So, other than Byfuglien, who takes the first run at Kane tomorrow? I say Wheeler.
- Wetbandit1

I really don't care I just hope he doesn't make a fool out of himself tomorrow just play

So chad Johnson has the 44th worst low danger save % and has allowed 6 low danger goals, Quick and Schneider "lead" the league with 13 each and Crawford isn't far behind with 11. I always knew Quick was susceptible to the soft goal, especially early in games and he can get rattled fairly easy, but I didn't think he was that bad. We, myself included, rag on Chad for allowing super soft goals. But the numbers don't really bear that out, but they also don't take into account the timing of the goals, which as I posted last night I can think of 3 off the top of my head that destroyed the Sabres chances at at least a point. So what am I trying to say? I'm not sure, just bored on a slow Saturday night and was checking out war on ice.

A: Playing above expectations
O'Reilly
Ristolainen

B: Playing above expectations most nights, at expectations some nights
Eichel
Reinhart
Franson
Weber
Pysyk
Johnson

C: Playing at expectations
McGinn
Gionta
Larsson
Deslauriers
Legwand
Schaller
Gorges
McCabe
Ullmark

D: Playing below expectations most nights, at expectations some nights
Kane
Girgensons
Foligno
Ennis
Bogosian
Colaiacovo

F: Playing well below expectations
Moulson

-------

The names at the bottom are the reason were at the bottom of the standings with this much talent infusion in a year span. Going off the way I set my rankings based on personal expectations, Bylsma would get a C, but if I gave him a straight grade it would be a D- because I put a lot of our losing on his usage and roles. The guy is terrible at matchups and player usage, but his time in Pittsburgh proved that too me.

The difference between this year and last year has been Eichel and O'Reilly and that's about it.
- sbroads24

Theres a lot more than just those two things.

Ristolainen, Powerplay, dominating games for stretches even in losses, among others. The eye test tells us the team has severely improved, as it should.

But thanks to underperforming players and poor coaching we're a lot worse in the standings than we should be. Don't we lead the league in 1 goal losses?

PS I hate that im using this site on my tablet that wont allow me to install ad blocker in the browser

Theres a lot more than just those two things.

Ristolainen, Powerplay, dominating games for stretches even in losses, among others. The eye test tells us the team has severely improved, as it should.

But thanks to underperforming players and poor coaching we're a lot worse in the standings than we should be. Don't we lead the league in 1 goal losses?

PS I hate that im using this site on my tablet that wont allow me to install ad blocker in the browser
- theblueandgold

The app store redirect makes me want to punch a hole in the wall.

The app store redirect makes me want to punch a hole in the wall.
- Sabresfan-365

I go to type something on this poopty tablet keyboard as it is, and 'I have to wait 10 seconds every 30 seconds while the ads refresh and load. So frustrating. That ratings post took three times as long as it would normally take me because of those dumb ads

Alright, halfway home and officially tied for last place. Who else is now in tank mode?

I thought Buffalo had the worst luck in the world holy poop Cincinnati my heart goes out to you

The app store redirect makes me want to punch a hole in the wall.
- Sabresfan-365

x10 to that!

On another note, Burfict from the Bengals wins the award for dumbest athlete of the year, and it's only early January.

I thought Buffalo had the worst luck in the world holy poop Cincinnati my heart goes out to you
- gerbe75pts

Seriously? My heart goes out to nobody that supports a team with a moron like Burfict on it, and Pac Man sure isn't far behind.

Alright, halfway home and officially tied for last place. Who else is now in tank mode?
- sskkoo1

Me!

edit: I'm still mad because they became so boring and predictable.

I go to type something on this poopty tablet keyboard as it is, and 'I have to wait 10 seconds every 30 seconds while the ads refresh and load. So frustrating. That ratings post took three times as long as it would normally take me because of those dumb ads
- theblueandgold

Kane
Girgensons
Ennis
Bogosian

That's your secondary scoring coming up well short. some of it is usage (thinking about girgensons here) and obviously ennis has been injured. Got to find a place for kane, maybe it's on the off wing so all his shots arent going high and wide or off the outside of the post. Bogo, I just think he's bad (for what he's being paid).

