Photo: Maddie Meyer
In case you haven’t been keeping up with the rest of the NHL this season, the Buffalo Sabres are actually fielding a competent hockey club in 2015-16. They are a young team with some exciting players and a really good coach whom you might recognize.
The Sabres made a couple savvy trades over the Summer, picking up quality players that other teams, for one reason or another, didn’t want. They also added rookie Jack Eichel with the second overall pick. Eichel is only 19 and it’s a decent bet that he’ll be one of the top player in the league within a couple seasons.
They also have the best goal song in the NHL. More on that below. 7pm game. CSN.
| Team | Record | Possession | PDO | Power Play | Penalty Kill |
| Washington Capitals | 26-6-2 | 51.0% | 102.2 | 25.2% | 84.5% |
| Buffalo Sabres | 15.16.4 | 47.4% | 98.8 | 20.4% | 78.2% |
Projected Lineup
John Carlson took a maintenance day yesterday and only skated for about two minutes today. Per Isabelle, head trainer Karl Alzner thinks JC74 will play tonight. If not, Connor Carrick will get a jersey.
Ovechkin – Backstrom – Oshie
Johansson – Kuznetsov – Williams
Chimera – Beagle – Wilson
Laich – Latta – Burakovsky
Schmidt – Carlson
Alzner – Niskanen
Orlov – Chorney
Holtby
Allow Me To Acquit My Gullet
The Sabres have the best goal song in the NHL. This is not an opinion but an undisputed fact. Until someone decides to make their goal song Gettin’ Jiggy Wit’ It or something of the like, there will be no debate. So, the consolation prize if the Sabres manage to score a goal tonight is that you get to witness this awesomeness.
Storylines
- Trigger warning, everyone. There are reports that Evander Kane is being investigated for a rather serious crime. Please, if you feel the need to comment on this, we implore you to take heed the aforementioned trigger warning so as to show respect for everyone that is part of our RMNB community.
- Evgeny Kuznetsov wrote for the Players’ Tribune!
- John Carlson’s consecutive game streak is at 412 games, per Isabelle. It should be at 413 tomorrow.
- Andre Burakovsky, he of infinite likability, watched some NWHL action while in Buffalo.
- Jason Chimera is flying, flying oh so high. But then someday people look at you…No, I’m not signing Candlebox, you’re singing Candlebox!
- The Caps continue to rack up wins and talking about their struggles with puck possession doesn’t change that.
- Caps weekly ups and downs.
- We is family right now.
- Brooks Laich finally granted the wish of two adoring fans.
- Nate Schmidt thinks Jason Chimera is just starting the second half of his career.
- The Sabres are much improved from last season and Barry Trotz knows it.
- Braden Holtby is still so much more zen than you and it’s not even close.
Peter’s Favorites of 2015
Music: I Love You, Honeybear by Father John Misty
Wry and mean, but sad and poignant in a way that pop music rarely is. I also liked the widespread theft of Wildheart by Miguel, the literary wisdom of To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar, and the sheer freaking excellence of Live at the Fillmore East by Sly and the Family Stone.
Movies: It Follows
The best horror movie I’ve seen since maybe The Descent or 28 Days Later. Beautifully shot and carefully conceived, with a theme that we should try harder not to pin down. I also loved Star Wars: The Force Awakens naturally, and I was bummed out by The End of the Tour.
TV: Mad Men
I found that finale to be gratifying without being overly tidy (which was the fatal flaw of Breaking Bad’s “Felina”). That show never condescended. It didn’t feel like mass media meant to turn your brain off; it felt like an older, wiser friend telling you an important story. Master of None and Downton Abbey were special as well.
Books: Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
One day this will be read alongside Ellison, Du Bois, Toomer, and Hurston. But it’s not just important and powerful; it’s also lovingly and carefully written. I also took a lot away from Gratitude by Oliver Sacks, which, like the author’s life, was too short.
Comics: Hawkeye by Matt Fraction and David Aja
High and low at the same time, which is exactly how I like it. Also great: Ms Marvel by Sana Amanat et al, Astro City by Kurt Busiek et al, Secret Six by Gail Simone et al, and Sex Criminals by Chip Zdarsky and Matt Fraction.
Your turn in the comments.
