Vibe check for the Sabres

0:00Have you or a family member been diagnosed with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer that can be removed by surgery? Consider talking to an oncologist about your treatment options. Why? Because knowing your options before you have surgery can help your care team develop a treatment plan that's right for you. Learn about a potential treatment plan before and after surgery at askbeforesurgery.com That's askbeforesurgery.com and talk to an oncologist before your surgery. Get more out of every mile when you share the ride to work. With carpooling you'll have time to relax, save money and pick up new friends. Commuter connections can help you find carpool partners who live and work near you. Even if you're commuting just a few days a week, it's a free service. Carpooling, every dollar saved, every friend made. Register for free carpool partner ride matching at commuterconnections.org or call 800-745-ride. That's commuterconnections.org

1:00I'm done carrying around bulky drinks and I'm definitely done cleaning melted candy out of my pockets. So yeah, I traded them both in for fruity rainbow five hour energy shots. These little guys are as pocket sized as any candy. But instead of a sugar crash, you get a zero sugar caffeine boost. Candy can't even compare at this point. Fruity rainbow five hour energy shots treat your taste buds to an explosion of fruity flavor with a tasty caffeine kick. That's right, caffeine just got a flavor upgrade and it's not just one flavor. Five hour energy shots bring you tasty caffeine and 17 flavors. 17. So if you're craving that candy flavored chaos, but actually want energy that works, grab fruity rainbow five hour energy shots. Pocket sized zero sugar big flavor available now at fivehourenergy.com or on Amazon.

2:05My dad's not here right now. He's still at work. So I'm going to bless him. Mike Shope and the bulldog. I'm going to see if there's a clean version so that my parents and the people at my school will not get met at me. We've got the spritzer filled with water, just in case if stockets too fire, I'm going to set up the speaker and I'm going to listen to Mike Shope and the bulldog. I think this is the best Mike Shope feature that I've heard on a long time. I think his flow is really good on it and I like his aggressiveness on it and the bulldog. But not enough effort in it. I think overall his flow was good, but I don't like that mobile wrapping. That was my review of Mike Shope and the bulldog. I didn't need a spritzer. It wasn't fire enough. No spritzer. No spritzer. The snow looks so pretty. It just floats down out of the sky. It lands on everything.

3:07Everything looks so peaceful. It's so nice. I love the snow. Excuse me. Let me stab myself in the face with a fork. Holy cow. All right, enough. I know. I know. Like if you're who sucks more than the guy that is going to hear somebody on the radio say that or tweet something like that. It's only March. I know that it can still snow and it often does. It doesn't mean it's not jarring when it happens after it's been I don't know 70 one day this week. It takes a little getting used to. You're soft. Yeah, whatever. I don't know. I've had enough. I love winter. I like the snow. I'm just ready for it to be gone now. Like Zach mentioned, I'm watching golf on TV and there are people in shorts drinking cocktails with some of them having brothers in them. I'm craving that. I've had enough of this, although I shouldn't be complaining. The sun is actually coming out here in Amher. So this will all be a distant memory.

4:15You know, until Tuesday when the temperature drops like 40 degrees again. We'll get through it. I know this is what we have idiot spring or fake spring or first fake spring is maybe what we just had. And now we've got is a second winter and then we go on from there. I love these lists like Facebook is great at these. Some somewhere along the line. You get hell's front porch. I am. Have you or a family member been diagnosed with early stage non small cell lung cancer that can be removed by surgery? Consider talking to an oncologist about your treatment options. Why? Because knowing your options before you have surgery can help your care team develop a treatment plan that's right for you. Learn about a potential treatment plan before and after surgery and ask before surgery dot com that's ask before surgery dot com and talk to an oncologist before your surgery. Get more out of every mile when you share the ride to work with car pulling. You'll have time to relax, save money and pick up new friends.

5:19Commuter connections can help you find carpool partners who live and work near you. Even if you're commuting just a few days a week. It's a free service. Carpooling every dollar saved every friend made register for free carpool partner ride matching at commuter connections dot org or call 800 745 ride. That's commuter connections dot org. I'm done carrying around bulky drinks and I'm definitely done cleaning melted candy out of my pockets. So yeah I traded them both in for fruity rainbow five hour energy shots these little guys are as pocket sized as any candy. But instead of a sugar crash you get a zero sugar caffeine boost candy can't even compare at this point fruity rainbow five hour energy shots treat your taste buds to an explosion of fruity flavor with a tasty caffeine kick. That's right caffeine just got a flavor upgrade and it's not just one flavor five hour energy shots bring you tasty caffeine and 17 flavors 17.

