GBU The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - Mac Smacked, Loss 6-4 to Colorado 12/1/22

[Chainshot]

The Good:

Thompson's goal was more jawdropping entertainment.
Cozens continues to impress.
Peterka finishing.
The second PP unit looked good early.
Zone time, possession were in their favor.
MacKinnon with a five-point night.

The Bad:

Power's unneeded high stick when already down a man. Possibly his worst game as a Sabre.
Still trying to be fancy with the passes when shot lanes are there.
Needed a better backcheck from JJ and better rebound control on the fifth GA.

The Ugly:

Another winnable game.

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

G:
staying in the game.
The kid line is staying hot.

B:
Taking stupid penalties at the worst times.
UPL is way too inconsistent.
Need more depth at defense. Whe have Pilut in if you're only going to play him 6:50?
Though Power had a rough game.

U:
PK

We're just way too young and inexperienced. Most of our young guys are heading in the right direction but Adams needs to start making this team better at the deadline and the offseason

 

[deVolt]

The Good:
MacKinnon with a five-point night.

 

[Paulinbc]

tough loss for you guys tonight. I have Thompson and Cozens and have been streaming Quinn in this week in my deep keeper league. Thompson and Cozens have been super. Super fun to watch all year long. You guys must be so happy to have them on your team, I have to say this is the most I watched of Buffalo Sabres hockey… ever. super fun super young you’ve got a great future happening here and I do love that you guys do the Canadian anthem at your games even though you don’t have Canadian teams playing. As a fellow Canadian, it is certainly noted and appreciated and also as a fellow Canadian I can’t say the same thing for your sister city in the north .

11.2 points for Thompson
9.2 for Cozens
and 1.95 for Quinn. i’m happy. well ahead of our top team this week. Such a fun game! (i also have Rantanen)

Who knows, we could have a couple of 70’s in the finals sometime this decade.

 

[Chainshot]

He was awesome tonight - Avs were shorthanded due to injury and he tore the Sabres a new one.

 

[Butt Ox]

He was awesome tonight - Avs were shorthanded due to injury and he tore the Sabres a new one.

MacK is a bad bad man. I'm a big fan of Landeskog and look forward to him getting back in the game. I hope DC grows up to be a lot like him.

 

[deVolt]

He was awesome tonight - Avs were shorthanded due to injury and he tore the Sabres a new one.

I got that, but i could never praise an opposition player in game summery. you guys do stuff differently over the pond that shit would never fly in europe. around here it's called twerking

 

[jc17]

.

The Ugly:

Another winnable game.

I get it, but I like that we've got a team that is in most games, and not only when they get bailed out by goaltending or lucky bounces

Feels logical that the progression would be losing with no chance -> losing and being competitive-> winning

 

[Chainshot]

I got that, but i could never praise an opposition player in game summery. you guys do stuff differently over the pond that shit would never fly in europe. around here it's called twerking

I have no issue pointing out when someone does well. He did superstar things today. Buffalo's top players were good, but Mac is on a whole other level.

 

[littletonhockeycoach]

Tough to watch this game with such mixed feelings.

Sabres kept it competitive and were a threat to walk away with at least one point. But for a bunch of stupid mistakes.

UPL has a ways to go ti become a steady #1 in net.

In the end, the Avs talent showed through. And they are seriously undermanned right now.

Compher was pumped. He may be the only former Sabres piece left from the RoR trade.

The only interest I could see the Avs having in acquiring a #2 Centerman via the Sabres would be Cozens. And that ain't happening.

 

[jd1970]

I do love that you guys do the Canadian anthem at your games even though you don’t have Canadian teams playing.

Canada is a suburb of Buffalo.

 

[Chainshot]

I get it, but I like that we've got a team that is in most games, and not only when they get bailed out by goaltending or lucky bounces

Feels logical that the progression would be losing with no chance -> losing and being competitive-> winning

Yeah, I'm not too down on where they are at. Tonight comes down to two plays - the Power high stick and the Peterka backcheck on Luukkonen kicking that rebound out into the slot. Remove those and they are up by a goal late, perhaps even 2. I'm reminded of the Avs game last year where they played well at 5-on-5 and lost. That was close to them starting their 30-ish game run to end the year. They can hang with teams when they prepare and play.

There is growth.

 

[sabresfan129103]

Another valiant loss, right? I love hearing about these and how I should be happy that they kept it close when the game was 100% winnable.

 

[deVolt]

I have no issue pointing out when someone does well. He did superstar things today. Buffalo's top players were good, but Mac is on a whole other level.

Mack and Makar are superstars and i have actually soft spot for the Avs since Peter the great. If the sabres don't make the playoff i would not hate it if they spank the leafs or bruins on their way to a double SC.

