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Islanders Shut Out Sabres 4-0



Pat Malacaro Reporting
PatM@wgr550.com

Buffalo, NY (WGR 550)  -- Hello, and welcome once again into the Ted Darling Memorial Press Box at First Niagara Center. Well...since I last joined you on the Sabres Radio Network, Lindy Ruff was still the head coach of the Buffalo Sabres. The almost unimaginable happened one day later, and Ruff was removed from his position, with Ron Rolston taking over on an interim basis. Rolston will be behind the bench in front of the home town crowd for the first time tonight, as the blue and gold welcome the New York Islanders into town.

Buffalo dropped a 3-1 decision to the Toronto Maple Leafs in Rolston's debut two days ago. We will see if the attitiude and results change at all for a team that seemed to be simply going through the motions on the ice. Entering play tonight, the Sabres are officially last in the Eastern Conference. 

Be sure to comment throughout the night in the thread below. I will add my two cents throughout the night as well. For more, give me a follow on Twitter: @PatWGR. Also, be sure to follow Brian Koziol: @BrianWGR. Finally, for Paul Hamilton's pregame primer, click here. 

First Period

17:47 - There have been a couple of chances each way early on. An Isles shot in the opening minute found its way off of the post behind Ryan Miller. The other came for the blue and gold with a shot right off of the mask of Evgeni Nabakov.

14:33 - Buffalo goes on the man advantage for the first time tonight thanks to a Mark Streit interference minor. The Isles' captain clearly impeded the progress of Steve Ott to necessitate the call.

12:32 - ...and the power play is over with no real good scoring chance to speak of for the blue and gold. Christian Ehrhoff had a decent look at the net, but the shot lane closed quickly to nullify any opportunity he had. Score is still 0-0, with the shots 3-2, Buffalo.

9:41 - Miller took a shot square off of the mask just a few moments ago, and the puck seemed to stun him. I will keep an eye on that, as the netminder has had issues in the past with shots up high.

7:08 - Another less than stellar PP for the Sabres. Ehrhoff had a good chance or two, one that even caught Nabakov looking behind, but still no scoring. 

End of Period

BUF - 0, NYI - 0

Goal Summary

BUF: none
NYI: none

Shots On Goal

BUF - 9, NYI - 13

Second Period

17:33 - The second period is not going very well for the blue and gold right now. Shots are 3-0, New York and all of the chances have come in the Buffalo end. Had it not been for a shot over the net, it would be 1-0 Isles.

16:31 - Patrick Kaleta goes straight to the Sabres' locker room after what appeared to be a missed check. The forward was in some discomfort on the ice, and headed straight for the tunnel, followed by trainer Tim Macre. 

11:40 - INJURY UPDATE: Alexander Sulzer suffered a lower body injury in the first period, and we were just told by the Sabres that he will NOT return to the game.

7:44 - Some improved play by the blue and gold after a sluggish couple of minutes, but now it seems like no one wants to shoot the puck. The team spent about thirty seconds passing the puck around the perimeter with no one wanting to let 'er rip.

5:43 - Much better power play, but the same results for Buffalo. The team had several quality scoring opportunities, but this time it was Nabakov who had to make a couple of stops. New York was penalized for a too many men on the ice bench minor, to result in the chance.

3:54 - Sabres use their one timeout of the night here on the power play. Interesting strategy by head coach Ron Rolston. Not sure I would have used it now, but what the heck. If it gives the top unit an extra rest, it could pay off.

2:09 - ISLANDERS GOAL. Matt Moulson is able to slip a pass across the ice to Mark Streit, who buries the chance. Horrible defensive coverage by Buffalo allowed the captain to skate uncontested and slip the puck in the net easily. 1-0 NYI.

1:04 - ISLANDERS GOAL. Christian Ehrhoff turns the puck over and gives Michael Grabner a breakaway chance. The defenseman is not able to catch up, and the New York forward is able to beat Ryan Miller to up the team's lead to two. 2-0 NYI.

0:00 - WOOF. How quickly things can change in moments. The Sabres are booed off of the ice by the fans.

End of Period

NYI - 2, BUF - 0

Goal Summary

BUF: none
NYI: 17:51 - Mark Streit (4). (Matt Moulson, Marty Reasoner). 18:56 - Michael Grabner (7). (unassisted).

