I got laughed at when I said special teams aren't important.
- SomeoneGerman

meh...it happens...i'm still flabbergasted that mike Schopp doesn't believe faceoffs are important

That he is.

I didn't get to watch much of the exhibition game yesterday, but it seems the McDavid/Eichel experiment didn't go the way they were hoping.
- HonkFortheGoose

Really? McDavid and Eichel had over 60% possession numbers, which is basically alien level. They generated a ton of chances and man can they fly. Just because they were unable to score doesn't mean the experiment was a failure. Granted I think Eichel is better at C than wing but for this tournament Id absolutely keep that duo together with Jack on the wing.

meh...it happens...i'm still flabbergasted that mike Schopp doesn't believe faceoffs are important
- Michael Pachla

Over an entire season they are not.

Over an entire season they are not.
- sbroads24

how did you come to that conclusion?

I had no problem with the d, other then missing a few picks, and getting burnt a few times, and not really stopping the run well

the d played a B game

special teams played an A-, carpenter missed the long field goal but that is 50/50 anyways

the O sucked a$$
F-
- homiedclown

I don't know. Special teams had some pretty big mistakes as well. Penalties they took were pretty killer.

I got laughed at when I said special teams aren't important.
- SomeoneGerman

Really? McDavid and Eichel had over 60% possession numbers, which is basically alien level. They generated a ton of chances and man can they fly. Just because they were unable to score doesn't mean the experiment was a failure. Granted I think Eichel is better at C than wing but for this tournament Id absolutely keep that duo together with Jack on the wing.
- Sabresfan-365

Wasn't my words. I saw it somewhere else. Like I said, I didn't really watch much of it. It was 5-2 when I turned it on. Then didn't watch anything after the 2nd intermission.

"Eichel is an extremely talented, yet very young player, who sends a rush of anticipation throughout the crowd nearly every time he's on the ice. We haven't see a player like that in Buffalo since Gilbert Perreault was flying up ice with The French Connection."

Perreault is my all time favorite player as i grew up during that time in Sabre history, but I'd have to say we havent seen a player who sends a rush of anticipation since Alexander Mogilny. 76 goals in his rookie season meant that he was a threat every time he stepped on the ice.

He and LaFountain were one of the best duo's in the league then as LaLa nearly beat out the great Mario that season in points.
- Up2nuthun

LaFontaine had 148 points in 84 gp
Mario had had 160 in 60 gp

It was a 12 point difference but Mario missed 23 games with Hodgkins. During that time LaFontaine built a 12 lead. Mario scored 56 points in the final 20 games to win the Art Ross by 12.

Mogilny was also in his 4th season.

Bills yesterday was awful. Completely different outcome however if Darby (I think it was) catches that pass from Flacco that basically hit him in the numbers. That was a gifted pick 6 and he dropped it... Yesterday is a prime example of why I only watch football until hockey starts to get my sports fix. Once NHL season starts I won't watch a game unless I end up actually going to one.

Umm yeah that too.
- cabin

also Ginger,

that said, McDavid is a phenomenal talent
- Michael Pachla

plus not a ginger

Yesterday a guy I didn't know showed up to the party and started chirping at me. Everybody was up to their molars in beers and schnapps (some Captain and Cokes) and this guy suddenly calls me a "homo." (He believed I took a drink from his beer. He had a can of bud, I was swilling bottles of Molson Canadian).

I suggested we could fix the problem by going out into the front yard: even though normally you go out back, I thought the front was better in this case cause I wanted the whole neighborhood to see how bad I was gonna kick his ego.

He just left the party instead. He's the one who "slunk away."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvt7LXLZs48

how did you come to that conclusion?
- Michael Pachla

http://puckbase.com/stats/team-faceoffs

The correlation between team faceoff percentage isn't very strong.

http://puckbase.com/stats/team-faceoffs

The correlation between team faceoff percentage isn't very strong.
- buffalofan19

Doesnt a correlation require two variables?

so that a correlation between team faceoff percentage needs ___________ before it can be deemed weak or strong?

they shouldn't be on the same line, imo
- Michael Pachla

I'd love to see a Larkin - Matthews - Eichel line. Give Jack a bit of freedom to roam (he's one of the few right shooters on the team, which is why I'd put him to wing for balance) and lots of speed overall. Matthews and Jack can split faceoffs depending on the side that they're on

that said, McDavid is a phenomenal talent
- Michael Pachla

Pointless in his last 2 games.

Doesnt a correlation require two variables?

so that a correlation between team faceoff percentage needs ___________ before it can be deemed weak or strong?
- SomeoneGerman

I look at it this way

Jack Eichel was weak on the dot. Winning 41% of 980 draws
Johan Larsson was good. Winning 51% of 759 draws

Per game-

Eichel 12 FO's at 41% = 4.96 wins per game

Larsson - 10.2 FO per game = 5.202 wins per game.

Depsite being almost 10% better FO%, it really correlates to less than 1 extra FO win per game.

Is there any situation, that we are putting Larsson out instead of Eichel because of that 1 more win per game?

I look at it this way

Jack Eichel was weak on the dot. Winning 41% of 980 draws
Johan Larsson was good. Winning 51% of 759 draws

Per game-

Eichel 12 FO's at 41% = 4.96 wins per game

Larsson - 10.2 FO per game = 5.202 wins per game.

Depsite being almost 10% better FO%, it really correlates to less than 1 extra FO win per game.

Is there any situation, that we are putting Larsson out instead of Eichel because of that 1 more win per game?
- sbroads24

A defensive zone faceoff while on the PK with ROR in the box?

A defensive zone faceoff while on the PK with ROR in the box?

- HonkFortheGoose

I think that is kind of the point. In reality it is kind of the difference between a .320 and a .310 hitter.

I look at it this way

Jack Eichel was weak on the dot. Winning 41% of 980 draws
Johan Larsson was good. Winning 51% of 759 draws

Per game-

Eichel 12 FO's at 41% = 4.96 wins per game

Larsson - 10.2 FO per game = 5.202 wins per game.

Depsite being almost 10% better FO%, it really correlates to less than 1 extra FO win per game.

Is there any situation, that we are putting Larsson out instead of Eichel because of that 1 more win per game?
- sbroads24

Only scenarios I could think of is start of the game and last faceoff in the final minute.

I think that is kind of the point. In reality it is kind of the difference between a .320 and a .310 hitter.
- Slump Buster

I was just being an ass.

But face offs can be important, it just depends on the situation.

If you're up by 1 with 1 min left in the game and are going on the PK and your best FO guy is in the box, it's not an ideal situation. Winning or losing that face-off can really help determine the outcome of the game.

Nothing is ever a certainty, but that's for sure a face-off you'd prefer to win.

Alcohol

http://my.xfinity.com/vid...urednews_sf_bomb&tab=news



Man allegedly left ‘sophisticated’ bomb outside Tennessee nursing home

I'd love to see a Larkin - Matthews - Eichel line. Give Jack a bit of freedom to roam (he's one of the few right shooters on the team, which is why I'd put him to wing for balance) and lots of speed overall. Matthews and Jack can split faceoffs depending on the side that they're on
- lumlums

You might see something pretty close the next time the US has a national team with all its players.

Alcohol
- jochfr

I had 2 bloody marys to start yesterday

4 beers on the golf course

2 pitchers watching the bills and first half of 4:00 games

then went to other bar and had 3 shots of whiskey and another pitcher

I'm fine