Sabres 5 Hurricanes 1: Third Period Comeback Gives Sabres Victory

by David Oleksy on Nov 28, 2009 10:42 PM EST Comment 15 comments

Carolina Hurricanes center Matt Cullen backhands the puck past Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller, left, during the first period of the NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y., Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Don Heupel)

3 months ago: Carolina Hurricanes center Matt Cullen backhands the puck past Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller, left, during the first period of the NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y., Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Don Heupel)

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It was like the Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes played a doubleheader tonight at HSBC Arena. The first two periods were heavily in favor of the Canes while the Sabres controlled the final 20 minutes. The difference in the game was simple...Ryan Miller is better than Michael Leighton.

It took the Sabres 40 minutes to get their legs despite the lift they should have gotten from beating the Flyers on Friday. Maybe it took them some time to realize they would be without Paul Gaustad, Patrick Kaleta and Craig Rivet. The Canes took advantage of the Sabres sloppy play and Matt Cullen scored the first goal to give them a 1-0 lead. Tyler Myers made a terrible decision on a dump pass and Cullen raced in on Miller all alone. It was the only blemish for Miller tonight but Cullen made a nice move to beat him.

Miller was the only Sabres player to show up in the secon period. He made 30 saves in total for the victory and was nothing short of spectacular along the way. Miller made the best save of the game on Rid Brind'amour about midway through the second period when the score was still 1-0 in favor of Carolina. Miller was out of he net but dove back to glove the shot by Brind'amour that was headed into the open net.

The Sabres took advantage of the second period heroics of their netminder Miller, by scoring early in the third period. After the Sabres goal it was easy to see the momentum shift in favor the Sabres. They eventually poured on the pressure and came away with five third period goals for the victory.

There is nothing spectacular about beating the Carolina Hurricanes but the Sabres have to be happy with the way they came back. The last two games are a perfect example of why this team is different than they were the past couple of seasons. They fight till the very end and there is no quit in this squad.

I'll have more player analysis tomorrow but let's hear your thoughts.

Final - 11.28.2009	1	2	3	Total
Carolina Hurricanes	1	0	0	1
Buffalo Sabres	0	0	5	5

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Comments

Thanks Sabres for a win on my birthday!

Boy, HSBC was a morgue for the first 30 minutes. Then the Miller saves happened. And then the 3rd period.

by Afino on Nov 29, 2009 12:12 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Happy Birthday to you!

B-B-B-Byrd Byrd Byrd, Byrd is the Wyrd!"

by willgarr15 on Nov 30, 2009 1:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I missed the game. I’m going through it quick with DVR, and I have some questions…

What were the line combos Lindy went with? It seemed like he rolled his top nine guys equally.

Prior to the start of the season, I bemoaned the forward glut. One trade, and injury, and a small suspension might reveal a sudden lack of depth up front. Gerbe and/or Ennis should have a “To Buffalo” travel bag ready, just in case. That 4th line tonite (Mair, Ellis, and Paetsch) is not something I want to watch very much.

Did Sekera really have a good game, or was that just another Roby puff piece during the second intermission?

Is Gaustad kind of the same guy Brad Butler is from the Bills? If you’re not a Bills fan, just skip ahead here. Both guys were low round picks who made the big club through a lot of hard work. Both epitomize what we (WNY) want in our our pro athletes. Yet, neither can stay on the field/ice for a whole season.

I really skipped fast through the first two periods. Missed the Myers screw up that lead to the only Carolina goal. I caught the post game show on the radio, and Paul Hamilton made a comment that it was good that Lindy just threw him back out there after the gaff. I agree, even without seeing it. Seeing that Myers ended up with three assists, I think that move should be given a tip of the hat. Building confidence in a talented 19 year old in the NHL is tough (I imagine). And Ruff has never really dealt with such a young talent before. Kudos to him for playing this right so far…

I flipped through the game thread here. Where were all the “no-faithers?”

