******** POSTGAME QUOTES FROM THE BUFFALO ROOM ****************
Moratorium on bagging on Drew Stafford. "NoDak" has been busting his ass on both sides of the puck. His three point night helped the Sabres to slay another dragon by the name of Sidney.
Staff was all smiles in the Sabres room after the 4-3 regulation win.
"Its such a big win for us especially coming off of Wednesday's performance, we come back here and get two more points against another good team. It was huge and I'm just trying to contribute as much as possible".
Stafford was reunited with Roy and Vanek on Wednesday night vs. Boston, and the three amigos have been flying ever since. Roy popped two in the win against Boston, and Staff cranked in two vs. Boston. Vanek has been playing the role of the set-up man. Its working.
On Staff's first goal Friday night, he was parked in the blue right where his coach wants thim to be.
" Lindy and the coaches are stressing that with us.We have to go to the blue ice. Thats the kind of goal that are being scored in the league these days. Most of the time its, get in the paint, try to get on top of the paint, get your stick down-- be strong on your stick, and hopefully it'll bounce off. I finally got a break , and that definitely felt good".
Going to the net is not a new concept to Stafford. He's been a frequent offender of opposing team's blue ice this season. He hasn't been rewarded for the grunt work that he's doing in the dirty areas of the ice-- on the walls, behind the net, and in the blue ice.
Friday night, that all changed as Staff he notched the seventh multi-point game of his young career.On Stafford's second goal of the game, He and his linemates caught the Pens on a line change and they exploded through the zone 3 on 2. According to Stafford, Roy and Vanek did all the heavy lifting, and all he had to so was tap it home. Modest guy that Stafford. Yes, it was a sweet tape to tape pass from Vanek, however, if Staff is not driving the slot with speed, the play gets blown up by the Dman.
"Good play. Good transition. Roysie made a great play up to Van and I just went to the net. I'll take it".
Stafford was was quick to praise Curry for his outstanding play in his first NHL game.
"I know the guy, having skated with him during the summertime. I'm happy for him now that he has an opportunity. He played well".
Staff played better.
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To know Stafford is to know that he has a sense of humour.
A reporter asked Staff if he was frustrated only have two goals on Thanksgiving to which the quick witted Satfford replied:
".....I'm more frustrated with my shirt right now. I don't know what happens with these shirts they just... I'm on camera right now ........".
Dude had a point. His Nike anti-wicking shirt looked like he had tied it to his bumper and dragged it down the I-190. He's lucky the fashion police didn't lock him up!
The kid defused a negative moment with laughter. Great move.
"Things you gotta work on and focus on are the things in your control like your work ethic, your attitude, tring to show up and compete, and trying to get involved every night. Thats just something that I'm trying to stick with and roll with and obviously "the stat department" in my case isn;t excatly what I'd like it to be. I know we hasd a tough stretch of games that we were losing and now we're winning two in a row, so, tonight I got a couple breaks, some shots, and finally they went in. Like I said, I'm just worried about showing up everyday, working and getting better".
Seems like "Olde Home Days" having Vanek and Roy on his line.
"You see how dangerous we can be when all of us are going and we're creating plays. I mean, we could have had a few more goals tonight, with some of the saves Curry was making. Its definitely consistency".
****
Thomas Vanek was exhausted when I found him untying his skates in his stall.
Funny thing about Friday night was all of the cameras and microphones shot right to Gaustad and Stafford. TV is usually the object of desire after games. Vanek was all alone so I chatted him up.
HDTV was dog tired after the Pens game, and well he should have been. He, along with Roy and Staff gave Sid and Geno fits in all three zones of the ice. Whats more, TV starred on the PK and the PP. The Sabres held the lethal Pens scoreless in their 7 PP attempts. The Sabres were 1 for 4 on the PP.
Secondary scoring came to the fore in recent win against Boston and the Pens. Roy bagged two clutch goals in the victory over Boston, while Staff and Goose created four of their own in the win over the Pens.
Vanek floored me with his summary of his play vs Pittsburgh.
"I'm as cold as ice right now... the open net at the end... was a good save by him... the puck bounced... but, as long as you get those chances you've got to be at least happy with that. Its just frustrating not to put one in."
TV, you're too hard on yourself!
"In this game, you can't rely on the same three guys. You need 4 or 5 guys in the 20s", Vanek told me. He's right. when Pommer, Jochen, Staff, Roy, Goose, Connolly, Max and the gang all start lighting the lamp, the pressure is not on 26 to score every night.
