Discussing Sabres Possible Changes & Vibe w/ Paul Hamilton | The Jeremy and Joe Show

Added: 2026-05-14

[00:00:01]Paul Hamilton joining us in just a few moments on the West Her hotline.

[00:00:06]>> Game four. Just I'm just going to keep saying it.

[00:00:09]>> Keep saying game four over and over again because I'm just trying to mentally stay okay for this. Like I'm trying not to get too deep into the the doubt. I just need to base myself.

[00:00:17]>> No doubt. Base myself. You're based Joe Cali. You based over there.

[00:00:22]>> I guess I'm based. Yeah. Is that a bad thing?

[00:00:26]>> Um I Yeah. I mean, tonight it's huge.

[00:00:29]It's as big a game as they I I just put the tweet together. I I It is as big a game as they've played in 15 years here tonight. That is it. Like, tonight is it. And uh you know, we've got we've got our friend Paul Hamilton here to uh help get us ready for tonight's enormous game. How you doing today, Paul?

[00:00:48]>> I'm well. How are you?

[00:00:49]>> You've got the B team, Paul. You're running on the backups here.

[00:00:52]>> The B team.

[00:00:54]>> Oh, what are you supplanted? Are we the A team now, Paul? Is that Of course you're the A. You're sitting in a chair, are you?

[00:01:01]>> No, I guess >> we're actually not. We're in our normal He's in the control room. I'm in my video booth.

[00:01:06]>> We're running this thing.

[00:01:07]>> The studio lays dormant across from both of us right now. So, it's, >> you know, we're we're getting there, Paul.

[00:01:14]>> We're getting close. We're getting close, Paul, to game four. It's exciting.

[00:01:18]>> Paul, a big thing, we'll just start off with this going into this game is just changes. And what what could some of these changes be? Are you leaning towards anything specific? Um whether it be the defensive pairings, the front of the the offense, anything like that?

[00:01:33]>> Well, you know, of course, we always wonder if uh they're going to change make a change in goal and it would be because they're mad at Lion or think Lion is doing anything wrong. It would pre be a shock factor type of a change.

[00:01:46]It's like maybe shock the team into well, you screwed up uh for Lion, you know, nice job type of a thing. Uh so I I suppose it's possible you could see Lucin because you know really Lucin is not a backup. I think they still consider him you know kind of 1A 1B uh like they have all season long. So we'll we'll see if that's a possibility although you know Lindy Ruff for two days has been saying this ju this is not online at all and he's been pretty staunch about it. So we'll see if that's it. The other one would be uh Stanley.

[00:02:20]Stanley. This is this it's just too fast a series for Stanley. This is just something that is not in his toolbox and he has shown us I think in if every game he's just not up for the task and I I think it's time to move on.

[00:02:37]>> Yeah, I think that I I I'm with you on on Stanley Paul. It just I I think we saw it in game three really come to the forefront that I don't think Stanley just has the foot speed to to play in a series like this. And you mentioned yesterday that you've you liked what you've seen from Kessle Ring. Mets also would make sense in this spot against this opponent specifically. Uh you're still leaning in Kessle Ring's way if they're making a change on the back end.

[00:03:01]>> That's what I would do. I I've liked what I've seen skatingwise both in practice and in games uh you know down the end of the season that where he played and even it was more circumstances in the game. Played four and a half minutes. I mean, they had two righties as their third pair. I think they they have to be maybe a little bit more flexible if that's the way they're going to go and uh maybe break up uh Power and Byum for at on some shifts and still play them on others, but on some shifts so you have a lefty righty and you can give Timonss and uh Kesslebring more time on the ice. Um because you know, I don't know why it just seems like two righties don't work together. I mean, a right-handed shooting defenseman playing left defense normally doesn't work, where the other way around it does, where a left-handed shooting defenseman's better playing on right. I can't give you the reason for that. I don't I don't know, but it just seems like that's the way it goes. Paul Owen and I were talking a little bit about this in the last hour, just Metsa and the potential for him. maybe this series might fit him a little better because it might not be as physical as the Boston series or what you're preparing for with Tampa like you said yesterday with those two additions in Stanley and Shen. Is there is he still you think an option or would they you know lean more towards Kessle Ring?

