Nice win for the Sabres. They really needed that.

The win move the Sabres to within 6 points of the Leafs in the Eastern standings.

The Leafs will play the red hot Rangers in Toronto on Saturday night, while the Sabres play on Long Island. The gap can be cut to four points with a Buffalo win and Toronto loss.


Rookie D phenom, Brayden McNabb, sustained a head injury on a first period hit. He was sent to the "quiet room" with concussion symptoms. McNabb has not been diagnosed with a concussion. Lindy Ruff said in the presser that Mcnabb will sit out the Islanders game as a precaution.

Mcnabb played the second period, however, was experiencing symptoms in the third period. he did not finish the game.


More on McNasty later.


The team will be recalling TJ Brennan from Rochester to replace Mcnasty.


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Jhonas Enroth will likely start the Islanders game.

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The fourth liners were the stars in the 3-2 Sabres win.

Matt Ellis-Paul Gaustad- Pat Kaleta all deserve praise for their outstanding contributions to the win

Ellis beat Gustavsson by centering a puck off the wall. Kaleta got it deep, Goose cycled it, and Ellis got the goal. Great team work.







Goose made it 2-0 by ripping a wrister past an unsuspecting Gustavsson from long distance.




Vanek's cross-box laser to Pommer for the GWG was a thing of beauty! Fancy footwork by the captain to settle the puck before blasting it in the net for the winner!


thanks, sabres.com

Ryan Miller was outstanding for his team in the win.


thanks, sabres.com


Full highlights from the 3-2 win over the Leafs:



thanks, sabres.com

Now, its time to win two in a row for the first time since mid-November.

Next stop: Long Island.


thanks, sabres.com




It was good to see the boys smiling in the room after the win.

This is the tune that pounded through the Ipod dock in the room.





Gotta good feelin, yeah!

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7pm EDT:


Miller and Gustavsson lead their respective teams out of the rooms and onto the ice.

Sabres in sexy road white. Leafs in their blues. I like it. Bust that slump whichever way you have to, boys!

******


Derek Roy is front and centre. He must lift the baby grand piano off his back tonight!

@Roy9ner's return must mean another night on press row for Cody McCormick. I'll let you know after warm-ups are concluded.


@roy9ner rockin the faux hawk. He shaved his head!

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Scouts from the following teams who are expected to be here tonight:


Philly, Montreal, Anaheim, Tampa, NY Rangers, Winnipeg, Chicago, St. Louis, San Jose, Colorado, Edmonton, Nashville, Boston, Dallas, and Vancouver.

_______________________________________________________________________

Always a good time when @FriedgeHNIC is in the house. CBC has the Leafs-v-Rangers on HNIC and Elliotte is doing his homework. #theman


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Scratches: McCormick Ehrhoff; Gradiner and Rosehill for Leafs.

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1st Period:

57-81-42-9-21 start it. Miller in his cage

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Leafs fans taunting Miller 20 seconds into the game

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1-0 Buffalo

Goose fed Ellis a soft pass on the end wall, Ellis chucked a back hander at Gus and it clunked in #greasygoal


Nice wall work. goose and PK36 with asssits.


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2-0 Sabres

4th line love! Goose throws laser wrister past Gus.

High cheese, top of the faceoff circle. #badgoalgus

Reimer warming in bullpen



*****

Sabres continue to take play to Leafs. The Buffalo unit of five is doing a good job of denying time and space on Kessel, Lupul, Kulemin and Grabovski.


***
Kaleta has two assists already in this game. His first two of the season. McNabb got on two on Goose's goal


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2-1 Sabres

Schenn's slap pass off wall tapped past Miller by Grabovski. bad giveaway by Regehr.

Schenn's point shot kissed the Tim Horton's sign behind Miller, bounced fortuitously out front, where Grabovski tapped it home.







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2-2


Joey Crabb one-times a pass from Grabovski past Miller. Weber blew a tire while Kulemin was all over his back in the high slot.




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2nd Period:


We got us a good ole fashioned hockey game.

2-2 after twenty minutes. Buffalo's Mike Weber was -2 in the first period as he was victimized on both Leafs goals.

The ice crew just power washed Weber's mustard off the high where he bled out on the Crabb Cake.



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Sabres won 56% of draws. Roy was 3 for 4. Goose 2 for 4

Leopolds lead all sabres D with 7:42 TOI, Myers 7:40, Weber 7:05, McNasty 6:51; Regehr 5:43, Grags 3:02.

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Kaleta hammers Kessel. Clean shot, didnt leave his feet. Kessel lifted his elbow to PK36s face. Leafs bench wants a piece of Kaleta

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Vanek called for kneeing Kadri. Not a knee. vanek skated right through Kadri. Legs collided

Myers takes charge on the PK. Nice work.


****

Low shots, low chance affair. Lafs lead shots, 14-11

Gerbe sits for who the Hell knows what

Kaleta giving Kadri the business on the faceoff



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3-2 Sabres

Pommer parked all alone on far post for Vanek with the cross-box beauty! #chemistry



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3rd Period:


Sabres have 8 blocks to Leafs 4.

Sabres with 12 giveaways to Leafs 8.

19 hits for Sabres, 17 for Leafs.

Sabres with 5 takeaways, Leafs none.


*****

29 and 26 have combined on 31 goals this season, tying Kessel and Lupul for 2nd most in NHL, behind Sedins (38).


Pommer now has 43 points in 42 career games vs. Leafs

Pommer has 2G, 3A vs. Tronna this year

Pommer now has points in 32 of Buffalo's 43 games

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McNasty having a hell of a game. He has an assist, is +2, 2 hits, 1 takeaway, 1 block, PKing like a vet, and has 12:51 TOI #muymacho

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