*********
1st Period Action:
@ 2:18, Pat Kaleta high sticks former Sabre draft choice Zigomanis and he sits down, Vanek and Roy bust out on a two on one..... Vanek's wheels look like they are in fine shape.
Successful kill.
***
Craig Rivet mixes it up with Max Talbot. The Pen kneed Rivet off the faceoff and the Sabre Captain took exception by throwing him three cross checks to the chest.
****
Curry seemed unsure on a Stafford knucklepuck from the point.
The Sabres are content to throw shots from all angles on the rookie golaie in his first NHL start.
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@ 10:29, Matt Cooke had time to eat a stromboli behind the Buffalo net. He curled out on Miller's left and sent a dart to Tyler Kennedy who roofed it. 1-0 Pens.
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@ 10:35...... Stafford pounds home Max's wraparound. 1-1
A great game of keepaway by 61. He released off the half wall with the puck and tore ass through Wayne Gretzky's office. Curry made the save on the wrapper, however, Staff through the garbage in the can!
Show of hands... who thinks that Max was gunning for the goal on his own??
*****
@ 13:39 Pommer sits for hooking....
Vanek and Roy are ferocious on the PK. Sabres in general look great. Nice tight box.
****
@ 16:08, Teppo has no other choice than to hook Pascal Dupuis as he broke in all alone on Miller. Smart play by the wiley vet. Great pad stop by Miller!
****
On the PP, Geno free wheels from the halfwall to the point. This guy is STRONG on the puck. He uses his huge body to shield it from Buffalo dfenders.
**
@ 17:39, Satan sits two or less.......
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After 20:
Not another Joey McDonald feel good story!
Curry looks jumpy as the Sabres are driving through his blue. Bump him and welcome him to the show!
***
1st Period Stat Pack:
Hits: Sabres 10, Burgh 2. * Lydman has 3. Attaboy, Toni.
Each team has 5 giveaways.
Pittsburgh has 7 blocks to Buffalo's 3
Buffalo has 7 missed shots to Pitt's 3.
Crosby logged 9:43 of ice time.
Malkin 8:17
Spacho logged 9:43 and Reggie 8:15
****
2nd Period Action:
The Sabres forwards are active in all three zones tonight. Their gap control on Malking, Crosby, Staal, et al is impressive thus far. There is not a ton of time and space for the Pens to work in.
The Pens look like a different team with Ryan Whitney and Sergei Gonchar on the points.
*****
@ 3:20, Kaleta gets two for "boarding" Satan. Hey, Miro, man up and take the contact instead of turning to the wall to expose your numbers. How Miro-like!
***
@ 4:48, Roy gets loose shorthanded and he darts to Curry's doorstep with Malkin's stick all over him. Geno sits two or less.
Two successful kills.
Back to 5 on 5....
****
@ 10:31, Brooks Orpik's head hit on Dan Paille earns him two for intereference. Sabres need to beat Curry here. The kid is still shaky....
And, they do.
@ 12:21, On the Powerplay, Mancari finds Stafford all alone- Staff walks it out from the corner, follows the goal line and rather than shoot, passes to the wide open Goose for the three foot tap in putt. 2-1 Buffalo. Staff's got himself a multi-point night going, the 7th of his career.
***
@ 12:55, Geno finds Sid. Tough gola for Miller as it appeared as though Crosby lacrossed it out of the air. 2-2.
***
@ 15:19, Hecht called for holding.
Vanek and Roy are the first killers. They force a turnover and hit a nice play up the ice, all the while the clock was spinning. Excellent puck pursuit, pressure and PK grit. Pialle and Goose do a nice job on Geno, Sid, and Sykora.
I love how Tyler Kennedy trips Rivet in the Sabres end and nary a call with all zebra eyes on the play.
@ 17:38, Hal Gil gets the gate for a hook.....
61-28-21 wreak havoc down low... LOTs of pressure. No goal.
@ 19:51 Vanek gets a trip out of frustration as he hit the post on a sure tap-in goal.
****
@ 19:04, Geno jumps Spacek leaving the Buffalo zone;71 throws a textbook poke check on the puck and turns it over. Crosby beats Miller with the slapper from 30 feet out. 3-2 Pens.
**
@ 19:31, Pommer sits AGAIN for tripping.
***
After 40:
The Sabres had the Pens chasing the puck in their own end early in the period. Buffalo's puck movement and zone time were impressive.
