Three Stars: Buffalo vs Ottawa
3/27/2010 | Posted by
Devin
Trust me; there is a very good reason as to why this posting is delayed. I needed some time to cool down and gather my thoughts before writing about the eighth straight loss to the Ottawa Senators. If I were to have written it last night immediately after the game, I'm sure it would've been semi-incoherent and filled with numerous expletives.
First Star – Brian Elliot (OTT)
There were times last night when Elliot essentially stood on his head and he should receive most of the credit for the win. Buffalo outshot Ottawa 43-30 and Elliot only yielded two goals. It does help that for almost the entire game he played with the lead, but that shouldn't diminish how well he played. Considering the near playoff atmosphere of the game last night, Ottawa fans should be feeling pretty good about entering the post-season with Elliot between the pipes. Just in case Ottawa faces Buffalo in the first round of the playoffs, I feel the need to mention that Elliot is now 8-0-0 in his career against the Sabres.
Second Star – Jason Spezza (OTT)
Spezza has been a Sabre killer in the past and he continued that last night with two points, including what turned out to be the game winning goal on the power play. Daniel Alfredsson also contributed two points but I refuse to acknowledge his empty net goal.
Third Star – Jason Pominville (BUF)
I've been pretty hard on Pommers this season but he has showed up to play for the tail end of the season and that is great news as Buffalo gears up for the playoffs. Pominville netted his 22nd goal of the season just 1:34 into the third period and cut the Ottawa lead to 3-2, but unfortunately the Sabres were never able to tie it up. Pominville now has 12 points in his last nine games. First Minus – Thomas Vanek (BUF)
This guy has yet to earn his gigantic paycheck and he is bordering on Afinogenov Territory for me. For those who haven't been around very long, that was the territory I named after former Sabre Maxim Afinogenov last season when I was officially done with him and decided the only way he could win me back was by scoring the game winning goal in the Stanley Cup Finals.
I spent the better part of two periods complaining up and down about Vanek and trying to figure out if he even dressed for the game. He then proceeded to take the puck on a clean breakaway with Buffalo trailing 3-2 but instead of scoring, he rung the puck off the goalpost and the Sabres lost. Normally I wouldn't fault the player for hitting the post, but I have to wonder if his chances of scoring would've been better with a normal deke or wrist shot, instead of the 217 mph slap shot he unleaded from 10 feet out. I don't know, maybe his accuracy was a little off with that one.
Second Minus – Sabres fans
Unless MSG has the microphones turned waaaaaay down last night, HSBC arena sounded like the 18th green at Augusta last night. How does that happen for such a huge game? I already know it wasn't the TV broadcast because I've been to two games in person and it was the same way. I went back and watched some highlights from the two conference championship years and the difference in mind blowing. No wonder the team lacks energy sometimes. They are probably trying to figure out if the crowd is awake (or alive) for most of the game. The Sabres officially have the quietest sell-out crowds in the NHL. It's sad.
On a positive note, Buffalo can still officially clinch a playoff spot with a win tonight against Tampa Bay. Their magic number for the Northeast Division still sits at nine points as they hold a five point lead on Ottawa with two games in hand. That lead can be cut to seven with a win and Ottawa win tonight or five if Ottawa trips up against Florida.
But before you get too excited, Patrick Lalime is expected to play in net tonight (still trying for his 200th career victory). Also, it is rumored that both Tim Connolly and Patrick Kaleta will be out with injuries as Tyler Ennis has been recalled from Portland.
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