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" I was sluggish in the second period... I think we all were", confessed Buffalo Captain Chris Drury after Game 2.
Carolina 4 Buffalo 3
In Game 1, it was Carolina who fell asleep at the wheel in the second period. In Game 2, Buffalo nodded off in the second period and it ended up costing them the game. The Sabres are at their best when they are pressuring the puck and pouncing on turnovers. In Game 2, the Sabres found themselves in chasing teh Canes, not creating scoriing chances. They will have to be better in Game 3 in Buffalo.
Peter Laviolette and his staff made the necessay adjustments, and , they survived a late blitz from Buffalo to seal their first win of theis series.
Referee Don Van Massenhoven and his crew gaveCarolina the special dispensation it neededto survive several Buffalo flurries late in the third period. Aaron Ward and Nick Wallin were beneficiaries of gifts from the hockey Gods. Both Carolina D were guilty of infractions that could have put the Sabres on the game tying PP, however, no calls were made. Halfway through the third, with the Sabres trailing 3-1, Ward lost position on a streaking Derek Roy, and up-ended the Sabres forward two feet from Cam Ward's crease. No call. Earlier in the period, while shrthanded, Wallin high-sticked then tripped Danny Briere to the right of Ward's crease. No call. In my opinion, Van Massenhoven lost control of the game in the second period. There were headshot, trips, butt-ends- from both teams. The officials need to be better in Game 3.
What's with Laviolette's puss? After the game, Laviolette, threw the "Buffalo was diving card". Be careful what you wish for Pete. It may come true. I'll see Lindy Ruff on Tuesday and ask him for his assessment of the "diving" .
On this night, the Sabres would not and could not put consistent shot soon Ward. Ward made several routine saves on visible shots. Miller, on the other hand, misplayed a harmless wrister by Whitney and the puck flopped off Miller's glove into the Buffalo net. That goal amde the score 4-1. Miller's fumble was uncharacteristic.
You can expect Miller and his Sabres to play with a lot more piss and vinegar when the series shifts back to Buffalo for Game 3 on Wednesday.
Carolina's shot selection was better in Game 2. Gone were the slappers that Buffalo's D and forwrds could easily block.
The Carolina downlow game worked well to create screens in fron of Miller. The Canes shot from odd-angles, instead of straight on.They Canes relied on snappers from the pointand wristers from inside the blue line.
Expect Buffalo to be better in Games 3 and 4.
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Carolina exploited Teppo Numminen's absense from the Buffalo D man. Canes forwards were able to grab loose pucks and pursue rebounds with Numminen off the ice. Rory Fitzpatrick was so-so for Buffalo. Teppo is dynamic and the Sabres missed his grace under prerssure, especialy in the second period when the Canes pounded shots from all over he rink. Buffalo rolled fourD: Campbell-McKee, Tallinder-Lydman. Fitzpatricksaw 17 minutes, while young Janik skated 7 shift sfor 4.5 minutes.Teppo will be evaluated in the morning in Buffalo.
Expect Teppo to play in Game3,
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Tim Connolly's name is on the tips of tongues across Western New York and Southern Ontario. The Sabres have played a different style of hockey since Connolly left the lineup against Ottawa.
Connolly streched opposing D with his phenomenal speed. His puck moving and passing skills arealso sadly missed on the Buffalo PP.
Connolly also will be re-evaluated on Tuesday. Expect Connolly to play in Game 3 in Buffalo.
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More on Game 2 later.
Garth
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