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.