Michael Pachla: It may take divine intervention for Buffalo to make the playoffs this year

GET A BETTER GOALIE!!!!
Then there will much more to be hopeful for!
Your welcome!

GET A BETTER GOALIE!!!!
Then there will much more to be hopeful for!
Your welcome!
- HenryHockey

Would go a long way in helping to fix that PK as well

Would go a long way in helping to fix that PK as well
- Michael Pachla

Yup! Your goalie usually has to be the best player on a PK!

Yup! Your goalie usually has to be the best player on a PK!
- HenryHockey

Still wondering how much Ralph and Steve Smith had to do with the poor PK, in terms of structure and scheme and/or lack of proper adjustments whether in-game or in totality

The stats are clearly daunting, but this isn't the same team that has been on the ice for all 3 of those years and not the same leadership (front offices and coaching) either. Not to mention, those other teams are not the same. They all have their issues... Washington is scrambling for a backup goaltender now and they were not overly impressive at the end of last year. The NY Rangers are up-and-coming, but certainly have their holes, as well. The Devils, as you stated, can be overtaken. Boston is missing key players for the first 6-8 weeks due to surgeries and that is huge in a shortened season. The Flyers look strong on paper, but some of their guys are getting older. The Penguins have star-power, but it's aging and they have underachieved in recent years. The Islanders blew away expectations last year in the playoffs and not many hockey writers have put a ton of faith in that repeating itself this year. All-in-all, it goes back to the old saying... They play the games for a reason. Even if the Sabres can't overcome the other teams, it is still all entertainment at the end of the day and I'm certainly looking forward to it. Just give me the effort on the ice, that is all I ask and hopefully it works out in the end.

The stats are clearly daunting, but this isn't the same team that has been on the ice for all 3 of those years and not the same leadership (front offices and coaching) either. Not to mention, those other teams are not the same. They all have their issues... Washington is scrambling for a backup goaltender now and they were not overly impressive at the end of last year. The NY Rangers are up-and-coming, but certainly have their holes, as well. The Devils, as you stated, can be overtaken. Boston is missing key players for the first 6-8 weeks due to surgeries and that is huge in a shortened season. The Flyers look strong on paper, but some of their guys are getting older. The Penguins have star-power, but it's aging and they have underachieved in recent years. The Islanders blew away expectations last year in the playoffs and not many hockey writers have put a ton of faith in that repeating itself this year. All-in-all, it goes back to the old saying... They play the games for a reason. Even if the Sabres can't overcome the other teams, it is still all entertainment at the end of the day and I'm certainly looking forward to it. Just give me the effort on the ice, that is all I ask and hopefully it works out in the end.
- djc1877

Another hot start this year is gonna go a long way. However, it might be very difficult as teams will need to be in playoff-mode out of the gate in a 56-game season

Merry Christmas Mike.

A strong finish would really help this franchise.
Consistency and finally playing the whole season, with a chance of making the playoffs, may keep eich happy?

Near playoff miss, does eich want to give it 1 more kick?

Merry Christmas Mike.

A strong finish would really help this franchise.
Consistency and finally playing the whole season, with a chance of making the playoffs, may keep eich happy?

Near playoff miss, does eich want to give it 1 more kick?
- Boss34

He's here for life. Book it.

Merry Christmas Mike.

A strong finish would really help this franchise.
Consistency and finally playing the whole season, with a chance of making the playoffs, may keep eich happy?

Near playoff miss, does eich want to give it 1 more kick?
- Boss34

this team will make the playoffs

this team will make the playoffs
- homiedclown

Not with our current goaltender situation

I think the shortened season actually benefits us, just as much as it might benefit older players.

The biggest issue I see is the numerous back-to-backs. The Sabres have always seemed to struggle in those 2nd games.

I'm not worried though, because our furniture captine Zumgus Girgensons is going to lead tha charge

Not with our current goaltender situation
- Stripes77

carter hart .914 save % last year

possibly best goalie in division

ullmark .915 save % last year


dog crap

this team will make the playoffs
- homiedclown

Who are they gonna jump?

Who are they gonna jump?
- Michael Pachla

1. bruins
2. flyers
3. sabres
4. caps

wonder woman 1984 was terrible

1. bruins
2. flyers
3. sabres
4. caps
- homiedclown

No faith in the Isles? And their Stanley Cup-winning head coach who got them to the ECF while beating WSH and PHI last year?

No faith in the Isles? And their Stanley Cup-winning head coach who got them to the ECF while beating WSH and PHI last year?
- Michael Pachla

nope

shortened season


islanders got 3 goals against us in 120 minutes last season


hall eichel is best combo in division

nope

shortened season


islanders got 3 goals against us in 120 minutes last season


hall eichel is best combo in division
- homiedclown

I could live with that

carter hart .914 save % last year

possibly best goalie in division

ullmark .915 save % last year


dog crap
- homiedclown

Saves above expected Carter Hart was a plus 3%

Ullmark was a negative 3%

Big difference

Saves above expected Carter Hart was a plus 2%

Ullmark was a negative 3%

Big difference
- Stripes77

does fancy stats tell you if you are getting shots from the big guys on the bruins or tampa, as opposed to shots from guys on the devils?



I don't think they take any of that into account



we matched up against the caps, islanders, pens and devils much better then the teams we had in our division last season IMO

I could live with that
- Michael Pachla

we scored more goals then the islanders last season


and I am pretty sure we will get more goals per game this season vs last season

does fancy stats tell you if you are getting shots from the big guys on the bruins or tampa, as opposed to shots from guys on the devils?



I don't think they take any of that into account



we matched up against the caps, islanders, pens and devils much better then the teams we had in our division last season IMO
- homiedclown

They do take that into account

High danger versus not so much

This division is tougher for the Sabres, the only team they dodged is Tampa...

does fancy stats tell you if you are getting shots from the big guys on the bruins or tampa, as opposed to shots from guys on the devils?



I don't think they take any of that into account



we matched up against the caps, islanders, pens and devils much better then the teams we had in our division last season IMO
- homiedclown

I count 6-9-1 versus our present division foes including zero wins vs Bruins, Flyers and Isles.

And a quick count had them 12-9-4 vs. the rest of the conference

I count 6-9-1 versus our present division foes including zero wins vs Bruins, Flyers and Isles.

And a quick count had them 12-9-4 vs. the rest of the conference
- Michael Pachla

Flyers played way above their expectations last season. Their window is going to slam shut this year. Islanders, Washington don't really worry me. New Jersey could be a surprise or totally suck and Pittsburgh are about due to have a bad year but I think they overachieve in a shortened season. NYR aren't a threat. Boston about due to take a big dump.

I like our chances.