Buffalo Sabres
Isles Blow Two Goal Lead in 4-3 Loss to Buffalo
Uniondale, NY — The Islanders lost a crucial game to the Buffalo Sabres, 4-3, last night at Nassau Coliseum. After jumping ahead by two goals early in the game, Buffalo was able to close the gap and win in the shootout.
“Unfortunately we couldn’t come away with two points,” Al Montoya said after the game. “We knew it was going to be a tough weekend. We played well last night, coming in here against a good team, huge points on the line and we didn’t have many chance. And when we did we beard down and made them count. Just there is going to be momentum throughout the game.”
The Islanders did not start the first period the way they wanted to. They looked tired from having just played the night before. The Islanders managed to power through it and get the games opening goal. A bad give away behind the net allowed Michael Grabner to feed Frans Nielsen in front. Nathan Gerbe countered it with a goal for the Sabres four minutes later. Josh Bailey would put the Islanders back on top scor…
GARTH: Kaleta Takes Matters Into His Own Left Hand
Toss out the first twenty minutes when the Sabres stunk out the joint.
Nathan Gerbe scored after Nielsen to tie the game at one. The, the Sabres D sagged and allowed two quickies. They trailed 3-1 after the first period. The D-zone coverage was a mess. Shoulders will southbound. Here we go again, right?
Rather than roll over and accept it, the Sabres chomped down hard on the bit, and d…
NHL:Spirited Comeback for Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres overcame some adversity for the first time in a while with a 4-3 comeback win over the NY Islanders.
The Sabres fell behind early in the first period 3-1 and eventually fought back for the 4-3 shootout victory. They didn’t panic and that can most assuredly be attributed to the lonstanding steady hand of their coach Lindy Ruff. The team also got a very solid contribution from Paul Gaustad tonight.
Lets not get too crazy just yet, though. The Islanders did get a point in the game and the Sabres are 10 points back as we speak, but they do seem to be gaining momentum. They have gotten 7-8 possible points in their last four and seem to be putting together a bit of a run.
Ryan Miller settled down after a rough opening twenty minutes and held the Islanders scoreless for the rest of the game, including a power play in overtime. The offense was powered by the unlikely Paul Gaustad even though his mark on the score sheet was a lone goal. He was dominant in just abou…
Goalie Miller sets Sabres win record
Brad Boyes and Jason Pominville scored shootout goals, and the Buffalo Sabres rallied from an early 3-1 deficit to beat the New York Islanders 4-3 on Saturday night.
Buffalo’s Paul Gaustad tied it 3-all midway through the third period to send the game to overtime. The Islanders had a power play in the extra session when the Sabres were called for a bench minor, but New York couldn’t get past Sabres netminder Ryan Miller.
The win gave Miller 235 career victories, breaking a tie with six-time Vezina Trophy winner Dominik Hasek for the most in franchise history.
The Sabres beat the Islanders for the first time in three meetings this season, preventing New York (21-22-8) from reaching the .500 mark for the first time since Oct. 22.
The Islanders led 3-1 after the first period, paced by two goals from Frans Nielsen and one from Josh Bailey.
It was the Islanders’ first shootout at home this season. Nielsen and P.A. Parenteau failed to score for New York in the shootout.
Derek Roy made it 3-2 late in the second before Gaustad’s wrist shot beat Al Montoya to tie the game.
The Islanders are still 5-1-2 in their last eight and 10-5-2 in their last 17 contests. New York beat Carolina 5-2 on Tuesday night and topped Ottawa 2-1 on Friday night in overtime. Both wins came on the road.
Buffalo, beset by injuries all season, played without leading scorer Thomas Vanek, who missed the game with an upper-body injury.
Nielsen opened the scoring with his eighth goal of the season at the 1:39 mark of the first after the Sabres gave away the puck behind their own net.
Nathan Gerbe tied it at the 5:32 mark with his fifth goal before Bailey beat Miller – on an assist from Nielsen – with about 4 minutes to go in the period to put the Islanders ahead 2-1.
Bailey’s sixth goal of the season came just as a high-sticking penalty to the Islanders’ Nino Niederreiter expired.
