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Devils Rally for 3-2 Win Over Sabres in Shootout



Once up 2-0, the Sabres allowed a pair of third-period goals by the Devils, who went on for the 3-2 shootout victory. Jhonas Enroth, who turned in a solid performance for most of the game, suffered a cramp on the tying goal late in regulation and left the ice.

It was easily Enroth's best outing in over a year, but it fell apart in the final period thanks to goals by Adam Henrique and Patrick Elias. Ryan Miller replaced Enroth for the final minute of regulation, plus overtime and the shootout, where New Jersey found the net twice. Buffalo was denied on both shootout attempts.

Making his first start since February 5, a loss in Ottawa, Enroth was very sharp through the first two periods, coming up with several highlight-reel saves. The Buffalo netminder foiled a scoring chance by Henrique in the opening period and later robbed Elias. The game remained scoreless until 7:56 of the 2nd period when Thomas Vanek ripped a power play shot past Hedberg's blocker. Tyler Ennis worked hard to move the puck to Vanek in the slot, who one-timed it for a 1-0 Buffalo lead.

Brian Flynn put the Sabres ahead by two halfway through the final period, getting one through the pads of Hedberg for his first-ever NHL goal. Andrej Sekera took the initial shot on net from the top of the far faceoff circle, but Flynn put home the rebound with Marcus Foligno crashing the crease. About three and a half minutes later, New Jersey cut the Buffalo lead in half when Adam Henrique picked up a power play goal, his 7th of the season.

Elias tied it 2-2 with just 1:06 remaining in regulation, sending a rebound shot from the near faceoff circle past a sprawling Enroth, who suffered a cramp on the play. The Sabres goaltender was helped off the ice after letting in the game-tying tally, giving way to Ryan Miller. Late in overtime, Ryan Miller came up with a big save on Andy Greene to keep the game tied. Moments later, Jason Pominville rocketed a shot that beat Hedberg, but deflected off the goalpost. Vanek also had a chance to win it for the Sabres, but was stopped at close range. That was followed by a scrum between Ennis and Travis Zajac after Ennis' stick was slashed out of his hands.

In the shootout, David Clarkson and Elias ensured there would not be a repeat of last Saturday's result; Clarkson and Elias both beat Miller while Hedberg stuffed Vanek and Pominville, good for the 3-2 Devils win. The Sabres (9-13-3, 21 pts.) take the ice once again Sunday evening in Philadelphia. Rick Jeanneret and Rob Ray have the call on WGR 550 and the Buffalo Sabres Radio Network at 7:30 p.m. Pregame with Brian Koziol gets underway at 6:30 p.m.

1st Period
Goals
None

Penalties
1:26 - BUF - Tyler Ennis (2 min., high-sticking)
2:15 - NJ - Johan Hedberg (2 min., interference, served by Steve Bernier)
12:15 - BUF - Mike Weber (2 min., high-sticking)

2nd Period
Goals
7:56 - BUF - Thomas Vanek (PPG) (13) (Tyler Ennis, Steve Ott)

Penalties
1:11 - NJ - Mark Fayne (2 min., holding)
7:16 - NJ - Anton Volchenkov (2 min., tripping)

3rd Period
Goals
9:56 - BUF - Brian Flynn (1) (Andrej Sekera, Marcus Foligno)
13:30 - NJ - Adam Henrique (PPG) (7) (Ilya Kovalchuk)
18:54 - NJ - Patrick Elias (7) (David Clarkson, Marek Zidlicky)

Penalties
12:36 - BUF - Christian Ehrhoff (2 min., holding)

Overtime
Goals
None

Penalties
4:30 - BUF - Tyler Ennis (2 min., roughing)
4:30 - NJ - Travis Zajac (2 min., roughing)

Shootout
NJ - Ilya Kovalchuk - MISS
BUF - Thomas Vanek - MISS
NJ - David Clarkson - GOAL
BUF - Jason Pominville - MISS
NJ - Patrick Elias - GOAL

Goaltending
BUF - Jhonas Enroth (27 saves, 29 shots)
BUF - Ryan Miller (4 saves, 4 shots)
NJ - Johan Hedberg (22 saves, 24 shots)

