Buffalo goalied by Shesterkin in shutout performance
Score: Buffalo Sabres 0-4 New York Rangers
Shots: BUF 33-36 NYR
Buffalo Sabres Goals: N/A
New York Rangers Goals: Lafreniere (1), Soucy (1), Miller (1), Fox (1)
Minus 1: Not a good first period
One of the keys to the game for the Sabres was to get a good start. They did not.
The Rangers immediately looked like a team that had already played a game as they were more focused and coordinated to start the game. Buffalo on the other hand spent most of the opening minutes still finding their feet without necessarily looking poor.
A poorly-placed stick in his own defensive zone led to a penalty on Geertsen for tripping up Zibanejad, but Buffalo’s penalty kill held well as did Lyon early on who looked sharp. One poor zone clearance later, Bryson failed to engage Lafreniere, and the Rangers forward was able to lift the puck over Lyon’s leg jammed against the post to score even as Ryan Johnson was left sightseeing.
Their inability to retain the puck in the offensive zone meant the Sabres spent the bulk of the period on the back foot as the Rangers averaged a shot a minute for most of the first period. Yet the game wasn’t as one-sided as the early shot totals showed as the Sabres definitely got some clear looks on goal.
Buffalo finished the period much better than they started, and the shots were 16-11 in favor of the visitors when the horn sounded.
Plus 1: Better in the second
Some will argue that the only way to go when you’re abysmal is up. Aided by two power plays in quick succession the Sabres quickly evened up the shot count, but if you were hoping the power play woes were finally sorted.. they weren’t. Shesterkin for his part looked nothing like he did on Tuesday night and kept Buffalo at bay.
Buffalo kept their momentum that they ended the first with but despite that were unable to find the net, with Doan cranking one off our old friend Mr. Post as well. Lindy Ruff maintained his reputation for tweaking the lines, moving Krebs off the top line and pushing Zucker up where he seemed more at home.
Zucker got into a shoving match that led to some 4-on-4 hockey, and Tuch had a golden chance when the puck found him alone with Shesterkin, but the goalie’s quick poke check prevented an almost certain goal. Dahlin had an excellent bit of defensive work barging Panarin off the puck, and for some reason Twitter will not let me embed that hit here.
The Zucker – Thompson – Norris line had consecutive excellent shifts and won a power play to end the period keeping the pressure on the visitors. After wasting a quarter of the man advantage getting set up, Buffalo had a couple of good looks before squandering the remainder of the time as well to finish the period up 24-21 in shots.
Minus 2: Shesterkin simply unbeatable
The third period started in the worst way possible with Thompson getting a high-sticking penalty right off the opening faceoff. However the Sabres did well to kill off the penalty without too much ado.
Dahlin then reminded us how good he really is (in case any one of us had forgotten) with a nifty bit of stickhandling and physical positioning at the Rags’ blue line, but Shesterkin once again kept the Sabres out.
It was when the Sabres fourth power play of the game went the same way as the previous three futile attempts that the first boos of the night were heard. A Danforth penalty gave the visitors another chance at the power play but the Sabres’ aggressive kill kept the margin at one.
As the period went on the Sabres looked less and less likely to score and with Buffalo stretched trying to find the leveler, Soucy walked in alone on the left wing and beat Lyon at the near post to end the game as a contest with about five minutes to play.
Norris slammed his back into the boards tweaked something on the faceoff and hobbled to the bench, as the entire fanbase held their collective breath – he didn’t leave the bench, but didn’t take another shift either. A couple of minutes later Miller deflected a shot that then eluded Lyon to make the score 3-0, with the Sabres finally going empty net after that. Fox then lofted the puck high into the rafters and into the open goal to make it 4-0, and a pretty undeserving score to be honest.
More boos rang out in the final minute, but that felt more like 14 years of frustration than complaints about the first night, but that’s hockey for you.
Final Thoughts
The Sabres’ were actually not bad in this game, and will feel themselves very unfortunate to not come away with a point at the very least. There’s still lots to work on, and Ruff might not even have his lines solidified quite yet especially with players still shuffling in and out of the lineup due to illness and injury.
The first game is now in the books, and time to wash the bad taste this one left out of their mouths. The power play still stinks and that is problematic and worrying. Buffalo did look faster and more physical than before and that is encouraging and hopeful.
Comment of the Game: Definite difference in playing style this year. I’ll echo T McGee’s thoughts here.
Thought From The Big Chair: I like the way they’re playing. It’s noticeably different than last year. Just need a bounce. Or three.
Buffalo head off to Beantown to take on the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.