Published by hockeybuzz.com, 11-29-2018
The QEW rivalry between the Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs takes center stage in downtown Buffalo beginning at 4:00 ET this afternoon. As per usual with our neighbors to the north and their rabid Southern Ontario fanbase, one should expect a huge influx of Leafs fans decked out in blue and white invading KeyBank Center for the first of four games between the two clubs.
We all know the story when Toronto comes to town. Maple Leaf home games are so high-priced that the average fan finds it rather difficult to afford a game at Scotiabank Arena and those fans who are on the outside looking in are forced to find an alternative. Luckily for them Buffalo is a short, 1 hr. drive down the QEW and Sabres ticket holders are more than happy to sell their tickets, at a nice premium, to Leafs Fans. What inevitably happens is that half of KeyBank Center ends up being Leafs fans and dependent upon the score, the roars for Toronto sound like they're playing a home game.
It's unfortunate for the players on the ice as they would like more of a BillsMafia-type support for a home game, but one can't really blame the fans if they treat their season tickets, or mini-pack tickets, or even single-game tickets as a business proposition.
Saturday, November 30, 2019
Friday, November 29, 2019
Calgary in town, Johansson back, Krueger's blender, plus Dahlin/Sobotka
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 11-27-2019
The Calgary Flames have been struggling as much as the Buffalo Sabres this season. After taking the Western Conference crown last season with 107 points, Calgary is off to a rather pedestrian start to 2019-20 and finds themselves off the pace out west. They're 11-12-4 record is good for 26 points which places them in the middle of the pack just outside a playoff spot but they've played more games than anyone else in the conference and if you take a peek at their points-percentage, you'll find they're third-last.
Buffalo is very similar in the standings as they took a dive after a fast start. The Sabres are 11-10-3 on the season with their 25 points placing them 11th in the Eastern Conference and are only a little better than the Flames with a .521 point-percentage as opposed to Calgary's .481.
The Calgary Flames have been struggling as much as the Buffalo Sabres this season. After taking the Western Conference crown last season with 107 points, Calgary is off to a rather pedestrian start to 2019-20 and finds themselves off the pace out west. They're 11-12-4 record is good for 26 points which places them in the middle of the pack just outside a playoff spot but they've played more games than anyone else in the conference and if you take a peek at their points-percentage, you'll find they're third-last.
Buffalo is very similar in the standings as they took a dive after a fast start. The Sabres are 11-10-3 on the season with their 25 points placing them 11th in the Eastern Conference and are only a little better than the Flames with a .521 point-percentage as opposed to Calgary's .481.
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Sabres getting the Rodney Dangerfield treatment, again, in game at TBL
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 11-26-2019
First off, anyone who thinks some celluloid hero-type tough guy is gonna descend from the clouds and save the "damsel in distress" that is the Buffalo Sabres right now is sadly mistaken. It ain't gonna happen. If this team wants to move forward, they'll need to do so as constructed (at least near-term) with the players whose temperament fits the ideals of management and ultimately, ownership.
As we started to see last season when the Sabres 10-game win streak was stopped by the Tampa Bay Lightning, there's a rivalry brewing between the two clubs. Sure, right now it's like an uptown highbrow versus some riff raff from the projects, but the fact that the Lightning need to resort to dirty tactics against Buffalo at least that they feel somewhat threatened by the Sabres. Then again Tampa Bay just might have some highfalutin contemptuousness directed towards a Buffalo team, organization and city that couldn't be more of a polar-opposite from them.
First off, anyone who thinks some celluloid hero-type tough guy is gonna descend from the clouds and save the "damsel in distress" that is the Buffalo Sabres right now is sadly mistaken. It ain't gonna happen. If this team wants to move forward, they'll need to do so as constructed (at least near-term) with the players whose temperament fits the ideals of management and ultimately, ownership.
As we started to see last season when the Sabres 10-game win streak was stopped by the Tampa Bay Lightning, there's a rivalry brewing between the two clubs. Sure, right now it's like an uptown highbrow versus some riff raff from the projects, but the fact that the Lightning need to resort to dirty tactics against Buffalo at least that they feel somewhat threatened by the Sabres. Then again Tampa Bay just might have some highfalutin contemptuousness directed towards a Buffalo team, organization and city that couldn't be more of a polar-opposite from them.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
That was...interesting. Krueger is mad scientist in win over FLA
Publised by hockeybuzz.com, 11-25-2019
The lineup to begin last night's game in Florida against the Panthers was somewhat of an eyebrow-raiser to begin with as it featured 11 forwards and seven defensemen. Yes, we've seen it before and other teams have used it before, including the Tampa Bay Lightning last season, as mentioned by Buffalo Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger post-game, but still, that set-up is a little difficult to wrap your hands around. Especially when you're accustomed to Krueger religiously sticking to his lines and pairings this season.
Last night, however, the hockey coach became a mad scientist after forward Evan Rodrigues went down with an injury during his first shift on the ice. Krueger did some juggling on the blueline to start the game as he tried to work in seven defensemen while double-shifting able bodies up front. But after Rodrigues went down he let it all hang out and rolled with various concoctions up front that were full of surprises, including defenseman Brandon Montour taking a regular shift at left wing.