Nielsen knocked in his own rebound with 2:43 to go to make it 3-1.
Derek Roy’s 10th goal late in the second closed the gap to 3-2.
The Islanders, who are 16-3-5 when scoring first, beat the Sabres 2-1 at Buffalo Nov. 29 and 4-2 at home Jan. 14.
NOTES: Islanders C John Tavares led the league with 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists in January) becoming the first Islander to be first in the league in points in a given month since Bryan Trottier had 28 points in November 1980 … Sabres coach Lindy Ruff has 548 wins with Buffalo. Only former Islanders coach Al Arbour (740) has more victories with one NHL team … Buffalo has only two players (Pominville and goalie Jhonas Enroth) who have dressed for every game this season.
Sabres 4, Islanders 3, SO
Brad Boyes and Jason Pominville scored shootout goals, and the Buffalo Sabres rallied from an early 3-1 deficit to beat the New York Islanders 4-3 on Saturday night.
Buffalo’s Paul Gaustad tied it 3-all midway through the third period to send the game to overtime. The Islanders had a power play in the extra session when the Sabres were called for a bench minor, but New York couldn’t get past Sabres netminder Ryan Miller.
The Sabres beat the Islanders for the first time in three meetings this season, preventing New York (21-22-8) from reaching the .500 mark for the first time since Oct. 22.
The Islanders led 3-1 after the first period, paced by two goals from Frans Nielsen and one from Josh Bailey.
It was the Islanders’ first shootout at home this season. Nielsen and P.A. Parenteau failed to score for New York in the shootout.
Derek Roy made it 3-2 late in the second before Gaustad’s wrist shot beat Al Montoya to tie the game.
The Islanders are still 5-1-2 in their last eight and 10-5-2 in their last 17 contests. New York beat Carolina 5-2 on Tuesday night and topped Ottawa 2-1 on Friday night in overtime. Both wins came on the road.
Buffalo, beset by injuries all season, played without leading scorer Thomas Vanek, who missed the game with an upper-body injury.
Nielsen opened the scoring with his eighth goal of the season at the 1:39 mark of the first after the Sabres gave away the puck behind their own net.
Nathan Gerbe tied it at the 5:32 mark with his fifth goal before Bailey beat Miller – on an assist from Nielsen – with about 4 minutes to go in the period to put the Islanders ahead 2-1.
Bailey’s sixth goal of the season came just as a high-sticking penalty to the Islanders’ Nino Niederreiter expired.
Nielsen knocked in his own rebound with 2:43 to go to make it 3-1.
Derek Roy’s 10th goal late in the second closed the gap to 3-2.
The Islanders, who are 16-3-5 when scoring first, beat the Sabres 2-1 at Buffalo Nov. 29 and 4-2 at home Jan. 14.
NOTES: Islanders C John Tavares led the league with 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists in January) becoming the first Islander to be first in the league in points in a given month since Bryan Trottier had 28 points in November 1980 … Sabres coach Lindy Ruff has 548 wins with Buffalo. Only former Islanders coach Al Arbour (740) has more victories with one NHL team … Buffalo has only two players (Pominville and goalie Jhonas Enroth) who have dressed for every game this season.
GARTH: #235 A Beauty For Miller!
Toss out the first twenty minutes when the Sabres stunk out the joint. They trailed 3-1 after the first period. The D-zone coverage was a mess.
Rather than roll over and accept it, the Sabres chomped down hard on the bit, and dominated long stretches of the final 45 minutes.
Key goals by Gerbe, Roy, and Gaustad tied the game at 3.
In OT, Ryan Miller stole the show when he made a ha…
Miller one win short of Sabres record
During a season in which very little as gone right for Ryan Miller and the Buffalo Sabres, the goalie prefers hedging his bets on when — or even whether — he’ll catch Dominik Hasek in the franchise record book.
And it makes no difference that Miller’s 234 career wins have him only one away from breaking The Dominator’s mark, or that it could happen as early as Saturday, when the Sabres travel to play the New York Islanders.
”Just hoping to get it,” he said. ”One game at a time.”
