Hug the kids, kiss your wife or your girlfriend, but tell them you won’t be back for a while, it is time to go to work, as they hopefully watch you become a hero. The cottage and celebrity events will come sooner than you think, you already are living well. It is not a break during the marathon. It is a moment to inspire and be on board. The fans, the coaches, the players, the families. It is no time to be selfish. It is time to show that we want success for our community and crest, and build a championship team. At the very least, create something that is innovative and feared. Don’t follow the mental regenerative protocol, find the balance of something new. The reality is that other teams that come into your building, or when you are on the road, and are finding a way. You are sustaining and not dominating. They have individuals who are transcending the normal, and enjoying the moments where they impose victory. Kopitar, Barkov, Tsyplakov, Crosby, we have witnessed this all as you have complacently watched too. Get some pride, stop being afraid to not lose, listen to your coaches and understand the simple things that can’t be ignored. This can be an easy game that is a team concept. Talk to each other on the ice and play the one, two, two, or the left wing lock the way you are taught. Don’t get turned around, rattle the puck off the glass, back check until your lungs burn. Goals are hard to come by in this league, and giving up more on stupid mistakes will cost you.

It is hard for a Sabres fan to see a three-game winning streak get mitigated by the same miscues that have stolen victories as the season progresses. I had spoken about the importance of the matinee against Detroit, and the win at all cost mentality for our hockey community to be inspired as a whole, and to get some impetus to prove that we are not the same animal that constantly is needing a vet visit. You would think, after the European nightmare, and three games on the road, that this home stand would breed camaraderie and perspective. That the fact that they had escaped total disaster barely treading above water, would give some conviction and resolve. Four games at home over basically thirteen days, should be more than the energizer bunny battery. Four painstaking points out of eight is once again not good enough. Is there an issue with our organization when it comes to coddling to players needs and their relationships when it comes to hockey? Do we not recognize the necessity to capture these schedule blessings and make the most of it? Idle time is the devil’s hand. Once again, we missed the boat. After the Dallas game, and a lucky victory against Detroit, there should have been more resolve with Florida and the Islanders, knowing that you would have another game against the Red Wings twenty-four hours later. Losing against the Stanley Cup Champions with a full roster is an easy pill to swallow given a decent effort and the reality that it is the fledgling moment of a long calendar, but the total brain meltdowns on numerous goals that seemed to be given to the Gorton’s Fishermen were not focused efforts. We need to be playing a system that gets you constant points. It needs to be tighter. You can’t get turned around playing poorly in your defensive zone. If things break down, you need to get a piece of the body and have a forward covering for you. This stuff is simple. It is rudimentary hockey. Some of our players are just getting complacent, lost, and soft. Honestly, I hate to repeat myself after so many of these gaffs that have transpired since game one, but it is a pattern. The other three goals in this game are much of the same. There are unnecessary breakdowns that can be corrected. I am not saying that goals won’t be scored, but you need to find a way to prevent a few of them with a professional attitude and understanding. Look at this goal by someone who is Russian and was undrafted. This kid was all over the ice without Barzal in the lineup, and made the most of it. When have we seen a play like this? I have told you about the out of body experience, ask Razor about Dixon Ward. Sometimes you just have to pat your hand on your buddies back and be perplexed on how he made it happen. We need someone on our squad to step it up.



I am not going to shame Clifton, ooops, I guess I did, but our boy Sammy had some inopportune dingbat moments as well, along with a list of other forwards who ended up quitting on a play.

If our defense needs competition, then make it so. If someone is injured and can’t compete to their potential, then replace him with someone else. If Rasmus needs to be reminded as to why he is being paid to be a leader, then challenge him. Once again it is time to foil up. It is time to see a win at all cost attitude. No more time to decompress at home when so much is on the line. You can move Cozens to the wing but he is not going to fly the plane unless the twine is being moved. A freebee goal doesn’t prove anything. I appreciate Lindy for obviously not being stagnant and trying different possibilities until they work. This proves that he knows things aren’t ideal and he is trying to find a solution. I do believe that he will find the right chemistry at all costs, we all just hope it is not too late. You need to get ties, you need to get points. I want to climb above five-hundred so we can enjoy the evolution of this franchise. We need to break on through to the other side.



Thanks, and go Buffalo. Oooh, ahhh, Sabres on the mediocre path.

Brad Lohr
Aka: Lumberhacks

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