 

[pigpen65]

Time to give Houser a look. You can't expect to score 5 goals everytime you want a win because the the goalies let in 4+ every game. And Adams is refusing to do anything about it so Houser it is.

 

[JLewyB]

I thought we were going to have good depth but no superstars. But its just the opposite.

But lately its been a pathetic PK

 

[start winnin]

UPL is bad otherwise a good game

 

[ForsbergMoDo21]

The Good:

Thompson's goal was more jawdropping entertainment.
Cozens continues to impress.
Peterka finishing.
The second PP unit looked good early.
Zone time, possession were in their favor.
MacKinnon with a five-point night.

The Bad:

Power's unneeded high stick when already down a man. Possibly his worst game as a Sabre.
Still trying to be fancy with the passes when shot lanes are there.
Needed a better backcheck from JJ and better rebound control on the fifth GA.

The Ugly:

Another winnable game.

Good: This is the exact kind of game I think we would have expected and hoped for before the season began. They hung with the cup champs and lost a close one in part to mistakes by rookies who are only 20 something games into their careers. Rookies who’ve peppered in as many good plays as bad plays this year.

Thought Joker had several nice plays tonight. And real happy to see Cozens’ luck evening out and the puck going in more.

Growing more excited about Quinn every game. I remember thinking at the draft that he sounded like a player in the Brett Hull mold (one dimensional goal scorer with a knack for finding soft spots in coverage). He’s so much more than that. A slippery skater and slick sticker handler whose playmaking might be as good as his goal scoring. I can see Tage and Quinn becoming one of those duos that terrorizes the league in the near future.

Bad: I don’t understand what they’re doing with Mittelstadt. I feel like I’ve seen a lot of positives from him this year, but it’s like he drew the short stick for line mates/deployment. When the kid line goes cold and breaks up, please give Casey a shot with Quinn 2.0. They seemed like a promising duo early on, but Quinn was still in NHL shell shock.

Bad: I feel like I’m really souring on Krebs. In his defense, he’s also getting jerked around a lot. But I rarely see much positive in his game. Send the kid to Rochester with some clear goals for things to work on. Better for him and the team at this point.

 

[pigpen65]

UPL is bad otherwise a good game

It's really surprising how bad he is. He was a high pick, he has a couple years of pro experience, he's had NHL experience. He shouldn't be this completely helpless. He shouldn't be getting beaten clean as often as he does. This isn't just typical young goalie stuff, this is this guy just sucks stuff.

 

[start winnin]

It's really surprising how bad he is. He was a high pick, he has a couple years of pro experience, he's had NHL experience. He shouldn't be this completely helpless. He shouldn't be getting beaten clean as often as he does. This isn't just typical young goalie stuff, this is this guy just sucks stuff.

NHL.com says he's 6'5", he doesn't look like he takes up any net, he plays small and with no confidence. He isn't ready for the big league right now. The 5th goal he gives up a bad rebound, but he gets into position and is square with the shooter and still gets beat. This team needs a goalie bad.

 

[enthusiast]

Officiating seemed inconsistent again from my seats, but maybe it looked better with the benefit of replay

 

[TheMistyStranger]

I get it, but I like that we've got a team that is in most games, and not only when they get bailed out by goaltending or lucky bounces

Feels logical that the progression would be losing with no chance -> losing and being competitive-> winning

I found myself thinking that the current sabres remind me of the AVs shortly after drafting MacKinnon, like right around the time he was signing that first long deal. Young, talented, but not quite there yet.

Officiating seemed inconsistent again from my seats, but maybe it looked better with the benefit of replay

It didnt

It's really surprising how bad he is. He was a high pick, he has a couple years of pro experience, he's had NHL experience. He shouldn't be this completely helpless. He shouldn't be getting beaten clean as often as he does. This isn't just typical young goalie stuff, this is this guy just sucks stuff.

He doesn't have a couple of years of pro experience, though. He's played 85 games between AHL and NHL. That's it. 16 NHL games. I'm not writing him off yet.

 

[dortt]

G
Thompson with another 3 point night
Skinner actually living up to his contract. > ppg so far this year
Cozens continuing his breakout season

B
Power. Bad game. It happens

Ugly
PK. This is seriously a bantam level PK
UPL. Not even an AHL goalie at this point. His .855 SP is so far under Dell's .893 last year that it is comical
The fact that we need to ride Anderson at his age. Anderson is the only NHL goalie on the roster

 

[toddkaz]

People blame UPL when 3 pp goals 1 goal Peterka didn't take his man, they let MacKinnon walk in point blank.

Play some damn defense.

 

[BFLO]

G: Tage goal was sick
Cozens scoring

B: Boneheaded penalties leading to the 5 on 3 that turned the game.

Power has struggled a bit the last 2 games and we can’t afford to cut his minutes back at all with the complete lack of depth that we have