he is our most physical player up front

kind of sad


we need a tom wilson in the lineup
- homiedclown

When Tage comes up, he’ll be our Tom Wilson!!!

Seriously though, I think it’s hard to overstate the good job Kroogs has done with the team so far.

So being on the ice for 2 scoring chances for and 26 against is a good night ? Analytics say the 19-55 pairing was an absolute nightmare last night.
- Swedish_Jesus

Oh, FFS, so was Dahlin. He was like 33 CF%. Risto allowed 11 fewer attempts in 3 MORE minutes of ice time. Mittelstadt and Sheary were far and away the best, and they couldn't come remotely close to sniffing 50. Context is key, mon frere. This is why stats people get a bad name, because they cherry pick ludicrous stats and offer zero context. They allowed a ton of attempts last night, after they were already up 3, and only a few actually dangerous ones. Everyone played well. It was an easy shutout for Hutton who had to make 3, maybe 4, difficult saves. The game was never in doubt. When the Sabres are the ones that end up at 70 CF% and Risto is still 17, then, by all means, female dog away.

/rant

Oh, FFS, so was Dahlin. He was like 33 CF%. Risto allowed 11 fewer attempts in 3 MORE minutes of ice time. Mittelstadt and Sheary were far and away the best, and they couldn't come remotely close to sniffing 50. Context is key, mon frere. This is why stats people get a bad name, because they cherry pick ludicrous stats and offer zero context. They allowed a ton of attempts last night, after they were already up 3, and only a few actually dangerous ones. Everyone played well. It was an easy shutout for Hutton who had to make 3, maybe 4, difficult saves. The game was never in doubt. When the Sabres are the ones that end up at 70 CF% and Risto is still 17, then, by all means, female dog away.

/rant
- Wetbandit1

Yep 3-0 lead + back end of back to back make stats for this game misleading

Oh, FFS, so was Dahlin. He was like 33 CF%. Risto allowed 11 fewer attempts in 3 MORE minutes of ice time. Mittelstadt and Sheary were far and away the best, and they couldn't come remotely close to sniffing 50. Context is key, mon frere. This is why stats people get a bad name, because they cherry pick ludicrous stats and offer zero context. They allowed a ton of attempts last night, after they were already up 3, and only a few actually dangerous ones. Everyone played well. It was an easy shutout for Hutton who had to make 3, maybe 4, difficult saves. The game was never in doubt. When the Sabres are the ones that end up at 70 CF% and Risto is still 17, then, by all means, female dog away.

/rant
- Wetbandit1

Or it was a good thing we popped a few quick ones and were able to build a cushion early ? I didn’t watch the game but common man. Those are ugly no matter how you slice it.

Rochester up 3 to 2
Gerbe with 2 assists for Cleveland

Or it was a good thing we popped a few quick ones and were able to build a cushion early ? I didn’t watch the game but common man. Those are ugly no matter how you slice it.
- Swedish_Jesus

It didn't feel ugly though. It was a clearly exhausted team giving up shots, but not many high danger chances.

Or he could be a New Jersey resident...
- kingcong39

Never been to New Jersey, maybe he could reminisce about it after he puts on the Blue and Gold

Never been to New Jersey, maybe he could reminisce about it after he puts on the Blue and Gold
- Buff36

Jersey ain't that pretty at all

Just to be clear, my wish to tinker with the lines is hardly bashing in my mind. I think there is a difference between critical analysis and being plain critical.

Look there are two types of fans. This is true of all sports. There is the Bills Backer who paints his face blue and red and screams and cheers the bills for 16 consecutive nonplayoff seasons. Josh Allen is a top five QB for that fan, because he's winning and he's a Bill! Enjoy the ride! Bills gonna be 12-4 and beat the Patriots! Sun is always shining in Orchard Park! Good on that guy.

And then there is the bills fan like me who likes to debate if Ed Oliver is making an impact or not, or gets really upset that it took them this long to get Duke Williams on the roster, and I would want to have those conversations whether they were 1-4 or 4-1.

If anything, the sabres winning has me more engaged to track advanced stats, identify weaknesses, and try my amateur hack coaching out alongside Krueger. If they were 2-5-1, I wouldn't even care who starts in goal tomorrow. But they're winning, so I'll come on here and waste my time arguing with someone I don't know about how hard to ride Hutton.