"The way we play," said Krueger to the media after their 5-2 win, "it's about finding your role in the group. Sometimes d-men will be up in the front, forwards will be back and vice-versa. I think it's an easy style of play that you can step into that."
The lineup to begin last night's game in Florida against the Panthers was somewhat of an eyebrow-raiser to begin with as it featured 11 forwards and seven defensemen. Yes, we've seen it before and other teams have used it before, including the Tampa Bay Lightning last season, as mentioned by Buffalo Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger post-game, but still, that set-up is a little difficult to wrap your hands around. Especially when you're accustomed to Krueger religiously sticking to his lines and pairings this season.
Last night, however, the hockey coach became a mad scientist after forward Evan Rodrigues went down with an injury during his first shift on the ice. Krueger did some juggling on the blueline to start the game as he tried to work in seven defensemen while double-shifting able bodies up front. But after Rodrigues went down he let it all hang out and rolled with various concoctions up front that were full of surprises, including defenseman Brandon Montour taking a regular shift at left wing.
"The way we play," said Krueger to the media after their 5-2 win, "it's about finding your role in the group. Sometimes d-men will be up in the front, forwards will be back and vice-versa. I think it's an easy style of play that you can step into that."
Monday, November 25, 2019
There's been no fun in the Florida Sun for the Sabres
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 11-24-2019
Let's get this out of the way right now.
Since the 2013-14 season, the Buffalo Sabres have a combined 5-15-2 record against the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning in a two-game, Florida road trip and they've been swept out of the state in seven of those 11 duals.
If that isn't enough of a downer for Sabres fans, heading into this evening's matchup at the Panthers, Buffalo is 1-7-2 in their last 10 games while Florida is 7-2-1.
Most of the focus in Sabreland for today's matchup with Florida centers around the defense and which NHL-caliber defensemen will be in the press box. The order of pairings as relayed by those at Buffalo's practice yesterday are:
Ristolainen - McCabe
Dahlin - Bogosian
Miller - Montour
Scandella - Jokiharju
Let's get this out of the way right now.
Since the 2013-14 season, the Buffalo Sabres have a combined 5-15-2 record against the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning in a two-game, Florida road trip and they've been swept out of the state in seven of those 11 duals.
If that isn't enough of a downer for Sabres fans, heading into this evening's matchup at the Panthers, Buffalo is 1-7-2 in their last 10 games while Florida is 7-2-1.
Most of the focus in Sabreland for today's matchup with Florida centers around the defense and which NHL-caliber defensemen will be in the press box. The order of pairings as relayed by those at Buffalo's practice yesterday are:
Ristolainen - McCabe
Dahlin - Bogosian
Miller - Montour
Scandella - Jokiharju
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Sabres Notes
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 11-23-2019
There's not a Sabres writer out there who enjoys writing something akin to the following: The Buffalo Sabres played an excellent game against the Boston Bruins and did everything but win. Buffalo outshot Boston 38-27 at TD Garden on Thursday night including a first period where they pumped 14 shots on goal before the Bruins registered their first shot (to a Bronx cheer from the home crowd) 12:11 into the game. The Sabres boasted a very robust 62.22% CF percentage with no individual player below 50% and totaled 69 shots directed at Boston goalie Tukka Rask (38 on-goal, 17 blocked, 14 missed) compared to the 44 shots (27+11+6) sent Linus Ullmark's way.
There's not a Sabres writer out there who enjoys writing something akin to the following: The Buffalo Sabres played an excellent game against the Boston Bruins and did everything but win. Buffalo outshot Boston 38-27 at TD Garden on Thursday night including a first period where they pumped 14 shots on goal before the Bruins registered their first shot (to a Bronx cheer from the home crowd) 12:11 into the game. The Sabres boasted a very robust 62.22% CF percentage with no individual player below 50% and totaled 69 shots directed at Boston goalie Tukka Rask (38 on-goal, 17 blocked, 14 missed) compared to the 44 shots (27+11+6) sent Linus Ullmark's way.
This was a game they should have won and would have won except for...Rask. The Boston netminder, and the game's deserved first star, stole one for the Bruins and the Sabres were left with this from defenseman Brandon Montour, "We played a little better," he said to the gathered media post game, "but in the end, it's another loss.
"We have to start winning some hockey games."
True dat.
Saturday, November 23, 2019
How to beat the Buffalo Sabres. Plus...
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 11-21-2019
In practices and meetings heading up to a game against the Buffalo Sabres, it isn't to far-fetched to believe that coaches across the league will have the same talking points on how to play against them. First and foremost attention must be paid to the Jack Eichel and there needs to be a focus on Jeff Skinner.
With Eichel disrupt him in the neutral zone so he can't use his speed and do your best to inhibit his shot. If he's on he'll force the issue and he might not be contained. If he's not feeling it he'll try to set-up team mates, in which case do your best to disrupt his passes. If he's frustrated Eichel will try to do too much and dangle, which is much more easily defended. When it comes to Skinner get on him and try to keep him away from open ice. There should be concern at times for his linemates, as they could heat up and do some damage, but odds are if you shut down Skinner, the entire line is basically shut down.
