The line of Pat Kaleta-Dominic Moore-Paul Gaustad are pounding the Sens at every turn tonight. Kaleta has 4 hits in the game already.
Spezza took exception to Kaleta crowding Elliott's cage and he threw PK on the mesh on the back of the net.
Stafford cashed in on the PP, his 19th. Staff's 9th PPG of the seasson.
***
Ottawa Dman Jason Smith will not return tonight (lower body thang), a HUGE loss for the Sens. Smith brings snarl and aggression.
Buffalo might want to send guys threw Elliott's crease.
***
Sabres outshoot Sens 14-7 in the first twenty minutes.
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2ND PERIOD:
Ottawa are better with the man up than they are 5 on 5; they can't seem to get their breakout moving past the Buffalo forecheck. Credit the sabres for using their speed to disrupt the Ottawa D.
*** 2-1 Sens: Chris Kelly gives the Sens the lead on his snapper.
The Sabres had controlled play for the sequence that preceeded the Kelly goal. Connolly Vanek, and Stafford applied heavy pressure deep in the Ottawa zone.
****
Apparently Anton Volchenkov did not ethe memo that its not OK to leave your feet and blast Pat Kaleta's face through the glass.
This makes me sick to my stomach to see a so called tough guy like Volchenkov headhunt an opposing player. Why not drop your gloves you big sissy! Whaaaaaa! Kaleta wasted Heatley with a clean body check! I'll show him.
Colin Campbell should suspend Volchenkov for 3 games or more for his gutless, cowardly act. Volchenkov should have gotten a 5 a 10 and a game for his deliberate attempt to remove Kaleta's head from his torso.
No respect!
*** 2-2
Thomas Vanek scores his 33rd of the season off an Alfredsson gaffe on the Fisher faceoff.
***
3-2
Nick Foligno gives the Sens the lead with less than 30 seconds left in the period.
*****
3RD PERIOD:
3-3
Mike Fisher fouled Dominic moore and the Sabres head to the PP. Jochen Hecht scores on a harmless wraparound play, as Elliott had fallen asleep. Jochen's 8th of the season.
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4-3
Campoli scores from the halfwall through Regan's screen
***
***
****
Go ahead and own it. Your heart stopped. Go ahead and admit it. When Ryan Miller jacked up his ankle, your already high blood pressure caused you to faint. You'd have repeatedly punched yourself in your own face, were it not for you giving up self mutilation for Lent. You were in a dark place. Go back and read your comments on the hockeybuzz.com message boards. Admit it. You were hating the idea of Patrick Lalime at the helm in the four by six. Compound that with Thomas Vanek's busted jaw, you were downright surly and obnoxious.
You thought that the Sabres were doomed with their #1 goaler on the shelf for an indefinite amount of time, smack dab in the heart of the Eastern conference Playoff push. You hated the way that Hank, Chainsaw, Reggie, and Spacho were playing. you thought that Butler was showing his green hue in his first NHL season. You implored Darcy to trade a top 4 D for another team's top 4 D. I remember it like it was yesterday. Don't you?
Lets tip the lid to not only St. Patrick Lalime, but the starting six D for the Sabres. They have yielded a microscopic 8 goals in 5 games played since Miller was banished to street clothes. They allowed 3 to Anaheim, 1 to Carolina, 2 to the Islanders, and one each to Montreal and Phoenix. Mind you he manned up and played the Ducks game with a raging case of the flu!
His win/loss record aside, Lalime's recent streak of genious goaltending is eeriliy reminiscent of the late season 13 games streak that Marty Biron strung together with Miller on the IR a few seasons back. back then, Marty gave his team a chance tyo win everynight. Same holds true for Lalime, who has been terrific for his team in Miller's absence.
Lalime is presently a 1.58 GAA and a disgusting .949 save %!
Lalime gets credit for the gawdy stats, however, I think it bears noting that his six D and 12 forwards are coming home to their own end to help out. Let me clear my throat about the D. They've been fantastic with Miller on the shelf. Rivet has been the Rock of Gibraltar. He nearly tore Shane Doan's head off on Friday. "Reevs" means business1 Hank and Chainsaw have stepped up their physicality as well. Reggie, Butler, and Teppo have been stout as well. Its all for one. One for all.
Lindy's "system' is working to perfection.
"We played the system and we've see immediate result", Tim Connolly told me after the Sabres pounded the Coyotes 5-1 Friday night. "Patty has been great for us and we are doing what we can to help him".
The veteran goale is getting by with a lot of help from his blueline friends. Credit to Reggie and Spacho for adding offense in close games against Montreal and Phoenix. Every little bit helps Lalime to focus on his job.
This guy is no Jocelyn Thibault! He's a hacker, a scratcher, and a warrior. He's been a solid #1 in this league before, and he's got grace under pressure. I'm in the Sabres room a lot, and I can tell you that his teammates admire and appreciate "Patty" in much the same way they praise Teppo Numminen.
Lindy will give Lalime the net tonight in Kanata against the team athat he spent five seasons with at the beginning of his career. he knows Alfie, Phillips, Volchenkov, and Fisher from his bygone days. He studies shooters and he knows their tendencies. He'll have to be at his dead level best tonight against Spezz and Heatley.
The Sens have played beter of late, however, they have their sights set on derailing teh sabres' season moreso than making the Playoffs.
The D and forwards will have to continue to come back and help out their end of the rink tonight. Failure is not an option this late inn the races will have to come back and support their goalie again tonight
Lalime is up to the challange.
You never thought that Patty Lalime was THIS kind of money goalie, did you?
***
It was good to see John Muckler in the press box last night in Buffalo. He loves to come home to Buffalo. "I love to come to this rink. I see the people and they remember me. I love the warmth and comradery with the people here. Its a special place".
I was gushing to the former GM/coach about his stable of young studs: Mueller, Tikhonov, Yandle, and Lisin. Mucks agreed, then raved to me about his uber rookie, Mikael Boedker. The former Kitchener Ranger superstar has not disappointed his elders this season.
"The kid is only 18! I think he's going to be a staar in this league for many years to come".
***
I spoke with former Sabre Grant Fuhr between the second and third periods. He too loves the memories of his time in Buffalo.
"I had fun playing in this town. The fans were tremendous and loved the our team".
Fuhr is the goaltenders coach for the Coyotes.
***
Put your ear to your lapper. Here that cracking noise? Its the ominous sound of the foundation of the Montreal Canadiens as it continues to crumble.
They lead Buffalo by two points (75/73). The Sabres will tie Montreal with a win in Ottawa tonight.
The dysfunction contunues for Carbo and Kirkie. They are sliding down the standings and need a quick fix.
Carey Price lost 2-0 in Hotlanta Friday night, and young Halak is bent about it! Carbo told us Tuesday night in Buffalo that win or lose, Halak would get the net in ATL.
Rumour has it that Glen Sather is talking right now to Drew Rosenhaus about the NY Rangers signing Terrell Owens for the stretch run. TO would play on a line with Sean Avery.
****
Young Elliot will get the cage for Ottawa tonight.
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No better time or place for Dominic Moore to pop his first Buffalo goal.
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Cody Bass, Chris Neil, and Alex Picard are all out of the Sens lineup.
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Don't be surprised if Max Afinogenov sits out saturday night in Ottawa. Ken Klee boarded 61 behind the Coyotes cage in the second period Friday night---- no penalty on the play. Max finished the game, however, spent considerable time in the trainer's room after the 5-1 win.
From where I was sitting directly above the play, it looked to me like Max absorbed 100% of the collision with his spinal cord and back.
good on Max for getting up and skating off under his own power after the questionable hit.
Klee was simply reacted to an earlier play when Pat Kaleta nuked Klee with a turbo charged body check in the Phoenix zone. 36's hit was clean on Klee, as it was on Doan earlier in the game.
Max found instant chemistry with Roy and Paille when he returned Tuesday night after sitting out 25 games with a groin/hip deal.
Lindy will likely move Matt ellis to third line centre to play Dominic Moore with Roy and Paille.
****
More on Max later....
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Eastern Standing as of 1:30pm EDT Saturday 03/06/09:
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