One day, maybe, this team will win the cup. And then, and only then, will I 'just relax'. Because it won't matter if Risto has bad possession numbers or the lines aren't scoring 5 on 5. You win and everything is made ok. But until then, I'll be the guy who stressed about our defensive depth in a post lockout cinderella run, only to have my crazy paranoia proven right, and I'll be the same guy who stressed about Ottawa all year during a presidents trophy run, only to be devastated again. I didn't 'just enjoy the ride' then either, because some of us aren't wired that way. A sabres playoff series is about two and a half hours of me holding my breath, followed by about 2-3 hours of pure joy after a win, or 2-3 hours of pure misery after a loss. Then it's a day or two of nervous anxiety untill the next game, and repeat.

If you want to just come on here and post that we are 6-1--1 and that this makes you happy, good for you! But it doesn't make any of us who want to have a more critical discussion less of fans. Some people are wired different.

Jersey ain't that pretty at all
- homiedclown

Gerbe is still a thing in 2019. Unbelievable...

Gerbe is still a thing in 2019. Unbelievable...
- mattsox

Not the blogger the player...

Just to be clear, my wish to tinker with the lines is hardly bashing in my mind. I think there is a difference between critical analysis and being plain critical.

Look there are two types of fans. This is true of all sports. There is the Bills Backer who paints his face blue and red and screams and cheers the bills for 16 consecutive nonplayoff seasons. Josh Allen is a top five QB for that fan, because he's winning and he's a Bill! Enjoy the ride! Bills gonna be 12-4 and beat the Patriots! Sun is always shining in Orchard Park! Good on that guy.

And then there is the bills fan like me who likes to debate if Ed Oliver is making an impact or not, or gets really upset that it took them this long to get Duke Williams on the roster, and I would want to have those conversations whether they were 1-4 or 4-1.

If anything, the sabres winning has me more engaged to track advanced stats, identify weaknesses, and try my amateur hack coaching out alongside Krueger. If they were 2-5-1, I wouldn't even care who starts in goal tomorrow. But they're winning, so I'll come on here and waste my time arguing with someone I don't know about how hard to ride Hutton.

One day, maybe, this team will win the cup. And then, and only then, will I 'just relax'. Because it won't matter if Risto has bad possession numbers or the lines aren't scoring 5 on 5. You win and everything is made ok. But until then, I'll be the guy who stressed about our defensive depth in a post lockout cinderella run, only to have my crazy paranoia proven right, and I'll be the same guy who stressed about Ottawa all year during a presidents trophy run, only to be devastated again. I didn't 'just enjoy the ride' then either, because some of us aren't wired that way. A sabres playoff series is about two and a half hours of me holding my breath, followed by about 2-3 hours of pure joy after a win, or 2-3 hours of pure misery after a loss. Then it's a day or two of nervous anxiety untill the next game, and repeat.

If you want to just come on here and post that we are 6-1--1 and that this makes you happy, good for you! But it doesn't make any of us who want to have a more critical discussion less of fans. Some people are wired different.
- matty12345

Analytics said the Sabres 10 game win streak was a fluke last year and they proceeded to bottom out. Advanced statistics aren’t the end all be all but they work hand and hand with the eye test. Sabres start is fantastic, but to hope for improvement and see concerning trends due to having success over a 8 game sample size does not make you a bad fan.

Enjoy the ride, there are things that need to be worked on, a young team learning a new system. I will take it, even though it has only been 8 games, it is sure fun to watch.

Just to be clear, my wish to tinker with the lines is hardly bashing in my mind. I think there is a difference between critical analysis and being plain critical.

Look there are two types of fans. This is true of all sports. There is the Bills Backer who paints his face blue and red and screams and cheers the bills for 16 consecutive nonplayoff seasons. Josh Allen is a top five QB for that fan, because he's winning and he's a Bill! Enjoy the ride! Bills gonna be 12-4 and beat the Patriots! Sun is always shining in Orchard Park! Good on that guy.

And then there is the bills fan like me who likes to debate if Ed Oliver is making an impact or not, or gets really upset that it took them this long to get Duke Williams on the roster, and I would want to have those conversations whether they were 1-4 or 4-1.

If anything, the sabres winning has me more engaged to track advanced stats, identify weaknesses, and try my amateur hack coaching out alongside Krueger. If they were 2-5-1, I wouldn't even care who starts in goal tomorrow. But they're winning, so I'll come on here and waste my time arguing with someone I don't know about how hard to ride Hutton.

One day, maybe, this team will win the cup. And then, and only then, will I 'just relax'. Because it won't matter if Risto has bad possession numbers or the lines aren't scoring 5 on 5. You win and everything is made ok. But until then, I'll be the guy who stressed about our defensive depth in a post lockout cinderella run, only to have my crazy paranoia proven right, and I'll be the same guy who stressed about Ottawa all year during a presidents trophy run, only to be devastated again. I didn't 'just enjoy the ride' then either, because some of us aren't wired that way. A sabres playoff series is about two and a half hours of me holding my breath, followed by about 2-3 hours of pure joy after a win, or 2-3 hours of pure misery after a loss. Then it's a day or two of nervous anxiety untill the next game, and repeat.

If you want to just come on here and post that we are 6-1--1 and that this makes you happy, good for you! But it doesn't make any of us who want to have a more critical discussion less of fans. Some people are wired different.
- matty12345

GREAT POST!
Keep on keeping on!
Good for those who put on rose colored glasses and see all is well, seriously good on you!
I enjoy seeing where things could be improved, researching options and then proposing them in an open forum.

Analytics said the Sabres 10 game win streak was a fluke last year and they proceeded to bottom out. Advanced statistics aren’t the end all be all but they work hand and hand with the eye test. Sabres start is fantastic, but to hope for improvement and see concerning trends due to having success over a 8 game sample size does not make you a bad fan.
- Swedish_Jesus

Another strong post.
I like those fancy graphs to compare them to what my eyes see.

Actually, Eichel's line hasn't done much 5v5, so I'm kinda trying to get anything 5v5 going. I feel like Olofsson also has a better chance 5v5 on the second line where he's going to draw less tough matchups.

Vesey is a 5v5 goalscorer. I need him to start producing 5v5. He isn't going to do that with Mittelstadt and 13-14 minutes a night.

My entire thought process is the sabres have been feasting on the powerplay, but that will not last forever. A good PP plus one or two effective 5v5 lines is more sustainable.
- matty12345

They don't want to put all their eggs in one basket. Skinner is supposed to drive the 2nd line, something Olofsson won't do. They need to balance out the strengths they have.

They don't want to put all their eggs in one basket. Skinner is supposed to drive the 2nd line, something Olofsson won't do. They need to balance out the strengths they have.
- GilPerreault11

Good post #SabresAfterDark

Good post #SabresAfterDark
- Swedish_Jesus

I believe that's also what garth calls his Eichel fanfiction

Rochester up 3 to 2
Gerbe with 2 assists for Cleveland
- homiedclown

With a broken leg from fighting risto nonetheless... Incredible

Trade Montour for a big tough gritty 2nd line forward. Waive Bogosian if you can’t trade him when he returns from injury.

If they waive Gilmour he is as good as gone. Bogosian isn’t an upgrade to anyone currently on the roster.

I don’t want to trade Scandella for next to nothing. We have very little size and grit amongst our dmen, if we plan on doing anything in the postseason we will need players like Scandella.

If Scandella continues the season at the same level he has started it, would you want to sign him to an extension?

Ducks beating the Hurricanes... they might have a good team over there or Gibson is the truth.

Nevermind Miller is in net

It's not like I don't like him but the Sabres had to pay him and keep him but each game, I don't turn it on and say I can't wait to watch Skinner, a guy who makes 1 million less than Eichel for the next 8 years but that is just me.
- GilPerreault11

First rule when you find yourself in a hole: stop digging.

Trade Montour for a big tough gritty 2nd line forward. Waive Bogosian if you can’t trade him when he returns from injury.

If they waive Gilmour he is as good as gone. Bogosian isn’t an upgrade to anyone currently on the roster.

I don’t want to trade Scandella for next to nothing. We have very little size and grit amongst our dmen, if we plan on doing anything in the postseason we will need players like Scandella.

If Scandella continues the season at the same level he has started it, would you want to sign him to an extension?
- Beethoven

With the defensive depth the team has on the horizon, I’d be reluctant to give Scanner an extension.
Also, I’m suspicious of the convenient timing his turnaround. He could likely turn back into a pumpkin after his new contract. Sheary could also fall into this category.

Or it was a good thing we popped a few quick ones and were able to build a cushion early ? I didn’t watch the game but common man. Those are ugly no matter how you slice it.
- Swedish_Jesus

Exactly, so you would have no idea how unthreatening the Kings were for the vast majority of the game despite the obscene Corsi. Sure they had the puck for most of the second and third, but they were Evander Kane writ large, tons of attempts, about half missed the net entirely, and the other ones weren't of the dangerous variety. The Sabres did a fantastic job clearing the lanes/front to allow Hutton to make easy saves. There were very few rebounds or scrambles. He legit had to make a small handful of difficult saves.

Or it was a good thing we popped a few quick ones and were able to build a cushion early ? I didn’t watch the game but common man. Those are ugly no matter how you slice it.
- Swedish_Jesus

And as to your first question. We'll never know, because that's how it works. We can only know what happened, not what might have happened had something else not happened, or happened.