Buffalo have to approach this game the same way they have their past 12-15 games:

Early energy.

Get pucks deep and make the Ottawa D pay on the forecheck.

Buffalo will have to deny time and space, create turnovers, play the game in the Ottawa end. In recent weeks, the Sens D have been susceptible to pressure. They tend to allow opposing forward to work the puck and cycle down low. Richardson, Phillips, Meszaros, Volchenkov, Redden, et al have been drawing penalties as a result of overcompensating for their lax D zone play. They cannot blame Joe Corvo for all of their D zone faults. Commodore will add some grit back there.


Not a good idea to engage Ottawa in a track meet tonight.




^^^^^


Sabres PK kill off Spacho's chinsy penalty on Neil. They are now 1 for their last 20.

Ottawa is the 6th ranked PP in the NHL.

^^^^^

Pat Kaleta is in the giving mood. He hammered Alfredsson on his first shift of the game.


^^^

Chris Neil smoked Thomas Vanek in the Ottawa end--- TV took the hit to make the play as Derek Roy pinged a laser off the crossbar.


***


Love the energy, jame and sandpaper of the Kaleta-Mair-Ryan line. They are crashing the blue ice and drivingthe Ottawa D crazy thus far.


****


Vermette's careless use of his stick causes an unnecessary injury to Jaro Spacek. Cowardly act! Vermette tapped Spacek's right skatre from out from underneath the Buffalo D as he chased down the loose puck with his face to the glass.

Vermette was given a tripping minor, however, something tells me that #20 will have to dance with Kaleta and Mair later in ths game.


^^^^^

The Sabres brought their jumps with them to Ottawa.


All four lines are skating well.

***


Spacek is OK; he just tattooed Dean Macammond with a solid body shot!


****


1-0 Buffalo: Emery has no idea that Vanek just sniped him.


Buffalo are pushing the tempo and controlling play. Have been for a period and a half.


***


Bathrobe is paying early dividends for Bryan Murray.

First, he smoked Clarke MacArthur with a sturdy bodycheck. Then, he came back to break up a Buffalo 3 on 1.


****


The Buffalo forwards are coming in waves. Rolling four lines.


***


Ottawa are taking dumb penalties because they are not moving their feet. Buffalo have to make them pay on the PP.


****


Shots on goal through two periods:

Buffalo 27

Ottawa 11


*****


Emery's rebound control has been average at best tonight. He's left a lot of litter lying in his blue ice and in the lane. Buffalo will have to do a better job of crashing the crease.




****


3RD PERIOD:


The Sabres have played a pperfect NHL road game to this point.


They are playing the game in the Ottawa end of the rink and they are winning the majority of loose pucks with their quick feet.

Ottawa are flat and listless through 40 minutes.


****


I fully and completely expect John Paddock to shorten his bench and to double shift the Pizza Line in the third.

They cannot score if they cannot get the puck on the net.

11 shots after 40--- not good enough.



****


Can Ray Emery help his team in the third?




***


2-0 Buffalo: Thomas Vanek scores his second of the night on the PP. Soupy's point bomb found TV's blade and it was promptly spun into the Ottawa net.

***


Ryan Miller has not been tested tonight. I suspect he'll see a lot of runner the rest of the way.


***


2-1 Buffalo: With Lydman in the bin, Randy Robitaille scores on the PP.


****

3-1 Buffalo: The Ottawa D are not doing a good job of playong a tight gap on the Buffalo forwards. The Sabre forwards have had several high percentage rush opportunities tonight. The latest, Jochen Hecht to Clarke MacArthur resulted in a Buffalo goal. MacArthur's 7th of the season.


***


Has Spezza evn played tonight? The guy has been invisible, that is until he decided to slash, then spear Adam Mair in the gut. Signs of frustration are all over Spezza's face as he sits 2 minutes for being a punk. How Gaustad gets a minor for is beyond me. Spezza deserves a double minor. 2 minutes for a spear and a slash? What a crock of merde!


****


Tim Connolly just posterized the Ottawa Dman. Looked like the Rick Nash play!


****


5 on 3: Volchenkov trips Vanek.




Buffalo have scored 7, 5 on 3 goals this season...


Make that 8 !




4-1 Buffalo: Vanek scored his 20th on the PP. Hat trick!


***


5-1 Buffalo: Jason Pominville scores his 16th--- through Emery's yawning 5 hole.


That goal was softer than custard.


Emery should be pulled over by Ottawa police for impersonating a goalie on a first place team.


***


Total domination by the Sabres.


This was their best 60 minute effort of the season,.

They are now in 8th place in the East.


***


Sabres are 7-0-2 in their last 9 games.


Look out NHL, Thomas Vanek is back. TV has 7 goals in his last 7 games .




Brian Campbell has 5 assists in his last two games. Sign him NOW!!


***


Buffalo PK has been stellar.


The PP was 2 for 5 in Ottawa.



*****



Ottawa are 9-10 since January 1st.

They are in deep, deep trouble. Bryan Murray has created a two headed goalie fiasco with Emery and Gerber. How far in the playoffs will they get with these two guys?


Khabibulin is available for Kelly or Vermette.


***