The Sabres have forced five Shootouts, however, have only won twice.
Once again, they fail to close the show in Botox City.
Sabres gain point, lose in shootout in LA.
The Kings tied the game in the final minute of the second period, setting up an entertaining third period.
Drew Stafford scored first to start the shootout, then Pominville ho-hummed his way through the second round--- using no imagination or creativity, Tim Connolly dropped Jonathon quick's jock strap with his handiwork, forcing Quick to breakdance on his back, exposing the upper three quarters of the LA net. TC had Quick dead to rights, however, instead of roofing the puck for the tie, he softly guided the puck into quick's right leg pad.
Oy vey!
Credit Ryan Smyth for beating Miller in the dying minutes of regulation to tie the score at 3-3.
Tim Kennedy draws back in to the Buffalo lineup, while Matt Ellis sits against his former team.
*****
Buffalo earn the game's first Power Play; Richardson sits two or less.... Buffalo's entries are sloppy. The Kings killers play the tight gap and deny Buffalo sustained zone time.
Successful LA kill.
Only one shot for Buffalo on the PP
***
Kaleta nearly scores on a two on one off the perfectly executed "9 Route" stretch pass, just as the penalty expires. Quick makes the save on PK.
****
Buffalo are beating the aggressive LA forecheck with the tape to tape stretch pass. Its an effective strategy for Buffalo as the Kings centremen are hard on the puck an
****
"Captain Canada", Ryan Smyth, sits two or less for fouling Tyler Myers......The Kings get their first shot on goal on a two on oh breakaway--- shorthanded Drew Stafford came back hard on the backcheck to disrupt Stoll's timing. Miller made two keys saves,
@ 9:13, Derek Roy negates the Buffalo PP.
Miller kills it off. Kings are now 0-22 on the PP in their past five games.
***
1-0 Kings
Kopitar wins draw to Simmonds; puck goes to Drew Doughty at the point; the uber rookie throws the puck at Miller and Richardson re-directs it behind Miller.
The Ontario Hockey League has come down hard on Windsor Spitfires forward Zack Kassian, suspending the 19-year old for 20 games for his hit to the head of the Barrie Colts' Matt Kennedy on January 14th.
A first round draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres last year, Kassian appeared to leave his feet and lunged at Kennedy near centre ice that left Kennedy concussed and requiring three stitches to close a wound on his face and three staples in the back of his head which slammed against the ice.
"I don't remember getting hit. I couldn't tell you what happened," Kennedy told the Toronto Star. "I kind of blacked out."
Kassian was originally accessed a five minute major and a game misconduct and was suspended indefinitely by OHL commissioner David Branch.
The OHL reviewed the hit and met with both Kassian and Spitfires' general manager Warren Rychel on Tuesday before determining the extent of the suspension.
"While the League is persuaded that player Zack Kassian did not leave his feet prior to contact with the Barrie player, It is the position of the League that player Zack Kassian checked the unsuspecting Barrie player while such player was in a vulnerable position without having been in the possession of the puck," Branch said in a statement Thursday. "Players must understand that they shall be held accountable for their actions and we must continue to work to improve the level of respect players have towards opposing players. "
Kassian's lucky that the suspension is only 20 games and not longer. His intent was not to make a hockey play on the opponent. He clearly targeted Kennedy with a lunging motion.
If I'm Bob Boughner, I tell Kassian:
You wanna piece of a guy's head? Tell him to dump his bucket and mitts, and meet you at centre ice.
Kassian's youthful exuberance has cost him in this case, however, this experience will serve him when he advances to pro hockey in Portland next season.
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