Why was Paetsch manning the power play at one point in the second? Did he play well at all? I have nothing against him; I kind of like him. But I know chances are the team is better if he’s not in the lineup. My guess is he’s in the line up Monday against the Leafs. Without Rivet and Gaustad, the team is lacking in guys who will throw ‘em, and Paetsch will, even if he’s not feared. The Leafs will be well rested coming into that game, and Buffalo is at the end of a four in six stretch, without their two most physical guys (I’m assuming Rivet will be out, and I’m okay with that).

by krytime on Nov 29, 2009 12:23 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

This “no-faither” was actually at the game ;)

(assuming I’m considered one)

by Afino on Nov 29, 2009 11:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn’t consider you one…

by krytime on Nov 29, 2009 1:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Also just watched in on DVR

- Didn’t seem like Lindy liked that 4th line too much either. I hardly saw them at all. Much different from having Goose and Kaleta out there.
- Sekera definitely played well – he had a Herculean effort to control the puck and set up Grier’s goal.
- No idea why Paetsch was on the PP other than to change things up or give some of the top 9 guys a rest.
- Grier and Kennedy just make things happen when they’re on the ice. They should make a buddy-cop show staring these guys.
- Glad Vanek scored, because he has 5 or 6 legitimate chances and couldn’t bury it. Looked like he was pressing pretty hard, and hopefully this takes some pressure off his shoulders.
- With Connolly scoring last game, and Roy, Vanek, Hecht, Mac, and Grier getting goals tonight, maybe these two games will be the ones we look back as the games that sprung our offense out of its funk.

by Andy Boron on Nov 29, 2009 6:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Vanek looked pretty relieved after scoring, that’s for sure.

by Afino on Nov 29, 2009 7:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree. Sekera really did a splendid job tonight and showed glimpses of why he’s viewed by many as a diamond in the rough for the Sabres. His offensive skills are just lights out for a defenseman and so is Myers, who in spite of the one huge mistake that gave the Canes the lead had a strong game with three assists. This kid will be something special for us and much better than Campbell – mark my words.

by BillsfanfromDenmark on Nov 29, 2009 5:08 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ryan Miller is s till a beast.

I’m disappointing that the Brind’amour save didn’t have the WE ARE NOT WORTHY!!!! Audio with it, that was amazing.

Bills fan? In Colorado? It's more likely than you think.

by UZ on Nov 29, 2009 5:36 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

What a 3rd. And my god miller is amazing… That “we are not worthy” save was unbelievable. Very happy ruff threw myers back out there after that horrible decision. And grier played a hell of a gamd too, nice to see him score for all his hard work. Haha you just knew vanek wasnt going to let that crazy 3rd go by without getting a goal himself.

"I don't know how to explain it but we seem to find eachother on the ice and make things happen... Yeah. Pass, shoot, score... Yeah. Pass.. Shoot.. And score."

by bflo on Nov 29, 2009 10:13 AM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Yea good to see

Sometimes Ruff can be frustrating the way he benches players when they get in his dog house. At this point in the Sabres season, they cannot afford to shorten the bench. At this point in Myers development, they can’t afford to bench him either in my mind. The only way this kid gets better is by playing, and by making these kind of bone-head mistakes. You can guarantee he will be more careful with the puck for the next few games, as he was the rest of the one Saturday night

B-B-B-Byrd Byrd Byrd, Byrd is the Wyrd!"

by willgarr15 on Nov 30, 2009 1:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ruff didn’t bench him after the Cullen goal… he put him right back out there for the next faceoff.

No way that kid is in Ruff’s doghouse. He shortened the bench b/c those were the guys that responded best to the challenge. Mair/Paetsch/Ellis had nothing going, so why give the Canes a chance to regroup during their shift? When on a roll, go with it.

Ta,

by Tom Luongo on Nov 30, 2009 4:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I wasnt talking about this game

I meant in the past. It was good to see that he didn’t bench Myers after the turnover and that he maybe realizes that he needs to play him even if/when he makes mistakes.

B-B-B-Byrd Byrd Byrd, Byrd is the Wyrd!"

by willgarr15 on Dec 1, 2009 3:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i recorded this on my dvr last night. i go to watch it, and it just recorded a message telling me to tune to a different channel for 3 hours. so pissed.

after watching the highlights, RJ said it right, we are not worthy.

damn, Miller… damn…

Carolina could have won this game no sweat. Its kind of scary. Imagine if Lalime was in net tonight… Watching Miller play this season really sets the bar high

by lassathrax on Nov 29, 2009 10:16 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

The Canes are in free-fall mode and this was the type of game the last couple years this team would fritter away and end up regretting doing so when the season concluded.

I live in Raleigh, have respect for the Canes and attend quite a few of their games, but frankly, this was a game the Sabres should and thankfully did win, even with the lackluster 2 periods.

And a tip of the hat to Grier for getting it going and the rest of the guys following along. Now let’s get the Leafs!

by sabre74kkn on Nov 30, 2009 5:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs