In this nightcap I am sure most of you were as frustrated as I was when this game unfolded, the Sabres have to right this train soon..thanks for watching and see you folks soon š
**Discord community at this link š¦¬ : https://discord.gg/DcRqQFN5nV **
‘Khatchaturian Sabre Dance’ was licensed and purchased from Audio Micro (License #U269T3409)
49 Comments
They look so damn slow. I don't know if it's because of the training or what but Calgary should not look faster than those boys.
Iāve noticed these last few games that teams have caught on to and are anticipating all the Sabres East-West cross ice passes. Especially for our defenseman and turning it back around on us with odd man rushes. Weāre having better luck going North-South and putting it across once itās deep. This team need to get the puck below the hash marks and keep it deep. The perimeter game is killing us!
Im really worried about this franchise.
If we are going to play sloppy I'd rather play sloppy with youth- Okposo and Olofsson out Kulich and Rosen in.
I hate to be negative but I'm sure we took a step backwards this year I hope I'm wrong but I don't have the confidence like I did last year
I feel ya my friend. I was listening while at work. Erik Johnson said it pretty blatantly after the game. Here's a link of the interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP_l4XPysAo
Coaching is an issue. How the f*ck can an NHL coach not find a way to beat the a 1-3-1 trap? (Rangers); Granato said "the Islanders are comfortable winning a game 1-0".. well, WE should be comfortable AND capable of winning a game that way as well.
We suck at faceoffs.. Coach has to stress the players using their bodies and tying up the opponent.. gotta win some 'dirty' faceoffs.
Why is a rookie goalie playing 4 straight games to start the season? He earned a night off tonite after our first win last game.
Too many men penalty in the last minute? Always the coaches fault for a 'too many men' call..
Shouldn't be afraid to juggle lines mid game – to create a spark and to give the opponent a different look.
Unfortunately, Donnie Meatballs will not be replaced this season so we'll keep getting out witted all f*cking season long, for f*cks sake!!
Sloppy
Listening to Johnson talk about the lack of team defense made it clear we are lacking discipline and hunger to play a team game. I really thought we would come out of the gates quick this season. I would like to see Granato get pissed off.
wayne if you were the coach, what would you work on in practice?
If you were the coach how would you (could you) to play angry? Play with heart?
It's great they kept tying it up (till the 3rd period) but there was so many give aways and bad passes – something indeed feels odd. No cohesiveness.
That was AWFUL
Youāre not overreacting. They have looked like hot garbage so far. They just donāt look prepared. Besides the penalty kill, there isnāt one aspect of this team that has been impressive. You summed everything up perfectly. This is what we are all feeling right now. They didnāt deserve to win. BTW, the 3rd line were each a -3 tonight.
The team had its moments in this game but they're turning the puck over way too much. It's almost starting to look like coaching is off somehow. Plus, they're playing in front of a ton of empty seats still. It won't be long till the boo birds are out in force if they don't pick it up quick…
Pain
Every team we've played so far has looked in mid-season form, that's good coaching…
Early yes but still painful.
Benson, Fats and Greenway line -3, played very poor. Benson got run over and Calgary went up and scored. Then they line had fatty give puck away 4 times on one shift..Middelstadt couldnāt hold the puck at all, so many give aways behind the back no look passes etcā¦Cozens was best player on the ice. Benson is too weak right now. That fats line didnāt have a shot on goal until 3rd period. Benson looks small, gets bounced off puck easy, this isnāt little league baseball, this is NHL trying to win cup, heās not winning battles along boards.
A lot of problems right now. 8:45 that's the scariest right there. It's true. Krueger-esque. Sloppy passing, lack of compete. Levi let in a couple soft goals. Granato's been preaching 'Focus on offence, we don't need defence' and the players ate that up. He's getting burned on that now.
throughout the summer, i called for a trade to go and get a top 6 guy, you can slot in to, relief thompson line, sustain more pressure in the offensive zone and bump talent down to a 3rd line. i stand by that.
and why did the refs take dahlin out from the last PP, it was just a post-whistle encounter between two players, soft. not happy because it feels like the problems arent adresses properly by management or coach. we are also losing games because they are beating themselves.