For a player who two years ago was at the peak of his game after winning the Vezina Trophy and leading the United States to win a silver-medal at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Miller has good reason to be cautious.
By many measures, this has been the seven-year veteran’s most confidence-testing season, playing on a high-priced team that’s been one of the NHL’s biggest flops. And much like the team in front of him, Miller hasn’t been immune from the troubles, which have ranged from injuries – he missed nine games with a concussion/whiplash – criticism or been the target of trade talk, which Miller insists he’s not going anywhere.
So when it comes to breaking Hasek’s record, the thought might not be the furthest thing on Miller’s mind, but it’s not exactly a hot topic of discussion.
”There’s not a lot of hype or fanfare about it right now just because of where we’re at,” Miller said. ”I feel like it’s a nice accomplishment, something to look back on. But I understand why right now it feels like it’s not quite as exciting or intriguing.”
Miller and the Sabres have been relegated to mostly afterthoughts as a result of a two-plus-month swoon. At 21-24-6, they began Friday sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference, 10 points out of playoff contention.
Not all of the fault lies on Miller, who has a 13-15-3 record.
The Sabres offense is anemic, having produced three or more goals just four times in its past 19 games. And then there’s a rash of injuries which has led to every regular, except captain Jason Pominville, to miss at least one game.
The turning point of the Sabres season, not coincidently, centered on Miller during a 6-2 loss at Boston on Nov. 12, when the goalie was bowled over by Bruins forward Milan Lucic. It was a play that led to Miller’s concussion and raised questions about his teammates for failing to deliver payback against Lucic for running their star.
The Sabres have gone 11-19-6 since, during a stretch in which they set a franchise low by losing 12 straight in regulation on the road.
Miller missed nine games, and Sabres owner Terry Pegula has suggested his goalie might have rushed back too soon.
Last month, Miller acknowledged he was struggling to find his confidence, saying, ”It’s frustrating as hell sometimes.”
It’s not been until the past two weeks when Miller’s finally shown signs of regaining his form.
He’s gone 2-0-1 while allowing two goals in his past three starts, including a 1-0 shootout loss to the Rangers on Wednesday.
”I feel like I’ve got myself in a better place mentally and physically,” Miller said. ”My game is really close to where I want it. I’m just trying to keep it there and hold it there.”
Miller’s teammates are seeing a difference.
Forward Ville Leino smiled when asked about how he and Miller playfully wrestled on the ice during practice Thursday.
”He’s more relaxed. Sometimes you need to have fun,” Leino said. ”He’s playing better. He’s more excited. You can see it.”
Miller isn’t counting himself or the Sabres out.
And who knows, maybe breaking Hasek’s record could prove to be something meaningful in a season that’s so far been mostly forgettable.
”It’s something that can hopefully turn the tide, where it’ll be just one highlight from a good season,” Miller said. ”Everybody’s looking for something hopeful.”
NOTES: Miller acknowledges he’s had the benefit of padding his victory total over Hasek as a result of the NHL introducing the shootout in 2005-06. Miller’s record is 234-141-47, with 32 wins coming in the shootout. Hasek went 234-170-70 in Buffalo without the benefit of shootout victories. … Miller once wore No. 39, the same number as Hasek. It was only after the Sabres drafted Miller out of Michigan State and he turned pro that he switched to No. 30 to not draw comparisons to Hasek. … Miller’s 234 wins are tied with Eddie Johnston on the NHL list, according to STATS LLC.
Sabres G Miller a win short of breaking Hasek mark
Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller doesn’t need to be reminded he’s one career win from breaking Dominik Hasek’s team record.
What Miller won’t do is guess when win No. 235 might come.
He’s ”just hoping” to get it.
Miller has reason to be cautious during a season in which little’s gone right for him or his team.
The Sabres (21-24-6), who play at the New York Islanders on Saturday, are slumping, and Miller’s not been much better. At 13-15-3, the 2010 Vezina Trophy winner got off to a slow start and struggled in rushing back after missing nine games with a concussion and whiplash.
It’s only been during the past two weeks that Miller’s begun regaining his form. He’s allowed two goals and gone 2-0-1 in his past three starts.