Those are the two guys who at any given moment can get them rolling and like with most (if not all team,) when they get rolling, confidence builds and it runs through every player. However, if you can stifle them, and get them doubting themselves, it's a breeze.
In practices and meetings heading up to a game against the Buffalo Sabres, it isn't to far-fetched to believe that coaches across the league will have the same talking points on how to play against them. First and foremost attention must be paid to the Jack Eichel and there needs to be a focus on Jeff Skinner.
With Eichel disrupt him in the neutral zone so he can't use his speed and do your best to inhibit his shot. If he's on he'll force the issue and he might not be contained. If he's not feeling it he'll try to set-up team mates, in which case do your best to disrupt his passes. If he's frustrated Eichel will try to do too much and dangle, which is much more easily defended. When it comes to Skinner get on him and try to keep him away from open ice. There should be concern at times for his linemates, as they could heat up and do some damage, but odds are if you shut down Skinner, the entire line is basically shut down.
Those are the two guys who at any given moment can get them rolling and like with most (if not all team,) when they get rolling, confidence builds and it runs through every player. However, if you can stifle them, and get them doubting themselves, it's a breeze.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Injuries mounting up-front for Buffalo plus the five-game recap
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 11-19-2019
On the heels of another injury to yet another Sabres forward, Buffalo bench boss Ralph Krueger was pretty matter of fact yesterday while talking about what's happening up-front. "It was a really long stretch with the same forward lines, and there was some good synergy there," he said to the media at yesterday's practice. "The process seemed to be quite automatic, especially the way we want to be connected on the ice. Losing a forward a game now for five games in a row has been quite disruptive."
The latest casualty was winger Tage Thompson, who suffered what looked to be a shoulder injury in the 4-1 loss at the Chicago Blackhawks. Thompson joined Vladimir Sobotka, Marcus Johansson, Johan Larsson, and Kyle Okposo in the ranks of injured forwards and is expected to be out 3-5 weeks. Sobotka's looks to be out some 3-5 weeks more weeks recovering from his lower body injury and Okposo is out indefinitely with a concussion. Johansson and Larsson are listed as day-to-day, but won't play tonight against the Minnesota Wild.
On the heels of another injury to yet another Sabres forward, Buffalo bench boss Ralph Krueger was pretty matter of fact yesterday while talking about what's happening up-front. "It was a really long stretch with the same forward lines, and there was some good synergy there," he said to the media at yesterday's practice. "The process seemed to be quite automatic, especially the way we want to be connected on the ice. Losing a forward a game now for five games in a row has been quite disruptive."
The latest casualty was winger Tage Thompson, who suffered what looked to be a shoulder injury in the 4-1 loss at the Chicago Blackhawks. Thompson joined Vladimir Sobotka, Marcus Johansson, Johan Larsson, and Kyle Okposo in the ranks of injured forwards and is expected to be out 3-5 weeks. Sobotka's looks to be out some 3-5 weeks more weeks recovering from his lower body injury and Okposo is out indefinitely with a concussion. Johansson and Larsson are listed as day-to-day, but won't play tonight against the Minnesota Wild.
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Krueger Crisis? A 2-6-2 slide makes you wonder what's next for the Sabres
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 11-18-2019
Buffalo Sabres bench boss Ralph Krueger was a motivational speaker at one point in his professional life and even wrote a book: Teamlilfe - Über Niederlagen zum Erfolg. Teamlife is his motivational company and the English translation of the rest is Beyond Setbacks to Success, which is what a motivational book should be all about. In case you were wondering, the entire book is in German, a language Krueger is fluent in, and as of now there's no English translation.
Perhaps head coach Krueger needs to revisit "motivational" Krueger's book because his hockey team is facing more than a setback right now. In fact, he may even want to get an English translation of the book and hand it to his players as his Sabres are in the midst of a pretty good slump. After beginning the season 8-1-1 while looking motivated and on fire, the team is now mired in a 2-6-2 slide while looking tired and beaten only a quarter into the season.
The latest setback for Buffalo came last night in a place they rarely win, the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The Sabres dropped a 4-1 decision to the Blackhawks and ran their record of futility in the Windy City to 0-7-3 in their last 10 games. Buffalo hasn't won in Chicago since January 7, 2007.
Buffalo Sabres bench boss Ralph Krueger was a motivational speaker at one point in his professional life and even wrote a book: Teamlilfe - Über Niederlagen zum Erfolg. Teamlife is his motivational company and the English translation of the rest is Beyond Setbacks to Success, which is what a motivational book should be all about. In case you were wondering, the entire book is in German, a language Krueger is fluent in, and as of now there's no English translation.
Perhaps head coach Krueger needs to revisit "motivational" Krueger's book because his hockey team is facing more than a setback right now. In fact, he may even want to get an English translation of the book and hand it to his players as his Sabres are in the midst of a pretty good slump. After beginning the season 8-1-1 while looking motivated and on fire, the team is now mired in a 2-6-2 slide while looking tired and beaten only a quarter into the season.