The lack of fans in the seats says it all. Very disappointing performance so far. Let's getting going boys!
Peterka after 2 periods had the least amount of icetime, but he scored a goal later and had other chances, he is far more talented, faster, stronger and should be playing more, being put in a position to be successful. I wish we kept Peca because in Rochester Peca was his mentor, now all he gets is dopey Matt Ellis and other assistant coaches saying go out and work hard.
The whole top line is missing in action. The defense has horrendous breakdowns. For every great set of saves Levi made he's had a stinker too.
The worst thing is Granato's in game coaching and decision making. Levi never should have started, he is being overworked. This was a Comrie game, he knows the Flames. And Granato's defense is just plain aweful.
If we miss the playoffs again, Granato and the coaching staff needs to be wiped out. He is great with working with the kids but that is the extent of his talents. His in game coaching is not good.
i think dahlin is a tremendous talent with a very unique toolbox.. but i think its valid to ask the question, does his overall game – win you hockey games? the 3-2 calgary goal, shouldnt be allowed to happen in a 3rd period tie game.
They need to get on the road!
Clifton and his Dum penalties ,I like how Johnson played,and that was a goal Devon
I agree Wayne.. Its a little concerning. Last night it looked like they didn't want it bad enough. Sloppy passing and low compete level it seemed like.
This start sucks. No idea why this keeps happening year after year. In my opinion, the one consistent thing this team has lacked for a long time is toughness. That mean, gritty, get under your skin type player who can bring up the energy level, get these guys to wake up and get to work.
Concern for a young teamā¦you are drawn into playing each game like it is the whole seasonā¦and urgency drives chaotic outcomes.
One game at a time is often overstated..but that is because it is a valid path forward..
Enjoy! This is a team that looks much more structured with defense..great to see. No overdoing it, guys! š„ šāØšššš£ļøā
People are blaming it on Levi and you gotta be nuts
Same OLD STORY weak Defensively,(how D coach Marty Wilford still has a job is a mind boggoling!) no net traffic and TOO MANY PASSES! One good thing at they are hitting more and the PK looks good!
Why didnt Comrie get this game as he has played Calgary (last Oct in Calgary) before and done well against them.
Agree maybe its time to shake up the lines, put Benson back with Thompson and Skinner. Also maybe bring in another veteran who knows how to win . Im not a fan of Patrick Kane but he knows what it takes to win. Just hope Adams doesnt send Benson back to the WHL to make room for Kane. Hopefully he can find a sucker GM for Olofsson š Thanks for the video Wayne. Need to find the Erik Johnson interview
The postgame Erik Johnson interview is spot on. So glad we have him on our team to help with these critical lessons moving forward. I think itās just undeniable what heās saying.
Iām noticing we give up coverage in front of our net quite a lot and we arenāt willing to have at least 2 players go to the front of the other teams net to try and get a dirty goal. For as skilled as we are, we can be easy to defend against sometimes because the other team will have 3 players defending in front of their net and keep us on the perimeter with no effect.
Sometimes I wonder if Meatball has taken this team as far as heās capable ofā¦after Ralph he seemed like an upgrade (and he was) but maybe Ralph was so bad that even another low tier coach seems great in our eyesā¦every team weāve played so far seems conditioned and ready to go for the seasonā¦we look like weāre playing preseason games
I think they were lucky to be in that game at all. It's Not Good right now ! Hated the PP, Liked the SH. Levi played good, the D didn't, to many odd man situations. Not sure what's going on, but this is how we looked all pre-season and nothing has changed. Might this be a season of UPs/Downs ?, i think so. Youngest Team in the league, and we are playing like it ! I know the Young excuse is getting old, but every winning team has vets through out the lineup and we really don't. 5 on 5 was very weak. Go Sabs !
"Time, she is a wasting"
Iāll keep saying itā¦. They got paid, they aināt playing now to get that contract, they GOT THEIR CONTRACT!
