Commandant

1.5 inches vs the top size team in the league.... that difference drops as you go. Also if you take out the three guys, the team is average sized, so its not the whole lineup that is fighting the uphill battle, its 3 guys.

Calder Watch at the Quarter Pole includes Gally http://lastwordonsports.com/2013/02/11/calder-watch/

I don't think we should use a first round draft pick on a goalie and thats likely where Fucale is going (early 2nd at worst).

Cause the league doesn't suspend for attempted anything, if you miss you are fine. Its such a joke, but its true.

Hedberg has already started 2 games behind Broduer. Khudobin has started 1 game behind Rask (note that the Bruins schedule, ie 9 games has been the lightest in the NHL, they are gonna get their busy period coming up). Enroth has started 2 games (and been called in for relief work in a third) behind Miller. Ben Bishop has started 2 games behind Anderson. Funny that seems exactly the same as the 2 games Budaj has played behind Price.

Are we a contender? NO We are a team that is gonna finish between 7th and 11th place in the East IMO. So stay the course and continue rebuliding. Making moves to help this team this year is not gonna do anything. We need to keep the rebuild going and not think about short term moves. Is Bouillion gonna be here after this season? Probably not... he'll be replaced long term by Tinordi... so thats gonna have a huge sway in that 1.5 inches. If you can trade Gionta and get something for the future, great.... but no need to worry about Gallagher who is gonna be here long term. This team isn't a contender, never were... but we knew that before this season. They are a bubble playoff team working on building.

Remember when Detroit played Montreal last year and we slaughtered them.... didn't make us a better team than us. We slaughtered buffalo last week... didn't help us on thursday. This team wasn't as good as they looked in the Buffalo game, nor as bad as they looked last night... its just that you can't judge by 1 night.

Tinordi is not ready now, and may not be ready in October either. We might be waiting til this time next year.

Stats are skewed by 3 guys. And the difference between the biggest team and smallest? 1.5 inches... essentially meaningless white noise.

Taking aim at the Grabovski incident. http://lastwordonsports.com/2013/02/10/i-swear-gaa-biting-has-no-place-in-the-nhl/

Bozon's scoring streak was finally snapped.

1 goal for bennett.... in 2 games after his return from injury 1g 1a.... Danny Kristo 1g 1a Darren Dietz +2 to get to -5 on the season.

A few things 1) Effort is unacceptable... MT must bag skate the team. I can't think of a single player who played well. 2) That said, a GM must be different from coach, MB can not overreact to one bad loss or even a bad week... the roster evaluation must be more long term and not an overreaction to small sample size. 3) Not sure a pure goon would have helped on the Orr incident. Moen was on the bench, Prust was in the box. By the time our two best fighters can get on the ice, the damage is done. Having a 4 minute per game goon doesn't help because by the time he can get up off the bench, all the players are in the box or thrown out of the game already. 4) I'm glad we traded Grabovski, I don't care how many points he scores, he's a little bi-otch, and an embarrassment to the game. Biting is totally unacceptable. 5) Win a faceoff FFS

Since Episode 2 airs tonight (the french version), it would likely be part of episode three as its probably too late to do all the editing and post production to take us through the Sabres game. I bet they only go up to Ottawa.

Goaltender is the most exhausting position on the ice... both mentally and physically. He doesn't just "stand in net". This is proven when we look at the amount of water weight a goalie loses in a game. Add to it that its not just a bakc to back... its a back to back including travel, customs, etc...

Max V goes through the news of the week. Its very goalie focused, but has some PK Subban, Markov, and Galy/chucky tidbits http://lastwordonsports.com/2013/02/09/essential-hockey-tim-thomas-viktor-fasth-and-ryan-miller/ Looking at our opponent tonight, Jack goes on a Phil Kessel Rant. http://lastwordonsports.com/2013/02/08/jackd-off-on-kessel-haters/

Dietz 2 goals (15 on the season) and a +2 to take him back to a mere -7 on the season... something that was once unthinkable.

It seems the cost of depth players (Ellerby, Loktionov, Lovejoy) is set... 5th rounder. Would you take a 5th for Weber? White?

There are usually 2 or 3 per year that end up making the NHL for meaningful games... you try to find one of those guys... a tyler bozak, or a Dustin Penner, or something can be a useful piece. I'd like to find a goalie.

I'll 100% guarantee we won't win in Toronto on Saturday night. I'll also 100% guarantee we won't lose in Toronto on Saturday night. (the game is in Montreal)

Another assist gives him a 9 game point streak Vail also had a goal tonight, and Archambault 2 goals.

Hey I like Eller, but you have to give to get.

Over. I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see him on waivers and Blunden called up. Therrien was that mad.

Eller, Weber, and a 2nd rounder (HF boards style proposal)

Sabres had 40 shots tonight… 7 Powerplays… a 5 on 3… and Budaj made 17/18 saves when the barrage was on in the 2nd period. He played a good (not great) game. The fact of the matter is this game is 4-2 and its practically in the bag when Ryan White does something incredibly selfish, incredibly stupid and completely unacceptable I’m sorry, this loss isn’t on the backup goalie. The backup goalie stopped 90% of the shots sent his way tonight.