Shots On Goal

BUF - 13 (22), NYI - 11 (24)

Third Period

16:56 - The Sabres are having a terrible time trying to get the puck out of their zone, and into the offensive end. They keep getting bottled up in the neutral zone and turning the puck over.

15:36 - ISLANDERS GOAL. John Tavares ups the lead by picking the corner on Miller and wristing the shot home. A brutal game is getting even worse for the blue and gold. 3-0 NYI.

11:38 - There is just nothing good to glean from the Sabres' play right now. No real puck possession, no real flow to their play. Just not good.

6:52 - As every second rolls off of the clock, more and more fans are leaving the seating bowl and not coming back. I do not blame them one bit. If I spent my money in this product, I would have a hard time sitting through this. Buffalo is playing like the last place team in the Eastern Conference.

2:25 - Another power play, same results. The Sabres do have some chances, but you know the rest of the story...

:58.0 - ISLANDERS GOAL. Just the capper to an already stellar night for the blue and gold as Colin McDonald scores on the power play. Cody Hodgson was in the box. 4-0 NYI.

End of Game

New York Islanders - 4, Buffalo - 0

Goal Summary

BUF: none
NYI: 4:24 - John Tavares (12). (Matt Moulson, Brad Boyes). 19:02 - Colin McDonald (3) PPG. (Casey Cizikas, Mark Streit)/

Shots On Goal

BUF - 13 (35), NYI - 8 (32)

Postgame

This Sabres team is just plain bad. No other way to put it. They are playing like not only the worst team in the East, but quite possibly the worst team overall in the NHL. They are not giving the fans much to cheer about. If you are going to lose, at least make it look like you are giving your all. Right now, it seems like the Sabres are just going through the motions for most of the game. I bet fans would like to think it will get better sooner rather than later, but I honestly think it is going to get worse before it gets better. I am not seeing anything to tell me that this team has bottomed out.