6:23So if you're craving that candy flavored chaos but actually want energy that works grab fruity rainbow five hour energy shots pocket sized zero sugar big flavor available now at five hour energy dot com or on Amazon. Imagine that's like mid August when it's you know like 98% humidity and 89 degrees and like it just it's just spontaneously rains because there's just so much moisture in the air. Yeah, health front porch. Anyway, hi, welcome. It's a Friday. I am the Bulldog Mike has the day off today and so a solo flight for myself. We are guested up to the gills are buddy Sam panty out of it. We'll join us for insight on the coming NCAA basketball tournament and maybe some baseball futures and our Lindy rough coach of the year bet. That's coming up at 3 30 at four Luke Fox one of our favorites from Toronto sports net Luke Fox jukebox one of the all time great Twitter handles on the Leafs and the NHL in general and kind of timely we've got the leaf coming into town tomorrow night.

7:30And the Leafs are taking it. I mean they are getting blistered for their reaction or really a lack thereof after Captain Austin Matthews went down on a need a need job from one of the filthiest hockey players. Can I say ever in the league? I don't know certainly currently Rackogudas is absolutely someone who hunts players to hit them hard and that often results in injury and we'll see we'll go to the house severely Matthews is hurt yet. He's having an MRI today anyway Luke Fox on the Leafs and the way forward for them and the Sabers in the NHL at 4 4 30 sell the bills CJ Gardner Johnson signed a safety yesterday. So we're going to want to get sales thoughts on that move that'll be at 4 30 and then at 5 Paul Hamilton will join me and we'll get back to the Sabers and by back to the Sabers I mean that's where I want to start.

8:31Last night I mean what do you want to do with last night right I mean I already got a little pushback as I you know put together a tweet to preview the show this afternoon and said last night was a bit of a buzzkill and the first person through in my mentions is like our expectations so high that we have to refer to the first loss in eight games or nine games as a buzzkill. Well it's a buzz dent at least I mean they didn't win a ninth in a row I mean I'm not panicked about it I'm not even worried about it but it happened you know it would sound a little different if they'd won another game a ninth in a row and built or kept their lead in the division and had a chance to equal their 10 game winning streak from earlier in the season. Tomorrow night when they do host Toronto but they don't because they lost to one on a lake goal wasn't like a a disastrously bad game or anything but they were kind of flat in the third period look what they ran out of gas to me but you know again I'm inclined to kind of put that over there and just sort of dwell on what we have been enjoying for I mean I guess some of some of us arrived at we've arrived at different times to the Sabers party.

9:47I was pretty much full on believing they were going to end the drought by the time the 10 game win streak ended I thought there were enough good signs within how they were playing at that time that they'd make it I did not think they would catapult past everyone and in the first place in the Atlantic and be contending for the top spot in the conference and the top seat in the playoffs and all that but that is where we are here with them but I do like the ice cream. Maybe a rather than picking apart Logan Stanley and Luke Shen I will certainly do some of that as we go maybe even very shortly I more would like to hear from you just on the vibes of having it back having the Sabers back in your life in a meaningful way you have been able to pick up this relationship with them if you are willing to and it can feel like it never stopped all you really did this is all we ever really do I think we have to learn this we have to remember this for all the drama and however bad it feels at a given time and believe me having been in this chair for the entirety of this 14 season playoff to out I have felt every bit of the detachment and the the bitterness.

11:15The anger and eventually even the lack of anger the lack of emotion that's what detachment really is I'm not no longer mad at their results I'm just accepting of like this is this is it this is what we are stuck with and therefore I'm not going to let it hurt me anymore so I don't care anymore I hope you've all gotten over that because you'd be missing out on one of the great restarts rebirths in Buffalo sports history it's happened a few different times with the Sabers and the bills to I mean we've had 17 season playoff to out with them do and here we are you know in the throes of you know a great generational run featuring Josh Allen the Sabers you know it can be bumpy and it can really feel like it's not ever going to come back but when it does it reminds you I've made this point a few times this week because we went through this in O203 O304 before the the Sabers before the season long lockout bankruptcy league ownership like there there were people working over there worried

12:35about whether you paid on time like it was for a pro sports league you know and a team and a pro sports league like things were really you were worrying about things if you worked there that you should never have to worry about in the employee of of of of of an entity that is that big and that that month that big a corporation and it's all all these resources anyway O506 comes along and as soon as the Sabers got good again we were right back there and we've been through this has been a much longer maybe not as dramatic this drought in that there hasn't been bankruptcy you know I mean Terry Pagula has owned the team the whole time we've had stability as far as that peace goes there's been concern about oh you know we need a new owner or I mean you might be mad at the owner from time to time for his in action and leaving Kevin Adams on the job as long as he did but there was not ever concern I don't think really about the overall like you know if someone going to swoop in and take the team away I guess if the attendance had continued to be what it was if they never got good again

13:49that could be a problem but obviously that's all gone they have recaptured our imaginations and I just think you get so much back when you've got that you know and I'd love to hear what you out there are appreciating the most like what is your favorite part of this Sabers were surgeons right is is it going to the games is it going to the games with your children who are maybe adults now like mine who were really little kids too young to remember the last time the Sabers were good and so now you're experiencing this with them for the first time I've got that going in my house with with one of my sons Owen who's a hockey fanatic and works on the morning show his younger brother Leo couldn't care less about hockey so I don't have that that bond with him but I'm telling you I'm having the most fun I've ever had watching the Sabers right now when I'm watching with my kid it's just it has been so long coming and the drought really spanned I mean he didn't get really serious about the game he always even loved hockey the whole time he was playing from the time he was four or five years old and we taught him to skate

15:04right on through when he when he finished up playing just before he turned 21 he loved the game but it didn't get serious for him really until 2014 15 or even later yeah I mean even later than that so you know that's that's dead in the drought and so like him being someone who's into the game appreciates the game understands the game even in ways that I never have and will because he's been in locker rooms and on buses and parts of teams and he understands tactics and different things about the sport that I've never really been exposed to watching with him now is just the best like last and so share if you want 80305 50s the number always time for calls when when one of us is out so that is the case today so get in as soon as you get in you'll get on with me here at 80305 50 I just think you you have to be some of

16:05you out there have to be experiencing things similarly to myself that that I know that game last night was not you know they all can't be you know they they they can't all be the you know the best right I mean games like Sunday night against Tampa are going to be rare where I mean it's just off the charts with excitement and just everything you could possibly want the sporting event last I was it was far from that it was a very ordinary sort of run of the mill weeknight NHL game but even within it the sabers that first period they were they were but they're opportunity to win that game click to me clearly was in the first period if they've gotten two or three goals in that first period they might have cruised but they didn't the Washington goal did a good job but within within only scoring that one goal the goal that was scored that play by Mellonstein he I'm mad the sabers mad disappointed is better disappointed the sabers lost didn't get their two points you know they didn't keep their four point lead over Tampa they

17:14didn't close within two more of Carolina yada yada right the standings that's disappointing I'm as disappointed that they didn't win that game because the play that Mellonstein makes for the one goal that they did score in the game would have been like a play I want to say I would have never forgotten it and maybe I won't but it's you know it's one of 82 and it's a loss but him unveiling a no look backhand I mean is that Leon dryside who am I watching Mellonstein with a behind the back no look pass across the goal mouth to care for a tap in it's back Mellonstein oh and I were like we were roaring in the living room like roaring laughing he could not believe like the audacity of this team that they're they're fourth line banging winger

18:15and he's had these moments he had one just the other night like the breakaway scored on these he's had other ones even one against Washington really this year where he kind of recreated the Palmfield goal against Ottawa in game five the series winner he has had these moments but last I was just it was just hilarious to me that he's uncorking that pass to Carrick and he's just like what can't this team do that's back Mellonstein what in the world is even happening out here and because they end up losing the game I kind of feel like that'll be I don't know some version of the pass that Josh that Josh Allen through to Stefan digs in the corner of the end zone in Arizona in 2020 you know the plan to be a go ahead touchdown late just put the bills in front there that's what I go ahead touchdown is and it's like this great throw this great catch and it's a play we should be talking about the further rest of the year but then Kyler Murray comes back on the field and the hell Murray is complete to do under Hopkins and Arizona wins the game

19:19and this great throw in this great catch become like a footnote right the only time he gets mentioned is in a moment like this where you go like you remember some great plays and I'm not really mattering that much yeah that's one and I feel like Mellonstein is going to be filed in that category and that's too bad because it was such a super cool play and along with that goes that sequence at the end of the first period which I haven't talked to anybody that was in there I would love to hear from anyone who was that can tell me I should have asked this on Twitter because somebody certainly would have gotten back to me with at least an opinion about it but it just felt I couldn't really hear the crowd on last days broadcast that while I don't know why it just was a novelty to me so I couldn't really tell how loud it was but when Thompson was hammering those five consecutive one-timers on that power play at the end of the first period I thought we were I had tears in my eyes I couldn't tell if those shots were on that or if they were you know wide or high or what I just was crying from laughing so hard and oh same same thing like we're just my wife had some friends over there in the dining room wondering what in the actual

20:35half is going on in the living room because we were just hysterical is one after the other after the other after the other I left off and after the other there I have to think if if the third or fourth one of those had gone in the net that the building would have been in serious danger of caving in I just like the crowd had to be building and building and building like such an incredible moment to have and you know as it turns out they don't score there and they end up losing to one and just like this male and Stein play to score their only goal is kind of like a little footnote you just sort of leave over there and it probably would have been that anyway because they didn't score a goal on the sequence. So I guess maybe I'm more disappointed they didn't score there that Thompson didn't score there or somebody didn't get a rebound or something because it was I have never seen in an NHL game. Or really any game for that matter but I know I cannot recall so I'm going to rephrase because I you know never seen it's tough I've seen a lot and I therefore have forgotten a lot but I cannot recall ever having seen a player Ovechkin right from his similar similar spot as Thompson Thompson was a little lower I think then Ovechkin's you know legendary spot there on the power play.

22:00I just have never seen a guy get teed up four times as quickly and ultimately it was five there was one more like after the power plan did I think that made it a total of five. I just can't recall ever watching a guy get teed up that many times in that short a time span like one power play and it wasn't even like over the course of the whole two minutes it was just like this little pocket near the end of the power play where he just they just kept letting him hammer it. And so he did and it was just the funnest thing to be watching and witnessing and even Thompson look to be laughing about it as he left the ice at the end of that shift and as the period was winding down it was just such an incredibly cool moment. You know within it when I squeeze this in because Owen made this observation and I have been a lot of you did too and I wholeheartedly agree with it as cool as it was watching Thompson hammer one time or after one time or after one time or after one time or after one time or there I said I'm all I won't do that again I promise.

23:12It does kind of shine a light on what the limitations of the sabers power play can be the fact that Washington was willing to just give them that I don't think those saves easy for me to say me to say I'm not I'm not Charlie Lindgren sliding from my left to my right getting in position for a 98 mile an hour one time or from taged Thompson but. It's pretty predictable I mean it's been a part of the sabers game plan on the power point and absolutely should remain one but it often is the only thing they seem to be willing to spend time trying to set up and in that way it can become pretty predictable and five in a row definitely became predictable I mean I know Lindgren was honest about playing the position and was moving around but he might as well have just stayed facing to his facing taged Thompson because the. Buck was going back there it seemed no matter what we're gonna we're gonna get we're gonna t this up we're gonna we're gonna make this work and somewhere within that there is a criticism to be made against the sabers power play overall because they just do not have enough they don't have enough variety in what they're trying to do so that was fun but it also I think does leave a little room for you to be like oh come on.

24:38We find another thing we find one other thing to do maybe two or three would be helpful instead of just doing this over and over and over again but that said the criticism takes a backseat the fun of it was just awesome to watch unfolding as he's just hammering those shots at the net but again ultimately been score and a late defensive breakdown leads to a two one loss to Washington and you know a bummer no nine game win streak no opportunity to equal the seasons earlier 10 game win streak tomorrow but a chance to get back on the right side of things with the Leafs coming into town we saw Logan Stanley for a second game in this in this game last night paired with his old teammate and frequent partner in Winnipeg Lucien and I look I appreciate the sabers place in the standings I appreciate that they've got new parts that they've got parts that they want to try out. I'm not eager to see Logan Stanley and Lucien on the ice together again never if it's necessitated because of injury which is mainly why at least I think Shen was acquired I think Stanley was acquired to play meaningful minutes on the third pair with Castle Ring or maybe eventually Conor Timmons we'll see how that goes I get them wanting to like get both of these guys out there and see what we got let Shen get acclimated.

