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Tonight marks the first of three straight home games for Buffalo, with four of their next five games residing here at First Niagara Center. Feel free to interact with me in several different ways: comment in the thread below, and follow me, send me a Tweet: @PatWGR. While you are there, give Brian Koziol a follow: @BrianWGR. I will add my two cents, in addition to the scoring plays in the game. Additionally, before the puck drops read Paul Hamilton's pregame primer by clicking here.
First Period
20:00 - The scratches are in, and Mike Weber is a surprise scratch for the blue and gold. Paul Hamilton surmises that Weber may be battling an injury, which may be why seven defensemen dressed for pregame warmups. As a result, Alexander Sulzer is in.
19:00 - Not a good start to the game for Buffalo. The puck has been in their zone the entire time, save the opening faceoff.
16:36 - SABRES GOAL. A GIGANTIC weight has been lifted off of the shoulders of Drew Stafford as the forward gives Buffalo a lead on their fourth shot of the game. Tyler Ennis put a pretty pass to the front off of a turnover, and Stafford did not miss the chance. That is the first goal of the year for Drew. 1-0 BUF.
14:18 - Adam McQuaid goes to the box for high sticking Patrick Kaleta in the corner. It was a freak play, but the B's dman needed to have better control of his stick. We will see if Buffalo can convert and extend their early lead.
12:16 - The Sabres have told Paul that Mike Weber was a healthy scratch tonight. An interesting development. I am not sure Weber has been a liability, and against Boston I would like the muscle that he can bring.
9:18 - A very nice save by Ryan Miller, sprawling out across his crease. Say what you want about the rest of the team, but Miller has been the most consistent, best player this season. It will be a shame if the team in front of him does not pick up the pace.
6:22 - Two goal posts in less than a minute for Boston has kept the blue and gold in front by a goal. Miller has been beaten on a couple of weird angle shots, but it has not cost Buffalo.
2:04 - BRUINS GOAL. A mad scramble by Ryan Miller puts himself out of position and rookie Dougie Hamilton blasts the puck into the net to tie the game. The former Niagara Ice Dog picks up his first career NHL goal in the process. 1-1 tie.
End of Period
BUF - 1, BOS - 1
Goal Summary
BUF: 3:24 - Drew Stafford (1). (Tyler Ennis, Marcus Foligno)
BOS: 17:56 - Dougie Hamilton (1) PPG. (David Krejci, Tyler Seguin)
Shots On Goal
BUF - 10, BOS - 12
Second Period
17:31 - BRUINS GOAL. Buffalo could not get the puck out of their own zone to save their lives, and Rich Peverley makes them pay. What a horrid sequence for everyone on the ice in the blue and gold. Where was everyone?! 2-1 BOS.
15:44 - Still not shots on goal for the Sabres yet this period.
13:01 - Now two shots on goal this period, but neither of them from a good angle for the Sabres. They are being outshot 7-2, and outchanced totally because of sloppy play in their own zone this stanza.
10:35 - Brian and I are just totally baffled by the Sabres' lack of awareness in their own zone, not only this period, but almost the entire year. Even guys like Thomas Vanek are making questionable decisions inside of his own blue line.
6:56 - This is downright pitiful. I cannot remember the Sabres being this bad in their own zone this year, and that is saying something. If not for Miller, this game could be 3 or 4-1 right now. Terrible decision making and no one stepping up to create a breakout play.
13:01 - Now two shots on goal this period, but neither of them from a good angle for the Sabres. They are being outshot 7-2, and outchanced totally because of sloppy play in their own zone this stanza.
10:35 - Brian and I are just totally baffled by the Sabres' lack of awareness in their own zone, not only this period, but almost the entire year. Even guys like Thomas Vanek are making questionable decisions inside of his own blue line.
6:56 - This is downright pitiful. I cannot remember the Sabres being this bad in their own zone this year, and that is saying something. If not for Miller, this game could be 3 or 4-1 right now. Terrible decision making and no one stepping up to create a breakout play.
5:41 - A break goes Buffalo's way, as the B's are called for too many men on the ice. As Brian just said to me: an absolutely abysmal period can be saved if the Sabres score on this upcoming PP.
