Michael Pachla: Yotes/Sabres. A tad different then their last meeting at the F'N Center

Hoping to keep the goals going tonight. Maybe Jack can score a couple from center ice. Smith seems to have trouble with those

Edit: I like that Mcginn is with Eichel and Gionta.

...

It's exactly how we got trapped with Myers though. All we saw was points and plus minus, not the underlying problems.

That pairing gets pelted in it's own end. For now I suppose you could chalk it up to Gorges being too old and Risto being too young but it's still concerning.
- Sabresfan-365

It's going to happen from time to time.

I am not going to be upset over it happening at all this year as long as it does not happen consistently, as in all the time.

Michael Pachla: Yotes/Sabres. A tad different then their last meeting at the F'N Center
- Michael Pachla

The only similarity will be that Gionta plays 20 minutes+

Still no mention of which game will be outdoors. Sounds like it might be the Gold Medal game.

Carried over from last blog. Next years what if problems are not greater than this seasons right now problems.

Hoping to keep the goals going tonight. Maybe Jack can score a couple from center ice. Smith seems to have trouble with those

Edit: I like that Mcginn is with Eichel and Gionta.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

Its better than the alternative

Still no mention of which game will be outdoors. Sounds like it might be the Gold Medal game.
- buffalofan19

I still can't see the IIHF letting that happen. Honestly idk if I'd want to see that either.

Imagine if it's Sweden v Finland. You're going to get 10,000 people there and that's just the canadians who already bought their tickets and decided they had nothing better to do.

Can't see USA Hockey doing it without guaranteeing at least the US in the game, and likely US and Canada.

Carried over from last blog. Next years what if problems are not greater than this seasons right now problems.
- joshs

Disagree. This year is fun and it's nice to want to win. Next year is the year that things get serious. You miss the playoffs this year it's "Oh they're building and young". Miss it next year and people start to question if the tanking was worth it.

It's going to happen from time to time.

I am not going to be upset over it happening at all this year as long as it does not happen consistently, as in all the time.
- kingcong39

Looking at some of the 5 on 5 numbers for our defensemen:


According to the site Corsi behind the net, Ristolainen and Gorges actually have good numbers relative to the competition they face.

The "dominant" Mark Pysyk actually has the worst only to Coli.

On ice Corsi- Bogosian is getting dominated, he also has the worst goals for per 60 min on the blue line.

Ristolainen gets dominated in On ice Corsi, however is head and shoulders above anyone in terms of goals for per 60 minutes.

So basically, Ristolainen is making up for his bad possession by making things happen offensively, Bogosian is off to a very bad start (Small sample size) and Pysyk and McCabe have been pretty steady.


http://www.behindthenet.c...+58+59+60+61+62+64+65+66#

Boom USA Canada ...

Boom USA Canada ...
- Stripes77

Though not necessarily New Year's Eve.

Still no mention of which game will be outdoors. Sounds like it might be the Gold Medal game.
- buffalofan19

I would hate that, im not even sure id like a game that could possibly be determining advancement played outdoors.

I think its really cool, and something that will put the world spotlight (at least the hockey world) on buffalo but with the unpredictable and sometimes unforgiving buffalo weather it could make for a really terrible game. Id hate to see it help dertermine the fate for a team, especially when they are kids and it could be their only shot at the world juniors.

Though not necessarily New Year's Eve.
- buffalofan19

They want it the opening game instead I guess. So it wouldn't be that final game like many thought. Maybe that'll silence some of the whining

It's pretty clear the Winter Classic is on their mind but its also pretty clear that they won't say anything when it is a World Juniors press conference

I would hate that, im not even sure id like a game that could possibly be determining advancement played outdoors.

I think its really cool, and something that will put the world spotlight (at least the hockey world) on buffalo but with the unpredictable and sometimes unforgiving buffalo weather it could make for a really terrible game. Id hate to see it help dertermine the fate for a team, especially when they are kids and it could be their only shot at the world juniors.
- ieetbred

It won't be the Gold Medal game. It's set up for Canada - USA for the opener apparently.

Who else do we imagine will be using that ice (other than a WC)? Canisus v Niagara as well? Really the only big hockey rivalry here as far as college goes that I'm aware of.

It won't be the Gold Medal game. It's set up for Canada - USA for the opener apparently.

Who else do we imagine will be using that ice (other than a WC)? Canisus v Niagara as well? Really the only big hockey rivalry here as far as college goes that I'm aware of.
- Zschalberg

I'm thinking RIT and Penn State may get involved too

It's pretty clear the Winter Classic is on their mind but its also pretty clear that they won't say anything when it is a World Juniors press conference
- Stripes77

They don't announce winter classic until the year before so we have a year to wait for that, but i would imagine that if the rink is there why wouldn't they?

OMG Mike Harrington shut up

It's pretty clear the Winter Classic is on their mind but its also pretty clear that they won't say anything when it is a World Juniors press conference
- Stripes77

They have to be aiming for a winter classic. And im not sure how the NHL can say no now. 10 year anniversary, world juniors in town and another 2 years for the city to continue its development.

I love the idea of having the leafs vs sabres here on new years day.

I'm thinking RIT and Penn State may get involved too
- jt1626

Maybe Rochester v Toronto as well. A lot of possibilities. That'd be 4 good games, I think they'd be happy with that. USA v Canada on the 27th, WC on the 1st. That gives the AHL/Cawlidge 4 days in between or 2 if it's on the 29th.

OMG Mike Harrington shut up
- Stripes77

I was listening on WGR and they cut out. What did he say this time?

It won't be the Gold Medal game. It's set up for Canada - USA for the opener apparently.

Who else do we imagine will be using that ice (other than a WC)? Canisus v Niagara as well? Really the only big hockey rivalry here as far as college goes that I'm aware of.
- Zschalberg

Yea i would like to see it played early, so whatever happens in an outdoor game wont negatively affect the potential success of a team.

I have my concerns but i think it is awesome. With the right circumstance CAN vs USA outdoor game to open the world juniors would be fantastic.

They have to be aiming for a winter classic. And im not sure how the NHL can say no now. 10 year anniversary, world juniors in town and another 2 years for the city to continue its development.

I love the idea of having the leafs vs sabres here on new years day.
- ieetbred

The NHL is about TV ratings. They absolutely could say no to that. As awesome as this is for us, nobody outside the area cares unless they're from here originally. That being said, they're leaving the door open. It's going to take some time to repaint the ice (different sponsorships, trademarks, logos, etc) and set up, so the 27th would be ideal. Only problem is that it's a Wednesday. The 29th is a Friday.