The Ducks look like they could be unstoppable. It's all going to depend on their goaltending.
- HonkFortheGoose

yep could be the thing that get's them out for sure ..

Screw them. I hope Boston misses the playoffs this year.
- HonkFortheGoose

Nah, let them in to get swept in 4...that way they miss the lottery....and suffer the humilatating losses.

Nah, let them in to get swept in 4...that way they miss the lottery....and suffer the humilatating losses.
- IonSabres

Eh. I'm good with them just missing the playoffs. The chance they win the lottery is pretty much negligible.

Sabres’ goalie move should secure last overall against threats from Oilers, Coyotes

There’s no tank job like a Buffalo Sabres tank job. General manager Tim Murray deserves full credit for engineering a designed implosion, one spectacular in terms of both its artistry and its effectiveness.

He may not be finished yet, as there is still time before the conclusion of the NHL trade deadline. But whatever other moves he makes, none of them will be as simple and important as the goalie trade he made with the New York Islanders.

The Islanders, a team hoping to make a playoff splash after years on the outside looking in, had to be thrilled when this opportunity arose.

Chad Johnson, who had been signed over the summer as an answer to the team’s backup goalie position, has been a nightmare. His 8-8-1 record doesn’t seem bad until one realizes that the Isles are 33-13-1 when he doesn’t record the decision. Among goalies with more than 10 games played, Johnson’s 0.889 save percentage puts him ahead of only the now-retired Evgeni Nabokov, Wild third-stringer Niklas Backstrom and the Edmonton Oilers’ Viktor Fasth. He’s been a train wreck, and while he might rebound New York could have been in a very bad position if anything were to happen to starter Jaroslav Halak.

Now, for the cost of a third-round pick, that’s no longer an issue.

Going the other way in the deal is the man who had been Buffalo’s last hope in most games. Twenty-six year-old Michal Neuvirth came to the Sabres from Washington in a deadline deal last season, and has been splendid for them this year. Despite an ugly 6-17-3 record, his 0.918 save percentage makes it inarguable that he’s been doing his share to help his team win games.

The loss of Neuvirth to a playoff-bound team leaves Buffalo with what is without question the worst goaltending tandem in the NHL today, a duo which (not counting injury) has to be competitive for the worst tandem of the lockout era. We’ve described Johnson’s issues this year in detail. His new netminding partner Anders Lindback is even worse.

Lindback was once a young goalie of some note, posting decent numbers for the Nashville Predators, one of the league’s foremost goalie factories. Over the last two seasons, however, he’s done his best to kneecap the Tampa Bay Lightning, occasionally flirting with the 0.900 save percentage mark over two seasons of 20-odd starts with them. He joined Dallas as a backup this season, and holds an incredibly bad 2-8-0 record and 0.875 save percentage. Dallas without him is 25-18-8, which means that the difference between where the Stars are and where they could have been may come down to a bad goalie decision made by Jim Nill last summer.

The Sabres’ laughably bad goaltending should give the team the push it needs to finish dead last. The gap between a bad Edmonton team and a bad-and-rapidly-deteriorating Arizona squad had narrowed to three and four points, respectively. Johnson and Lindback should ensure it doesn’t get any tighter. Given where the Sabres are in the standings and in the season, there’s no judgment in that statement; they added a future and improved their chances of winning the draft lottery. What else was Murray supposed to do?

http://blogs.edmontonjour...eats-from-oilers-coyotes/

Great day for the tank- Now just have to make sure Lindback or Johnson don't go Neurvith on the tank.

Also, curveball Hodgson opinion, the use him next season, no buyout, and if the league expands for the 16/17 season, they hope someone claims him since he will still be 26-27 and only have 3 years left on his term

Sabres’ goalie move should secure last overall against threats from Oilers, Coyotes

There’s no tank job like a Buffalo Sabres tank job. General manager Tim Murray deserves full credit for engineering a designed implosion, one spectacular in terms of both its artistry and its effectiveness.

He may not be finished yet, as there is still time before the conclusion of the NHL trade deadline. But whatever other moves he makes, none of them will be as simple and important as the goalie trade he made with the New York Islanders.