[00:04:22]>> I would lean more towards Kessle Ring. I I think Metsa kind of lost his shine a little bit in his last x amount of games. I mean, he was going along in a a pace I've never seen where, you know, he he hadn't been on the iceberg goal against since October. And then one happened. Of course, it was going to happen. I mean, it was like, yeah, okay.

[00:04:43]Yeah. But then three happened the next game and everybody, you know, well, that's they were all Stanley's fault.

[00:04:51]No, they weren't. Yeah.

[00:04:52]>> Uh some were. Yeah. But no, uh, you know, he just seemed like, uh, he he had lost a little bit from what we had seen.

[00:05:02]So, I mean, it would still be better than Stanley. Definitely. I mean, uh, I would just go with Kessle Ring and the one game they needed the defenseman.

[00:05:12]That's what they did when, uh, when Stanley was ill. But, uh, they don't have any lefties. All their all their, uh, defensive depth right now are righties.

[00:05:22]>> Yep. All right, let's move one step back then, Paul, and and move to the goalenders real quick and talk about that a little bit. I I I had no problem with Lion in game three. I thought he he made a ton of saves in the first period that allowed the Sabres the opportunity to get back into the game, but I do think it's possible we see Lukan tonight if for no other reason than to give him the opportunity to get back in and take the net back so that they're not sort of keeping him away from it. and if they end up needing him in in a more significant way, he's sort of cold, ice cold. This seems like an opportunity for them to to sort of get to that rotation that Lindy Ruff continues to mention he enjoys having and has liked how it works this season for them. I I'm just curious whether you expect to see Lucan or Lion starting in the net tonight. I don't know how what Lendy thinks about goalending really. And if if that's the case that they're just thinking, well, we got to get him in at some point in case we need them. Well, this isn't the game for that. This is the most important game of the season.

[00:06:25]>> Uh so, you know, this wouldn't be the game to do that in um the only reason I would do it, as I said, from a for just from a to to shock the Sabres, >> right?

[00:06:36]>> It's just like, yeah, well, you screwed it up for Lion, guys. Nice job. you know, and type of a thing because they would feel bad. They would feel responsible for the reason he's not in the games anymore because is because of them, not because of the way he played.

[00:06:52]Um, so, uh, that would be the only reason I would do it.

[00:06:57]>> But, um, again, with Lindy, it's it's hard to tell. I just, you know, all all season long, especially in the beginning, I I never knew which goalender he was going to go with. And then he began alternating, it was very easy to know which one he was going to go with, >> right, >> Paul? Just a question now, moving, I guess, forward to the forwards. Um, just looking at them, any line changes you could see potentially there? Krebs moving up, anything like that?

[00:07:25]>> Well, Krebs can't move up any further where than when he is. No, he is on the top.

[00:07:31]>> He's on the top line. That's right.

[00:07:32]That's right. Yeah, that you know should have maybe looked at the updated line before that, but uh any other movement I guess any any potential movement you could see happening >> again with Lindy? you never like he had juggled the lines for like a period and a half and then when the next game started he went back to the other lines went back to the old lines and and uh so without a practice yesterday it's it's hard to tell I mean he did mention that he they need production out of the Mloud line um production that they aren't getting they're they're getting chances to score in in some of the games a couple of games ago they were their line. But um by the end of the day though, Quinn hasn't scored in a while.

[00:08:21]You know, Zooker hasn't scored the whole playoffs and Mloud has that power play goal and they just aren't uh you know, producing any offense whatsoever. So, um he did mention that. So, you know, it makes you wonder if uh because that's usually the line he doesn't touch, >> right?

[00:08:41]>> He'll he'll he'll he'll juggle the top line. he'll juggle uh the Norris line.

