BillsFan4

This makes a lot more sense now. I couldn’t figure out why Reinhart was calling out the goalies after the team’s defensive effort in front of them. But he wasn’t. Edit - clarification from housley as well -

Headed to the game. Let’s hope for a win!

“Many of the Sabres enjoying playing meaningful games in February (for the first time)” https://wgr550.radio.com/articles/news/many-sabres-are-enjoying-meaningful-games-february I know I’ve already mentioned this, but I really do think the bolded could be part of the thought process behind (not the whole reason, but in part) why Housley keeps veterans like Sobotka and Scandella in the lineup. They offer important first hand playoff experience to a group that’s sorely lacking it. I also wonder, if you start healthy scratching those guys on a regular basis, will it start to take some weight away from their words in the locker room (similar to what we saw happen to Josh Gorges in his last season or two here)? I’d imagine it’s probably harder for a guy to lead if he doesn’t really have a regular role on the team. I am sure some guys would be less inclined to listen to a veteran that is your 13th forward or #7 defenseman vs. a guy who is out there on the ice every night, battling with you. So many of what we consider to be our core have no playoff experience - Eichel, Reinhart, Ristolainen, even Skinner (hopefully). Same goes for guys like McCabe, Girgensons, Larsson, Rodriguez, Nelson. You can even include rookies like Mitts, Dahlin, Pilut, Thompson. I mean, what is that, almost 3/4 of the team? When you look at all the guys we have with no playoff experience, it’s not that surprising our coach and GM are keeping the very few veteran players we have (with playoff experience) in the lineup.

He was late to practice today but I believe he did end up participating. So I’m hoping that means he’s ok.

Damn, if that’s what a 34yr old bottom 6 center rental is going for, I don’t have much hope that Buffalo will be able to acquire a top 6 C rental this year. There’s no way Botterill is giving up a 1st for a rental. I think it’ll be tough to get a rental this year anyway. The Sabes don’t have their 2nd round pick this year, and they don’t have their 3rd or 4th round pick this year either (depending on Sheary’s point totals and/or Hunwick being traded, it’ll either be our 3rd or our 4th). They don’t have their own 3rd next year either. It would likely have to be a player for player/prospect type of trade, or a 1st for a younger player with term and/or team control left. Buffalo just isn’t in position to give up a 1st for a rental.

He played shifts with Mittelstadt in yesterday’s game and I thought Mitts looked really good with Reinhart. So IMO it makes sense to see if Reinhart can help get Mitts going. Plus, the Sheary/Mitts/Reinhart line was together in the 3rd period against Minnesota and I thought they looked good. They scored goal #4 that would have been the game winner if not for the wild tying it with 1min remaining. And If that line combo doesn’t work, I’m sure Housley and his asst. coaches will switch things up in game again. As I said in my last post I could see Reinhart being reunited with ERod and Smith. And I thought Thompson had a somewhat rough game yesterday (and really, his last couple games). He was demoted to the 4th line before the Wild game, and Housley was presumably looking for a response which Thompson never gave. So it wasn’t surprising to see. Sometimes it’s good for these young kids to get to take a step back and breath. I agree Sobotka sucks. But at least he’s on the 4th line now, and is a better fit there than Thompson if Housley is looking to use them as more of a defense first, grinder line like he normally does. I agree Tage has way, way more potential than Sobotka. But I also think he’s much more suited for a top 9 role than a 4th line (role). Sobotka fits that 4th line grinder role better IMO. So I tend to look at it more like Thompson is sitting for CJ Smith.

glad to see Reinhart still on his own line. I actually like these lines. Maybe flip Reinhart and Okposo, or bring smith up to Reinhart line if things don’t work with Sheary/Mitts/Reinhart. D pairings the same. I’m good with that, too. I thought Dahlin/Risto and Scandella/McCabe both played well together yesterday and though I thought Pilut made a few mistakes (and 1 big one that resulted in a goal), he also had some good moments and overall that pairing did ok.

I was in NYC yesterday and didn’t get back to buffalo until pretty late. So I was pretty tired watching the game on DVR but I thought buffalo played a pretty old, exciting game. They had an excellent 1st period. They dominated. Minnesota didn’t even get a single shot off until about 8 mins into the period iirc. Buffalo came out playing like their hair was on fire. They are finally learning how to show up at puck drop. That is a definite improvement over previous seasons. Minnesota pushed back in the 2nd and buffalo did not handle it well. But still managed 2 goals in the period. The 2nd period has been one of buffalo’s biggest weaknesses for many years now, going back to Bylsma. Then, the 3rd I felt was better. It was a back and forth period. Both teams had their chances. Overall I thought it was a pretty even game. I thought some of the new lines looked pretty good. Reinhart had one of his best games of the year. He looked good with both ERod and Mittelstadt. Mitts had one of his best games in a while. Eichel was fantastic no matter who his line mates were. I like Sheary with him in the 1st. Skinner didn’t seeem to do as well away from Eichel and it looked like he ended up back with Eichel for the 3rd, inch I’m fine with (though I’d like to see Skinner on his own a bit more so botterill has a better idea of what he’s truly worth $$ wise). IMO they have to think about keeping Reinhart away from Eichel. It gives us a much better 2nd line and anoher line that can help drive the play in the O zone and score some goals. Pilut had his moments, but he also had some huge mistakes. He just stood there on the 3rd goal and watched Coyle bury the puck and had numerous other defensive lapses. People shouldn’t act shocked if he is scratched again. Ullmark was fantastic. Still too makes mistakes that lead to goals against. But this is a young team. I can’t think of many other young teams around the NHL who play excellent defense. At least buffalo is playing an exciting brand of hockey though, which is what everyone was screaming for when we had Bylsma. I would much rather watch an exciting game like last night over pretty much any low scoring snooze fest of a game Bylsma coached... lol.