The Islanders, a team hoping to make a playoff splash after years on the outside looking in, had to be thrilled when this opportunity arose.

Chad Johnson, who had been signed over the summer as an answer to the team’s backup goalie position, has been a nightmare. His 8-8-1 record doesn’t seem bad until one realizes that the Isles are 33-13-1 when he doesn’t record the decision. Among goalies with more than 10 games played, Johnson’s 0.889 save percentage puts him ahead of only the now-retired Evgeni Nabokov, Wild third-stringer Niklas Backstrom and the Edmonton Oilers’ Viktor Fasth. He’s been a train wreck, and while he might rebound New York could have been in a very bad position if anything were to happen to starter Jaroslav Halak.

Now, for the cost of a third-round pick, that’s no longer an issue.

Going the other way in the deal is the man who had been Buffalo’s last hope in most games. Twenty-six year-old Michal Neuvirth came to the Sabres from Washington in a deadline deal last season, and has been splendid for them this year. Despite an ugly 6-17-3 record, his 0.918 save percentage makes it inarguable that he’s been doing his share to help his team win games.

The loss of Neuvirth to a playoff-bound team leaves Buffalo with what is without question the worst goaltending tandem in the NHL today, a duo which (not counting injury) has to be competitive for the worst tandem of the lockout era. We’ve described Johnson’s issues this year in detail. His new netminding partner Anders Lindback is even worse.

Lindback was once a young goalie of some note, posting decent numbers for the Nashville Predators, one of the league’s foremost goalie factories. Over the last two seasons, however, he’s done his best to kneecap the Tampa Bay Lightning, occasionally flirting with the 0.900 save percentage mark over two seasons of 20-odd starts with them. He joined Dallas as a backup this season, and holds an incredibly bad 2-8-0 record and 0.875 save percentage. Dallas without him is 25-18-8, which means that the difference between where the Stars are and where they could have been may come down to a bad goalie decision made by Jim Nill last summer.

The Sabres’ laughably bad goaltending should give the team the push it needs to finish dead last. The gap between a bad Edmonton team and a bad-and-rapidly-deteriorating Arizona squad had narrowed to three and four points, respectively. Johnson and Lindback should ensure it doesn’t get any tighter. Given where the Sabres are in the standings and in the season, there’s no judgment in that statement; they added a future and improved their chances of winning the draft lottery. What else was Murray supposed to do?

http://blogs.edmontonjour...eats-from-oilers-coyotes/


- GilPerreault11

i'm so happy that this is coming to a end ...so happy

Brit Floyd on channel 17 (3 TWC)


So who is our goalie tomorrow night ?

Flynn is going to be an extra Forward on the Habs from what it looks like to me.

Brit Floyd on channel 17 (3 TWC)


So who is our goalie tomorrow night ?
- cabin

Swiss cheese #1

Swiss cheese #1
- Pierceme69

Sabres’ goalie move should secure last overall against threats from Oilers, Coyotes

There’s no tank job like a Buffalo Sabres tank job. General manager Tim Murray deserves full credit for engineering a designed implosion, one spectacular in terms of both its artistry and its effectiveness.

He may not be finished yet, as there is still time before the conclusion of the NHL trade deadline. But whatever other moves he makes, none of them will be as simple and important as the goalie trade he made with the New York Islanders.

The Islanders, a team hoping to make a playoff splash after years on the outside looking in, had to be thrilled when this opportunity arose.

Chad Johnson, who had been signed over the summer as an answer to the team’s backup goalie position, has been a nightmare. His 8-8-1 record doesn’t seem bad until one realizes that the Isles are 33-13-1 when he doesn’t record the decision. Among goalies with more than 10 games played, Johnson’s 0.889 save percentage puts him ahead of only the now-retired Evgeni Nabokov, Wild third-stringer Niklas Backstrom and the Edmonton Oilers’ Viktor Fasth. He’s been a train wreck, and while he might rebound New York could have been in a very bad position if anything were to happen to starter Jaroslav Halak.

Now, for the cost of a third-round pick, that’s no longer an issue.