GARTH: Wanted: Goal Scorer
If we had a dollar for every “ping” and “”clunk” of iron we’ve heard this season from the Sabres, we’d all be very rich people.
Goal scoring, and, the lack thereof, is killing the Buffalo Sabres right now.
How the Hell do the Sabres shutout the Rangers for 65 minutes, and still lose the game in a shootout? That game should’ve ended 0-0. Neither team deserved to lose.
Lindy Ruff, in my…
Evaluating the Damage: A Sabres Mid-Season (sort of) Report Card
With the All Star break now in the rear view mirror, there’s never been a better time to reflect back on the repulsive previous four-month span more affectionately known to some as the 2011-12 Buffalo Sabres season.
In an effort to put the first half behind us, below you’ll find a lengthy, yet brilliant evaluation of each and every individual who has played one role or another in the disappointment thus far. Indulge and enjoy.
The “Core”:
Jason Pominville (51 GP, 17 G 30 A, Minus-7)
Grade: A-
If this we’re just another season for Pommer, I probably would’ve given him an “A” or something to that effect. But this season is anything but just another season for the long-time Sabre. Being named captain is no easy job by any means. If anything, especially for a team that struggles like the Sabres have, donning the “C” on your chest may be one of the biggest burdens in sports. From a statistical standpoint, Pominville has been outstandin…
Sabres rookie D McNabb demoted to AHL Rochester
The Buffalo Sabres have demoted defenseman Brayden McNabb to AHL Rochester, where the rookie will have the benefit of getting more playing time after missing eight games with a concussion.
Coach Lindy Ruff announced the move Thursday, saying McNabb has been cleared to play.
Ruff says McNabb was sent down to allow him to get additional ice time. That’s unlikely to happen in Buffalo, where Ruff is comfortable with his current six-player defensive rotation.
It’s a group that’s finally healthy. Christian Ehrhoff returned last week after missing 11 games with a rib injury, and Robyn Regehr is also back after missing four games with a shoulder injury.
McNabb had a goal and four assists in 20 games in Buffalo this season, before getting hurt against Toronto on Jan. 13.
What’s Wrong With The Buffalo Sabres?
Last season the Buffalo Sabres finished in the seventh seed in the East Conference with a 43-39 record with 10 regulation tie points. Many thought they looked like a team ready to make a big step toward being a solid Stanley Cup contender when new owner Terry Pegula opened the purse strings and signed free agents Christian Ehrhoff to a ten year contract worth a total of $40 million (which pays him $10 million this year) and Ville Leino to a six year contract worth $27 million. That hasn’t been the case.
Buffalo is currently fourth from last in the East Conference with only 21 wins in 51 games played. So what went wrong?
The easy answer is that the Sabres overpaid for their new signings. We knew that when Ehrhoff and Leino were signed, but it is more obvious now. Leino has been limited to four goals and twelve points so far this year. Ehrhoff has scored a little higher from defence, but his -9 +/- rating is among the worst on the team.
Continue reading “What’…
Rangers 1, Sabres 0, SO
Henrik Lundqvist came out on top in a duel of goalies, stopping 34 shots through overtime and four of five in a shootout in the New York Rangers’ 1-0 win over Ryan Miller and the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night.
Ryan Callahan scored the decisive goal by driving in on Miller, faking right and then snapping a shot in the open left side as the Eastern Conference-leading Rangers bounced back from a 4-3 shootout loss at New Jersey a day earlier.
Marian Gaborik was the only other Rangers player to beat Miller, doing it in the first round of the shootout.
Miller stopped 29 shots in regulation in a game in which both goalies were credited with shutouts. For Miller, it was the 24th of his career, though he was denied an opportunity to set the Sabres’ franchise record for victories.
Miller is stuck on 234 wins, tied with Dominik Hasek.
Lundqvist earned his sixth shutout of the season and third in five starts, a stretch in which the All-Star has allowed only five goals. The shutout was the 41st of Lundqvist’s career, which moves him into second on the team’s all-time list – one ahead of Dave Kerr and eight behind Ed Giacomin.