Me!

edit: I'm still mad because they became so boring and predictable.
- sippyd

They're at least watchable this year. Last year I mostly read a book while having the games on mute, and I only had the television on to make sure they lost.

They're at least watchable this year. Last year I mostly read a book while having the games on mute, and I only had the television on to make sure they lost.
- sskkoo1

Alright, halfway home and officially tied for last place. Who else is now in tank mode?
- sskkoo1

Always knew we be in the top 5

Theres a lot more than just those two things.

Ristolainen, Powerplay, dominating games for stretches even in losses, among others. The eye test tells us the team has severely improved, as it should.

But thanks to underperforming players and poor coaching we're a lot worse in the standings than we should be. Don't we lead the league in 1 goal losses?

PS I hate that im using this site on my tablet that wont allow me to install ad blocker in the browser
- theblueandgold

True, Risto and Reinhart too. And we actually have the puck sometimes

True, Risto and Reinhart too. And we actually have the puck sometimes
- sbroads24

I'll say this, Id be way more concerned if our place in the standings was higher but those 4 were ok or took a step back. Im glad to see that the guys we are building around are in fact that good.

I'll say this, Id be way more concerned if our place in the standings was higher but those 4 were ok or took a step back. Im glad to see that the guys we are building around are in fact that good.
- Sabresfan-365

Yea me too, just a few things about this team bug me

A: Playing above expectations
O'Reilly
Ristolainen

B: Playing above expectations most nights, at expectations some nights
Eichel
Reinhart
Franson
Weber
Pysyk
Johnson

C: Playing at expectations
McGinn
Gionta
Larsson
Deslauriers
Legwand
Schaller
Gorges
McCabe
Ullmark

D: Playing below expectations most nights, at expectations some nights
Kane
Girgensons
Foligno
Ennis
Bogosian
Colaiacovo

F: Playing well below expectations
Moulson

-------

The names at the bottom are the reason were at the bottom of the standings with this much talent infusion in a year span. Going off the way I set my rankings based on personal expectations, Bylsma would get a C, but if I gave him a straight grade it would be a D- because I put a lot of our losing on his usage and roles. The guy is terrible at matchups and player usage, but his time in Pittsburgh proved that too me.
- theblueandgold

I agree with most of it except McGinn, who's playing well above expectations. I was higher on him than most and he's exceeded even my elevated expectations.

I go to type something on this poopty tablet keyboard as it is, and 'I have to wait 10 seconds every 30 seconds while the ads refresh and load. So frustrating. That ratings post took three times as long as it would normally take me because of those dumb ads
- theblueandgold

Yeah, it's not bad on my computer, the refreshing can be mildly annoying, but it's completely useless on my phone. The redirects are ridiculous and I can't read half the comment because it's out of the box and off the screen and into the ads or margins, black text on dark blue is tough to read, but those are formatting issues, not ads, but still.

Kane
Girgensons
Ennis
Bogosian

That's your secondary scoring coming up well short. some of it is usage (thinking about girgensons here) and obviously ennis has been injured. Got to find a place for kane, maybe it's on the off wing so all his shots arent going high and wide or off the outside of the post. Bogo, I just think he's bad (for what he's being paid).
- Sabresfan-365

They're degenerates! We have a rapist, something about strippers and maybe booze, or booze and maybe strippers hardha... err Pluvio is a rock solid source for that, and a cokehead, so obviously they can't be good hockey players. Come on you're better than that...

If anyone couldn't tell; this post was totally sarcastic.

They're at least watchable this year. Last year I mostly read a book while having the games on mute, and I only had the television on to make sure they lost.
- sskkoo1

Same here, except I had the volume on, but just super low so it wasn't too distracting from whatever book I was reading or game I was playing.

They're degenerates! We have a rapist, something about strippers and maybe booze, or booze and maybe strippers hardha... err Pluvio is a rock solid source for that, and a cokehead, so obviously they can't be good hockey players. Come on you're better than that...

If anyone couldn't tell; this post was totally sarcastic.
- Wetbandit1

Wow

Quiet around here.

Enjoy my work not just here but just about everywhere you walk or drive.

I was just thinking. What's worse? Not going to the playoffs in 16 years? Or going, and losing 8 straight games? We've been to 4 Super Bowls since they've won a playoff game.