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Max Afinogenov was Buffalo's best player in Game 3.
#61skated like his hair was on fire and he brought a brand of tenacity and fotitudeto his team that they desperatelyneeded.
" We needed a hero, and a couple of players stepped up for us", beamed Sabres coach Lindy Ruff after the game.
Rookie Jiri Novotny, their 2001 first rounder, was pressed into his first NHL Playoff game, replacing uber- rookie Thomas Vanek. Novotny aquitted himself very well by winning faceoffs, throwing his weight around, blocking shots, and, killing key penalties late in the game. Lindy tossed Novotny into the fire and the kid played his ass off. For that reason, Lindy Ruff should win the Jack Adams Trophy. Lindy has given youngsters like Gaustad, Roy, Pominville, Vanek, Miller, now Novotny their first taste of NHL action, and these kids are making key contributions to this vastly improved Sabres team
Taylor Pyatt, the oft-scratched Sabres winger, won a wall battle and createdthe key turnoverat the Ottawa blue line in overtime. Pyatt recovered, then, athrew a cross- ice pass towards a streaking Paul Gaustad.JP Dumont snatched the deflected puck from mid air, threw it down at his feet, and, got enough lumber on his shot to beat the beleagured Ray Emery for the game winning goal at 5:05 of OT.
The Buffalo Sabres are onewin away from eliminating the Ottawa Senators, and, Game 4 is twenty one hours away, at the convergence of Lake Erie and the Niagara River.
The Sens are dangling precariuosly above the precipice, and, they are about to be swept over The Falls. Anybody got a a barrell that will accomodate twenty one Ottawaplayers and a coaching staff?
Therafters were rockin, as theHSBC Arena crowd of 18,690 were sunburned and rowdier than Hell. They'llbring their Swiffers and brooms with them toGame 4 Thursday night in Buffalo.
Captain Drury and Maximum "Overdrive"Afinogenov chipped in a goal apiece for Buffalo. Jason Spezza was Ottawa's best forward, and hescored both Ottawa goals, on the PP.
Curiously, all four regulation goals were scored on the PP.
Special teams were the difference.
Buffalo finished the game 2 for 5 on the PP. Ottawa finished2 for 8 .
Ottawa's Spezza got credit for the game-tying goal with ninety clicks left on the clock, however, it appeared as though Bootsie Havlat deflected the point shot passed a screened Ryan Miller. It appeared as though the Sens would seize the momentum heading into OT.
Buffalo stormed out of the gate in overtime and turned over pucks. The Sabres were proactive. The Senators were reactive.
Now the Sens are sixty minutes away from playoff extinction.
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The win was the fifth in a row for the Teflon-coated BuffaloSabres. Does anything stick to these guys?
This win was Buffalo's ninth consecutive over Ottawa in playoffcompetition since 1997. Derek Plante ended that series in the seventh game against Ron Tugnutt's Sens..
The Senators played more cautiously than they had in losing the first two games in the series. They wanted to take fewer chances, reducing their mistakes in the process, and they accomplished that.
Remarkably, The Sabres have scored first in nine straight Playoff games.Ryan Miller is 7-2 in those games.
Buffalo has outscored playoff opponents 16-4 in first periods.
Ottawa outshot Buffalo 26-22 through regulation time. Dumont's shot was the only one in overtime. Miller, again made game-saving saves last in the second and third periuods to keep his team alive and kickin. Emery was better tonight for the Sens, however, he allowed the Dumonts shot to beat him in OT. That goal will likely seal Emery's fate as staring goaler for the Sens.They needed Emery to steal them a game tonight, and he couldn't respond.
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You heard it hear first: DOMINIK HASEK WILLPLAY 5 FOR OTTAWA.
Unfortunately for Emery, Hasek at 65-70% is better than Emery at 100%. Its time for Murray and Muckler to roll the bones. What do they have to lose?
When asked who would start Game 5, Murray responded, "Mike Morrison will not be ready". Translation: The artist formerly known as The Dominator. Its a matter of formality. All Hasek must do is tell Murray and Muckler that he's ready to go, and, the job will be his. They've probably already had the conversation.
Interestingly, a couple of Ottawa players told me this morning that they are not enthused and excited to see Hasek come back. They feel like he's a distraction to this close knit group. Emery got the Sens to this point, and his mates would like to see him finish what he's started.
My opinion: To pull him now, would only stunt his emotional growth. You're telling your future starting goalie that he's not good enough. Nothing good can come of extracting Emery now. Hasek does not mix well in the Sens room. Emery does. Murray risks losing his room, for a one night stand.
Cue The Clash's , "Should I Stay Or Should I Go".
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When asked what was said in the Buffalo room after regulation time, Lindy Ruff said:
"We need one man to take one shot".
JP Dumont knuckle-balled the puck passed Emery and the rest is history.
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I'll be on XM radio with Shawn Lavigne in the morning. Checkus out.
I'll also be at the Sabres and Senators gameday skates.
I'm off to watch The Oilers and Sharks.
Fasten your chinstraps and seatbelts !!
That's my story and I'm stickin to it......
Garth
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