They gave up more red zone drives than NE had the entire season.

One of the problems the offense has is not getting the ball.
- Lunaion

They have been getting the ball, hard not to give a team more time of possession or more plays when you are constantly going 3 and out for 3 Qtrs on Offense.

They have been getting the ball, hard not to give a team more time of possession or more plays when you are constantly going 3 and out for 3 Qtrs on Offense.
- Buff36

4 drives per half is way below average.

Biggest thing that would help this Defense right now would for the Offense to put together some solid games. They aren't strong enough to wait for the Offense to wake up 3 Quarters into the game. And not trying to make excuses for the Defense, they just don't have the horses to do it.
- Buff36

Agreed.
Mind numbing decision to protect Allen at all costs…including Winning. Lost to the worst team in the league after sweating out the previous game against another crappy team in NYG that had the ball on the 1 yard line with a missed penalty call. Didn’t show in London either.

Well, maybe they need to rethink that.

I say
Let Josh loose!!!

- They need more conviction to get to the net. Conviction and determination.

- He thinks the PP was decent but 5v5 was bad.

- He didn't like he had to change lines late in the game.

- The defensive structure is getting better, the offense will come eventually.

- He suggest going to the net to get out of scoring funk

- Need to get Tuch going, that's a priority now

- Comrie was not an issue

- The difference of the game was the Sabres couldn't convert on chances

- Need to trust their own game and play with confidence - this was confusing.

- Everybody is concerned about points, all teams need to improve

- Worrying about points for the team is a distraction

- Going to the net with conviction needs to be their focus and that will solve their problems


Synergy = Conviction he used that word 10-15 times as the solution.
- Theguywiththething

Not entirely untrue. I like it if he took some accountability as well

Not entirely untrue. I like it if he took some accountability as well
- lulags

That would help.

Have you heard anyone else in the Sabres organization use the word conviction? He uses it so much yet no one echo's him in that stance.

Not entirely untrue. I like it if he took some accountability as well
- lulags

I love that we drop pass everytime (I get every team is doing it) on the PP for a guy to come barreling up the middle just to make a pass on the blueline and maybe get control in their zone.

Why not do that and dump it in while moving forward, you're already skating faster than the D, especially when they clog up the middle and think you're just going to give it to the winger at the blue line. Change it up. Have a few different plays to go to instead of the same fvckin thing every PP. big reason we went 1-5 last night.

Coaching needs to be better for sure IMO.

I love that we drop pass everytime (I get every team is doing it) on the PP for a guy to come barreling up the middle just to make a pass on the blueline and maybe get control in their zone.

Why not do that and dump it in while moving forward, you're already skating faster than the D, especially when they clog up the middle and think you're just going to give it to the winger at the blue line. Change it up. Have a few different plays to go to instead of the same fvckin thing every PP. big reason we went 1-5 last night.

Coaching needs to be better for sure IMO.
- DirtyDan

Were zone entries on the PP lowsy yesterday? I thought we were gaining control in the o-zone well enough, but just either got good shots blocked or took bad ones. I honestly wasn't paying attention to that as much, as we do always do the same thing, but it doesn't come to mind as a sore spot either. Were we getting stymied at the line a lot on those passes?

Sounds like our savior, Ukko-Pekka "Scapegoat" Luukonnen will get his chance to shine against Ottawa, his first in almost 7 months.

God Save the Queen.

They Need a ILB that can Cover and make tackles. Completions have gone up almost 23% over the middle since Milano got hurt. Teams are killing them there and we haven't really faced a good TE yet.
- Buff36

It's a foolish notion to think that they can at all make up what they've lost on defense. The shortcomings created by the injuries need to be made up for by the offense. The "ball control" offensive philosophy they've tried to enable works well when you have a Top 5 defense. They don't have anywhere near that, and won't have it no matter what deadline acquisition they get, if they get anything at all. They need to start calling their offense like they have a middle of the road defense (they may very well be worse), and not assume they can "get the ball back". The only way this team is winning anything long-term this season is by coming out on top in track-meet type of games.

God Save Queen.
- QuinnFan

oh my

It's a foolish notion to think that they can at all make up what they've lost on defense. The shortcomings created by the injuries need to be made up for by the offense. The "ball control" offensive philosophy they've tried to enable works well when you have a Top 5 defense. They don't have anywhere near that, and won't have it no matter what deadline acquisition they get, if they get anything at all. They need to start calling their offense like they have a middle of the road defense (they may very well be worse), and not assume they can "get the ball back". The only way this team is winning anything long-term this season is by coming out on top in track-meet type of games.
- buffalofan19

Basically agree, Basically said that in a different post.

Wait until they learn the system???

For the most part the teams the same and the system should be in place and working. What did they do all summer, bbq?

Wait until they learn the system???

For the most part the teams the same and the system should be in place and working. What did they do all summer, bbq?
- MLew65

A good night for a stress test of said system:

“The Sabres have been outscored 16-8 in the first and third periods this season. They're 0-4 when allowing the first goal. Challenging matchup tonight.

Ottawa has scored 5 or more goals in 3 of its last 4.”

https://x.com/llysowski/s.../1716919719662645716?s=46

Were zone entries on the PP lowsy yesterday? I thought we were gaining control in the o-zone well enough, but just either got good shots blocked or took bad ones. I honestly wasn't paying attention to that as much, as we do always do the same thing, but it doesn't come to mind as a sore spot either. Were we getting stymied at the line a lot on those passes?
- QuinnFan

We were doing a good job of gaining the line, we also gave it up a few times at the line as well. I just think could be better utilized if you didn't do the exact same thing every time you try to gain the zone. You have the 4 PK-men on their heels. Put it deep, skate behind them, make em turn.

If I was defending that PP I know exactly whats coming. Tis the problem. Its why Tage doesnt have the space naymore to shoot the 1-t's

Wait until they learn the system???

For the most part the teams the same and the system should be in place and working. What did they do all summer, bbq?
- MLew65

Agreed.
Mind numbing decision to protect Allen at all costs…including Winning. Lost to the worst team in the league after sweating out the previous game against another crappy team in NYG that had the ball on the 1 yard line with a missed penalty call. Didn’t show in London either.

Well, maybe they need to rethink that.

I say
Let Josh loose!!!
- IonSabres

“Maybe I need to think a little less and just play football”

—Josh Allen

#BillsMafia 

https://x.com/mikecatalan.../1716875766900928980?s=46

“Maybe I need to think a little less and just play football”

—Josh Allen

#BillsMafia 

https://x.com/mikecatalan.../1716875766900928980?s=46
- Theguywiththething

“Maybe I need to think a little less and just play football”

—Josh Allen

#BillsMafia 

https://x.com/mikecatalan.../1716875766900928980?s=46
- Theguywiththething

“Maybe I need to think a little less and just play football”

—Josh Allen

#BillsMafia 

https://x.com/mikecatalan.../1716875766900928980?s=46
- Theguywiththething

Sabres started 4-2 last year.

https://www.hockeybuzz.co...p?thread_id=180960&page=2

This is the blog from exactly a year ago. A lot different than what we see after the 2-4 start. You guys need to calm down. 6 games isn't the season.

Pretty funny the comments made about NE and Mac Jones from a year ago in the above blog as well.

"Welcome to QB purgatory, New England.

You can check out any time you like but you can never leave" - Hank Balling
- DirtyDan

I stick by that wholeheartedly.

I hope they do stay with Mac Jones. He is not good.

Hopefully they win 6-7 games and they're not in a position to draft a better one

I stick by that wholeheartedly.

I hope they do stay with Mac Jones. He is not good.

Hopefully they win 6-7 games and they're not in a position to draft a better one
- Hank Balling

I totally agree, got the Bills at the right time.

So this should be some fast Hockey tonight, both teams can skate. Does Buffalo's offense finally wake up. And will be a good test of this new Defensive system.

So this should be some fast Hockey tonight, both teams can skate. Does Buffalo's offense finally wake up. And will be a good test of this new Defensive system.
- Buff36

Sabres' lineup vs. the Senators:

Greenway-Thompson-Cozens
Skinner-Mittelstadt-Tuch
Peterka-Krebs-Benson
Olofsson-Girgensons-Okposo

Dahlin-Samuelsson
Power-Jokiharju
Clifton-Johnson

UPL in goal. Comrie backing up

7-3 Sabres

It all comes pouring in tonight

Sabres' lineup vs. the Senators:

Greenway-Thompson-Cozens
Skinner-Mittelstadt-Tuch
Peterka-Krebs-Benson
Olofsson-Girgensons-Okposo

Dahlin-Samuelsson
Power-Jokiharju
Clifton-Johnson

UPL in goal. Comrie backing up
- Theguywiththething

Like that 3rd line