Power Plays
BUF - 1 of 3
NJ - 1 of 3

Three Stars
1.) NJ - Patrick Elias
2.) BUF - Jhonas Enroth
3.) BUF - Brian Flynn

03/07/2013 10:08PM
Devils Rally for 3-2 Win Over Sabres in Shootout
Please enter your comments below.
03/07/2013 10:19PM
Fed Up
The best we have to call up from Rochester is Flynn and Porter. What a joke ... Why is Darcy still getting payed for building this tire fire. Wait ... good news ... Laimo is nearly ready to ... contribute. Looks like another year of outside looking in.
03/07/2013 10:24PM
The Sabres
Still smell getting worse
03/07/2013 10:30PM
Ugh...can't believe it
Enroth should have had the shutout in this game. Where's the support? Back-checking absent. Devils kept whacking away when they should have been on their backsides looking at the moon. Sabres cannot protect a darn lead. Kudos to Enroth for a solid showing, Flynn for his first goal.
03/07/2013 10:32PM
haha miller
sieve face miller plays all but a few minutes and got undressed silly more than once. run him out of town please.this team is so pathetic. keep wasting dollars on nhl incompetence
03/07/2013 10:33PM
THIS TEAM STINKS!!!!!!!
And what's worse, the new coach sounds happy with the way his team is playing! He should be angry at the way this team throws away points. He is the definition of INTERIM coach!
03/07/2013 10:33PM
Call It A Day
I'm sorry this team is useless.Call it a day and get rid of the people running this show and get some real hockey people in here.
03/07/2013 10:33PM
new coach
for all you people that talk about lindy now what you think about the new coach.where is the difference this team is not good enough.no heart no passion.darcy should be fire before he make more mistake with the trade and the draft.
03/07/2013 10:33PM
Brain cramp
Nice going Jhonas (by the way, drop the "h") your job interview was going so well, as well as a 0-12 goalie could. Dam... that means Letagoal will get called here. Another local yocal experiment for Marcy to play with. You'd think he'd learned with the Kaleta debacle.
03/07/2013 10:37PM
Darnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Enroth had the chance to become THE goalie- Ryan can not stop anything in a shootout anymore- must b too tired?- finally the "kids" are playing like pros- not superstars but solid hockey HEY? if Enroth won? would the new coach let him start till he lost as game??
03/07/2013 10:40PM
Remember when...
Ryan "teflon" Miller was a lock in a shootout? Don't stall (or should it be Stahl) send Ry Ry out west so he can be rejoined with his manhood in the jar, on his wife's dresser.
03/07/2013 10:41PM
When will Pegula hire the new GM??
Without a new GM, the Sabres have no hope.
03/07/2013 10:45PM
lindy ruff
it's sad that we let go top coach.many people in the league see ruff as a top coaches in the league that was not lucky to be in buffalo and with darcy as a gm
03/07/2013 10:52PM
Horrible loss
What was Brennan doing on the ice in the last minute of a one goal game????? Come on Rolston you are better then that!!
03/07/2013 10:59PM
Myers
IS AFRAID .... too bad
03/07/2013 11:09PM
WGR HOCKEY POST GAME SHOW...
"Sabres Lose... time for ThIS WEEK IN NASCAR Show" Hilarious... BEAUTIFUL LOoSERS!!! SPRINGS COMIN!
03/07/2013 11:18PM
bring Lindy back
Rolston is turning out to be a joke. Bring Lindy back if only to correct an injustice.
03/07/2013 11:36PM
Pegula
Another False Prophet
03/08/2013 12:30AM
New GM Needed, Please!!
This team lacks killer instinct! We need a new GM, whom can bring some core players in here! This culture has to change, and has to change fast!! Sabres fan in NJ
03/08/2013 12:58AM
rolston
new coach bad decision again to use scott in place of jochen.he thinks scott can score more goal then hecht.we need to win not fight.
03/08/2013 2:06AM
Stafford the Friendly Ghost
Chalk up another 0-0-0 stat night for the Sabres' Mr. Invisible, Drew Stafford. In 13 minutes he compiled the same stat line as healthy scratch Jochen Hecht, accept Hecht was actually a zero (he usually is, right?)in the /- category and the Ghost was a -1. Each had no shots on goal, although Staff had a minute and a half of PP time. To what depth has this $4 million dollar man (?) fallen when he has worse stats than a scrached stiff like Hecht? Darcy should be canned based on the fact that this guy still has a Sabre sweater irregardless of his countless other screwups with this lame roster. He keeps Stifford, resigns Hecht, over pays Gerbe (hes on the books for another $1.8 million next year, guaranteed) who is the only north/south 5'5" pygmie in the league. If you're that small don't you need to have moves, ala Martin St. Louis, Brian GFionta, Tyler Ennis, etc. Gerbe can only go North/South which means he's going to get rubbed out virtually every time he has the puck. At least he has heart which Stiff clearly lacks. But the song remains the same. A team put together in the mirror image of their whiny, sniveling, underachieving GM. Pray for a quick, merciful end to this sorry season and the long overdue axe to switly swing in Darcy's direction. Only then can the true healing begin.