5:18 - There goes that thought...Steve Ott is called for interference as he set a pick play while Tyler Ennis drove down the left wing boards.
2:11 - Shots right now are 14-6, Boston and it could not be any more indicative of how this period has gone.
5:18 - There goes that thought...Steve Ott is called for interference as he set a pick play while Tyler Ennis drove down the left wing boards.
2:11 - Shots right now are 14-6, Boston and it could not be any more indicative of how this period has gone.
End of Period
BOS - 2, BUF - 1
Goal Summary
BUF: none
BOS: 2:29 - Rich Peverley (2). (Dougie Hamilton, Dennis Seidenberg).
Shots On Goal
BUF - 6 (16), BOS - 17 (29)
Third Period
17:57 - SABRES GOAL. Tyler Myers does a good job of jumping in the play and scoring on a glorious rebound chance. Nathan Gerbe feathered a nice saucer pass across ice to Jochen Hecht, and Myers pounced on the juicy rebound. That put some life into the fans here. 2-2 tie.
15:20 - Buffalo had some Grade A, quality scoring chances on the power play moments ago. Many none better than the one of the stick of Cody Hodgson. He could not convert and give Buffalo some more momentum, so the game stays tied.
13:33 - The Sabres already have more shots on goal in six minutes this frame, than they had all of last period. I guess they need to fast forward over the middle twenty minutes every night...
10:58 - SABRES GOAL. Christian Ehrhoff pounces on a rebound chance in the slot, and BANG. The puck is in the back of the net. Bad play by Anton Khudobin to steer the puck right to the middle of the ice, where the defenseman buried the shot. 3-2 BUF.
10:16 - Andrej Sekera had to be helped off of the ice, unable to put any weight on his right leg after absorbing a hit from Shawn Thornton along the boards. It did not look good, as the rear guard was in pain right away and was down for an extended period of time before being helped to the locker room.
8:15 - SABRES GOAL. Another nice play by Tyler Myers in the offensive zone, and this time a bad goal allowed by Anton Khudobin, and the Sabres are in command of this one. Cody Hodgson is able to chip the puck in between the post and the goaltender for the score. 4-2 BUF.
2:07 - My, how much different the blue and gold are from period to period. It is as if they totally wiped the abysmal second from their memory banks, and came out firing on all cylinder here in the third. By the way, Tyler Myers is the common denominator on two of the team's goals.
2:07 - My, how much different the blue and gold are from period to period. It is as if they totally wiped the abysmal second from their memory banks, and came out firing on all cylinder here in the third. By the way, Tyler Myers is the common denominator on two of the team's goals.
End of Game
Buffalo 4, Boston 2
Goal Summary
BUF: 2:03 - Tyler Myers (2). (Jochen Hecht, Nathan Gerbe). 9:02 - Christian Ehrhoff (2). (Drew Stafford, Tyler Ennis). 11:45 - Cody Hodgson (6). (Tyler Myers, Christian Ehrhoff).
BOS: none
Shots On Goal
BUF - 10 (26), BOS - 3 (32)
Buffalo 4, Boston 2
Goal Summary
BUF: 2:03 - Tyler Myers (2). (Jochen Hecht, Nathan Gerbe). 9:02 - Christian Ehrhoff (2). (Drew Stafford, Tyler Ennis). 11:45 - Cody Hodgson (6). (Tyler Myers, Christian Ehrhoff).
BOS: none
Shots On Goal
BUF - 10 (26), BOS - 3 (32)
Postgame
It is baffling, how much different things can be period-to-period for Buffalo. I would like to team to find a consistency where the second period is not such a hazard. What happens the next time they get dominated in the middle stanza? Can Ryan Miller "stand on his head" and steal the period? I still am not conviced Buffalo is a "good team," but a win is a win, and I give the blue and gold credit for battling back to manhandle Boston in the final twenty minutes. Especially with Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins coming to town for a meeting on Sunday afternoon. The puck drops from downtown Buffalo at 12:30 on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550. I will bring you pregame coverage starting at 11:30 a.m.