They are just oh so bad at scoring.


Maybe they are playing Sobodka on line two in hope that he would put some and get some assists so they could trade him?
- ImThatGuy

Hey if that line can keep the the opposing team hemmed in for a 40-60 seconds and rest up the first line and have an offensive zone faceoff. I’ll take it.

I thin Montreal should feel really lucky to get a point as Buffalo severely out played them:
- outshot them by a lot
- 2 Montreal goals (2 and 3) were caused by lucky bounces from behind the net. Hutton should have saved #3
-the 1st Montreal goal is correctible - Good play by Montreal but Jack peeled off the passer and Oloffson didn't stay with Armia. Buffalo got a bit lazy and paid for it.\
-We hit a few goalposts, including Jack late in the 3rd which would have given him a hat trick (but not a natural one as goal #1 was on the pp)
- turbo044

While the habs did get lucky .... the sabres faced Kinkaid. That guy was awful

You may want to look at the Charts. Okposo is currently the Best Sabre for Corsi.
Sobodka is still one of the worst.

Okposo is generating at an insane rate.

Okposo would absolutely improve that line, and he deserves to show if he can, IMO.
- ImThatGuy

Sure look at the charts.
Let's put Okposo on the 2nd line. And while we're at it, let's put Girgs in Olofsson's spot, because his Corsi is way better. Then we can put Larsson in Jack's spot because his corsi blows Jack's away.
Because, you know, charts.

7 points in 8 games to start the season

enjoy the ride

Kyle Okposo on the trouble he, Johan Larsson and Zemgus Girgensons are causing for opponents: “You look across, you see a fourth line and you say, ‘What the hell am I doing in my D-zone?’

“We’ve got a good thing going. We’ve just got to continue to work.”


It seems Kyle is happy playing for the first time in a while. Maybe winning does cure everything.

Agree completely. It was nowhere near as bad as some made it seem.
- SoCalPucks

Yeah, who would’ve thought a player right next to him was going to try and get the puck from him

Kyle Okposo on the trouble he, Johan Larsson and Zemgus Girgensons are causing for opponents: “You look across, you see a fourth line and you say, ‘What the hell am I doing in my D-zone?’

“We’ve got a good thing going. We’ve just got to continue to work.”


It seems Kyle is happy playing for the first time in a while. Maybe winning does cure everything.
- adambuffalo

the chemistry that line is showing, I would not change it up

sobotka to the presser before I break that line up

Yeah, who would’ve thought a player right next to him was going to try and get the puck from him
- OneKaneOneCup

you should apply for the sabres beat writer, even paul hamilton disagrees with you


man your hate for risto is strong

3-0-1 but beat him up still

They are just oh so bad at scoring.


Maybe they are playing Sobodka on line two in hope that he would put some and get some assists so they could trade him?
- ImThatGuy

theres been 100 times we've thought they're showcasing players but lets be honest its crazy rare for a coach to not just be trying to win

you should apply for the sabres beat writer, even paul hamilton disagrees with you


man your hate for risto is strong

3-0-1 but beat him up still
- homiedclown

Weird. When we were losing all those games the past three years it wasn’t his fault.

But now we’re winning and it’s to his credit.

you should apply for the sabres beat writer, even paul hamilton disagrees with you


man your hate for risto is strong

3-0-1 but beat him up still
- homiedclown

I'm enjoying the ride, but I'm also trying to be realistic about the areas of concern and how to "fix" them essentially.

I def think we need a top 6 winger to replace Sobotka. I don't think he's killing us out there, but I do think that his spot needs to be upgraded. I think the way to go about doing that is moving Risto, especially when you look at the logjam of D we have once guys start getting healthy.

In the meantime, I'm having fun watching games again and in a different way than I did in during the month of November last year.

Weird. When we were losing all those games the past three years it wasn’t his fault.

But now we’re winning and it’s to his credit.
- OneKaneOneCup

Selective reading here, huh? You really have biased judgment against Risto. Where in his post was he giving Risto the credit for us winning?