03/08/2013 6:57AM
This one is on Jhonas
I don't care how well he played early. The second goal is entirely his fault. He kicked an easy nothing shot from the far wall to Elias's stick and took himself out of the play to boot.
03/08/2013 7:56AM
Off his diet?
Is it just me or did Enroth look like he gained about two hundred pounds after not playing for so long. Who knew that Garth Snows old chest protector would cover up some of his deficencies.Unfortunately there isnt enough padding to cover up the whole teams problems.
03/08/2013 8:50AM
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Enroth.....Correction: THE "ELITE" MISTER SOFTEE LOSES IT AGAIN UNDRESSED AND PUNKED BY CLARKSSON AND ELIAS IN A SHOOOOOOTOUT!!! WHAT A JOKE!!!
03/08/2013 8:50AM
Ubelievable - 42 years .... Be Bold
I have been a loyal sabres fan since 1971 and just witnessed a very good effort by the sabres in a lost cause to the Devils. They lost to a team of their equal; or in other words, 2 offensively impotent, and defensively deficient non-cup contenders going at each other on the road to nowhere, at least for this season. Basically a "signature" loss for this team that is characteristically reflective of their performance and character (lack of poise under pressure) since 2007. The going gets a little tough and they crumble and are incapable of stopping the other team from stepping on the accelerator. Dear Mr. Black and Pegula, surely you recognize the sabres have a number of promising younger players (Hodgson, Porter, Brennan, Foligno and Flynn) that are potential quality 3rd and 4th line players, but are lacking centerpiece players for a top line (sorry, but Vanek would be a 2nd liner on more than 1/2 the nhl teams because of several holes in his 2-way game and skillset). And you surely recognize this team gets "outsized" on a consistent game to game basis, resulting in lack of puck possession, being outshot at a 3 - 2 on a fairly routine basis, and difficulty winning games in regulation. The purging of the undersized players has progressed at too slow a pace over the last few years (Connolly and Roy) and the team continues to accumulate these smallish "4A" players who, despite their best efforts are more often than not outbattled and outreached for the puck. Foligno is young and still learning the game but has the physical potential to be a large, physical 2 way player, something this team desperately need. Nonetheless, after 42 years and counting without a cup including over 15 years of talent management under Mr. Regier, don't you think a change in the talent management decisionmaker is in order to right this franchise? Mr. Rolston shows promise but clearly has not been give a full hand in terms of size skill and talent to mold. Why not be daring and obtain a GM with stanley cup winning credentials and ambitiously trading for some of the best players instead of obtaing a stable of 2nd 3rd and 4th liners? The list includes Corkum, Moore, Boyes and on and on. Isn't it time to unload the "regressers" at a faster pace, who have cost this franchise SEVERAL games in the standings with their poor effort or non-factor play this season (Myers, Leopold, Gerbe, Stafford). The team can not continue to be a halfway house or rehab facility for these types. At least not until they become winners and eliminate virtually all doubt (just like the Patriots were able to do over the last decade of play in the NFL). Nor can this team be one that allows players to play with such lack of effort and focus without consequence (trades) until their family comes on a road trip a 3rd of the way into the schedule. As a loyal fan, me and so many others have seen this happen too often over the last 42 years, yes thats F-O-R-T-Y T-W-O years and counting. Not a cup winning formula for sure. The team has