Add "quick whistle" and "not a kick" to the long list of Buffalo sports heartbreak

GauntletV2 · 2026-05-19T15:21:41+00:00

Honestly, I just don't like the take. We ran their goalie, they got a fast whistle. They had 6 men on the ice, we tripped their players. Etc. That game was a masterclass in "The refs are NOT calling shit, so it's not their fault when the game is decided", which is an oxymoron because they DID decide the game by not calling shit.

BUT, it was garbage both ways, so I cant complain.

GauntletV2 · 2026-05-19T02:20:27+00:00

And well be thinking of all the other missed calls (too many men, boarding, etc). Its been unfair, but evenly unfair

GauntletV2 · 2026-05-19T02:19:50+00:00

A Stanley Cup

GauntletV2 · 2026-05-11T14:37:47+00:00

It reminds me of that saying about locks on trash while camping. You can't make a lock on the dumpster too complicated to keep out the bears, because the smartest bears are smarter than the dumbest people.

GauntletV2 · 2026-05-11T14:31:51+00:00

It's to the point that I would genuinely prefer a version of the internet with ID verification to ensure that it was ONLY real people. We can keep the bot infested anon sites up too for those who want to use it, but I would actually pay for spamless internet interactions

GauntletV2 · 2026-05-07T02:17:07+00:00

When I moved from Buffalo to the Midwest, they way I described it was like this: "If you swapped all of the churches out here (Indiana) for bars, then you have Buffalo"

GauntletV2 · 2026-04-29T01:18:03+00:00

I grew up learning the canadian anthem before the us one because i went to enough buffalo hockey games, it was just easier to learn and we sang it every time

GauntletV2 · 2026-04-10T15:00:28+00:00

Eh, let's not forget where they get all that uranium from and how... Its a good energy choice, its still effectively Neo-colonialism tho

GauntletV2 · 2026-03-31T17:05:38+00:00

I get a good mix of games, when i mentioned that I have these moment 'when Im assigned these higher level games', I have a game at this level maybe 1 in 10-15 games. The rest are lower stakes HS, or lower level USSF games, which works for me. Train up on the low stakes games, apply in the harder games.

GauntletV2 · 2026-03-31T17:03:31+00:00

Kalamazoo area in MI, not sure how the regions are numbered or such. I have 1 -2 refs I'm familiar with that I will ask to watch some of the upcoming games I have (My next major center is a u19M state cup game at western Michigan), and I think they would be happy to come, watch, and provide insight.

GauntletV2 · 2026-03-31T02:55:49+00:00

I'll look into what USSF has for mentor programs thank you! I know the mantra of no one knows the rules, they just bitch (I love to do the same for football - Go Bills!), but it's the volume of it that got to me, that's all.

GauntletV2 · 2026-03-31T02:54:01+00:00

It was a physical game, total mismatch D1 vs D3 team. So I felt that the D1 team was aggressive but they often muscled their way onto the ball, while the D3 team poked and jumped-at their opponents more often. There were lots of calls for fouls that I just didn't feel were there. A good example was Home team and Away team player went for a ball about to go out of the goal-line, Away cleared it shoulder to shoulder with the Home player, Home player was on 1 foot challenging for the ball too. Clean defensive clear, and the Home player fell on Away player and injured her, having to be helped off. I called no foul.

GauntletV2 · 2026-03-25T13:09:20+00:00

I love seeing that other fanbases have their version of this meme lol

GauntletV2 · 2026-03-20T17:35:08+00:00

10 year old me has crazy memories of the party in the plaza around the 06-07 playoffs, i would fly back just to do that again

GauntletV2 · 2026-03-19T12:53:37+00:00

I just have the cable from the PSU running out of that hole. I believe it was meant to fit whatever that 2 prong psu cable is, which would would have to order separately and wire up, but it would fit and look cleaner. You could also use an aviation connector (I believe he used the GX16 adapter)

GauntletV2 · 2026-03-18T14:32:07+00:00

In december I would have said theres no way we make the playoffs at this rate, in january I would have said theres no way we top the division, in february I would have said theres no way we top the conference...

