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A VULGAR DISPLAY OF POWER |
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You want a headline? I'll give you one:
"THE POWER IS OFFICIALLY ON IN BUFFALO",
proclaimed Sabres Coach Lindy Ruff as he departedthe postgame interview room, after tonights 9-1 drubbing of the Philadelphia Flyers.
The sellout crowd of 18,600 and change diverted their attention from the 6 feet of water that is floating in the basements of their cold, dark homes, to coem downtown to watch their Sabres light up the night.
" We have a long way to go. But this one was fun. Its great to see our fans come out and support us the way that they do", Sabres Managing Partner Larry Quinn told me after the game.
I was kidding with Larry. I told him that his squad reminded me a lot of the 1991 Quebec Nordiques tonight--- memories of Sakic, The Statsnys, and Goulet playing hyper-speed hockey at the Aud ran through my head as I watched the offense blitzkrieg from press row.
The Sabres are now 2-0 in their retro jerseys.
" Thats funny. Our logo does kind of look like th Quebec logo"....
Like those hallowed old Nords teams, this Sabres team rolls four lines and they are all lethal lines. There are no shifts off or easy outs in the Sabres lineup. Their D is active and stout. Their goaltending has been superb.
Scary, eh?
12 diferent players contributed points tonight.
The Sabres blocked 19 shots to Philly 11. \
The Sabres outhit The Flyers 13-11.
This game was a total domination by the Sabres.
The Afinogenov-Roy- Vanek was Buffalo's best unit. They were a combined +14 and they accounted for 12 points. Vanek and Roy chopped in two goals apiece. Max finsished his best offensive night of jis career with a goal and four helpers.
Vanek killed penalties, he played the PP, and he threw his weight around all game long. He steam rolled Peter Forsberg early in the first period, and his hit seemed to enrgize the SWabres forecheckers from thereon.
" You know what? I didn't even know that I hit Forsberg like that until I saw him get up. I like to play that kind of game, and I'll do what I have to do to get he puck to my linemates", Vanek told me afterwards.
The Gaustad-Mair- Peters line were a wrecking crew all night and they finsished their checks with great intensity. Peters' scored the Carruba collision of the game for his thunderous check on Peter Forsberg in the thrid period.
The Drury-Novotny-Kotalik line continued to dominate. They hit everything that moved in all three zones and they chipped in four points. Dru finsihed the night 10-5 in faceoff wins.
The Briere-Pominville- Hecht line played strong D and and they were on the ice when Carter scored the lone goal of the game.
Where to begin to dissect this game?
Goaltending: Ryan Miller was a brick wall tonight. Robert Esche was not.
" Eschy played great tonight. We collapsed when they (Buffalo) went up 3-0. We were chasing them around from that point on in the game. We must get better-- in a hurry. Not just from a defenseive standpoint, but, from a collective standpoint," said Capatain Peter Forsberg after this debacle.
I'm confused. Your goalie played well for the first period, then six minutes into the second period, and, then he stunk for the next forty four minutes. How is that playing well?
Lets ask Eschey.
" I felt really good all day. I felt good the whole game. I just gave up nine goals, thats all."
I don't understand.
Hey, Hitch, help me to get this straight. I know you have an empty head and all, however, you gotta have THE definitive answer to what went wrong here, right?
" This is not on Esche. We win as a team, and we lose as a team. So, the game was a game, and, then half way through the second period, when we took the two penalties in the offensive zone, it put us down 5 on 3. THAT's when the game turned. "
I'm glad you could clear that up for me, Coach.
I'll do the translation: The forwards stunk, The D stunk and Esche gets a free pass for his efforts-- or lack thereof.
I guess old Hitch's dome isn't as empty and dark as his goalie seem to think it is.
The old coach may want to have the trainers apply SPF 75 to the lampburn on the back of Eshe's neck and shoulders.
Ever think of pulling your goalie after two periods, Hitch?
"No."
Things are very functional on the Philly bench.
Hey Hatcher, might this collapse fester and create an imposion in the room?
" No. We need to work our way out of this rut. Now! We're at the bottom right now, and there's only one way to go", a bewildered Derrian Hatcher told me in the Flyer room moments after this game.
Its good to see that the Flyers are on track.
********
Ryan Miller was Ryan Miller tonight.
He made key save after key save, and his team fed off his proficiency in goal. Miller stopped 37 of 38 shots for the victory. His glove hand was exceptional quick tonight, and he seemed to see the puck very well.
I said it before, I'll say it again.
Ryan Miller is one of the top 3 goalies in the NHL right now.
Anyone want to debate the point?
Didn't think so.
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" I feel like the little monkey is off the back", Jaro Spacek told me with a laugh. Spacek unleashed this booming canon of a slapshot to score his first goal as a Sabre. " There's more where that came from", mused Spacek after he game. " This game is over. It was fun. Now we look at Carolina coming here on Friday night".
Captain Chris Drury's locker is next door to Spacek's in the sabres room. Dru told me " I gave Jaro's first goal puck to Marty (Biron), I don't have it".
Marty's comedy club was open the minute the doors opened to the Sabres room after the game.
Hey Marty, what did you do with Jaro's souvenir biscuit?
" I don't kmow. I had it, then I didn't. I had Dru's hat trick goal puck, too, the other night. You want the truth? I put them both on Ebay. My kids need to go to college, you know?"
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Next up, The Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes.
Tomorrow, I share with you the chat that I had with Captain Chris Drury.
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Garth
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