Another Fast Start Propels Sabres to Third Straight Road Victory

by David Oleksy on Oct 28, 2009 9:46 PM EDT

It's been the recipe for victory all season so why change. The Sabres started fast and used good goalie play to win another road game. Ryan Miller stopped 31 shots and allowed only a power play goal in the Sabres 4-1 victory for Buffalo. Clarke MacArthur, Tim Kennedy and Paul Gaustad scored even strength goals and Jason Pominville scored on the power play for Buffalo.

It was another quick start for the Sabres. Clarke MacArthur scored his fifth goal of the season after picking up a rebound on a Craig Rivet shot. MacArthur slid across the crease and waited for Broduer to be out of position before he slid it into the open net. Tim Kennedy scored the first of his career just minutes later to put the Sabres ahead 2-0. Kennedy received a pass from Jochen Hecht and just wheeled around a blindly fired a shot that beat Broduer through his legs.

After dominating New Jersey in the first period, the Sabres let their foot off the gas. The Devisl started to take control and eventually pulled within one on a power play goal. Paul Gaustad was in the box for Buffalo after a questionable hooking call was made. Andy Greene scored the goal by skating in from the point and a deflected shot found its way to his stick. Miller tried to slide across and get into position but Greene buried the wrist shot into the back of the net. New Jersey had chances to tie the game but Ryan Miller played like himself and turned everything away.

The Devils came out flying again in the third period but Ryan Miller played like a future Vezina winner. He was once again outstanding and after he made a couple of really nice saves, his team added some insurance. Matt Ellis made a nice pass from the corner that made it through three Devils players before it went on the stick of Paul Gaustad who was all alone in front. Gaustad easily buried it in the far side to give Buffalo a comfortable 3-1 lead. Pominville scored his power play goal in the closing minutes but it came after the Sabres killed off two Devils power play opportunities.

MacArthur Earning Keep

There was plenty of discussion regarding Clarke MacArthur and his pending arbitration hearing this summer. It was eventually settled and he signed a one-year contract with the Sabres. He is well on his way to an even bigger raise next season. C-Mac scored the first goal of the game tonight and it was his team leading fifth goal of the season. I don't think he will finish the season with 40 goals but he will if he continues to play like he has been. The funny thing is, he just gets himself in position. He is just a natural goal scorer and his not necessarily a dominate player.

Was that Another Goal by the Fourth Line?

The fourth line of Gaustad-Kaleta-Ellis continues to impress me. They have been extremely productive this season and they scored another big goal tonight. There are no words to describe how this unit has been playing. The biggest key was when Lindy moved Gaustad to that line. I have mantioned time and time again that Gaustad is perfect for the fourth line because it makes that line dangerous. He can play the style of a fourth line player but he has talent that most fourth liners don't have.

Congrats Tim Kennedy

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that South Buffalo native Tim Kennedy scored his first goal tonight. It was nice to see the kid finally find the back of the net on a very nice play but I would have liked to have seen it happen in Buffalo. The way he has played, he will score plenty of goals in Buffalo but their is a special feeling about the first one.

It's D-Day for Sabres Brass

The Buffalo Sabres are now forced with a difficult decision regarding the future of Tyler Myers. He has to be sent back to Kelowna or his contract will kick in this season. He made some key mistakes tonight which could justify the Sabres sending him down as a learning experience. Oh, who am I kidding? The kid isn't going anywhere and if he does it will be a PR nightmare.

Harry Neale Quote of the Game

This feature has been absent for quite sometime now and it is basically absent again. I didn't get the Sabres feed of the game so I was stuck listening to the Devils crew. "Doc" Emmrick did come through and supply us with a quote tonight.

"Donald Trump is a very nice guy but his hair doesn't belong on a hockey jersey" - Doc Emmrick

Comment of the Game

This has also been absent but there were some quality comenst tonight. Noen was more funny than actioncuse posting an easy button in te first six minutes when the Sabres went ahead 2-0.

Up Next

The Sabres will return home for one game against their hated border rival, the Toronto Male Leafs. There was concern that the Sabres would have to face the winless Leafs but that threat was eliminated when the Leafs beat the Ducks on Monday night.

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Comments

Congrats Tim Kennedy

Sure, it would have been great to score in front of your home town, but…he did score his 1st goal against a guaranteed HOF’er; and it was a GW goal to boot. Something tells me he’s ok with that.

Was that Another Goal by the Fourth Line?

If your 4th line is scoring more than half a goal a game, chances are you might have a decent team.

