Dominated we werent dominated
- hubie

We had 10 shot attempts to 22 shot attempts against, gave up 3 more scoring chances.

Yeah they got ran over in the third

Getting another puck moving Dman in the mix like Montour is going to change the team dynamic, because there's a real chance we won't need to see McCabe and Ristolainen anymore.

Getting another puck moving Dman in the mix like Montour is going to change the team dynamic, because there's a real chance we won't need to see McCabe and Ristolainen anymore.
- TheSabresTaco

It’s just a coincidence we’re starting to lose control of the play as they get more ice time.

Just a coincidence, for a 6th year in a row

We had 10 shot attempts to 22 shot attempts against, gave up 3 more scoring chances.

Yeah they got ran over in the third
- sbroads24

So you didnt watch you are just rambling off stats?

Hutton was dialed in the whole game... except for a min to close out the second

So you didnt watch you are just rambling off stats?

Hutton was dialed in the whole game... except for a min to close out the second
- hubie

Nah, never watched a second. Never have. Just look at the stats.

Caught the post game though, and Biron and Duff had the exact same sentiment. We got man handled

How much of an issue was DT the first 6 games though?

We haven’t done a great job rushing the passer all year

Also... we could conceivably do both
We just can’t improve all the positions that need it now

And even though it seems likely we will make the playoffs,
We are NOT Super Bowl contenders
So any moves we are making should be in mind that we are still building to get on the level of the “elite” teams
- jdfitz77

It became a huge issue when Harrison Phillips went down for the year. Lotulelei has been sub-par, and Kyle Peko just doesn't belong out there.

Nah, never watched a second. Never have. Just look at the stats.

Caught the post game though, and Biron and Duff had the exact same sentiment. We got man handled
- sbroads24

Did we get out played yes... did we get dominated... no

you make it seem like we are so fortunet that we got a point

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?
- Boss34

It's Corsi at 5v5 by period.
Just using this as a determining factor,
one would have to come to the conclusion that if Sam had a bad game, well so did Jack and Victor as their Corsi was nearly identical.
Actually, it shows those 3 had solid 1st and 2nd periods,
and the whole team had a horrible 3rd period, including them.

Our boy Risto had the worst performance of all, playing at a level equal to our Allstar 13th forward ERod, lol. It would be interesting to see which forwards he played with, it seems to suggest he played the 3rd with Jack's line and as a result they got dominated.

I watched the game casualy

It's Corsi at 5v5 by period.
Just using this as a determining factor,
one would have to come to the conclusion that if Sam had a bad game, well so did Jack and Victor as their Corsi was nearly identical.
Actually, it shows those 3 had solid 1st and 2nd periods,
and the whole team had a horrible 3rd period, including them.

Our boy Risto had the worst performance of all, playing at a level equal to our Allstar 13th forward ERod, lol. It would be interesting to see which forwards he played with, it seems to suggest he played the 3rd with Jack's line and as a result they got dominated.

I watched the game casualy
- IonSabres

He got out skated by hot dog phil

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

Few reasons:
1. The way we are losing. Remember Pittsburgh, NJ, Dallas? We embarrassed those teams. Even close overtime games like Montreal and Florida, the Sabres 'looked' better. Now, it's not just going 1-1-1, it's the way they are playing. Other teams, teams with less talent on paper, are dictating to them. The clean zone exits are gone. Like last year, the team is having real trouble leaving the zone cleanly.
2. We have a ridiculously hard schedule coming up. Washington, NYI, TBLx2 (overseas, no less), CAR. Then three easier games in Ott, CHI, MIN, but then back to Boston, Florida, Tampa again, CGY, and Toronto x2. Points are going to be hard to get next month, and the sabres let a point slip away when they had a 2-0 lead at home against a goal challenged Arizona team.
3. The possession metrics were never good this year, but they are getting worse. If the team was really good, those stats should be improving to match our record. Instead our record is dropping to match the stats.
4. We have no answer for other team's intensity in the third periods. Plenty of excuses were made about having big leads and sitting back, but the bottom line is tonight was another game the sabres got shelled in the third.
5. Side note, third game in a row with 2 goals.

Is the sky falling? Nope. But it's time to be proactive and address an issue before the season is derailed. This is what they pay Krueger and Botts for. The talent is there to go 7-0-1, just like it was there to go 17-6-2 last year. Organizationally, they have to be able to counter adjust when teams start playing them differently. Maybe it's bringing in an extra forward, maybe it's tweaking the system, or juggling the lines, I'm not paid to figure it out. Hopefully we see some sort of adjustment.

Did we get out played yes... did we get dominated... no

you make it seem like we are so fortunet that we got a point
- hubie

Because that’s exactly right?

In the Buffalo Sabres standard over the past 6 years of “holding on for dear life” we did just that

Because that’s exactly right?

In the Buffalo Sabres standard over the past 6 years of “holding on for dear life” we did just that
- sbroads24

All the way to the best record in the league.

Because that’s exactly right?

In the Buffalo Sabres standard over the past 6 years of “holding on for dear life” we did just that
- sbroads24

IN other years yes, yesterday I wouldnt say they were fighting for dear life. But i guess we are just splitting hairs now.