some fine prospects but there is a big donut hole where center piece star players with GREAT all round skills and leadership are needed. Granted they are few and far between, but they are there and can be had with a keen eye for talent and some crafty maneuvering...neither of which appear to be the strength of Mr. Regier. There are much better prospects than Grigorenko who is already showing a penchant for that "historically characteristic sabres flair" for not engaging in the corners. By the time the current prospects will be ready to win, players like Vanek, Pominville, Regehr and possibly Miller will be past the point agewise where they can be viable contributors to that. Be bold, make the moves now: replace the GM with one with credentials, then get young, get prospects, get more blue chip draft choices. As a life long Buffalonian, I guarantee the fans will love it and the positive response will jump off the charts. Until that happens you will be hearing many catcalls in the arena from me and many others that will grow over time, including: "Darcy Must Go" and "42 years".
03/08/2013 9:01AM
The "I" before Rolston doesn't stand for incumbant.
That's an "I" for Interim! Why do the members of WGR act as if this guy is the coach long-term? Do they know something? He is not a "teacher" as Jeremy White so nicely put it this morning, he is a CARETAKER for a team that is a disaster that was put together by Darcy Regier and, YES, Lindy Ruff (I am so tired of hearing people act as if Ruff had players foisted upon him when he was very much in bed with Darcy and vice versa). Any scenario that has Rolston (handpicked by either Regier, Ruff or both) staying means that the firing of Ruff was a token gesture to appease the fans and will ultimately mean that Regier is staying. If this occurs, what hope do the fans have of EVER winning? Regier has to go and the Interim tag has to stay with a full house cleaning at the end of the season. This should appear as more and more Rochester players getting "tryouts" this season and several jokes, er...veterens like Gerbe, Stafford, Ennis, Kaleta, and even Pomminville and Vanek being dangled as tradebait that even Darcy Regier can handle at the deadline. We'll see, but please WGR stop acting like this guy is the de facto leader in waiting.
03/08/2013 9:21AM
Any trades yet?
Elevator music is really refreshing and relaxing. What floor sir???
03/08/2013 9:22AM
MILLER
All you people who blame Miller are idiots
03/08/2013 9:45AM
FIRE SALE!!!
Time to cut losses, trim salary and get some high draft picks. Start this rebuild like it should have been done. Being mediocre for 15 years gets you mediocre picks. Oh, and can Darcy!
03/08/2013 10:06AM
If we can't win, we might as well fight
Putting Scott in doesn't really bother me. I'd worry about disrupting line chemistry if that line was actually producing. ION- I don't mind extra coverage of the Sabres, but do we really need a sum-up from both Hamilton and... well, it doesn't say but whomever wrote this? I like Paul's practice reports but 2 game logs is kind of redundant.
03/08/2013 10:17AM
BooYah
A great read from today's WSJ on how the Black Hawks are doing it: ", they've thumbed their nose at the trendiest idea in the NHL: that a team's success is based primarily on its toughness—on its players' willingness to block shots and deliver bone-rattling body checks. By comparison, the Blackhawks might as well play their games in sequins with a panel of fur-clad judges looking on and Tchaikovsky blasting in the background." I'm glad Darcy got a little more grit into the Sabres lineup this year with Scott and Ott...just enough to see the rest of the league skate by us...Meanwhile, our other GM is negotiating with Leodis McKelvin.....
03/08/2013 10:35AM
There's a guy in Clarence
Who just may be feeling vindicated now. It's the team that sucks. Get a new general manager. Bring Lindy back. Get rid of many players, starting with Myers, and start all over again.
03/08/2013 10:40AM
wgr
the guys on gr were saying this morning that darcy will be back next year.what a huge mistake that would be.i understand he has been with this group for only 2 years.but you cant ignore the fact that in year 16 of darcy;this is one of the worse teams in the nhl.forwards that are too small and cant score;a defense that cant move or score either.most importantly mr.pegula you have a fan base that has had enough of darcy regier.i compre this situation to the bills.they couldnt sell chan gailey for next year and believe me sabre front office;you cant sell darcy to the fan base either.make no mistake if he is back there will be a backlash.
