Zak MacMillan: CBJ G54 @ Buffalo Sabres — Roadtrip Finale with Depth Test

Tough, awful game to lose. I hope it's not a preview of things to come. We have to get people off the injured list and back on the ice quickly.

I'm sorry to say this, but Buffalo is such a bush-league team. I understand people were upset after what happened to Tage Thompson, and I am all in favor of fighting when necessary.

But to start a fight and get one of their players blasted by Olivier three seconds into a game against a team that had nothing to do with anything just to prove something is disgusting. The fight proves nothing, and they were lucky to survive a beat up CBJ last night.

Be Better Buffalo.

Tough, awful game to lose. I hope it's not a preview of things to come. We have to get people off the injured list and back on the ice quickly.

I'm sorry to say this, but Buffalo is such a bush-league team. I understand people were upset after what happened to Tage Thompson, and I am all in favor of fighting when necessary.

But to start a fight and get one of their players blasted by Olivier three seconds into a game against a team that had nothing to do with anything just to prove something is disgusting. The fight proves nothing, and they were lucky to survive a beat up CBJ last night.

Be Better Buffalo.
- jkumpire

JK - sorry to say, but I think this begins a slow slide out of the playoff picture. There's just not enough consistent firepower left. When your top 3 scorers (all PPG) are on the sideline it's tough. KJ, Fantilli, Vronkov, Sillinger and to a lesser expected degree, LDBB, would have to really take a big step up. Outside of them there's really very little scoring on the ice. Jenner won't help from an offense part. Chinakhov's issues the last 2-ish months are nebulous, and with a mysterious back injury sounds like his hockey future is not certain.
We'll have to see who's returning in the short term, and what GMDW does as the TDL arrives.

JK - sorry to say, but I think this begins a slow slide out of the playoff picture. There's just not enough consistent firepower left. When your top 3 scorers (all PPG) are on the sideline it's tough. KJ, Fantilli, Vronkov, Sillinger and to a lesser expected degree, LDBB, would have to really take a big step up. Outside of them there's really very little scoring on the ice. Jenner won't help from an offense part. Chinakhov's issues the last 2-ish months are nebulous, and with a mysterious back injury sounds like his hockey future is not certain.
We'll have to see who's returning in the short term, and what GMDW does as the TDL arrives.
- birdie03

Totally agree .03. I think this is the end, but these young players have improved this year, so there is a glimmer of hope. Werenski and Fabbro have to get back quickly, and others have to play better too.

Totally agree .03. I think this is the end, but these young players have improved this year, so there is a glimmer of hope. Werenski and Fabbro have to get back quickly, and others have to play better too.
- jkumpire

No doubt JK. I love what these kids have done so far this season, and Monahan fits this team perfectly. I believe KJ still has another gear/level he can get to; and Fantilli, in his 3rd season will be a horse next year. Sillinger's game is improving. Kiril and Vronkov will continue to build on what they've done so far - yes, Kiril has more to give too !! LDBB has been a pleasant surprise so far, holding his own in the NHL, and I hope he doesn't succumb to the CBJ sophomore curse. He seems to think the game real well, and plays a 200 ft game. I would love to see Chinakhov's back issues resolved as he was cranking up his game before the injury. That's almost 3 full scoring lines - young & highly skilled.
We're sitting pretty good on D too. Z anchors the D end, and Fabbro is looking to be a really nice pick-up by GMDW. Expecting an extension to be offered. Mateychuk has stepped up and not looked out of place at all. Provorov, initially I expected him to be a TDL trade piece, but he is still a top-4 D.
Bottom line - yes, we'll probably not make the playoffs this season, but barring more of the same injury BS that seems to follow this team like a dark cloud, next season we should be able to solidly push for top-3 division - not just Wild Card.