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SABRES GIVE UP LOSING SHOOTOUTS FOR LENT |
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First Period:
Miller and Brodeur.
MacArthur is in the lineup and Peters sits. Nathan Paetsch sits with 76.
Mac's recovered form his touch of Montezuma's revenge. I hate when that happens!
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Sutter and Ruff play chess early. Whoever scores first will dictate the tempo. Its hard for Sutter to install the ICE BOOM when his team is trailing on the high def scoreboard.
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2:30 into the game, Ryan scores his fourth from Hank and Mair. Hank's point shot found its way through the schmozzle in front of Brodeur and Ryan tipped it in. 1-0 Sabres.
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Buffalo are keeping the third man high and protecting the middle of the ice.
New Jersey will ahve to attack from the walls as the middle will be clogged.
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Lindy likes the commitment level and playing with purpose of his Kaleta-Mair-Ryan line. They've gotten a good chunk of ice in the game's first 5 minutes.
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More than a dozen scouts from assorted NHL teams en la casa tonight.
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Pommer took a quick snapper and it blated Brodeur right in the grille. The Hall Of Famer shook it off, but its got to daze him a tad bit. Rule of thumb, next time down, shoot high.
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Kaleta draws Mike Rupp into a silly penalty . Just like he did to the Bruins last night.
Sabres first PP of the night....
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Biffalo kill off the Vanek minor... have the Devils had a shot on goal in this period? The Sabres are stifling the the Devs offense and turning the back at the blueline.
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Sabres completely shut down the Devs in the first period. No Devil had a shot on Miller in the last 14 minutes of the period! Nice D.
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Darcy Regier guested with Kevin and Roby between periods.
Darcy and Larry Kelly continue to speak about 51s new deal, and he says that there will be another meeting between the two parties in the next week.
"Brian's a guy we want to keep", said Regier.
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2nd Period:
* The Buffalo D picks up right where it left off in the first period. The forwards are denying time and space with quick feet and active sticks.
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True to Devil form, Sutter activates the ICE BOOM (Trap) at the convergence of Lake Erie and the Mighty Niagara River. Gawd, I hate the f*&% in Trap!!
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2-0 Buffalo. Pommer now has 3 goals and 5 assists in his last 5 games. From Paille and Hecht. Pommer's 14th.
For all you Sabres conspiracy theorists, remember these last two games next time you start pissin and moanin about the Sabres getting the shaft in close games.
Dan Paille's goal last night was allowed by Toronto, as was Pommer's tonight.
This is good kharma for The Sabres.
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Pat Kaleta is the most hated man in the NHL right now. He makes sean Avery look like Justin Timberlake. He just smoked David Clarkson, and the Devil sits two in purgatory for retaliation....
Clarkson has a reputation as an agitator and he's earned a reputation as a pest around the NHL. Sweets for the sweet.
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2-1 Sabres- milliseconds after the Clarkson penalty had expired, Karel Rachunek beats Miller from 21 feet out the right faceoff circle. The Buffalo forwards and D were a step late getting back to defend.
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Sabres lead shots on goal 21-15.
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After 40:
Rachunek's goal served as an adrenaline rush for the Devils. If they go down 3-0 to the Sabres after two period, the party's over. Scoring the third goal was critical for the Devils.
It sets up another tight third period. The Sabres and Devils have skated to three straight Shootouts, will it be four tonight?
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After 40, Pat Kaleta has 5 hits so far tonight. Kaleta is running around ala Dustin Brown. If only he could pop a goal or three. Why is he not in the Bufalo everynight lineup? He brings the proper amount of sandpare and jam that the Sabres have missed since Mike Grier left town.
Two of Kaleta's hits have drawn Devil penalties. Goose has 4 body blows.
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3rd Period:
Buffalo does not want to get in penalty trouble here in the third. The Devils PPis a formidable group.
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The Devils are not sitting back in the Trap. They need the next goal, so they are sending two forwards into the Buffalo zone to create turnovers and loose pucks that will lead to scoring chances.
Buffalo can exploit with quick, tape to tape passing, while moving their feet.
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2-2 ballgame. The Devils came out and blitzed Buffalo and they get the game tying goal. Mottau kisses it in off of the Tree trunk. Doh!
We've seen this movie before... the Sabres surrender a two goal lead against the Devils....
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@ 3:08 Ryan Miller makes a remendous right pad save on the New Jersey player parked outside the blue ice.
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The Sabres dodge a bullet.. the zebras call icing with to force a faceoff in the Devils end with 49 seconds left.
Sutter calls the timeout.
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Buffalo loses the faceoff in the NJ zone. Gionta rags it up the wall... time expires.
OT--- AGAIN!
Fourth straight OT for these two teams since 12/26/07.
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OT:
Has Al Kotalik played in tonight's game? The guy has been invisible.
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4 on 4 hockey.....
Tallinder misses he top shelf!!
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You gotta be kiddin me....... four straight Shootouts..... UGH!
SHOOTOUT:
BUFFALO SHOOTERS:
STAFFORD- GOAL!
TALLINDER- SCORE! HANK JUST UNDRESSED A HALL OF FAMER.
KOTALIK- NOT NEEDED.
NJ SHOOTERS:
PARISE- MISS! WIDE RIGHT!
GIONTA- NO GOAL! MILLER MAKES THE SAVE!
ELIAS- NO NEEDED
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3-2 BUFFALO.
They avoid a season series sweep to the Devils with the Shootout win.
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Why Hank Tallinder?
Lindy Ruff is sick and tired of watvhing Vanek and his skill guys miss the net in Shootouts. The Sabres would be in the top 8 this season were it not for their anemic Shootout performances.
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Add another quality opponent to the lsit of teams the Sabres have beaten lately.
Dallas, Tampa, Florida, New Jersey. They took 1 point in Atlanta.
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The Sabres are now in 9th place in the East. Two points behind Boston. The Bruins are next up on the dance card Friday night.
Four Point Game for 8th Place!
Buffalo are in ninth place with a bullet.
The Sabres are poised to climb the charts this weekend.
In 52 games, they have 57 points. Boston have 59 points in 53 games.
The Rangers have 60 points in 56 games.
Atlanta have 56 points, however, they have played 56 games.
The Capitals have 55 points in 54 games.
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