Filed Under :  
Topics : Sports
Locations : Buffalo
People : Brian Koziol, Lindy Ruff, Paul Hamilton, Ron Rolston
02/23/2013 5:20PM
Gamenight: Sabres Host New York Islanders
Please enter your comments below.
02/23/2013 8:32PM
Hear That?
That Flushing sound we all hear is the last chance of a playoff berth sounds like another wasted year? I think Pegula did Lindy a favor letting him go- he just reduced the risk of getting sick from the horrible team the Sabres really are
02/23/2013 8:47PM
this team sucks
I was a fan of this team when the season started, i will no longer waste my time watching this garbage. Darcy built this team and must get the axe for his horrible judgement. This is a joke and i will not be back until i see change.
02/23/2013 9:31PM
Furious
Why the hell is Regier still GM & why was he allowed to pick Darcy Jr as the next coach???
02/23/2013 9:36PM
Where is Grigorenko?
Right time for development? How about when the rest of the team is so awful they're falling all over themselves. I don't expect him to be the savior of the season, but maybe he can give a better effort than half the team put together
02/23/2013 9:39PM
aaaaaaarrrrrrrrgggggggg!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No one is untrade-able on this so-called team. Now that the league has figured out that you shut down Vanek and the Sabres don't score, this team will not score much the rest of the way. And the defense is atrocious!!!!! Here's another idea........fire Darcy and let someone with hockey savvy and competence do the trading. Here's hoping that there is a stud in this year's draft because Buffalo will probably have a top 3 pick....maybe the #1 pick at this rate! Very sad to watch.
02/23/2013 9:43PM
Ruff wasn't the only problem
Reiger needs to be fired NOW but with the recent contract extension I doubt Pegula will do it
02/23/2013 9:47PM
EXTEND REGEIR!!!
COME ON MAN!!!!
02/23/2013 10:39PM
ruff is not a bad coach
the sabres fire the wrong guy bring back lindy
02/23/2013 10:42PM
THE GERMAN LEAGUE!!!!
Iknow!!! Send Pomminville and JOKIN JOCHEN HECHT and this SORRY Franchise to the German League!!!! Pomminville is SUCH A MAN OUT THERE!!!!
02/23/2013 11:02PM
REGEIR JOKE MUST END NOW to REBUILD HOCKEY RESPECTABILITY HERE...
To begin the journey back to NHL repectability for this sad pathetic franchise Pegula MUST finish the job of cleansing the "hockey department". Darcy Regeir and the entire scouting staff must be relieved immediately. Only by rebuilding from the top down will the reputation of Pegula as an owner and the Buffalo Sabres as an organization be restored to respectability. Too bad he was to naive to do it at the end of last season thereby using the off season to hire COMPETENT hockey people instead of chasing the Jochen Hechts of the world. But the REALITY is Regeir is a failure and the franchise is the worst in hockey... RIGHT NOW. Stop the FORE. CLEAN YOUR HOUSE OUT!!!
02/23/2013 11:03PM
keep up the good work
how can the owner and the used car salesman lackey look at this disgusting product and not remove the gm who gave us this?i saw fans with bags over their heads and unless they were disapointed with the results of a bad blind date;i think they were sending a message.maybe ruff was here too long but he willland on his feet in the league.darcy on the other hand will never be a gm again based on the wonderful job he has done here.fire him now.
02/23/2013 11:08PM
Hey PEGULA; must CALL VAMONOS PEST CONTROL!!!
Any Br Ba fans out there? Walter White recommends The only way to disinfect that RANCID lockerroom is to employ VAMONOS PEST CONTROL!!!! KNOW WHAT I MAN!!! Forever quatros baby!
02/23/2013 11:10PM
Grigorenko just another....
Regeir MISTAKE at the draft table!!!! He sucks.
02/23/2013 11:11PM
THEY NEED A NEW....
5TH Jersey!!!! Call LArry Quinn!!!! FORE EM UP LOOSERS!!!!
02/24/2013 1:47AM
WELL... CONGRATULATIONS TERRY AND DARCY!!!
You are now proud owners of the WORSE team in the NHL!! Wallmart has the most LOSSES in the league and currently sports a sparkling 4 game LOSING streak! YEEUP and through it all MR SOFTEE has been the ELITE looser goa;ie each time!! Regeir has also impressed us with more brilliance in his selection of Rolston as a fine NHL coach exhibited by putting his team into a deep SLEEP following Ruff's dismissal! AH... "The pieces sure are in place", at LAUGH IN, EH!!??? FORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRE IT UP!!!! 4EVR4
02/24/2013 9:15AM
We're paying our penance
GM won't do anything about this roster. Maybe he should just go down with the ship and after the season let him go. It's too late to do anything. Nothing can save this joke. Everybody please rise and bow your heads to "Nearer My God To Thee". Signed: Father Schwartz
02/24/2013 12:30PM
The Florida Trip at Lightning and at Panthers
Hope this coach tells these guys before they head to the airport...leave the golf clubs at home guys.
02/24/2013 4:37PM
Hey PEGULA:
Better call SAUL!!!!
02/24/2013 5:20PM
It's like when you go out to eat....
...no way would you meekly pay top dollar for a steak that turned out to be inedible. You'd holler to get your money back, and you wouldn't go back to eat there until the place was entirely under new management. By the way: it's not the cook, it's the INGREDIENTS. The Emeril Legasse of head coaches couldn't make a palatable dish out of this group. I feel for Ron Rolston, he's being asked to turn Spam into prime rib. You fired the cook, Darcy, now time to turn in your keys and head home.
02/24/2013 5:25PM
Enough is enough
Im tapping out, even the most loyal sabre fans cant stand this team. Time to blow it up and start over but Darcy is the wrong man for that idea. What a waste
02/24/2013 11:37PM
@Enough is enough
You have now given up your Sabres and Bills season tickets over a thousand times in the last 4 years!! The math is must not working out. I think you are a fraud. Actually, I know you are, just like everyone else who reads these comments. Just like you do not fool anyone by respnding to your own posts, you fail again at pretending to ever have been a season ticket holder for either team. Go suck up some milk....milk sop......you are looser personified.
02/25/2013 6:03AM
less people
there will be more empty seats each time they play than each previous game.i cant give my seats away for free.and when the used car salesman lackey goes on the air thursday proclaiming the ratings are thru the roof;i want him to prove that.none of my friends are wasting their time watching or going to this sorry excuse for a teams games.extend darcey;you can now see lindy was the problem.ha ha ha.disgusting.wont step foot in the place till that joke of a gm is gone.
02/25/2013 6:38AM
jeremy white
my question to wgr is how do you have a job?this team is about 10 players from making the playoffs.now lindy was too negative.funny but when they had real players like drury,grier,dumont,mcgee;i didnt hear about lindy being too negative.this team has no talent.that falls on the gm.jeremy you are out of your mind if you think this garbage is a playoff team
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