[00:08:47]He just doesn't seem to touch that line at all. So, it'll be interesting to see.

[00:08:52]>> Paul, just um on Zooker for a moment. I feel like there's a lot of discourse I've been seeing just on he's doing the little things well, some people thinking so, some people not. What What's your take there on uh Zooker throughout the playoffs? like you said, he's not necessarily generating scoring chances, but um do you think he is doing some of the smaller things better?

[00:09:12]>> Up until the last game, that would be that was the first game where I thought, well, he's not really doing well in front of the net. He's not generating chances in front to Quinn, which he was doing. Um he was doing everything but scoring. I mean, he had an overtime goal. It was on his stick. It was a wide open net. It was off. The puck was headed towards the net for the game-winning goal. and all of a sudden Quinn came through it and hit him. Um, he hit a crossbar, he's hit skates, he's hit everything. I mean, but he's been where he's supposed to be, which is net front and, you know, digging for the puck and setting up Quinn and doing those things. I didn't see that in the last game, but he only played 6 minutes and 47 seconds, too. So, um, how much time did he have to do that? And according to Lenny Ruff, the reason for that is because they got I mean they gave up six power plays. So that that's that's 12 minutes right there. He's not going to be on the ice penalty killing.

[00:10:13]And uh he's not on the top power play anymore. And he just felt he said that he just felt that well he hasn't been involved for for a while. So it wouldn't be fair to put him on the ice. So okay.

[00:10:26]Um then he went right to but this line has to start producing. You know he jumped right into that after he had said that.

[00:10:35]So my question is he just is he just protecting a a veteran or is that the way he feels that he didn't think it'd be fair to put him on the ice? And that's something I guess we'll never know. But uh you know I maybe part of it is he didn't want to throw Zooker under the bus, >> right? that that that would make sense to me either either way really. I think Lindy's explanation in terms of the game flow does you can you can get with that, but I also think it's entirely possible that he's just trying to make sure that his one of his, you know, wy vets doesn't get too down. Um I I wanted to ask you, Paul, you're you're there every day. This is as as bleak as it has probably looked in the Sabres season since they turned it around in in early December. What what does it feel like down there right now? Is there some tension? Does the team feel confident to you? Loose? I mean, you know these guys.

[00:11:29]You know what they sound like? How they feel in the locker room? What what what kind of impression are you getting from that that room right now?

[00:11:36]>> Well, I I think it's one of anger. It's like, what are we doing here? Why are we And that's the thing. If they lose the game, they probably I mean, they have to win three in a row to stay alive. They've done that before, but the way Montreal is playing, I don't know if that's in the cards.

[00:11:55]If they win the game, you can forget about the last two games because it's a brand new series, >> right?

[00:12:00]>> You're back to 2-2 and you still have home ice advant you still have home ice advantage for the last three games. So, it's it's that's the weird thing about the playoffs, how things can change so quickly, but uh and just figure out that like you've done how many times this season where you've had a little bit of a a a lull, but you figured it out. You started playing the way you you know you can play, the way you're supposed to play, and you get back on the horse and get going again. Now, they we were thinking that might happen last game. It didn't. Um, so now they've had two games that really they'd like to forget, but uh, you know, it's it's every indication that they've shown us is they can dig out of that and and they can play the game the way it's supposed to be played.

[00:12:50]And if they do, there they are. They come home 2-2, which is kind of what I thought might happen anyway before these two games even were played. You know, I had it in my head that, you know, probably a pretty good chance they're going to come home 2-2. and uh that you know that that's there for them if they want to take advantage of it.

[00:13:10]>> And then one one last thing just about how how game three went and how it might change going into tonight. It felt to me like they were just a little eager to to vacate the zone and get in on the offense. I think likely because of the way that this series has been sort of promoted and and thought of as well this is going to be high-flying and and racing up and down the ice and all that stuff. Do you think that the Sabres are going to look tonight to sort of peel that back a little bit and like shift gears in any way in terms of their approach or are they just going to stick with what they've been doing because it's brought them so much success throughout the season?