The latest setback for Buffalo came last night in a place they rarely win, the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The Sabres dropped a 4-1 decision to the Blackhawks and ran their record of futility in the Windy City to 0-7-3 in their last 10 games. Buffalo hasn't won in Chicago since January 7, 2007.
Monday, November 18, 2019
Eichel-4 Sens-2. Plus, on the Rasmus Dahlin benching, Rasmus Asplund and more
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 11-17-2019
Jack Eichel has had some big games for the Sabres dating back to December 26, 2016 in Boston where as a rookie he led the charge (2 goals, 2 assists) in a come from behind 6-3 win against his hometown Bruins. the 23 yr. old Eichel has a had hat trick before and has had more four-point games before, which includes two already this year (both games 2+2.) However, he reached another level in last night's four-goal game in the Sabres 4-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. It's not just the fact that he scored four goals or that he outscored Ottawa himself, Eichel carried his team on his back when they needed it most.
The Sabres have been struggling since getting off to a torrid start to the season, came into the game on a six-game winless streak (0-4-2) and as a team couldn't beat Sens goalie Craig Anderson last night. It's a movie Buffalo hockey fans have seen over and over again for over a decade, one in which they played a team they could or should beat, but in the end were left to lament that they worked hard and had the chances but just couldn't finish and/or didn't have puck luck. For the Sabres other 17 skaters on the ice against last night, that part of the equation was true.
What those previous teams didn't have was a player like Eichel who has the skill-level to defy that scenario.
Jack Eichel has had some big games for the Sabres dating back to December 26, 2016 in Boston where as a rookie he led the charge (2 goals, 2 assists) in a come from behind 6-3 win against his hometown Bruins. the 23 yr. old Eichel has a had hat trick before and has had more four-point games before, which includes two already this year (both games 2+2.) However, he reached another level in last night's four-goal game in the Sabres 4-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. It's not just the fact that he scored four goals or that he outscored Ottawa himself, Eichel carried his team on his back when they needed it most.
The Sabres have been struggling since getting off to a torrid start to the season, came into the game on a six-game winless streak (0-4-2) and as a team couldn't beat Sens goalie Craig Anderson last night. It's a movie Buffalo hockey fans have seen over and over again for over a decade, one in which they played a team they could or should beat, but in the end were left to lament that they worked hard and had the chances but just couldn't finish and/or didn't have puck luck. For the Sabres other 17 skaters on the ice against last night, that part of the equation was true.
What those previous teams didn't have was a player like Eichel who has the skill-level to defy that scenario.
Sunday, November 17, 2019
Now might be a good time for the Sabres to start winning
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 11-16-2019
Before we get into the nuts and bolts of tonight's matchup between the Ottawa Senators and the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center, tonight is Hockey Fights Cancer Night around the NHL. To those who've been touched by this dreadful diseases, the millions whose stories are many and varied, prayers and best wishes to you.
The Sabres game tonight against the Senators has a definitive connection to Hockey Fights Cancer Night in the form of center Rasmus Asplund. The 2016 second round pick (33rd-overall) saw both of his grandparents succumb to cancer with his grandfather passing the day after he was selected by Buffalo. "He basically waited for me to get home from the draft and show the draft jersey and all that," said Asplund to the gathered media this morning. The 21 yr. old center was called up from Rochester yesterday and found out a bit later that he will play in his first NHL game tonight.
Asplund will take the place of an injured Johan Larsson centering Zemgus Girgensons and Kyle Okposo. He'll be the second new face up front joining Curtis Lazar who scored his first goal in his first game for Buffalo in the Sabres 5-4 overtime loss versus the Carolina Hurricanes. Larsson, it should be noted, scored the game-tying goal with just over a minute to play in the third period.
Before we get into the nuts and bolts of tonight's matchup between the Ottawa Senators and the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center, tonight is Hockey Fights Cancer Night around the NHL. To those who've been touched by this dreadful diseases, the millions whose stories are many and varied, prayers and best wishes to you.
The Sabres game tonight against the Senators has a definitive connection to Hockey Fights Cancer Night in the form of center Rasmus Asplund. The 2016 second round pick (33rd-overall) saw both of his grandparents succumb to cancer with his grandfather passing the day after he was selected by Buffalo. "He basically waited for me to get home from the draft and show the draft jersey and all that," said Asplund to the gathered media this morning. The 21 yr. old center was called up from Rochester yesterday and found out a bit later that he will play in his first NHL game tonight.
Asplund will take the place of an injured Johan Larsson centering Zemgus Girgensons and Kyle Okposo. He'll be the second new face up front joining Curtis Lazar who scored his first goal in his first game for Buffalo in the Sabres 5-4 overtime loss versus the Carolina Hurricanes. Larsson, it should be noted, scored the game-tying goal with just over a minute to play in the third period.
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Special. Teams. Matter.
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 11-15-2019
Yes, we know. A vast majority of an NHL game is typically played 5-on-5. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to figure that one out. However, when the a powerplay is awarded, it's up to that team to capitalize on it and, conversely, it's imperative that the shorthanded team prevent a goal. Unfortunately for the Buffalo Sabres, they haven't been scoring on the powerplay and they haven't been getting the job done on the penalty kill.
"Specialty teams did decide the result again today," said Buffalo head coach Ralph Krueger as his team dropped a second consecutive game to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2019 Global Series. "Definitely out powerplay let us down as did our PK this weekend."
Krueger's Sabres dropped Game-1 vs. Tampa 3-2 and lost 5-3 the next night. Buffalo went 0/2 with the man advantage in each of those games while the Tampa Bay went a combined 3/7 (1/4 in the first game, 2/3 in the second game) on their powerplay opportunities. Fast forward to last night's 5-4 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes and Krueger's words once again rang resoundingly true. The Sabres went 0/3 with the man advantage while the 'Canes scored on two of their three oppoprtunities.
With the loss last night the Sabres are now winless in their last six games (0-4-2) with every game save for the 6-1 loss to the Washington Capitals and the two-goal loss to Tampa being one-goal affairs. They lost in the shootout to the Arizona Coyotes and in overtime last night and were shut out by the Islanders 1-0.
Specialty teams are very much situational opportunities to grab or thwart momentum and for the Sabres Krueger has said time and again that the offense feeds off of their powerplay and having it go 1/14 (7.1%) in their last six games (0/10 in their last four) pretty much explains why Buffalo is 0-4-2 during that span scoring a total of 12 goals. The other part of the equation is Buffalo's penalty kill where in those six games, the opposition went allowed six goals on 14 powerplay opportunities, or a 57.1% kill-rate.
For a team that has had trouble scoring a struggling powerplay is problematic and for a team that is in a 0-4-2 slump, preventing as many goals as possible is most definitely in their best interest. Regardless what the analytics community might think or believe, special teams matter. Especially to this Buffalo Sabres team right.
And with that, I yield back my remaining time.
Yes, we know. A vast majority of an NHL game is typically played 5-on-5. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to figure that one out. However, when the a powerplay is awarded, it's up to that team to capitalize on it and, conversely, it's imperative that the shorthanded team prevent a goal. Unfortunately for the Buffalo Sabres, they haven't been scoring on the powerplay and they haven't been getting the job done on the penalty kill.
"Specialty teams did decide the result again today," said Buffalo head coach Ralph Krueger as his team dropped a second consecutive game to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2019 Global Series. "Definitely out powerplay let us down as did our PK this weekend."
Krueger's Sabres dropped Game-1 vs. Tampa 3-2 and lost 5-3 the next night. Buffalo went 0/2 with the man advantage in each of those games while the Tampa Bay went a combined 3/7 (1/4 in the first game, 2/3 in the second game) on their powerplay opportunities. Fast forward to last night's 5-4 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes and Krueger's words once again rang resoundingly true. The Sabres went 0/3 with the man advantage while the 'Canes scored on two of their three oppoprtunities.
With the loss last night the Sabres are now winless in their last six games (0-4-2) with every game save for the 6-1 loss to the Washington Capitals and the two-goal loss to Tampa being one-goal affairs. They lost in the shootout to the Arizona Coyotes and in overtime last night and were shut out by the Islanders 1-0.
Specialty teams are very much situational opportunities to grab or thwart momentum and for the Sabres Krueger has said time and again that the offense feeds off of their powerplay and having it go 1/14 (7.1%) in their last six games (0/10 in their last four) pretty much explains why Buffalo is 0-4-2 during that span scoring a total of 12 goals. The other part of the equation is Buffalo's penalty kill where in those six games, the opposition went allowed six goals on 14 powerplay opportunities, or a 57.1% kill-rate.
For a team that has had trouble scoring a struggling powerplay is problematic and for a team that is in a 0-4-2 slump, preventing as many goals as possible is most definitely in their best interest. Regardless what the analytics community might think or believe, special teams matter. Especially to this Buffalo Sabres team right.
And with that, I yield back my remaining time.
Friday, November 15, 2019
"Twenty-one games to Christmas"
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 11-14-2019
That was Buffalo Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger talking to the gathered media post practice yesterday concerning their upcoming schedule. His Sabres squad had just come back from participating in the 2019 Global Series which featured a somewhat compact schedule in October and early November, five days to travel and acclimate to Stockholm, Sweden for their back-to-back against the Tampa Bay Lightning last weekend and another four days to reacclimate to North America. Sunday was a travel day with Monday and Tuesday being mandated days off. The Sabres resumed practice yesterday and will have a game tonight at home against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Krueger said that the team will have a pregame skate this morning because they haven't been on the ice and mentioned how he and his club will be approaching 21 games in 39 days leading up until the Christmas break. "The reality is we have the 21 games 'til Christmas and we're breaking it up into little groups. We've got five games, two-day pause; six games, two-day pause; six games, two-day pause; four games."