Buffalo have done a good job of bottling up the neutral zone. They are causing the Pens to play the chip and chase game and its working. The D are gapping well and denying time and space. The Sabres speed is causing the Pens problems in their end of the rink.
The big difference:
Penalty troubles hampered Buffalo late in the period.
They have to stay out of the box. Geno, Sid, and Sykora know how to find the back of the net with the man-up.
****
Third Period Action:
2nd Period Stat Pack:
*Buffalo have missed 11 shots to Pitt's 6. Gotta hit the net, this kid is wobbly!
*Buffalo have the 16-5 hits edge. Lydman has 5 and Paille 3.
* Buffalo have 11 giveaways, Pitt 8.
* Pens have 12 blocked shots to Buffalo's 9.
****
Buffalo need to take a page from the Flyers and smack Sidney every chance they get. When he has the puck, finish him.
****
Sabres kill off the 5 on 3. Smart work by Lydman in his own end.
***
@ 3:11, Staff strikes AGAIN! His third point of the night.
Staff started the play at the Buffalo blueline... he, Roy and Vanek caught the Pens on a line change and away they went on the 3 on 2. Vanek's tape to tape pass found Staff's stick and bingo, 3-3 ballgame.
****
Former Sabre Dman Phillipe Boucher has been missing from the Pittsburgh bench here in the third period.
**
We're halfway through the third period and its a 3-3 game. Next mistake will likely lose this thing. This is where and when the Buffalo system has to take over. Don't be stupid. Be patient. Be smart. Don't get caught out of position.
The forwards will have to come back and help on Geno, Sid and Sykora as they will get double shifted the rest of the way....
****
Mark Mancari told me after the Boston game that he'll do whatever it takes to stay with the big club. It might not matter what he does because Al Kotalik will re-join the Sabres lineup on Monday night at home vs. Nashville. Kotalik's return will create more chaos than already exists within the Buffalo forward ranks.
***
I'm here. You're there. Lets talk about tonight's game right here, right now.
****
The B's win was nice. Now its a fading memory. Build off it.
Time to focus on Geno and The Penguins who are 8-1-1 in their last 10. Boston brought a commendable 9-0-1 in its last 10 record to Buffalo and lost 3-2 in regulation. Before you start projecting The B's game on this one, lets travel back in time to November 15. Let me jog your memory:
On that night, the Sabres were playing the perfect road game in The Burgh. They were playing the system and following the script for 53 minutes. Then, depression set in. They ran around in their end, refused to back check, and gacked up their lead and lost the game late in the third period. Geno Malkin had a goal and three assists while Jordan Staal had two goals. the Sabres had the Guins in their cross hairs, and let them skate away. Until Wednesday night, the stubborn Sabres applied the laissez faire modus operandi and it earned them a five game losing streak.
Was the Bruins game the exception, or, was it the rule?
*****
Lindy Ruff will likely ice the same lineup that beat Boston Wednesday night. Dan Paille sat due to flu-like symptoms, and Mad Max made his return to the lineup after a two game stay in the always luxurious, Chateau Bow Wow.
Based on 61s play vs. the Bruins, he'll play again tonight.
If Lindy decides to play Paille for his defensive and PK prowess,then a forward must sit.
That would leave MacArthur, Mancari, and Peters as considerations.
Stafford re-energized the Roy-Vanek line Wednesday night, and its a fait accompli that 21 will stay put with 9 and 26.
Mancari has played well in his three games since his recall from Portland. He's not sitting.
That would leave MacArthurm or Petey as the odd man out.
****
Get ready for more roster shuffling.
Al Kotalik's hammy is nearing 100%. He skated hard Thursday and will likely make his return tio the lineup Monday night when JP Dumont, Pete Weber and Les Pred roll into Buffalo.
Kotalik may even make his return in Montreal on Saturday night.
****
The Pens have recalled Janne Pesonen from Wilkes-Barre to replace Max Talbot (foot).
****
Miller will go for Buffalo.
Sabourin go the hook on the Oyland Wednssday night, and John Curry git the save and the win for the Pens.
Tonight, Curry makes his first NHL start.
The Sabres should be shooting from everywhere on this ice, as the kid wil be nervous!
***
Vanek will be all systems go for Buffalo. He sustained a deep bruise on his leg Wednesday night, courtesy of a Milan Lucic body check in the 36 inch "danger zone" on the wall.
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