E-Mail
Print
Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) -- Welcome yet again into the Ted Darling Memorial Press Box. No rest for the Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes, as the two teams that face off here in downtown Buffalo matched up yesterday in the Tar Heel State. The 'Canes came out on top 6-3, despite the blue and gold making a pair of comeback efforts. Buffalo is now 2-1-0 on the season, thanks to the loss last night.
Ville Leino is still out with a hip injury, while Ryan Miller is between the pipes for the Sabres after a night off. This place was rocking last Sunday afternoon for the season opener vs. Phildelphia, and I expect no less from this rabid fan base.
Feel free to comment throughout the game in the thread below. I will add my two cents, in addition to the scoring plays. Also, here are a few people to follow on Twitter for game updates: Brian Koziol - @BrianWGR, Paul Hamilton - @pham1717, and myself - @PatWGR.
First Period
17:18 - Howdy, folks. Sorry for the lack of comments off the bat tonight. Having a bit of techincal problems off the get go, but it looks like we are good to go now.
15:43 - Each team has had an abbreviated power play early on. Jordan Leopold went to the box for Buffalo, while Jordan Staal's interference minor negated the Carolina power plauy chance. The Sabres did have one scoring opportunity late in their chance, but we are still scoreless with Buffalo holding a 5-3 edge in shots.
13:33 - Mikhail Grigorenko gets his first shift of the period, and it is with the fourth line pair of Nathan Gerbe and John Scott on the wings. Not sure I like that, especially with just two games left, incuding tonight, in his "try out." To start the game tonight Jochen Hecht was between Steve Ott and Patrick Kaleta, so we knew something had changed.
13:29 - I have been saying from the start, I am OK with Grigorenko getting his five games in here with the Sabres, but unless he lit the world on fire, I do not want to see the team burn a year on his entry level contract. With him skating on the fourth line, it appears that it may indeed be what is coming after Sunday's game at Washington. However, plenty can change between then and now.
9:33 - A fight ensues after a hit in the neutral zone by Steve Ott. The hit was a tad bit late, maybe high, and Tim Gleason went right after the Buffalo winger. Each end up with a fighting major, while Ott picked up an elbowing minor for the hit, and Gleason was issued an instigator and 10-minute misconduct. MSG also showed a little jawing after the play between Patrick Kaleta and Chad LaRose.
6:43 - For those DirecTV customers commenting in, according to tweets from the Sabres and DirecTV, the satellite provider is working to correct the issue. While you are missing the TV broadcast, you can listen to Kevin Sylvester and Rob Ray on WGR and wgr550.com.
4:34 - Good save for Ryan Miller through traffic to keep the game scoreless. The Sabres netminder has not really been tested much, save one or two chances. The 'Canes now hold a 10-9 edge in shots, but I am not sure who has had the better chances. The blue and gold have had one or two, and so have the visitors.
3:28 - Referee Kelly Sutherland got the call right with a slashing minor to Thomas Vanek, but totally botched the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. As far as we could tell Vanek swore, or said something, at Sutherland, which clearly does not happen at all during the course of the game (insert sarcasm here).
1:11 - Marcus Foligno with his biggest hit of the season thus far. Just missed even more damage on a Hurricanes forward at the blue line. Foligno "left his feet" to deliver the open ice stick, which resulted in a turnover in Buffalo's favor.
1:11 - Marcus Foligno with his biggest hit of the season thus far. Just missed even more damage on a Hurricanes forward at the blue line. Foligno "left his feet" to deliver the open ice stick, which resulted in a turnover in Buffalo's favor.
End of Period
BUF - 0, CAR - 0
Goal Summary
BUF: none
CAR: none
Shots On Goal
BUF - 10, CAR - 14
Second Period
19:06 - Normally I am not a fan of the drop pass, because I think it is over used. However, it was the perfect play by Cody Hodgson to lay the puck back for Thomas Vanek and created a very good scoring chance. It helped create a whole sequence in the offensive zone.
15:36 - Without a doubt the blue and gold have had the better of the chances this period, and now are on the power play. We will see if that opens things up even more for the home team.
14:07 - Tyler Myers with just an absoultely BRUTAL giveaway in the offensive zone that led to two golden scoring chances for Carolina in transition. One shot hit the post, and then Miller came up big on the rebound chance. It would have been classic Sabres to dominate a period, and then have one bad chance go in their net.
10:40 - Well, things have certainly flipped in the momentum department. Since the Myers turnover Carolina has controlled the play, and taken the majority of shots on net.
7:58 - Thomas Vanek is not on the Sabres bench at the moment. Nathan Gerbe has taken his spot with Jason Pominville and Cody Hodgson. Check back for any updates.
6:06 - Buffalo takes its one and only timeout of the game to give the Kaleta-Hecht-Ott line a breather.
5:15 - INJURY UPDATE: Thomas Vanek is back on the Sabres bench.