03/08/2013 10:44AM
Pegula, Black, Regier
Have fun guys. Run your hockey team and insult the paying fans with this product you've built for the ice. Have fun doing it with a shrinking fan base. Sabres fans don't even like the team. Sabres fans don't have anything good to say. What are you going to talk about? Renovations? Buildings? Transactions with Rochester? This team isn't even NHL caliber. Oh by the way - it seems you don't realize that some of your best players (Vanek, Miller) won't be able to play professional hockey at age 50. You might want to take that into consideration when you: Take several years to fire Lindy, wait seasons to trade Roy, Believe Tyler Myers will eventually earn a paycheck, realize you were duped with fake performance from Drew Stafford two years ago, and that you've give a monster contract to an all talk and no show in Ville Leino. It seems that one man is still getting a paycheck for this mishmosh he put on ice. Black and Pegula are 100% at fault for not doing anything about it. And Ted Black - I'm sick and tired of your x-box blockbuster trade comments that insult us fans. As if we didn't know any better? Truth is - those moves get pulled off all of the time. You want a blockbuster transaction? How about Darcy letting Drury and Briere walk out the door? The blockbuster moves happen - we're just on the wrong end of them.
03/08/2013 11:13AM
season...
So...MacKinnon or Drouin
03/08/2013 12:28PM
Source: Western Conference team interested in Miller e4
More to come...
03/08/2013 12:31PM
Leadership
Constant believer in this group until last night. NO ONE on this team can show up when the game is on the line. This is a group of many choke artists.The problem isn't talent, how many games have we watched this team in the lead, play well enough to win, outshoot out work and they still loose by 1 goal in a game they gave away. NO ONE comes up big when it counts. CERTAINLY NOT MILLER.CERTAINLY NOT STAFFORD OR ANY OF THEIR D CORPS. Its always been a mental thing with this team, look how many guys on this team have played well at some point in their career and just dont bring it on a consistent basis.
03/08/2013 12:42PM
Tyler Pusscake
a 6'8" giant of a wuss. DONT EVEN DARE COMPARE HIM TO CHARA OR PRONGER!!! Those guys have a nasty side to them. Myers watches 5'6" Ennis scrap at the end of the game and puts a soft arm around someone while everyone else is jabbing away. ARE YOU KIDDING ME. Ship this kid home to Calgary for anyone with some testicular fortitude. Softest D in the NHL BAR NONE Go 'Hawks!!! They do it RIGHT!!!
03/08/2013 1:44PM
Lindy is gone
whether you think it was a mistake or not, he's gone. Let it go.
03/08/2013 2:19PM
I will NOT renew my Season Ticket if Darcy runs the show
Let us all stop this nonsense
03/08/2013 6:07PM
BEAUTIFUL LOoSERS!!!
HAPPY DAYS CONTINUE at "THE BIGGEST NICKLE AND DIME FRANCHISE in PRO SPORTS"!! Lovin FOREEVER FORETH EXTENDIUM REGERIUM!!!
03/08/2013 6:12PM
re BooYah..
Just remeber there GENIOUS... The Hawks haven't played one EASTERN CONFERENCE TEAM yet. No soft Canucks, Sharks and Redwings here.
03/09/2013 2:30AM
To All Those Hurting Because Of The Losses, It Is Always Darkest Before The Dawn
You will feel much better when the team gets the first, second or third pick in the draft. This team is two, maybe three players and an inspirational speaker away from being a contender and this could be the year they acquire them.
03/09/2013 9:23AM
Re: To All Those Hurting Because Of The Losses etc etc
Who will the General Manager be to acquire them? Regeir hopefully won' be. Brighter days could be ahead with the right GM and coach in place to do the acquisitions. First order of business...FIRE REGEIR!!! Just thinking, the ending of the lockout with this shortened season could be the best thing that ever happened for this organization by sucking wind like they have been. You'd hope Regeir could be ousted before the trade deadline and plans have been already made for a new GM to take over with the team already evaluated behind the scenes to run the trade deadline just saying to begin the process. Don't really want Regeir to handle another deadline and with an interim coach aside him doing more damage.
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