Sabres 5, Islanders 3
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
On Monday night the Sabres peppered plenty of shots on net to little avail, they did so again tonight with better results as the guys in blue and gold again pelted the net with over forty shots and this time got out of HSBC Arena with a 5-3 win over the Islanders and sending them to their sixth loss in seven games.
Five different players lit the lamp for Buffalo(Drew Stafford and thousands of others may tell you six) and the first two were scored by Sabres who notched their first of the season. Nolan Pratt scored the only goal of the first on a flutterer from the blueline. that Rick Dipietro may not have seen. This would be followed by Toni Lydman’s only goal of the season, a sort of redemption for his two afwul giveaways in the previous game that played a huge role in the loss to the Bruins.
Ales Kotalik would quickly add another about a minute later off a pass from Pominville that came from a defensive zone giveaway by New York.
The teams then traded five on three power play goals and Richard Park closed out the second period scoring at 4-2. The goal seemed to turn the momentum in favor of the Isles, and entering the third it continued when Mike(I’ve played for every pro hockey team besides Buffalo) Sillinger scored early in the third very shortly after a brutally ugly giveaway by Ryan Miller.
The flow of the game was definitely in the Isles corner at this point….then Jochen Hecht came streaking down the ice a few minutes later, swerving past two Isles on the right and flipping a puck at the net and into it for a 5-3 lead, and when Drew Stafford appeard to add to that lead seconds later the rhythm and flow of the game had definitely changed. Stafford’s goal was disallowed thanks to it being kicked in the net(though this person swears it caught the stick on the way in.) but by this point the Sabres had the cushion and the control of the game that they needed and would hang on for the win.
After the game Lydman was a bit more jovial in his deadpanning, self-depricating way “I kept my goal scoring streak alive of scoring a goal in every season…..I just closed my eyes and shot it….I’m always surprised when it goes in.”
Coach Ruff was happy with the penalty kill in tonight’s game saying that “they’ve really gotten back in their groove” and cited the continuation of good play heading into tonight from the last couple of games. He also praised Miller’s play despite the near disasterous gaffe early in the third and specifically mentioned a great sprawling save made on a critical third period power play.
The win brings the Sabres to 14-14-1, 12th in the East.
Useless stat of the night: The Sabres are the only NHL club remaining not to have participated in a shootout this season.
Up next, a quick roadie to Washington on Friday then a return home the following to take on the Chicago Blackhawks and Patrick Kane.