3:05 - Buffalo comes off of a two-minute power play after Jordan Staal was called for a holding minor. However, still nothing to show for the man advantage. Another opportunity wasted as not much got through to Dan Ellis.
End of Period
BUF - 0, CAR - 0
Goal Summary
BUF: none
CAR: none
Shots on Goal
BUF - 18 (28), CAR - 10 (24)
Third Period
20:00 - So, which line is going to step up and score this frame? I am guessing it will be the Stafford-Ennis-Foligno line.
18:23 - Jordan Staal goes to the box for the third time tonight. It has not been a banner night for the younger Staal.
18:04 - SABRES PPG. Thomas Vanek gets his third goal of the season on the power play on a pure muscle play. The alternate captain spun in the far face-off circle and used the Cody Hodgson screen to beat Dan Ellis with a solid wrist shot. That was just what the doctor ordered for the blue and gold on the man advantage. 1-0 BUF.
16:29 - HURRICANES PPG. And the 'Canes answer right back with a power play goal of their own. Alexander Semin used two or three teammates as a screen in front of Ryan Miller, and the Buffalo goalie never saw the shot. Game is back to even. 1-1 tie.
11:50 - Well, the two goals have really opened things up. Some good end-to-end rushes for both teams. Shots are 6-5, Carolina this stanza.
7:16 - A moment to breathe for a media timeout. Shots are 9-7, Carolina, but the top line has been buzzing and nearly scored again. Vanek crashed the crease, and a blast by Hodgson rattled around the crease.
5:02 - About a quarter of the period to go in the stanza, and still no shifts for Mikhail Grigorenko. What is going on?! At least give the kid a chance to show you what he has...this is a little bizarre if you ask me.
18:04 - SABRES PPG. Thomas Vanek gets his third goal of the season on the power play on a pure muscle play. The alternate captain spun in the far face-off circle and used the Cody Hodgson screen to beat Dan Ellis with a solid wrist shot. That was just what the doctor ordered for the blue and gold on the man advantage. 1-0 BUF.
16:29 - HURRICANES PPG. And the 'Canes answer right back with a power play goal of their own. Alexander Semin used two or three teammates as a screen in front of Ryan Miller, and the Buffalo goalie never saw the shot. Game is back to even. 1-1 tie.
11:50 - Well, the two goals have really opened things up. Some good end-to-end rushes for both teams. Shots are 6-5, Carolina this stanza.
7:16 - A moment to breathe for a media timeout. Shots are 9-7, Carolina, but the top line has been buzzing and nearly scored again. Vanek crashed the crease, and a blast by Hodgson rattled around the crease.
5:02 - About a quarter of the period to go in the stanza, and still no shifts for Mikhail Grigorenko. What is going on?! At least give the kid a chance to show you what he has...this is a little bizarre if you ask me.
4:49 - HURRICANES GOAL. The visitors win a faceoff and bam, the puck is in the net! The puck may have been defelcted past Miller and in the net. Jay Harrison gets the goal, with Eric Staal notching the lone assist. 2-1 CAR.
:25.2 - HURRICANES GOAL. ...And there you have it, with Jeff Skinner's empty net goal to seal the win for the visitors. Tons of fans were already headed to the exits, and the Arena has become a sea of empty, blue seats. 3-1 CAR.
Final Score
Carolina 3, Buffalo 1
Goal Summary
BUF: 1:56 - Thomas Vanek (3) PPG. Assists, Jason Pominville, Christian Ehrhoff.
CAR: 3:31 - Alexander Semin (1) PPG. Assists, Jordan Staal. 15:10 - Jay Harrison (1). Assists, Eric Staal. 19:34 - Jeff Skinner (4) ENG. Assists, Tim Gleason, Jay Harrison.
Shots on Goal
BUF - 13 (41), CAR - 18 (42)
CAR: 3:31 - Alexander Semin (1) PPG. Assists, Jordan Staal. 15:10 - Jay Harrison (1). Assists, Eric Staal. 19:34 - Jeff Skinner (4) ENG. Assists, Tim Gleason, Jay Harrison.
Shots on Goal
BUF - 13 (41), CAR - 18 (42)
Final Thoughts
It is pretty plain and simple for me: someone besides the three on the top line need to score. It does not get any easier than that. Someone needs to step up and ease the burden, because there is no way the Vanek-Hodgson-Pominville line can keep up the scoring pace they are on, it is almost impossible. I wish I had the answer, but I do not. However, I do know that having Mikhail Grigorenko sitting on the bench the whole third period was not a good thing. Maybe head coach Lindy Ruff will address it in the postgame. But, as Paul Hamilton told Brian Koziol in the second intermission: might as well put the rookie back on a plane to Quebec to the junior ranks if you are going to play his this sparingly.
Next up for the blue and gold is a road date in the Nation's Capital. Buffalo takes on the Washington Capitals on Sunday afternoon at three o'clock. Pregame coverage with Brian Koziol begins at 2 p.m. on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550.