Best Sabres Interviews on WGR: March 30-April 3

·1 hr 20 min·5 clips

TSN insider Darren Dreger hesitates to call the Sabres a top Stanley Cup contender, pointing to their lack of playoff experience.

The episode opens by reminiscing about April 8, 2011, the last time the Buffalo Sabres made the playoffs, contrasting it with the current opportunity to clinch against Ottawa. The hosts, Brian and Marty, set the stage for a packed show featuring guests Darren Dreger and Shayna Goldman. They discuss the Sabres' lineup decisions, notably Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen starting in goal and the insertion of Josh Dunne for Sam Carrick. The conversation quickly turns to the playoff race, detailing how the Sabres are two points ahead of Tampa Bay and tied with Carolina, with Ottawa also fighting for a wildcard spot. Darren Dreger joins and is asked directly if the Sabres are a top Stanley Cup contender. He gives a nuanced answer, praising their regular season but expressing hesitation due to their lack of a playoff "body of work" compared to established Western Conference powers like Dallas and Colorado. Dreger also analyzes Connor McDavid's recent comments admiring the Tampa Bay Lightning's organizational strength. A significant portion of the middle segment is devoted to off-ice drama surrounding the Ottawa Senators. This centers on a comment made by Keith Tkachuk on a podcast hosted by his sons, Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, which was interpreted as a slight against goalie Linus Ullmark's mental health break. The hosts and Dreger discuss the implications and the fact that neither Brady Tkachuk nor Ullmark spoke to media to clarify, fanning the flames. Later, contributor Joe Yerdon joins to recap the Sabres' recent loss to Ottawa, analyzing why they struggled against a desperate opponent. He discusses the impact of Sam Carrick's injury, the return of Jordan Greenway, and lineup flexibility heading into the playoffs. The episode also touches on the development of prospects like Max Štrbák and the ongoing competition on defense, particularly the third pairing involving Zach Metsa. Throughout, there are lighthearted diversions, including a discussion about NASA's moon mission and a humorous segment about Cleveland Browns coach Todd Monken missing an NFL photo op because he was getting a haircut.

As heard by us

A loose Sabres conversation links an April 2011 memory to Ottawa, goalie workloads, online heat, and playoff-pressure stakes.

An April 8, 2011 memory gives this Sabres conversation its shape, with the hosts locating themselves around that night before turning the long wait into a present-tense chance to end the drought in Ottawa.

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Why you'd press play

You get an April 8, 2011 Sabres memory, Ottawa playoff stakes, and live-radio arguments about goalies and Brady Tkachuk.

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