All the way to the best record in the league.
- Beethoven

Only "fear" i have like said earlier tough schedule coming up. Arizona was 1st loss by a team in a playoff spot.,....... yes its very early but still

minus like a two minute long shift i dont know how anyone could have came away thinking the sabres were anything but dominated last night

Few reasons:
1. The way we are losing. Remember Pittsburgh, NJ, Dallas? We embarrassed those teams. Even close overtime games like Montreal and Florida, the Sabres 'looked' better. Now, it's not just going 1-1-1, it's the way they are playing. Other teams, teams with less talent on paper, are dictating to them. The clean zone exits are gone. Like last year, the team is having real trouble leaving the zone cleanly.
2. We have a ridiculously hard schedule coming up. Washington, NYI, TBLx2 (overseas, no less), CAR. Then three easier games in Ott, CHI, MIN, but then back to Boston, Florida, Tampa again, CGY, and Toronto x2. Points are going to be hard to get next month, and the sabres let a point slip away when they had a 2-0 lead at home against a goal challenged Arizona team.
3. The possession metrics were never good this year, but they are getting worse. If the team was really good, those stats should be improving to match our record. Instead our record is dropping to match the stats.
4. We have no answer for other team's intensity in the third periods. Plenty of excuses were made about having big leads and sitting back, but the bottom line is tonight was another game the sabres got shelled in the third.
5. Side note, third game in a row with 2 goals.

Is the sky falling? Nope. But it's time to be proactive and address an issue before the season is derailed. This is what they pay Krueger and Botts for. The talent is there to go 7-0-1, just like it was there to go 17-6-2 last year. Organizationally, they have to be able to counter adjust when teams start playing them differently. Maybe it's bringing in an extra forward, maybe it's tweaking the system, or juggling the lines, I'm not paid to figure it out. Hopefully we see some sort of adjustment.
- matty12345

1) EVERY TEAM goes through stretches of not very good play

2) points? They've gotten 20 of 26 points. What more could ANY OF US asked for at this stage?

3) they played 13 games in the month of October. No one has played more and only 5 teams have played as much.


They aren't a finished product. They have flaws. Yet they're still in first.

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

last night in isolation isnt concerning, but the trend is

1) EVERY TEAM goes through stretches of not very good play

2) points? They've gotten 20 of 26 points. What more could ANY OF US asked for at this stage?

3) they played 13 games in the month of October. No one has played more and only 5 teams have played as much.


They aren't a finished product. They have flaws. Yet they're still in first.
- Powerslave

the concern to me isn't that this is a stretch of bad play, but more that the first few games were their stretch of good play

minus like a two minute long shift i dont know how anyone could have came away thinking the sabres were anything but dominated last night
- robz228

This

the concern to me isn't that this is a stretch of bad play, but more that the first few games were their stretch of good play
- robz228

Ups and downs. It's a long year.

Ups and downs. It's a long year.
- Powerslave

We'll see. It's been so long since we were good that I cant remember what the bad stretches looked like. Hard to imagine the good teams getting pummeled 3 out of 4 nights tho.

Usually bad stretches = goals dry up, not team cant get out of their own zone.

Few reasons:
1. The way we are losing. Remember Pittsburgh, NJ, Dallas? We embarrassed those teams. Even close overtime games like Montreal and Florida, the Sabres 'looked' better. Now, it's not just going 1-1-1, it's the way they are playing. Other teams, teams with less talent on paper, are dictating to them. The clean zone exits are gone. Like last year, the team is having real trouble leaving the zone cleanly.
2. We have a ridiculously hard schedule coming up. Washington, NYI, TBLx2 (overseas, no less), CAR. Then three easier games in Ott, CHI, MIN, but then back to Boston, Florida, Tampa again, CGY, and Toronto x2. Points are going to be hard to get next month, and the sabres let a point slip away when they had a 2-0 lead at home against a goal challenged Arizona team.
3. The possession metrics were never good this year, but they are getting worse. If the team was really good, those stats should be improving to match our record. Instead our record is dropping to match the stats.
4. We have no answer for other team's intensity in the third periods. Plenty of excuses were made about having big leads and sitting back, but the bottom line is tonight was another game the sabres got shelled in the third.
5. Side note, third game in a row with 2 goals.

Is the sky falling? Nope. But it's time to be proactive and address an issue before the season is derailed. This is what they pay Krueger and Botts for. The talent is there to go 7-0-1, just like it was there to go 17-6-2 last year. Organizationally, they have to be able to counter adjust when teams start playing them differently. Maybe it's bringing in an extra forward, maybe it's tweaking the system, or juggling the lines, I'm not paid to figure it out. Hopefully we see some sort of adjustment.
- matty12345

This is a solid post and I agree with most of it.
I have been thinking the same as several have expressed on here recently...that their recent play has degraded from their play in the first 5 or 6 games.
There seems to be warning signs in their 5v5 play.

The good news is they have plenty of time to practice and work things out over the next 2 weeks before the schedule turns brutal on them.

Even with the additional time to correct the shortcomings in their play, they need help in the form of upgrades to the roster. Sobotka playing at a 17 point pace with Mojo and Skinner as O threats just isn't cutting it, nor is Vesey's 11 point pace. Those are barely 4th line numbers.

Ups and downs. It's a long year.
- Powerslave

It's a beautiful October day. Unfortunately it seems like the sky is falling as well

last night in isolation isnt concerning, but the trend is
- robz228

This.

IN other years yes, yesterday I wouldnt say they were fighting for dear life. But i guess we are just splitting hairs now.
- hubie

i feel like buffalo got pretty well handled by arizona after the first. Hutton made about 5 really good saves to keep us in the game. Outside of about 5 min after the first we were outplayed and hutton kept us in for that point. OT we played well. I want them to handle the play more, but they couldn't keep and maintain possession through the neutral zone.