That was Buffalo Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger talking to the gathered media post practice yesterday concerning their upcoming schedule. His Sabres squad had just come back from participating in the 2019 Global Series which featured a somewhat compact schedule in October and early November, five days to travel and acclimate to Stockholm, Sweden for their back-to-back against the Tampa Bay Lightning last weekend and another four days to reacclimate to North America. Sunday was a travel day with Monday and Tuesday being mandated days off. The Sabres resumed practice yesterday and will have a game tonight at home against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Krueger said that the team will have a pregame skate this morning because they haven't been on the ice and mentioned how he and his club will be approaching 21 games in 39 days leading up until the Christmas break. "The reality is we have the 21 games 'til Christmas and we're breaking it up into little groups. We've got five games, two-day pause; six games, two-day pause; six games, two-day pause; four games."
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Some mid-six juggling and the search for secondary scoring (again)
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 11-13-2019
You have to like the gumption Krueger has shown in sticking to his system of beliefs. With his Buffalo Sabres on a five-game losing streak (0-4-1) and mired in a 1-5-1 slump with litany of offensive woes plaguing his team, Krueger is standing firm to what he laid out in the beginning of the year and continues to defend his players work-ethic. Krueger was on the WGR550 radio this morning and once again he talked about how hard everyone has been working on the ice but not having the results there.
It's common theme Sabreland has heard dating back the Lindy Ruff years and unfortunately, on the whole, it's lead to full-season results that have kept them out of the playoffs or worse for a NHL-long eight seasons. Last season we heard head coach Phil Housley talking about playing a good team over there while coddling his players despite some despicable efforts and we found out, among a number of things, that he wasn't really cut out for the job and that his team was lacking in a few key areas.
Things have changed for the better with the Sabres as general manager Jason Botterill added key pieces to his blueline and added to his forward ranks. Early in the season it looked like it was a huge step in the right direction but with this recent streak there have been calls for Botterill to make a move if he wants his team to take a big step over last season. Perhaps there are things in the works, but the third-year GM runs a pretty tight ship with very few leaks coming out during his tenure.
You have to like the gumption Krueger has shown in sticking to his system of beliefs. With his Buffalo Sabres on a five-game losing streak (0-4-1) and mired in a 1-5-1 slump with litany of offensive woes plaguing his team, Krueger is standing firm to what he laid out in the beginning of the year and continues to defend his players work-ethic. Krueger was on the WGR550 radio this morning and once again he talked about how hard everyone has been working on the ice but not having the results there.
It's common theme Sabreland has heard dating back the Lindy Ruff years and unfortunately, on the whole, it's lead to full-season results that have kept them out of the playoffs or worse for a NHL-long eight seasons. Last season we heard head coach Phil Housley talking about playing a good team over there while coddling his players despite some despicable efforts and we found out, among a number of things, that he wasn't really cut out for the job and that his team was lacking in a few key areas.
Things have changed for the better with the Sabres as general manager Jason Botterill added key pieces to his blueline and added to his forward ranks. Early in the season it looked like it was a huge step in the right direction but with this recent streak there have been calls for Botterill to make a move if he wants his team to take a big step over last season. Perhaps there are things in the works, but the third-year GM runs a pretty tight ship with very few leaks coming out during his tenure.
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Nikita Kucherov's dirty hit on Sobotka and what it might mean for the Sabres
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 11-9-2019
Tampa's Nikita Kucherov will never be misconstrued as a Cro-Magnon, Milan Lucic-type player who's main purpose on the ice is to use his animal instincts to intimidate the opposition. Kucherov couldn't be further from that as he's a brilliant offensive player for the Lightning and unlike the hulking Lucic, he's all of 5'11" 180 lbs. However, the dirty hit that took out Sabres forward Vladimir Sobotka tapped into that type of mindless intimidation.
Sobotka was low-bridged by Kucherov late in the first period of Buffalo's 3-2 loss in yesterday and unlike challenging a 6'3" 231 lb. Lucic, any number of Sabres players on the ice at the time could have come at the smaller Kucherov with little fear for their personal safety. But they didn't:
--Casey Mittelstadt had a front row seat for the hit, as did the official who did not call an interference penalty on the play (at least.) He's 6'1" 199 lbs.
--Defenseman Colin Miller was on the ice and had the same view. He clocks in at 6'1" 193 lbs.
--At 5'11" 195 lb. Jeff Skinner is about the same weight-class as Kucherov but had his back to the play. Skinner has shown enough gumption in the past as to not take something like that lightly, so one would assume that if he saw what happened he'd have been all-in
--Henri Jokiharju is 6'0" 195 lbs. He was on the ice too.
Size-wise, none of them had anything to fear but, they all went about their business as if nothing of note had happened, even with Sobotka laying on the ice in obvious discomfort clutching his leg.
Tampa's Nikita Kucherov will never be misconstrued as a Cro-Magnon, Milan Lucic-type player who's main purpose on the ice is to use his animal instincts to intimidate the opposition. Kucherov couldn't be further from that as he's a brilliant offensive player for the Lightning and unlike the hulking Lucic, he's all of 5'11" 180 lbs. However, the dirty hit that took out Sabres forward Vladimir Sobotka tapped into that type of mindless intimidation.
