GDT: Sabres vs Senators 7 PM ET - TV:MSG Radio:WGR550 - Doom or Elation

[Fjordy]

What did he say?

“I want those two guys to raise their standard of play,” he said. “I need their standard to be a lot higher.

He added: “I think we’ve discussed what is necessary to win hockey games. I've probably been more patient than I've been, just trying to figure these guys out. But there’s a standard you have to play to, and the standard, it hasn’t been good enough. And other guys have sat. I met with both players today and discussed what is acceptable and what will work if you’re in the lineup.”

 

[ValJamesDuex]

What did he say?

 

[Fjordy]

Why sit Dahlin? I'm confused.

Especially since Byram was paired with Dahlin, they regularly score points, and it’s not their fault that they are both offensive D.

 

[Zman5778]

Why sit Dahlin? I'm confused.

Yeah, I don't get it either. MAYBE when we first got back to the States and it really looked like he was off.

But he's getting better game by game and seems to be nearly over whatever he had to start the year. Yeah, he has a moment here and there......but eventually those moments will stop ending up in the back of the net.

 

[BowieSabresFan]

Especially since Byram was paired with Dahlin, they regularly score points, and it’s not their fault that they are both offensive D.

Ehh, we both know that he's not an "offensive D." He's more than capable of playing very good defense, and has done so frequently.

 

[Fjordy]

Ehh, we both know that he's not an "offensive D." He's more than capable of playing very good defense, and has done so frequently.

He said it himself a few weeks ago. Yes, Dahlin can play defense, but he's primarily an offensive D, like Byram, like Power, like every similar defenseman in the league.

 

[1point21Gigawatts]

I see i am in the minority here and i have to accept that. I have seen too many plays where Dahlin loses his man and more often than i have liked, the puck ends up in our net or momentum shifts in our opponents favor. I admit that i have only been casually paying attention the last week or so for my own mental health. My opinion may be more uninformed than i would want.

 

[BowieSabresFan]

He said it himself a few weeks ago. Yes, Dahlin can play defense, but he's primarily an offensive D, like Byram, like Power, like every similar defenseman in the league.

That's fine, but that particular phrase tends to suggest he's not good at defense.

 

[Fjordy]

That's fine, but that particular phrase tends to suggest he's not good at defense.

No, well, there are different defensemen, versatile, offensive, defensive. There are guys who have been a black hole in defense their entire NHL career, but are good in attack. Dahlin is just more of an offensive defenseman for me, but he can play defense.

I see i am in the minority here and i have to accept that. I have seen too many plays where Dahlin loses his man and more often than i have liked, the puck ends up in our net or momentum shifts in our opponents favor. I admit that i have only been casually paying attention the last week or so for my own mental health. My opinion may be more uninformed than i would want.

No, well, he made mistakes, but it seems to me that all of our defenders made similar mistakes or others, then we should all put them in the press box.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

UPL played well, but I wouldn't characterize what he did last night as "standing on his head". Yeah, he made a couple of really good saves.......but we put 5 behind Linus, and I can't say that Ottawa SHOULD have put 5 past UPL.

5 no, 3 yes. 2 goals saved above expected is a strong outing. The very best goalies hover around 0.5 per game by the end of a season.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

Samuelsson I get sitting. He’s been getting scored on regularly regardless of partner. He’s also not playing with any of the physical edge which made him succeed in Rochester.

Jokiharju seems to be doing fine to me. His possession stats are fine, and the team is plus while he’s on the ice. My prediction is he signs next year with an analytics team aka Carolina.