Will Lydman play Friday? Is Mair ready to go?

I’m sitting Miller Friday night. I’m also calling up McCormick, DiPenta, and Val James.

The team was supposed to have some kind of organized team activity last week in Florida. Was it ever reported what that was? Movies, paint ball, house of ill repute?

Why is Myers sticking with #57? I don’t like that number at all.

Is it sacreligious to suggest Grier might need a day off or two here and there, especially when the team plays 3 in 4? I like him a lot, and am surprised how well he’s played so far. But given his age and playing style, would it hurt much to give him a breather every so often? I think once Mair is totally a go, it might not be a bad idea.

Same thing for Rivet. Old man has been playing a ton of minutes. Once the Sabres get back to having 7.5 healthy defensemen, it might not be a bad idea to give him a night off or two.

I doubt either of thse guys would ever go for that , and considering the way the Sabres squandered away points early the past two season against lesser teams, it might not make sense to some. But with the way the schedule gets condensed from here on in, it really might not be such a bad idea.

What is the “A” deal again for home and away alternate captains? I keep getting that confused. And is it set in stone for the rest of the season? No way is Rivet getting stripped, but could you see Lindy giving an “A” to someone else other than who’s worn them so far?

How does the it affect the salary cap by carrying 23 guys on the roster? Would they be better served financially only carrying the minimum?

What’s Lindy’s contract status again? If he gets anywhere near coaching “free agency,” some team might make him the highest paid coach in the game. Might be time to buck up some with him…

Does Mike Weber have any chance of cracking this defensive top six this year?

by krytime on Oct 28, 2009 10:54 PM EDT reply actions

4th line love, doesnt ellis remind you of every guy who is described in the nfl as a “motor” guy. Im not scared of toronto they are terrible and need to fight people to keep fans in the stands. Myers keeps 57 just deal with it. greer and rivet, dont disagree but we need them out there so hopefully they dont take to many games off. weber doesnt see the ice without multiple injuries (not again!)

Rookies are like teabags...you don't know what you're gonna get until you put them in hot water. -Harry Neale

by weswed51 on Oct 29, 2009 1:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Mike Weber will only be here if there is an injury. The Sabres have some good depth at the blueline which in reality is amazing. In April we were talking about how the team would continue to fail unless they upgraded the blueline. It’s amazing how much of a change there is. Tallinder is playing better, Montador is playing a role and Tyler Myers has made us all forget about Jaro Spacek.

Adam Mair is fine. He is just not good enough to crack the top 12 at this point. This is also a nice problem to have.

I probably missed some because I am on my phone.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere

by David Oleksy on Oct 29, 2009 8:43 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I agree… i dont like the 57 either.. such an odd number haha. But so was 87, 88, 99 so maybe hes on to something here ;-)

"Well, I’m always hungry and it’s time to eat" - Marshawn Lynch

by bflo on Oct 29, 2009 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions

I've said this before but

I don’t know why so many people are complaining about a little originality. Few players in the league wear 57, and if he continues to play like this, he just may be the best to be wearing the number.

As for 87/88, these young (ok, so my number would be 86 in this case) players are just telegraphing their age. I, for one, wouldn’t be bragging about inexperience via my jersey.

And last, but definitely not least, there is nothing “greater” than good ol’ 99

by The Burl 8 on Oct 29, 2009 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions

I wonder what the significane(sp?) of 57 is to him, if any at all?

"Well, I’m always hungry and it’s time to eat" - Marshawn Lynch

by bflo on Oct 29, 2009 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions

haha yeah mine would be the same as Kanes so your 86 has me beat by 2 years.

"Well, I’m always hungry and it’s time to eat" - Marshawn Lynch

by bflo on Oct 29, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

I Agree.

Whenever i see 57 I know right away who it is.
I like his number personally.
I agree with the people in defense of it.

by joeish on Oct 29, 2009 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I have no problem with 57 but I bet he changes it at some point.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere

by David Oleksy on Oct 29, 2009 11:01 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

my guess this was his “make the team number” and then will switch to a more conventional number. But maybe he keeps it? Alot of border-line-making-the-team kids do this if Im correct. I know Lankster did on the Bills as well.

"Well, I’m always hungry and it’s time to eat" - Marshawn Lynch

by bflo on Oct 29, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions

“the Toronto Male Leafs.”

snicker

by Afino on Oct 28, 2009 11:08 PM EDT reply actions

All in all..

That game wasn’t the most exciting, but Miller had his moments and it was a pretty solid game. Espically getting out of the second period while only giving them one.

