Arizona is actually a good team, playing well, was +9 in goal differential, and had a goalie that was playing very well.

Why was last night a concerning loss with how Arizona has been playing, especially lately?
- kingcong39

“They’re 9-2-2 which is good. However...they’ve fallen to 20th in the league in SVA 5v5 xGF% & 15th in CF%.

They’re also 20th in xGF/60 which is not ideal for the 5v5 offense. NOT SAYING SOUND THE ALARM. Just take note is all.”

“They’re 9-2-2 which is good. However...they’ve fallen to 20th in the league in SVA 5v5 xGF% & 15th in CF%.

They’re also 20th in xGF/60 which is not ideal for the 5v5 offense. NOT SAYING SOUND THE ALARM. Just take note is all.”
- Swedish_Jesus

Read that earlier. They're an incomplete team, as many of us know. I believe making the minutes a bit more even across the board would make a positive difference, but I have no control over that. We'll all have a very clear idea of what kind of team they are by 12/1.

Read that earlier. They're an incomplete team, as many of us know. I believe making the minutes a bit more even across the board would make a positive difference, but I have no control over that. We'll all have a very clear idea of what kind of team they are by 12/1.
- kingcong39

I think you're right.

After the Sweden trip, and the time off before and after the games, will be telling of who this team is.

Arizona had two fluke goals, and the Sabres couldn't sustain pressure. The Coyotes have a lot of speed, and the Sabres looked lost in various stretches. The one shift in the 2nd where they pinned the coyotes for like 1:45, was impressive, but they need to find a way to sustain similar pressure for the entire game.

I'm curious what Montour will add to the mix. I think it will help.

I think you're right.

After the Sweden trip, and the time off before and after the games, will be telling of who this team is.

Arizona had two fluke goals, and the Sabres couldn't sustain pressure. The Coyotes have a lot of speed, and the Sabres looked lost in various stretches. The one shift in the 2nd where they pinned the coyotes for like 1:45, was impressive, but they need to find a way to sustain similar pressure for the entire game.

I'm curious what Montour will add to the mix. I think it will help.
- thatsapickle

I don't believe the bolded is possible for any team, even a juggernaut team like Tampa last year as the opponent is always going to have stretches of good play in a game. Dominating like that just isn't going to happen unless they get more talent on the roster, and even then it would be tough.

Arizona is actually a good team, playing well, was +9 in goal differential, and had a goalie that was playing very well.

Why was last night a concerning loss with how Arizona has been playing, especially lately?
- kingcong39

Yeah Arizona has been very good, especially the goalie, think they said that was the 13th game in a row that Kuemper has allowed 2 or fewer goals

Here's how it looked to the number guys.

An assist, and two clanks. Sam didn't win the Gerber Collision, but he continues to produce.
- Der Kaiser

Great chart.

Seems like jack had the puck most of the time. Sam's played well this year, didn't think he had a good game last night.

Arizona is actually a good team, playing well, was +9 in goal differential, and had a goalie that was playing very well.

Why was last night a concerning loss with how Arizona has been playing, especially lately?
- kingcong39

What is concerning is that the Sabres are consistently out shot, and out chanced by a 2-1 margin

Great chart.

Seems like jack had the puck most of the time. Sam's played well this year, didn't think he had a good game last night.
- Boss34

Yeah - you said this before. That’s why I posted the chart.

I expected there to be melt downs over the loss last night.

Overall pretty positive. Wait......I haven't seen Beady post..........

Is his over caffeinated behind OK?

What is concerning is that the Sabres are consistently out shot, and out chanced by a 2-1 margin
- ImThatGuy

The shot totals are starting to get concerning. They're starting to let the other teams dictate the play instead of them dictating it like they were to start the year. They've been giving up the blueline more easily and need to start pushing back more.

I think it's all stuff that can be fixed, within the group of guys we have. We've seen they CAN do it. Now it's getting them to do it nightly for longer stretches than they've been over the last week or so.

What is concerning is that the Sabres are consistently out shot, and out chanced by a 2-1 margin
- ImThatGuy

It is, but the coach also indicated last week that they don't preach shot volume, they emphasize shot quality. Maybe that has something to do with it?

The shot totals are starting to get concerning. They're starting to let the other teams dictate the play instead of them dictating it like they were to start the year. They've been giving up the blueline more easily and need to start pushing back more.

I think it's all stuff that can be fixed, within the group of guys we have. We've seen they CAN do it. Now it's getting them to do it nightly for longer stretches than they've been over the last week or so.
- HonkFortheGoose

That's the crucial trend I've also noticed that they need to reverse.

The shot totals are starting to get concerning. They're starting to let the other teams dictate the play instead of them dictating it like they were to start the year. They've been giving up the blueline more easily and need to start pushing back more.

I think it's all stuff that can be fixed, within the group of guys we have. We've seen they CAN do it. Now it's getting them to do it nightly for longer stretches than they've been over the last week or so.
- HonkFortheGoose

Still would like a quality forward or two, perhaps a winger and a number two center.

That would move everyone down to where they should be.

That's the crucial trend I've also noticed that they need to reverse.
- kingcong39

It's what they've done year over year for the last god knows how many at this point, so it's definitely something that they've struggled with and I can see why it would be easy for them to revert to it.

Just need the coach to keep hammering home the opposite. And we know they can play the other way, because we saw it to start the season.

They seem to start doing it primarily when they get a lead and then they get themselves into trouble. Last night is the perfect example of it. They need to continue to pressure when they get a lead, not sit back. But this group seems to revert to that each time. It's something that we thought was a Bylsma thing, but he said he wasn't coaching them to do that. And then we saw it under Housley as well. Now it's popping back up again.

Gotta get the staff to make sure they're still driving the play and not becoming passengers.

Still would like a quality forward or two, perhaps a winger and a number two center.

That would move everyone down to where they should be.
- gcomella34

Def not saying no changes need to be made, just that the group here now CAN do it. If you have an opportunity to make your team better, you should.

I don't believe the bolded is possible for any team, even a juggernaut team like Tampa last year as the opponent is always going to have stretches of good play in a game. Dominating like that just isn't going to happen unless they get more talent on the roster, and even then it would be tough.
- kingcong39

I knew it wasn't the right way to word it, but I think the point is that the Sabres need to control the play more often than not.

They can break structure very easily and start chasing more than they are controlling play. They need to find a way to sustain the pressure more often than chasing the play.

It's what they've done year over year for the last god knows how many at this point, so it's definitely something that they've struggled with and I can see why it would be easy for them to revert to it.

Just need the coach to keep hammering home the opposite. And we know they can play the other way, because we saw it to start the season.

They seem to start doing it primarily when they get a lead and then they get themselves into trouble. Last night is the perfect example of it. They need to continue to pressure when they get a lead, not sit back. But this group seems to revert to that each time. It's something that we thought was a Bylsma thing, but he said he wasn't coaching them to do that. And then we saw it under Housley as well. Now it's popping back up again.

Gotta get the staff to make sure they're still driving the play and not becoming passengers.
- HonkFortheGoose

The team needs to lose the complacency mentality and go for it.

They have the ability to dominate games, but it's hard to just do it for a full game. I think Krueger has the team on the right track. Like you said, the coaching staff needs to keep driving the point home to keep the other team on their heels.

Sabres Played well one bad goal was the only real misstep.

Also wanted to jump on now yes he got an assist on the play but Sobo again in the defensive zone calm cool collected exit pass that directly lead to a goal.

IM not saying hes a great player or anything but in Housely system clearly he wasnt good in it but in Krueger he fits the system. Sometime "bad" players in the right system arent so bad.

Yeah - you said this before. That’s why I posted the chart.
- Der Kaiser

Ok, so I do not quite understand the chart.

Is it zone time for the line 5 x 5?

Please explain how it shows sam played well?

IF goalof has a great Corsi number then it shows even more useless then before

IF goalof has a great Corsi number then it shows even more useless then before
- hubie

I thought he actually played pretty well last night. I felt like 5v5 he was more noticeable and had a few nice plays that just didn't translate on the scoresheet. I think he's figuring things out, and we need to give him the time to do so. It's his first year in the NHL.

I thought he actually played pretty well last night. I felt like 5v5 he was more noticeable and had a few nice plays that just didn't translate on the scoresheet. I think he's figuring things out, and we need to give him the time to do so. It's his first year in the NHL.
- HonkFortheGoose

I think the team as a whole played well sure there were a few bad plays but that happens.

IM not saying that hes not goign to improve but its very clear that he is not very good 5v5

Arizona is actually a good team, playing well, was +9 in goal differential, and had a goalie that was playing very well.

Why was last night a concerning loss with how Arizona has been playing, especially lately?
- kingcong39

Because the advanced stats, I mean “maths” say so. The same “maths” that show the LOG line is one of the best in the NHL and the best on the team. Even though the LOG line is the only line on the team with a negative +/-.

Advanced stats don’t lie. That’s why we started calling them “maths”, to show that they are objective truths that are undeniable.

I think the team as a whole played well sure there were a few bad plays but that happens.

IM not saying that hes not goign to improve but its very clear that he is not very good 5v5
- hubie

We got absolutely dominated in the third period by a team (good team) that was on the last game of their road trip.

We’re regressing and it’s concerning.

The good thing is we’re 9-2-2 with Dahlin not being Dahlin, and we’ve gotten 0 5 on 5 contributions from certain guys who will inevitably produce

We got absolutely dominated in the third period by a team (good team) that was on the last game of their road trip.

We’re regressing and it’s concerning.

The good thing is we’re 9-2-2 with Dahlin not being Dahlin, and we’ve gotten 0 5 on 5 contributions from certain guys who will inevitably produce
- sbroads24

Dominated we werent dominated
They had 2 days off its not like it was a b2b