This horrible home form has really become a concern after several seasons with no improvement. It's definitely going to kill there chances if they continue to struggle. Levi needs some support or give Comrie a game, the team is once again expecting the goalie to bale them out and they just aren't up to it yet. š¤ Some of the 10 mill a year guys need to get moving because right now they aren't earning there per diem. After 12 years of failure where are the guys prepared to skate through walls? Guys like Rob Ray would not approve of the fight right now. š”
I didnāt stay at the game long because I was getting tired, but I did keep an eye on my Sabres app and I was upset that we lost, Iām still upset but I had fun at the game.
Power play? No one going to front of the net to even try to screen opposition goalies or look for deflections. No one going to the net at 5-on-5 to try for deflections or greasy goals. They do look confused…seems that any team that clogs the neutral zone scrambles the Sabres offense. No leadership displayed anywhere on the ice, especially among the forwards. 1st line (especially Thompson and Tuch) look like they're playing in a fog. Tuch seems to like to play on the perimeter and not go to the dirty areas on offense. Roamer you're right…they looked listless, with no urgency. They look like a team that thinks they can show up and they're going to score 5 goals/game with no effort. Yet…no one shoots the puck. No one seems to be able to win a big faceoff. In the dying moments of the game, there must have been 4 or 5 faceoffs in their offensive zone. They lost all but the last one with 7 seconds left in the contest, which was won straight back to Dahlen. Who, instead of even attempting a shot (afraid of a block?) does a 360 with the puck killing what little time was left and then attempting a pass to (I think) Tuch. Big lack of awareness all around for almost the entire game. Stat Fact!: After 4 games, except for the time they were ahead of Tampa 2-1 until Tampa tied the game at 2-2 with 7 seconds left in regulation prior to Cozens getting the game winner in OT…the Sabres have not been ahead in regulation. That just plain stinks.
Make them all stay at the team hotel for home games. Screw it. Maybe thatāll help their focus.
Sloppy, lackluster and for God's sakes quit giving up the damn early goals! UGHH!
We went into the season with 3 goalies, and didnāt make a trade for a veteran backup to pair with Leviā¦ itās backfiring and killing usā¦
We didnāt trade Olofsson, and not only that, we started him on opening night! It cost us 2 gamesā¦
We kept our top 4 the same, and have put a ball and chain on Power, in the form of Jokiharju, who also should have been traded. Samuelsson is good, but his body wonāt allow him to play 20+ minutes for 82 gamesā¦ Itās costing us!!
EVERY single decision that Granato has made, is costing us gamesā¦ He IS the problem!
This team misses the playoffs there's going to be some angry fans in Buffalo. As for Levi, I'm not worried, he's young and still on a learning curve in the pro game, the rest of team better wake up.
After the last two preseason games I said I was worried…then a week ago after the home opener debacle said I was concerned. Everyone said I was being negative and that these games didn't matter…is it starting to matter yet? Weird how what we saw in preseason carried over into the actual season. I called for a regression this year and was once again told I was negative. So now using the actual play on the ice and using actual game stats is considered being negative in this fanbase.
It would be astounding to see what this talented team could do with a great coaching staff.
4 games in Iām not ready to turn into a Leafs fan and say the sky is falling. Weāve got things to work on for sure. Isles had a tough game against the Devils. Hopefully we can pick up 2 points on Sat.
Cozens is the best player so far, 52% faceoffs, has more hits than Greenway, second on team in points. Fats is 20% faceoffs. Work Horse from Whitehorse, thatās Eskimo kid is my favorite player.
Imagine thinking this team was gonna make the playoffs š
They are the same team as last year minus levi! Hearing sabre fans before the season started be excited about the tandem of a rookie out of college and career under acheiver/third stringer/minor leaguer UPL was a good idea is a joke. They didnāt address amy of their glaring needs. No top Dman to play with cream puff Power, no sandpaper or grit, no consistent goalie to split time with levi etc.
What did you expect? They arenāt going to put up the offense they did last year which would be okay if they actually significantly upgraded their defense.
But, they will have 35mill to play with next year. If they address their needs after this year, they will be in the playoffs next year and will be set for at least a few in a row.
Next year guys. Next year.
Greenway now top line, Peterka bumped down to 3rd line to play with bums
Greenway-Thompson-Cozens
Skinner-Mittelstadt-Tuch
Peterka-Jost-Olofsson
Girgensons-Krebs-Okposo