never strong. Scoring is about where you'd expect but perhaps we'd all hoped for more. Is he a viable 4th liner moving forward? He's just okay to me but think an upgrade to 4C could help the roster. Krebs still seems like the weak link there but I might be missing something that others are seeing. Is it poor linemates? Are Lafferty and Malenstyn even good? It seems to me they're downgrades on Girgs/Okposo in terms of on-ice impact, but their speed is noticeable if not providing tangible results.
-I see Cozens has elevated his scoring numbers a tad after a disastrous start. A few more multi-point efforts and he might be where we'd expect before long (my expectation for him is 50-55 point mind you). My question is...does he look at all competent on the ice? Is he starting to settle down and stop skating right into turnovers? Or is it just a matter of some puck luck finally going his way and PP production picking up? The analytics for him are also rough, which hasn't always been the case with him. What say thee?
-Is Bryson playing well overall? I know he and Power were on for a lot of goals against last game, which is disappointing. It seemed that the new Top 4 was looking good through the recent win-streak. I know he's not the long-term answer in the top 4 but is he a more steady option than Jokiharju for now? My quick thought would be to put him back with Clifton on the third pair which seemed to work well at the end of last season. They desperately need an upgrade at RD for the top 4 or a very good LD and shift Power to RD, which he seems fine at.
It feels like they need a couple wins in a row and not start another losing streak. Their schedule is going to get more difficult in the coming months. We haven't even played Carolina, Tampa, Washington, Toronto or Boston yet. Let alone the good teams out West. The sobering reality is that one bad losing streak would have us back in the basement, while a winning streak could catapult us up to the top three quite easily. The division games this year are going to be monstrous. It's as congested as it's been in a long long time, so every game is much more crucial right now.
-What are the thoughts on Krebs so far? His analytics look rougher than usual, but they're never strong. Scoring is about where you'd expect but perhaps we'd all hoped for more. Is he a viable 4th liner moving forward? He's just okay to me but think an upgrade to 4C could help the roster. Krebs still seems like the weak link there but I might be missing something that others are seeing. Is it poor linemates? Are Lafferty and Malenstyn even good? It seems to me they're downgrades on Girgs/Okposo in terms of on-ice impact, but their speed is noticeable if not providing tangible results.
-I see Cozens has elevated his scoring numbers a tad after a disastrous start. A few more multi-point efforts and he might be where we'd expect before long (my expectation for him is 50-55 point mind you). My question is...does he look at all competent on the ice? Is he starting to settle down and stop skating right into turnovers? Or is it just a matter of some puck luck finally going his way and PP production picking up? The analytics for him are also rough, which hasn't always been the case with him. What say thee?
-Is Bryson playing well overall? I know he and Power were on for a lot of goals against last game, which is disappointing. It seemed that the new Top 4 was looking good through the recent win-streak. I know he's not the long-term answer in the top 4 but is he a more steady option than Jokiharju for now? My quick thought would be to put him back with Clifton on the third pair which seemed to work well at the end of last season. They desperately need an upgrade at RD for the top 4 or a very good LD and shift Power to RD, which he seems fine at.
It feels like they need a couple wins in a row and not start another losing streak. Their schedule is going to get more difficult in the coming months. We haven't even played Carolina, Tampa, Washington, Toronto or Boston yet. Let alone the good teams out West. The sobering reality is that one bad losing streak would have us back in the basement, while a winning streak could catapult us up to the top three quite easily. The division games this year are going to be monstrous. It's as congested as it's been in a long long time, so every game is much more crucial right now.
K8fool
Registered User
drawing lines in sand , I feel ya. Hopefully the cocky and entitled have something to prove to themselves and ruff
who starts in net? one last chance to see if Levi can cut the mustard? win, or get sent to Rochester.
K8fool
Registered User
Hopefully Thompson rests til he's healthy . Too early to start eating spinach and being the poppy sailor
GrierIsGod123
Registered User
It's WHEN they lose the games. They seem to do fine when they're basically counted out, but can't seem to sustain success in big games when they're in a true playoff race. I still think there's a clutch-gene missing in this group. It reminds me a bit of the Vanek, Roy, Pominville core (probably a worse version of that). The hope this year is that having steady veterans like Zucker and McLeod on your third line can provide stability, and hopefully a young gun or two can find their A-game in these bigger matchups. I could see Benson, Peterka and even Quinn developing there when teams are doing everything possible to shut Tage/Tuch down.
It's going to be quite the coaching job by Ruff if he can get these guys over that hump. They've been at this mental block for a few years where they just can't score in the bigger games or get saves. I look at a couple late season games against Detroit last season or the year prior against Florida. The other issue is them blowing games against lesser opponents when they're in the race. That's happened a TON over the last two plus seasons. Last game seemed to be a perfect example of that. They probably thought they were clearly better than Montreal, but the reality is that it's a slim margin between the two. You still need guys on their A-game and your goalie to make some saves. Neither happened apparently.
Beerz
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They need to remove Krebs from line up and go with original 4th line .. Lafferty, Malenstyn and NAK.
He won't be unfortunately because of faceoffs.
Fjordy
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CowbellConray
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I'm thinking with Thompson out, Krebs will shift up and that Lafferty Malenstyn NAK line will come together again
Jim Bob
RIP RJ
Levi was in the starters net at the optional morning skate.
UPL & Reimer were there as well. Sounds like UPL gets the night off and Reimer will back up Levi.
Source:
Beerz
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It was what they did against Montreal and lead to Krebs trying to force that blueline pass. It's funny, when he's down the lineup or not at center, he's not doing that boneheaded stuff. When he's in the middle and up the lineup, he tries to force things that don't work at this level.
old kummelweck
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GrierIsGod123
Registered User
I'm afraid you're probably right. What other option do they have?
I'd probably prefer getting a look at McLeod up with Peterka and Tuch and keep the second line in tact. I'm not sure I want to see 1C Dylan Cozens but crazier things have happened and he might do well with two speedsters that play a bit more of a straight line game.
Either way, Krebs hasn't really earned a look in the top 6 and think he'd be fine between Greenway and Zucker for a game. See if McLeod's speed can help one of the top 6 lines tonight and hope that Tage is back this weekend.
GrierIsGod123
Registered User
He has become quite decent at the dot. Certainly something that could matter at some point. If Lafferty were a bit better, it'd be an easy decision, but he's both poor at faceoffs and a largely ineffective player. Not what I was hoping for.
Let's just hope Lindy doesn't think NAK in the top 9 is the answer to the lineup. I'd simply shift Krebs to L3 and McLeod to the top 6 to minimize the damage.
Beerz
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- Jun 28, 2011
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I am pretty happy with both Lafferty and Malenstyn.
I liked NAK in the limited time we have seen him outside of the game or two that they pushed him up the line up.