Sobotka was low-bridged by Kucherov late in the first period of Buffalo's 3-2 loss in yesterday and unlike challenging a 6'3" 231 lb. Lucic, any number of Sabres players on the ice at the time could have come at the smaller Kucherov with little fear for their personal safety. But they didn't:
--Casey Mittelstadt had a front row seat for the hit, as did the official who did not call an interference penalty on the play (at least.) He's 6'1" 199 lbs.
--Defenseman Colin Miller was on the ice and had the same view. He clocks in at 6'1" 193 lbs.
--At 5'11" 195 lb. Jeff Skinner is about the same weight-class as Kucherov but had his back to the play. Skinner has shown enough gumption in the past as to not take something like that lightly, so one would assume that if he saw what happened he'd have been all-in
--Henri Jokiharju is 6'0" 195 lbs. He was on the ice too.
Size-wise, none of them had anything to fear but, they all went about their business as if nothing of note had happened, even with Sobotka laying on the ice in obvious discomfort clutching his leg.
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Game-day...finally: BUF/TBL at 2 p.m. ET on NBCSN
Can anyone in Sabreland remember Buffalo's last game? Sure you can go to the scoreboard and see that the NY Islanders defeated the Sabres 1-0 and you might remember that the Islanders scored early before playing lockdown, 90's trap-hockey to secure the win.
Buffalo hasn't played a game since that Saturday night loss at KeyBank Center and that's OK. The National Hockey League tabbed them to play in their Global Series over in Stockholm, Sweden against the Tampa Bay Lightning which is an honor, especially for six Sabres players who made the trip and are returning to their homeland as a part of an NHL team. Hats off to Sweden-natives:
D, Rasmus Dahlin
F, Marcus Johansson
F, Victor Olofsson
F, Johan Larsson
G, Linus Ullmark
D, Lawrence Pilut
Friday, November 8, 2019
An eye on the Amerks with Don Stevens
A dozen games into their 2019-20 season, the Rochester Americans are doing well. They're tied for third in the division right now with a 7-3-1-1 record with those 16 points placing them tied for fourth in the conference. Rochester is also fifth in the AHL with a .667 points percentage.
But it hasn't been easy road to get there.
The Amerks started out the season with their head coach up in Buffalo serving as a Sabres assistant. Chris Taylor got the call to Buffalo after Sabres assistant coach Don Granato was hospitalized with a severe case of pneumonia, which his brother Tony described as a "scary" situation. Don Granato was hospitalized for an extended length and Taylor was picked to take his spot behind the bench while his assistant, long-time hockey-man Gord Dineen, became the interim bench boss in Rochester.
According to long-time Amerks broadcaster Don Stevens, whom I chatted with yesterday, things look as if they'll be returning to normal as Granato's "getting better" and they expect him back soon.
Checking in on the Sabres prospect pool with Kris Baker of sabresprospects.com, Part II
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 11-5-2019
This is the second of a two part series looking at the Sabres prospect pool with Kris Baker of sabresprospects.com. Part I can be found by clicking here.
As laid out in the previous blog, what Buffalo Sabres general manager Jason Botterill has been able to do on the blueline for his team the last three years has been pretty impressive and that's without landing a franchise-type defenseman in Rasmus Dahlin with the first overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. Botterill fortified and modernized his D-corps through some savvy trades while he and his scouting staff focused on the blueline at the draft using eight of their 18 picks on defensemen.
That's the good part of the prospect pool. The not so good part comes into play when we take a look at the forwards and goalie situation.
There's a two-fold reason for the not so good part when it comes to the forwards in the system. Botterill inherited a pool bereft of forward talent because a.) they were still recovering from the scorched-earth rebuild of his predecessor and b.) the Sabres top prospects were picked high in the draft and quickly made their way into the NHL lineup. Second-overall picks Sam Reinhart and Jack Eichel were playing for the Sabres as teenagers, while 2017 eighth-overall pick, Casey Mittelstadt also started out his rookie season as a teenager. Which is fine as those top picks are expected to be on a fast-track to the NHL.
This is the second of a two part series looking at the Sabres prospect pool with Kris Baker of sabresprospects.com. Part I can be found by clicking here.
As laid out in the previous blog, what Buffalo Sabres general manager Jason Botterill has been able to do on the blueline for his team the last three years has been pretty impressive and that's without landing a franchise-type defenseman in Rasmus Dahlin with the first overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. Botterill fortified and modernized his D-corps through some savvy trades while he and his scouting staff focused on the blueline at the draft using eight of their 18 picks on defensemen.
That's the good part of the prospect pool. The not so good part comes into play when we take a look at the forwards and goalie situation.
There's a two-fold reason for the not so good part when it comes to the forwards in the system. Botterill inherited a pool bereft of forward talent because a.) they were still recovering from the scorched-earth rebuild of his predecessor and b.) the Sabres top prospects were picked high in the draft and quickly made their way into the NHL lineup. Second-overall picks Sam Reinhart and Jack Eichel were playing for the Sabres as teenagers, while 2017 eighth-overall pick, Casey Mittelstadt also started out his rookie season as a teenager. Which is fine as those top picks are expected to be on a fast-track to the NHL.