Wow! $11.69 million per year for only 5 years (only 1 UFA year bought) is pretty brutal! That is the price I would have expected on an 8 year deal. Suddenly Eichel's $10M x 8 looks that much better...

Good! They have to try something different because what they’re doing now isn’t working. As as much as I love Eichel, Skinner, Reinhart together I’ve actually been curious to see them on separate lines for a bit now. It’s great having one super line, but buffalo just doesn’t have the scoring depth with all 3 of our best scorers on the same line. I don’t know if it will work but it definitely seems like it’s worth a try IMO. If it spreads out the scoring it could be just what buffalo needs. What do they have to lose at this point? If it doesn’t work you can put them back together. Or give them shifts together during a game if they need a big goal. I hope they give these new line combos a legit chance (meaning more than just 1/2 a game).

looks like it may have just been an injury.

Oh man, that Duchene trade is looking more and more brutal for Ottawa. If they end up trading him for Dubinsky... yikes! They still owe Colorado their 1st round pick this year too (and Ottawa currently sits dead last, so it very wel could be the #1 overall pick (Jack Hughes)). I honestly feel bad for Ottawa fans. Edit - maybe things didn’t go too well?

Smith is at a point per game (41pts in 41 games) in Rochester and leading the team in scoring/points. He has been their best forward this year and was probably their best forward last year as well. Plus he has been on a tear even since the Sabres sent him down. I think he had a hat-trick his first night back and has scored or at least recorded a point in almost every game since. Wilson has only played 9 games in Rochester (after missing 1/2 a season) and has 2 goals. I think some more time down there may do him good. I’m sure we will see him at some point this season. We could use his motor and physicality. But IMO Smith earned this callup more than Wilson. Smith really shouldn’t have even been sent back down IMO. He scored a goal and had his best game in a Sabres uniform, then was promptly sent down (but he was caught in a numbers game in Buffalo). I feel that it was the right move to waive Elie to make room for Smith.

They waived Elie to make room and Larsson is day to day with an injury so I don’t think he has to bench anyone at the moment. But I agree once Larsson is back (assuming that smith plays well enough in the next game(s) to earn his spot)

I am pleasantly surprised. I thought it would be Wilson who got the call. But IMO they called up the guy who deserves it most. Smith has been on fire since being sent back down. This was the right move IMO. Sends the right message to Rochester players. And i I love that they made s roster move to make space for Smith. Shaking up the line combinations quite a bit. I am hoping Maybe this spreads out the scoring. Had to try something, right? They can always put Eichel, Skinner and Reinhart back together during the game if they need a goal (like Pittsburgh does with Malkin, Crosby and Kessel). Seems worth s try at least. They need to do something.

Hopefully this was the last game we watch him play. I do actually think that he may retire this time. I think he might be ready to try and transition into an acting career.

While I generally agree with your point, I actually thought the refs kind of just let both teams play tonight. They were letting a lot of stuff go against both teams.

I’m done. I can’t watch another Patriots Super Bowl celebration.

Yeah He looks like crap so far. But their offense as a whole has been a mess. The o line hasn’t opened up any holes for the run game and their game plan has been sub par (so far).

LA’s offense has not been able to do anything against the Pats defense so far.

Wow, Talib got absolutely smoked

It was definitely a delay of game penalty. The clock ran out and LA hadn’t even started snapping the ball yet. I rewound the game to check.

So LA essentially gets penalized for blowing up the play too quickly...

And he is on pace to have the 2nd best rookie season for an 18yr old NHL defenseman in the history of the NHL (better than Bobby Orr’s rookie season...). It is pretty rare for an 18yr old defenseman to even play in the NHL at all, let alone in a somewhat unsheltered top 4 role. Dahlin is not only doing it, but looking good doing it. He makes his mistakes for sure, but generally, he one of the Sabres better defenseman on a given night and does things no other Sabres d-man could even dream of doing (or many good, veteran NHL defenseman for that matter).

I didn’t realize how young Ken Dorsey is. He’s only 37yrs old. For some reason I thought he was older. I’m good with this hire. He meets the requirements I mentioned I was hoping for. I didn’t want them to treat it as en entry level hire and I wanted someone who had experience as a quarterbacks coach or as a quarterback and Dorsey has both.