After spotting the Toronto Maple Leafs a 2-0 lead after two periods, it was an insane third period tonight at HSBC Arena. Buffalo gets 4 goals in regulation, including the game tying goal with 3:33 left in regulation. Then Ales Kotalik’s tip in on the power play with 3.7 seconds left in overtime seals Buffalo’s dramatic win.

Once the Sabres overcame their second period cobwebs, the game took on an electric tempo, reminsicent of the great Buffalo Toronto games we have witnessed in the past. Both teams started lighting the lamp and answering, and of course, the building got louder and louder with both contingents of fans. “For entertainment purposes, it was just great for the fans” said Lindy Ruff afterwards, then added “But not so great for the coaches.”

The sellout streak that goes back to April of 2006 is over; the team announced a paid attendance of 18,217, close but no cigar, and there were small gaps of empty seats in each of the corners of the 300 deck. Maybe Monday night is not the most attractive for a game, or maybe single ticket prices from $85-$203 are just a bit high for this market. The next gold game is against the same Leafs on a Friday night and being a weekend date and a holiday weekend, that one should do better.

There were enough Toronto fans in the stands to enjoy this one at first, and while the Sabres started out hot peppering Andrew Raycroft with shot after shot, the team could not get one past him, until Buffalo finally broke through in the third period. From there it became a track meet, just like the types of games the Sabres excelled in last season.

The team seems to be doing a good job working the kinks out of the new electronics. They’ve upped the font on the end zone out of town scoreboards, and the lower ribbon beneath the video is now used to alternate out of town scores, shots on goal or the penalty clocks.

Interestingly, the team has yet to reveal specifics about the scoreboard, including stuff such as the manufacturer, the cost and other details. I asked Mike Gilbert about this today, saying that the new board is awesome and the Sabres should be shouting from the rooftops about their cool new toy. He told me there is a reason for the delay and everything we want to know will be unveiled in due time.

The Sabres are home for one more this Friday against my buddy Michael Peca and the Blue Jackets.

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