Michael Pachla: Chad Johnson holds the fort as special teams seize the moment

May said it last night: a "locker room guy" doesn't have it anymore. I give Gionta a ton of respect, but not PP1 time. There has to be a better blend.

Side note: I can't help but raise my eyebrows at "coughed up more than a cat with a hair ball." That's a bit of Garth infecting your writing, Pach.

First!!

Johnson has been good enough so far, please get Eichel new wingers

First!!

Johnson has been good enough so far, please get Eichel new wingers
- washedup20

Omnipresent.

Nice back to back wins!
Sometimes i ask myself if may be we have one too many veterans and then after games like these last two, i dont think they're a problem at all. Have to agree with Kaiser about the ice time though. Gionta could use at least a slight reduction.

May said it last night: a "locker room guy" doesn't have it anymore. I give Gionta a ton of respect, but not PP1 time. There has to be a better blend.

Side note: I can't help but raise my eyebrows at "coughed up more than a cat with a hair ball." That's a bit of Garth infecting your writing, Pach.
- Der Kaiser

just rolled with it, schultzie...

as for Gionta, i'm down with what you said, then again, who'da thunk having Legwand on the powerplay would've resulted in the second goal last night?

Nice back to back wins!
Sometimes i ask myself if may be we have one too many veterans and then after games like these last two, i dont think they're a problem at all. Have to agree with Kaiser about the ice time though. Gionta could use at least a slight reduction.
- seedy

maybe as the youngins get further along we'll see that reduction

maybe as the youngins get further along we'll see that reduction
- Michael Pachla

I guess legwand will be done at the end of the year though.

I guess legwand will be done at the end of the year though.
- seedy

fine with me...originally had him tabbed as a vet, throw-in who would play limited minutes in a reserve role but would be strong in the locker room...probably where he will end up once the team is healthy and/or sorted out

Ocho made some key saves last night, kinda surprised how good he's playing atm.

I thought Kane-ROR-Reinhart were really good, starting to like that line.

The vets McGinn and Legwand were all over the place.

They were playing uh-gainst a rookie goalie though.

Gionta had a nice scoring chance on the early pp but other than that, kinda meh. Have no idea how he scored 48 goals back in 05-06.

That 5 min pp was the key to the game.

Good blog bo0s.


Oh, and

.......

I guess legwand will be done at the end of the year though.
- seedy

Does he get moved at the trade deadline?

Obviously the win last night was nice but the Sabres still need to clean up their play. They have a lot of short passes that just seem like they are slowly put out there and easy to pick off or the receiver of the pass is easily disrupted waiting to get the puck. Hopefully they can clean it up a bit.

Obviously the win last night was nice but the Sabres still need to clean up their play. They have a lot of short passes that just seem like they are slowly put out there and easy to pick off or the receiver of the pass is easily disrupted trying to get the puck. Hopefully they can clean it up a bit.
- doppelthat

They had another slow start, not a good first but they really picked it up in the 2nd.

Ocho made some key saves last night, kinda surprised how good he's playing atm.

I thought Kane-ROR-Reinhart were really good, starting to like that line.

The vets McGinn and Legwand were all over the place.

They were playing uh-gainst a rookie goalie though.

Gionta had a nice scoring chance on the early pp but other than that, kinda meh. Have no idea how he scored 48 goals back in 05-06.

That 5 min pp was the key to the game.

Good blog bo0s.


Oh, and

.......
- mhp

Chad Johnson's shortcomings are overstated. The guy is 34-21-8 in his career and has the majority of this team's wins. I'm not saying he's the answer but he has been more than capable all season. I know Ullmark is the shiny new toy, but overall Johnson has been the better goaltender. Hopefully, that changes as Ullmark gains more experience, but Johnson has done exactly what the Sabres brought him here to do. He's been steady, not stellar, but steady.

Spot on Pach.
It is important for the young guys to have good veteran leadership early in their careers to teach them how to play 60 minutes a game for 82 games. IMO that is what is critical to learn the first year or two. Of course, along the way learning to improve certain facets of their individual game is equally important...face offs, 200 ft play, snapshots, shot blocking, etc.
In my mind, this is a critical year for the young guys, far and away more important that having the veterans each potting 20 goals. I want these cagy veteran to instill that learning over and over again each game, every game this season and into next year...learning to play a complete 2 way game for 60 minutes and doing it successfully for 10 - 15 years is far more valuable in the long run, versus short-term results.
While Eichel has been impressive, no doubt...his defensive play, positioning, and hustle away from the puck are developmental opportunities for him.

Chad Johnson's shortcomings are overstated. The guy is 34-21-8 in his career and has the majority of this team's wins. I'm not saying he's the answer but he has been more than capable all season.
- buffalofan19

Agreed 19, he is proving to be a good backup who can win games in longer stretches when called upon. He has really impressed me with his consistency so far. Now we need to find our 1

Spot on Pach.
It is important for the young guys to have good veteran leadership early in their careers to teach them how to play 60 minutes a game for 82 games. IMO that is what is critical to learn the first year or two. Of course, along the way learning to improve certain facets of their individual game is equally important...face offs, 200 ft play, snapshots, shot blocking, etc.
In my mind, this is a critical year for the young guys, far and away more important that having the veterans each potting 20 goals. I want these cagy veteran to instill that learning over and over again each game, every game this season and into next year...learning to play a complete 2 way game for 60 minutes and doing it successfully for 10 - 15 years is far more valuable in the long run, versus short-term results.
While Eichel has been impressive, no doubt...his defensive play, positioning, and hustle away from the puck are developmental opportunities for him.
- IonSabres

keep in mind that Eichel comes from the college ranks where he played almost exclusively on weekends alone and played a total of 40 games last season...major adjustment...that said, sometimes he seems on cruise control, but I get the feeling that it's more temporary/short-term than anything else

skunk looks pretty good now

Chad Johnson's shortcomings are overstated. The guy is 34-21-8 in his career and has the majority of this team's wins. I'm not saying he's the answer but he has been more than capable all season. I know Ullmark is the shiny new toy, but overall Johnson has been the better goaltender. Hopefully, that changes as Ullmark gains more experience, but Johnson has done exactly what the Sabres brought him here to do. He's been steady, not stellar, but steady.
- buffalofan19

I am coming around on Johnson, always thought of him as a system goalie that produced decent numbers with the b's

Does he get moved at the trade deadline?
- mhp

If someone makes an offer, im sure Murray would move him.
Cant imagine a world where we would re sign him, so it would be a free pick or prospect. Plus, if it were the right team, he would be doing Legwand a favor by giving him one last shot in the playoffs.

So we're a bit past the quarter pole but who would be your pick for the following:

Most improved?

Most valuable?

Biggest surprise?

Biggest disappointment?

So we're a bit past the quarter pole but who would be your pick for the following:

Most improved?

Most valuable?

Biggest surprise?

Biggest disappointment?
- mhp

Reinhart
RoR
Mcginn/Franson
Ennis

skunk looks pretty good now
- homiedclown

I wanted to see a hatty yesterday just to de-stink him.

If someone makes an offer, im sure Murray would move him.
Cant imagine a world where we would re sign him, so it would be a free pick or prospect. Plus, if it were the right team, he would be doing Legwand a favor by giving him one last shot in the playoffs.
- seedy

Good points. I would think if we're out of the playoff race, we would move him for a pick. I don't see a scenario whereas he gets re-signed but we did it with Moulson so who knows. I really like McGinn's game, I hope we re-sign him.

I wanted to see a hatty yesterday just to de-stink him.
- seedy

He almost got it late in the 3rd.