Going the other way in the deal is the man who had been Buffalo’s last hope in most games. Twenty-six year-old Michal Neuvirth came to the Sabres from Washington in a deadline deal last season, and has been splendid for them this year. Despite an ugly 6-17-3 record, his 0.918 save percentage makes it inarguable that he’s been doing his share to help his team win games.

The loss of Neuvirth to a playoff-bound team leaves Buffalo with what is without question the worst goaltending tandem in the NHL today, a duo which (not counting injury) has to be competitive for the worst tandem of the lockout era. We’ve described Johnson’s issues this year in detail. His new netminding partner Anders Lindback is even worse.

Lindback was once a young goalie of some note, posting decent numbers for the Nashville Predators, one of the league’s foremost goalie factories. Over the last two seasons, however, he’s done his best to kneecap the Tampa Bay Lightning, occasionally flirting with the 0.900 save percentage mark over two seasons of 20-odd starts with them. He joined Dallas as a backup this season, and holds an incredibly bad 2-8-0 record and 0.875 save percentage. Dallas without him is 25-18-8, which means that the difference between where the Stars are and where they could have been may come down to a bad goalie decision made by Jim Nill last summer.

The Sabres’ laughably bad goaltending should give the team the push it needs to finish dead last. The gap between a bad Edmonton team and a bad-and-rapidly-deteriorating Arizona squad had narrowed to three and four points, respectively. Johnson and Lindback should ensure it doesn’t get any tighter. Given where the Sabres are in the standings and in the season, there’s no judgment in that statement; they added a future and improved their chances of winning the draft lottery. What else was Murray supposed to do?

http://blogs.edmontonjour...eats-from-oilers-coyotes/


- GilPerreault11

We're Buffalo fans. We should expect each to post the longest shutout streak of their careers.

Swiss cheese #1
- Pierceme69

Big swiss or baby swiss?

- gerbe75pts

If everything goes well maybe even swiss cheese #2

Brit Floyd on channel 17 (3 TWC)


So who is our goalie tomorrow night ?
- cabin

Did you make it to the next HBSL round?

Did you make it to the next HBSL round?
- Herzeleid

Nope loss by 5 pts 468-463.5

Nope loss by 5 pts 468-463.5
- cabin

No more season ticket for you then, huh?

- gerbe75pts

All of these pics are cracking me up today.

Nope loss by 5 pts 468-463.5
- cabin

I think Pairo and DD lost too. I think I have this week judging by my players and my opponent's players.

No more season ticket for you then, huh?
- HonkFortheGoose

Not a free one anyways . If EK updates the site like was rumored. I will buy one . Just for the opportunity to hang out here. I spend more at a bar any night with people I don't like.

I think Pairo and DD lost too. I think I have this week judging by my players and my opponent's players.
- Herzeleid

89 out too

"Their eyes are obviously set on one of those two picks there at the draft this year, but for myself I'm just going to go in there and try and win hockey games," Johnson said during an interview with Canada's TSN. "Regardless of where you are in the standings, you're there to play hard and win hockey games."

...welp, you're not seeing any games, Johnson. lindback, how do you feel about the tank? Think about it before you answer...

"Their eyes are obviously set on one of those two picks there at the draft this year, but for myself I'm just going to go in there and try and win hockey games," Johnson said during an interview with Canada's TSN. "Regardless of where you are in the standings, you're there to play hard and win hockey games."

...welp, you're not seeing any games, Johnson. lindback, how do you feel about the tank? Think about it before you answer...
- seedy

Just did a quick scan of the rulebook. There's nothing that says you can't play an entire game with six skaters.

Also, curveball Hodgson opinion, the use him next season, no buyout, and if the league expands for the 16/17 season, they hope someone claims him since he will still be 26-27 and only have 3 years left on his term
- markyjoe

Thats a great point. How many players are teams allowed to protect? I totally forgot about a potential expansion draft.

Just did a quick scan of the rulebook. There's nothing that says you can't play an entire game with six skaters.

- buffalofan19

"Nobody get hurt. Because theres no one to replace you"