[00:13:49]>> They're fine if they if they put the pucks in the right places, >> right?

[00:13:53]>> And uh you know they can play their game. They there's really no need, you know, when Buffalo's playing their game, I think they're fast, too, >> right? you know, and Montreal has to worry about them, but they haven't been playing their game, so it's lagged behind. I I thought they were intimidated by the crowd last last time.

[00:14:13]I think the I've never seen anything like it in any sport I've been in. And I I think they were somewhat intimidated by that. Uh, you know, so they were losing coverages. They were they were wide open Montreal Canadians in the zone all the time.

[00:14:30]If you feed their transition, they're going to look like the better team.

[00:14:33]They're going to look like the faster team because you you hand them the puck.

[00:14:38]That was one of the things he was talking about, the Mloud line. He goes, they get the He goes, "There were three different occasions where they get the zone and they just throw the puck in the middle of the ice." He goes, "Well, what happened? Montreal got the puck and off they went."

[00:14:54]>> And with speed. He goes, "That's how you feed their transition because you put the puck in the wrong place and now you've given them the chance to to be able to be faster than you because you're going one way into the zone. Now you just throw the puck in the middle.

[00:15:11]They got it." And off they go the other way. Well, you got to stop and and now head back. So, you're already behind the eightball because they're gone. So, those are the types of things that, you know, they have to stop doing. They have to stop putting them on the power play.

[00:15:27]Whether they like the penalties or not, as Ta Thompson said, we got they got too preoccupied with that stuff. He goes, "We're getting preoccupied with stuff we can't control, like like refing or whatever." He goes, "We can't control that. We got to stop getting preoccupied by it." And, you know, he felt that was a big thing, too. So, uh, they got to stay out of the penalty box. That's that's the one thing because you're just getting everything rolling again. And uh and and quite honestly, I don't really think the penalties were all that egregious as far as oh that that shouldn't have been called. They earned most of their penalties and they got to stop it.

[00:16:06]>> Paul Hamilton with us on the West Her hotline. Paul, just one last thing before you go here. Maybe a question for you and Owen a little bit. mentioned the environment kind of be getting the best of them and we've I mean you're sitting in the middle of it but even on the TV broadcast they're really showing just the the torchbearer the music everything about it that crowd is just insane having played the game both of you is there a story or anything you can remember about an environment an unruly one like that maybe kind of getting the best of your team or anything like that >> it's the thing is the good thing is now they've all experienced it >> right >> and they've had a couple of days here to think, all right, we know what's coming.

[00:16:46]They thought they knew what was coming last game, but until you get into the middle of it, you don't know. That's why I always say I've been saying it's hard for me to explain to people what it's about if you weren't sitting in the middle of it. It's it's it's that different and that cool actually than anything I've seen and probably a fan would have seen uh you know, if they were there. It's it's relentless. It never stops. That crowd is buzzing the whole game. Now, had the Sabres gotten the second goal, which they almost got, that changes things with that crowd.

[00:17:23]They turn they'll turn on the Canadians.

[00:17:25]If if if all of a sudden it's two nothing, they'll turn on them.

[00:17:28]>> Oh, yeah.

[00:17:28]>> And you They were almost there. They had a really good chance in front uh that they weren't able to capitalize on, which would have made it two to nothing.

[00:17:38]and uh you know before Montreal then started really going and they tied it up before the end of the period. So um but uh yeah it's now now they know they they know what's coming. They know what to expect and I would think they would react differently in this game.

[00:17:57]>> Paul Hamilton with us on the Western Hotline. Paul, thanks for uh taking some time out of the morning and um best of luck tonight in the arena. Hopefully uh you bring back a Sabres win so the next game at KeyBank's not an elimination game. But thanks Paul.

[00:18:09]>> Take care guys.

[00:18:10]>> Paul Hamilton's appearance brought to you by RLax Honda. Relax. We got this. I