26:07But there were some misplays obviously the first goal was a misplay from Shen to Stanley and there were a couple of other times where they kind of had a tough time in their own zone. So let's pump the brakes on that you know we'll see about tomorrow and what the sabers might think they have coming at them from Toronto maybe they'll want toughness in the form of Shen in the lineup still Stanley I don't think comes out. But Shen really is the one that I'm watching last night going let's not let's not do this again again if we have to we have to if we're comfortable with our position in the standings and you want to get some guys some time off you know okay you know that's that's reasonable but I don't I don't think I need to see that pair again I did not it did not go real well. So those are some thoughts on last night's game but mostly it's you know it's it's it's vibes Chuck is what is what I'm after let's squeeze I can't I can't work the can you punch rich up here real quick for the break thank you Zach rich sorry about that you're on the air here on WGR.

27:23Well dog it's all we obviously a privilege to speak with you I heard you since the bn days my question or not my question is you are spot on with the power play. It's more predictable than the wwe here to take give it to take you can't do it you get a move around you got to get these guys moving around. And everybody that we play against knows if around the power play it's going to be oh you're just the one timer. No you get a move around you got to make these teams know that who's going to get the pop who's going to get the pop. Yesterday's game was very disappointing I'm a little worried about the western trip I don't know too much about how their teams are in their building but this is going to be the test. If we can come out of the western conference or the four games in the west if we can get at least two then I'll be more confident about how far we're going to go.

28:28Okay I'm not to me they've passed every test already I don't feel like it's a test. We've talked some already this week about great sabers teams that had very bad stretches at the end of season 0506 that team lost eight of nine. I'm not I'm not looking at anything like oh I got to get this I got to get that I got that they're good I'm trusting that they'll figure it out last night was a blip. The power play for sure the thing that's weird and thank you Rich for the compliment the thing that's really weird before I get to break about the power play is to me how effective they are moving around the offensive zone freely at five on five. This high cycle that they use all the time just the way they move around the offensive zone is so I think different than the majority of teams in the league right now. And yet on the power play they're kind of stagnant and that just does not really add up to me it's it's a weird it's a weird piece of all this that is never really added up to me anyway thanks for the call let's hit up a time out same panty out of the other side of the break will get into the NCAA basketball tournament look at major like baseball futures discuss our Lindy rough coach of the year bet and more with our buddy Sammy P right after this Mike is off today I'm the bulldog you're listening to WGR.

29:54Have you or a family member been diagnosed with early stage non small cell lung cancer that can be removed by surgery consider talking to an oncologist about your treatment options why because knowing your options before you have surgery can help your care team develop a treatment plan that's right for you learn about a potential treatment plan before and after surgery at ask before surgery dot com that's ask before surgery dot com and talk to an oncologist before your surgery. Get more out of every mile when you share the ride to work with carpooling you'll have time to relax save money and pick up new friends commuter connections can help you find carpool partners who live and work near you even if you're commuting just a few days a week it's a free service carpooling every dollar saved every friend made register for free carpool partner ride matching at commuter connections dot org or call 800 745 ride that's commuter connections dot org.

30:54I'm done carrying around bulky drinks and I'm definitely done cleaning melted candy out of my pockets so yeah I traded them both in for fruity rainbow five hour energy shots these little guys are as pocket sized as any candy but instead of a sugar crash you get a zero sugar caffeine boost candy can't even compare at this point fruity rainbow five hour energy shots treat your taste buds to an explosion of fruity flavor with a tasty caffeine kick that's right caffeine just got a flavor upgrade and it's not just one flavor five hour energy shots bring you tasty caffeine and 17 flavors 17 so if you're craving that candy flavored chaos but actually want energy that works grab fruity rainbow five hour energy shots pocket sized zero sugar big flavor available now at five hour energy dot com or on Amazon this is attorney Amida Zari from a Zari law if you've been injured in an accident and feel like no one is fighting for you it's time to fight back Paul Zari law at 888 828 hurt that's what one call you can put a proven legal team on your side Zari law has been serving the DMV for over 15 years proudly fighting for our locals news was born and raised right here in the DMV my team is made up of experienced reputable local attorneys dedicated to fighting for injury.

32:23Victims just like you follow us on all social platforms at it was already dot law that's a Z a R I dot L A W don't wait don't settle by back with it was already law offices in Maryland DC in Virginia like him and I are ready to stand up for you call 888 828 hurt that's 888 828 H U R T and let us fight back for you. Oh could this vintage store be any cuter right and the best part except discover except discover in a little place like this I don't think so Jennifer oh yeah Ha discovers accepted where I like to shop come on baby get with the times right so we shouldn't get the parachute pants these are making a comeback I think discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide based on the February 2025 Nielsen report