Selective reading here, huh? You really have biased judgment against Risto. Where in his post was he giving Risto the credit for us winning?
- adambuffalo

“We’re 3-0-1” so therefore his mistakes are fine.

Can’t wait for Jokiharju to get sent down despite him being better

I'm enjoying the ride, but I'm also trying to be realistic about the areas of concern and how to "fix" them essentially.

I def think we need a top 6 winger to replace Sobotka. I don't think he's killing us out there, but I do think that his spot needs to be upgraded. I think the way to go about doing that is moving Risto, especially when you look at the logjam of D we have once guys start getting healthy.

In the meantime, I'm having fun watching games again and in a different way than I did in during the month of November last year.
- HonkFortheGoose

I still think sobotka is keeping the seat warm for tage

I could see a tinker or two though

I'm enjoying the ride, but I'm also trying to be realistic about the areas of concern and how to "fix" them essentially.

I def think we need a top 6 winger to replace Sobotka. I don't think he's killing us out there, but I do think that his spot needs to be upgraded. I think the way to go about doing that is moving Risto, especially when you look at the logjam of D we have once guys start getting healthy.

In the meantime, I'm having fun watching games again and in a different way than I did in during the month of November last year.
- HonkFortheGoose

I would wait until we actually have a fully healthy D before moving people. Once Pilut comes back, McCabe will go down. Then, when Montour is ready, someone else will get hurt. At one point, we had McCabe, Nelson, Scandella hurt, and we dressed Elie as a D in practice. We do have a ton of D. If we have a move to make, then we should consider it, but I wouldn't move anyone out unless we get proper value.

“We’re 3-0-1” so therefore his mistakes are fine.

Can’t wait for Jokiharju to get sent down despite him being better
- OneKaneOneCup

no we are 3-0-1


the play you are referring to, the second goal, was a bad break, not a bone head move
the hab player hustled and whacked ristos stick, thus changing the direction of the pass and led to a goal

stevie wonder sees it
your hate runs so deep, you are unable to see it


nothing more
nothing less

“We’re 3-0-1” so therefore his mistakes are fine.

Can’t wait for Jokiharju to get sent down despite him being better
- OneKaneOneCup

I like the game that Jokiharju has played, but he's made some mistakes too. He had a bit of a rough game in Columbus. Did his mistakes necessarily lead to a goal? No, but there are areas of his game that could use some polishing.

“We’re 3-0-1” so therefore his mistakes are fine.

Can’t wait for Jokiharju to get sent down despite him being better
- OneKaneOneCup

Often times Ristolainen beats himself in the d-zone. Last night, the Montreal player made a good play, which sometimes happens. There are plenty of reasons why Ristolainen should be shipped out. This isn't one of them.

I like the game that Jokiharju has played, but he's made some mistakes too. He had a bit of a rough game in Columbus. Did his mistakes necessarily lead to a goal? No, but there are areas of his game that could use some polishing.
- HonkFortheGoose

they all need to work on their game in their own end

IMO the best defensive d man over the last 2 games was Scandella

and it's not close

I like the game that Jokiharju has played, but he's made some mistakes too. He had a bit of a rough game in Columbus. Did his mistakes necessarily lead to a goal? No, but there are areas of his game that could use some polishing.
- HonkFortheGoose

The overall body of work suggests he's most likely too good for the AHL at this point, even with his shortcomings. They need to figure out a way to keep him up here. Whether that means waiving, trading, or loaning someone else away, that's what Botterill gets paid to figure out.

Often times Ristolainen beats himself in the d-zone. Last night, the Montreal player made a good play, which sometimes happens. There are plenty of reasons why Ristolainen should be shipped out. This isn't one of them.
- buffalofan19

some fans would rather lose w/o risto then win with him

I always said there would be a few fans that b!tched if we won a cup in 6 games, saying we should have won it in 4


pretty sure I found one of those fans today

I would wait until we actually have a fully healthy D before moving people. Once Pilut comes back, McCabe will go down. Then, when Montour is ready, someone else will get hurt. At one point, we had McCabe, Nelson, Scandella hurt, and we dressed Elie as a D in practice. We do have a ton of D. If we have a move to make, then we should consider it, but I wouldn't move anyone out unless we get proper value.
- ajb2493

I definitely don't disagree with this. Unless some sort of offer comes in that blows the socks off of Botts, there's no reason to force something at the moment. Because it's a long season and the reality is that McCabe probably will end up hurt (it's become a trend every year) or if not him, someone else. That's just the way things have worked around here for quite some time now, so no need to make a knee jerk reaction in preparation for a healthy lineup, since more than likely, it's unlikely to happen.