Except for allowing Pominville’s goal, Lundqvist was unbeatable. His best saves before the shootout came with 1:09 left in regulation, when he kicked aside both shots from Brad Boyes, who had found himself alone atop the crease during a power play.
He robbed Boyes again in the second shootout round. Driving to the net, Boyes faked left and caught Lundqvist leaning, before shifting to his right in an attempt to stuff the puck into the open side. Lundqvist, however, recovered in time by reaching back with his glove to block the shot.
The Sabres were playing their first game at home following seven straight on the road. Buffalo, which lost the first five of those road games before beating New Jersey and Montreal, squandered a chance to win three straight for the first time since a four-game streak that ended Nov. 11.
The Sabres’ anemic power play went 0 for 5, including just one shot during a two-man advantage spanning 42 seconds in the first period. Buffalo has now scored three times on 32 power-play chances over its past 13 games.
Then again, the Rangers own one of the NHL’s stingiest penalty-killing units. They’ve now allowed just two goals on their opponents’ past 40 power-play chances over a 16-game stretch.
Miller’s best save came less than 2 minutes into the second period when he got his right pad out to stop Callahan, who was set up by Brad Richards’ blind backhand pass through the middle for a one-timer in the left circle. A few minutes later, Carl Hagelin was set up on the fly in front only to have Miller get enough of the puck to deflect it over the net.
Lundqvist was good but also got a few breaks.
In the second period, Sabres defenseman Robyn Regehr’s shot was partially blocked, but had enough momentum to float over Lundqvist and appeared to be heading into the net before defenseman Ryan McDonagh batted it out of the air with his stick.
Three minutes into the third period, Boyes had Lundqvist beat on a snap shot from the right circle only to have his shot go off the near post.
Much of the game was officiated with one referee and two linesman after referee Kelly Sutherland was struck in the face by a deflected shot 5:37 in and did not return. Sabres defenseman Jordan Leopold’s shot from the right point was deflected by a Rangers player in front and hit Sutherland, who was watching the play in the right corner. Sutherland kept his feet and didn’t appear to be cut, but was woozy as he was escorted off the ice.
NOTES: With Sabres LW Thomas Vanek missing his first game of the season, captain Jason Pominville is the only Buffalo player not to have missed a game this season. Buffalo was also without RW Drew Stafford (illness). … The Sabres play nine of their next 13 games at Buffalo. … The Rangers (32-12-5) are still behind when it comes to ranking their hottest start through 49 games, which came during their last Stanley Cup season in 1993-94, when they had a 33-13-3 record. …. With the NHL All-Star game out of the way and the trading deadline approaching on Feb. 27, there were 18 scouts representing 15 teams listed on the press box seating chart. The Rangers are carrying two healthy forwards, while the Sabres haven’t ruled out a potential shake-up as a result of their midseason struggles.
Sabres recall F Kassian from AHL Rochester
The Buffalo Sabres have recalled rookie forward Zack Kassian from AHL Rochester prior to their home game against the New York Rangers.
The move was made Wednesday, a day after leading goal scorer Thomas Vanek sustained what the team is calling an upper body injury in a 3-1 win at Montreal. Vanek is expected to miss at least a week.
Kassian is a hard-hitting forward who was selected in the first round of the 2009 draft by Buffalo. He’s in his first pro season and had three goals and three assists in an 18-game stretch with the Sabres earlier this season.
In 28 games in Rochester, he has 11 goals and 11 assists.
Another Version Of The Gaustad-Pacioretty Incident
From Sabres beat reporter Paul Hamilton of WGR-550,
Right after Pat Kaleta scored into the empty net Tuesday in Montreal to ice the game, he did his arm pumping goal celebration down the slot. Max Pacioretty took exception and started talking trash as he does all game. His target this time was Paul Gaustad. Pacioretty asked him “Where’s Lucic” with Gaustad countering “Where’s Chara” in reference to the hit Chara put on Pacioretty into the glass last year that started a near riot in the city of Montreal and almost ended his career.
Now the city’s fans are tougher than their hockey team because Chara is still waiting to be challenged by a Canadien. Many talk about how soft the Sabres are, but they can’t hold a candle to this bunch.
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