As for Kennedy’s goal, I have no idea how he got that between Brodeur’s legs. If you watch the replay you’ll notice Kennedy is looking the complete opposite way! haha
When he turns he’s looking towards Miller then whips his stick and the puck around his body, STILL while facing Miller, and somehow it goes in.

Too bad he’ll never remember the look on Brodeur’s face when he scored, since he wasn’t even looking at him. :P

Oh, and Myers better not go anywhere.
I was a little disappointed, he didn’ t have that big of a game today.

TILL FRIDAY!

by joeish on Oct 29, 2009 12:04 AM EDT reply actions

I like your assessment of Tyler Myers. I hope he stays.

by KTyczka on Oct 29, 2009 12:18 AM EDT reply actions

Where’s the assessment of Tyler Myers? Am I missing something?

by krytime on Oct 29, 2009 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions

It's D-Day for Sabres Brass

It was brief, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

by KTyczka on Oct 29, 2009 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions

:D

Thank you!
I’d love to talk more in depth about Myers, but I mean he’s only played 9 games! Haha
There is only so much we can talk about him.
Even though that “so much” is a lot.

by joeish on Oct 29, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I am really scared of every single three-in-four stretch this team has, not to mention in and around the Olympics

The way Ryan Miller is playing, and the way the team is playing around Miller, I have no desire to see Patrick Lalime. At all.

All he does is depress us.

by cwel87 on Oct 29, 2009 12:24 AM EDT reply actions

Pshh..

Isn’t that the truth.

I hate it, because i heard a lot of his interviews after games last year all the time and he’s a really nice guy. It’s a shame he sucks, I feel bad for the guy. I’m sure he’s trying, but it’s gotta be hard on him, ya know?

ESPECIALLY having to know the team wants you to compair to Miller when Miller is out. & maybe it’s just me.. but that might be a tad hard.

But I agree, he is quite depressing.

by joeish on Oct 29, 2009 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions

still dominating

iIlove when the opposing coach says that they lost to a better opponent. All the pieces seem to be in place . Lets do something with it GO SABRES!!

Rookies are like teabags...you don't know what you're gonna get until you put them in hot water. -Harry Neale

by weswed51 on Oct 29, 2009 1:38 AM EDT reply actions

What? No love for Poms?

Seriously, he’s taken a lot of heat ( and well deserved) but other than Ellis, Poms might have been the best skater on the ice last night. Chippy, and not just on the running of The Brodeur, working hard and smart in the corners, strong in all zones, a great entry and play behind the net on C-Mac’s goal, the PP marker late.

Step by step, game by game, he’s rounding back into the player Regier gave that big contract to. Heavy lies the crown and all that, I think with the balance in this lineup and the great job by the Bottom 6 and the young wingers in the Top 6 (C-Mac and Stafford) it’s rubbing off on him.

Let’s give some props to Paetsch for a solid game as well. That breakup of the effective 2 on 1 pass to Parise was a thing of hard-working beauty.

Tallinder, quietly, was extremely effective all night. Not much else to say, which is what you’re supposed to say about a defenseman. ;)

Ta,

by Tom Luongo on Oct 29, 2009 9:26 AM EDT reply actions

Pominville does deserve some love. He has been getting better and better with every game. It’s really hard to single out players right now because it has been a team effort.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere

by David Oleksy on Oct 29, 2009 11:03 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

No argument there, D.O. We all watch for different things during the game. For me, I gravitate towards those that had the question marks at the season’s start. Poms, CMac, Tallinder, Stafford, Hecht. Everyone of them has met or exceeded my hopes at season’s start. It’s been a treat to watch.

Ta,

by Tom Luongo on Oct 29, 2009 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Great win.

First… I would like to take credit for calling Kennedy scoring his first goal tonight in the Sabres v Devils preview post haha ;-)

but all around good win. Miller looks sharper and quicker than I’ve ever seen before. His instincts are perfect everytime. Hes definately plaYing out of his mind right now and we need to keep riding that.

The ooonly thing to complain about (because face it we’re buffalo fans) is… WHY DOES POMMERS BREAK AT LEAST 1 STICK A GAME?! its been happening for a few years now. He lets opportunities slip away by breaking his stick all the time… with that said he made a HELL of a defensive play without a stick last night.

Good game. Now on to the leafs

LETS GO SABS!!

"Well, I’m always hungry and it’s time to eat" - Marshawn Lynch

by bflo on Oct 29, 2009 9:55 AM EDT reply actions