The overall body of work suggests he's most likely too good for the AHL at this point, even with his shortcomings. They need to figure out a way to keep him up here. Whether that means waiving, trading, or loaning someone else away, that's what Botterill gets paid to figure out.
- buffalofan19

I'm in no way saying they should send him down. Just pointing out that he hasn't been perfect so for people to complain about Risto but act like the sun is shining out of Jokiharju's ass is a bit crazy. (and not saying that you're one of them, just an overall observation)

Overall, things are working for the team right now. Probably won't stay that way for teh whole season as it rarely does. They'll go through some hard times. Lines will need to be changed. Defense partners will be changed. Injuries will happen.

Great article, MP!

I am going to argue with you on this though

The Sabres were on the ropes last night early in the first period as the Montreal Canadiens swarmed like angry bees and outshot Buffalo 3-0 through the first 3:59 of the game. Then they took a penalty. Buffalo trotted out their No. 1 powerplay unit and in 1:05 the Sabres pelted Habs goalie Keith "Reuben" Kinkaid with five shots, the last of which went top-shelf on a blast from rookie Victor Olofsson and just like that, the Sabres were up 1-0. The tide would turn again as Montreal scored a shorthanded goal and added another on the powerplay, both by former Sabre Joel Armia, leaving Buffalo with a 2-1 deficit at the end of one period.

Montreal started out the second period swarming once again until...a slashing penalty. Forty-eight seconds later, Jack Eichel was wristing home a game-tying goal that would be the first of three unanswered goals by the Sabres. Granted, the rest of the goal-scoring came at 5v5 and the final one by Marcus Johansson in overtime, but without the Sabres going 2/3 early on to stem the Habs momentum and keep them in it, it would have been a struggle to stay with the flying Canadiens.

This quote shows exactly why 'momentum' is meaningless. Montreal has 'momentum', but then they take a penalty, so the sabres score and get the 'momentum'. Montreal takes another penalty, time for double momentum...wait what? Suddenly Montreal scores short handed and now they 'have the momentum'? So the penalty didn't matter for momentum? But then they take a third penalty, and get scored on, so they 'lose the momentum'? I'm confused, because scoring shorthanded had given them the momentum, so why are they having to take another penalty if they have momentum?

And then Jack Eichel scores with no penalty, presumably because he still 'has the momentum' from the last goal? And then Skinner scores, so the momentum is still going? Except then immediately Montreal scores, so what did the sabres do to lose the momentum? And then Montreal scores again presumably on the same momentum run, but then with all that momentum they still somehow have to trip Sam Reinhart, and then they lose.

See how ridiculous 'Momentum' is? I have it when I score, except when you score, and then I don't. Something 'triggers' momentum, except when it doesn't and backfires. During that big 'momentum' push by montreal in the third period to tie it, the sabres actually had a few golden scoring chances. If one of those gets past Kincaid, was there no momentum at all? Or did Kincaid only make those saves because of momentum?

My head hurts trying to understand this.

I'm in no way saying they should send him down. Just pointing out that he hasn't been perfect so for people to complain about Risto but act like the sun is shining out of Jokiharju's ass is a bit crazy. (and not saying that you're one of them, just an overall observation)

Overall, things are working for the team right now. Probably won't stay that way for teh whole season as it rarely does. They'll go through some hard times. Lines will need to be changed. Defense partners will be changed. Injuries will happen.
- HonkFortheGoose

I do have a feeling as long as everyone stays healthy, which is far from a guarantee, they will not be rushing Montour back.