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Checking in on the prospect pool with Kris Baker of sabresprospects.com, Part I
This is the first of a two-part series looking at the Sabres prospect pool as of today with Kris Baker of sabresprospects.com.
After chatting about the Sabres prospect pool with Kris Baker of sabresprospects.com, one is left with the sense that the organization has come a long way in the last three years but that there is also still plenty of work to do.
Right now there's a symmetrical dividing line between the Tim Murray regime and that of present general manager Jason Botterill as each was in charge of three NHL Drafts. The difference between Murray's picks from 4-6 years ago and Botterill's from the last three years can't be fully compared as not enough time has elapsed for the players selected to reach their ultimate hockey potential, but what we do know is that Botterill took over as general manager with a thin prospect pool and that he pretty much had to rebuild a rebuild.
"It took some time to reset some things when Botterill came in," said Baker via a phone interview yesterday. "The previous regime didn't really draft and develop all that well. Murray's group had a couple of guys out of [those drafts] but you're not really gonna screw up when you're picking at the top of the draft with players like [Sam] Reinhart and [Jack] Eichel. They go through the prospect ranks fairly quickly. When that happens you don't have a lot of depth behind them."
Monday, November 4, 2019
Sabres five-game recap
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 11-3-2019
You don’t need a lot of analytics to figure out that the Sabres hot start has cooled to the point where it looks like they’re struggling. Something as simple as their record is a good place to start. Buffalo began the season going 4-0-1 then went 4-1-0 which included a three-game California road trip. However this last stretch of five games hasn't been too kind to the Sabres as they could only manage a 1-3-1 record.
Quality of competition might be a big factor as the first five teams they face had a combined 44% win percentage through their first five games, the second grouping was at 42.5% through their first 10 games while the last grouping of teams Buffalo has played clocks in at a 56.7 win-percentage, and that includes the top team in the NHL, the Washington Capitals and the second best team in the Metropolitan Division, the NY Islanders, who are a combined 20-5-3 on the season.
Sunday, November 3, 2019
Buffalo Sabres 2019-20 Team Stats--October
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 11-1-2019
It should be an interesting night at the rink in Washington DC tonight when the Sabres face off against the Washington Capitals. Fans in the nation's capital are celebrating their first World Series Championship since 1924 as the Washington Nationals finished off a heavily favored Houston Astros team in seven games, winning all four on the road. The 2019 Nats championship comes on the heels of a 2018 Stanley Cup win by the Capitals, their first-ever Cup win.
Party vibes will be swirling all around the Sabres as they take on the Caps and hopefully Washington captain Alex Ovechkin has been showing his baseball counterparts just what celebrating is all about. Ovechkin and his team mates embarked on a legendary post-championship party that began in Las Vegas, where they defeated the Golden Knights in five games, with the party stretching from days into weeks. The captain was quoted as saying, "Get some beers, get some whatever and start celebrating."
That they did.
It should be an interesting night at the rink in Washington DC tonight when the Sabres face off against the Washington Capitals. Fans in the nation's capital are celebrating their first World Series Championship since 1924 as the Washington Nationals finished off a heavily favored Houston Astros team in seven games, winning all four on the road. The 2019 Nats championship comes on the heels of a 2018 Stanley Cup win by the Capitals, their first-ever Cup win.
Party vibes will be swirling all around the Sabres as they take on the Caps and hopefully Washington captain Alex Ovechkin has been showing his baseball counterparts just what celebrating is all about. Ovechkin and his team mates embarked on a legendary post-championship party that began in Las Vegas, where they defeated the Golden Knights in five games, with the party stretching from days into weeks. The captain was quoted as saying, "Get some beers, get some whatever and start celebrating."
That they did.
Friday, November 1, 2019
Buffalo Sabres 2019-20 Individual Stats Leaders--October
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 10-30-2019
With three days between games, the Sabres are getting some time in the gym and on the practice rink as they get ready to start a new month with a back-to-back this weekend. Buffalo just concluded a stretch where they opened the season playing 13 games in 26 nights, which included a California road trip of three games in four nights, and they came out pretty well with a 9-2-2 record.
New head coach Ralph Krueger has his team playing an on-your-toes, up-tempo, 200' game and because of their early-season success he's been able to keep his lines and pairings intact. That continuity has led to some nice chemistry, most notably up-front with Marcus Johansson centering Jeff Skinner and the d-pairing of Marco Scandella and Henri Jokiharju.
With three days between games, the Sabres are getting some time in the gym and on the practice rink as they get ready to start a new month with a back-to-back this weekend. Buffalo just concluded a stretch where they opened the season playing 13 games in 26 nights, which included a California road trip of three games in four nights, and they came out pretty well with a 9-2-2 record.
New head coach Ralph Krueger has his team playing an on-your-toes, up-tempo, 200' game and because of their early-season success he's been able to keep his lines and pairings intact. That continuity has led to some nice chemistry, most notably up-front with Marcus Johansson centering Jeff Skinner and the d-pairing of Marco Scandella and Henri Jokiharju.
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