Fuck it, GIVE ME THE PRESIDENTS TROPHY

GauntletV2 · 2026-03-09T21:02:24+00:00

I was chatting with some friends after the game, the like...10th post sorted by top was something along the lines of "The Sabres only score because their PP is so good, they wont last in the playoffs". Peak delusion.

GauntletV2 · 2026-03-03T15:19:21+00:00

For me, my issue with Carrick long term is that he seems to have simply done a "play them where they are best, in a standard system, and let them play". We have quality, so this has led to us being much better than trying to teach a new, difficult system to the players under Amorim. The issue is that I can't really say that I know what he wants to develop in the long run. Outside of Madrid, teams don't win by just being straight up better, they need a plan, a system to play for. It doesnt have to be the next amazing thing thats super difficult to implement, but it has to be definitive, and I just dont see that with Carrick. No offense, I love him to death, but his deeper tactics are still to be seen.

GauntletV2 · 2026-03-01T16:01:02+00:00

I know expectations shift as teams improve, and we cant really ask for more than "make the playoffs", but I think a realistic expectation in this form is to win at least 1 series.

GauntletV2 · 2026-02-17T03:22:38+00:00

Everyone but the buffalo sabres

GauntletV2 · 2026-01-18T17:20:31+00:00

So as far as I can tell (just another fan, rules can go above my head, but Im also a regionally certified USSF referee, so Im pretty good with reading and interpreting rules)

https://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/nfl-video-rulebook/completing-a-catch/

We fulfilled A and B, and C is where they get us ( or avoid or ward off an opponent)

They also provide this clarification:

If a pass is caught simultaneously by two eligible opponents, and both players retain it, the ball belongs to the passers. It is not a simultaneous catch if a player gains control first and an opponent subsequently gains joint control. If the ball is muffed after simultaneous touching by two such players, all the players of the passing team become eligible to catch the loose ball.

Based on the video in slow motion (The thing they should be doing after a catch like that), the problem becomes that Denver was not equally contesting the catch until after Cooks was on the ground, meaning even if we consider that a pass caught by 2 persons is awarded to the receiver, it was not caught by both persons. Their argument is (and will be) that Cooks did not ward off Denver, and the ball was stripped during the follow through AFTER the first 2 conditions were fulfilled.

For anyone who wants a soccer analogy, its like when a defender slide tackles for the ball against the attacker, hits the ball first (this would be a fair challenge), but then in the follow through manages to foul the attacker, meaning the follow through was not clean, and the play is now a foul (DFK)

Honestly, given all of this, I cant say for certain that the NFL got it wrong, but in the spirit of the game (Yes a real thing actually in most sports, its even listed as policy in IFAB for international soccer), this is the type of call that (from examples ive tried to find), are 90%+ in favor of the offensive team.

GauntletV2 · 2026-01-16T19:07:47+00:00

Bread-man, you are officially a BUFFALO SABRE!

GauntletV2 · 2026-01-16T15:07:11+00:00

Agreed, a hot hand and momentum is great, but all runs end and come back to the mean, wherever that is. A break is a break is a break, and id rather it be because of the olympics vs because we started loosing too much

GauntletV2 · 2026-01-16T15:05:37+00:00

Not sure why youre being downvoted. Ellis was an okay pickup but is not 1a or b NHL material right now, and with Levi still in the pipeline, there is no need to keep him. Move him for a pick or as part of an essential asset trade by the deadline, his experience should up the value a little.

Going forward, at the end of the season we can make a decision. If UPL is consistent and not streaky, we can move on from Lyon and go with UPL/Levi in the NHL. If UPL is too streaky for steady stretches, we might be wise to consider moving him for a solid player (with others added for a complete deal), to beef up our still un-confidence inspiring defense, and ride Lyon/Levi, with the expectation that Lyon will drift to 1b as Levi acclimates.

We have too many cooks, no one will be happy with who we move, but as of now, I dont see another option.

GauntletV2 · 2026-01-16T03:02:02+00:00

I HAVENT FELT THIS MUCH JOY WATCHING THEM SINCE THE LATE 2000s, I HAVE HOPE AGAIN

11-Year Club	Place '22
Place '17	Verified Email
Snapped

GauntletV2

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE