Spezza, Alfredsson Score Twice; Sens Hold Off Sabres 4-2
Dan Cave
Buffalo, NY -- Daniel Alfredsson notched the game-winning goal with one minute remaining at the HSBC Arena, and then tallied an empty-net goal seconds later as the Ottawa Senators continued their dominance over the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday 4-2. The victory, Ottawa's 10th straight and 8th in a row over the Sabres, puts the Sens just three points behind Buffalo in the Northeast Division.
The opening period found the Sabres buzzing around the Senators' crease. Buffalo outshot Ottawa 13-5 in the first and thought they had finally solved Brian Elliott when a loose puck fluttered behind the Sens netminder and appeared to come close to crossing the goalline.
An off-ice review, however, determined that evidence was inconclusive. An above-ice shot of the scoring chance was not available to video officials in Toronto because the high definition overhead camera at HSBC Arena was malfunctioning. Video officials at HSBC Arena, however, had access to an analog camera that displayed an overhead angle of the ice, and were unable to tell for sure sure if the bouncing puck did in fact cross the goalline. Off-ice officials relayed that information to Toronto, the initial call (no goal) stood, and the game remained scoreless.
Regarding the malfunctioning high definition overhead camera, a team spokesman told WGR that the NHL is responsible for repairing the camera and had been contacted to fix it prior to this game as it has been a recurring problem.
After getting pushed around by Buffalo during the first 20 minutes, Ottawa came out firing in the second frame and got on the board at the 13:38 mark when Jason Spezza ripped one past Ryan Miller. Spezza made it a 2-0 game nearly six minutes into the final period, drawing Miller out of position and lifting a shot into the net.
It did not take long for Buffalo to hit back. Just a little over a minute after Spezza's second of the night, Andrej Sekera cut the lead in half and Tim Connolly tied it only 27 seconds later. Sekera's goal came practically right off a faceoff to the left of Elliott. The Sabres defenseman gained control, cut to the net, and let a shot go near the faceoff circle that whistled past the Ottawa netminder making it a 2-1 game. In the blink of an eye, the game was tied when Connolly, skating in near the top of the right faceoff circle, blasted the puck past Elliott's glove and the Arena erupted.
However, any hopes the Sabres had of finally toppling their rivals to the North fell apart in the game's final minute. Daniel Alfredsson found himself standing all alone to the right of Miller and was able to tap a loose puck into the net, giving Ottawa a 3-2 lead with only 60 seconds to play. Moments later, Alfredsson buried Buffalo for good by notching an empty-net goal and sending the Sens on their way to another victory; their 10th consecutive overall and 8th straight over the Sabres.
Buffalo's lead in the Northeast Division is now down to three points over Ottawa. The Sabres will get a chance to regain some breathing room on Friday when they host the Carolina Hurricanes. Rick Jeanneret and Harry Neale will have the play by play at 7:30 on the Buffalo Sabres Radio Network.
Spezza, Alfredsson Score Twice; Sens Hold Off Sabres 4-2
Your comment here...
02/03/2010 9:56PM
darcy
pick up the phone right now, and make a deal. you wanna keep your job dont ya?
02/03/2010 10:00PM
No Offense
Miller lost this game for Barfalo .... he should have scored a couple of goals too ....
Nice offense Barfalo!!!!
02/03/2010 10:02PM
Lydman is the problem
Put Montador back in and get rid of Lydman my god...
02/03/2010 10:02PM
I told you so
Lindy lets this get intimidated all the time!
02/03/2010 10:04PM
Horrible
How do you lose to this team repeatedly? I finally see why trades are necessary. This is unacceptable. Ship someone out please, Darcy.
02/03/2010 10:06PM
fail
sabres fail again, true colors showing
02/03/2010 10:06PM
WTF
Lindy and Darcy had better make a move and bring in a scorer, or may be a player with some HEART
02/03/2010 10:07PM
HA HA
Same old crappy Sabres, same old result! Enjoy the first round of the playoffs....cuz thats where this season ends, chumps.
02/03/2010 10:08PM
Pathetic.
Unreal. Ridiculous. Completely pathetic. No longer are we a competitor. Trade time.
02/03/2010 10:08PM
wow
no surprise with this team
02/03/2010 10:08PM
Lame
Pathetic-lame-weak-typical
02/03/2010 10:13PM
brutal coaching
sekera gets sat all this time and butler and rivet get free rides. gotta love lindy. ottawa just sits back and waits for buffalo to make a mistake and then they put the puck in the net. lets sit lydman next and take away even more physical aspects of this soft team. myers jumps two sens and NOBODY from buffalo does anything else. and then theres lindys great pp, butler and rivet get matched up on the pp!!! wow, what a joke, he must never actually pay attention to games, why not run miller or kaleta, the sabrs do nothing to go after them, and cant score on the brutal pp. funny how neil and rutuu werent on the ice in the last minute and yet the sabres' forth line is. great job coach. like ive said all season, terrible coaching decisions will hurt this team when it really matters.
02/03/2010 10:15PM
some ol same ol
as usual, out coached and outplayed by the sens. sabrs want to play their usual 40 minutes and out and ottawa stuck with it all game long. SOOOOFFTTTTT and slow, thats the lindy way!
02/03/2010 10:18PM
Dan
We must trade for a solid scorer since the Sens will haunt us in the playoffs..
02/03/2010 10:22PM
Mr softee haunted again, Euphorics hide again!
well it had to be like deja Vu, just like in the playoffs when alfredson punked Miller and sent us to the Golf course. Another embarassing night for the euphorics, who continue to shake, rattle and roll. someone please get Ryan a sports psychologist
02/03/2010 10:23PM
Well...
It was fun while it lasted. I'm not bailing on the Sabres, I bleed Blue and Gold, but they just don't have what it takes to be a legitimate contender.
02/03/2010 10:24PM
They are gutless
This season has been Miller and Mille alone. A whole lot of nothing from everyone else. An empty team
02/03/2010 10:25PM
Sabres humiliated Foil "foiled"
oh boy i bet when it was tied up at 2 the foil ran to his mommys basement and fired up that commodore 64 to come up with some real zingers for me! but we know when Softee is in net and Alfredson is on the ice, its only a mtter of time before the humiliation starts. i feel bad, looks like some Xanax and Ambien for the foil again, as he's dominated again
02/03/2010 10:27PM
i'm a Miller fan..until now
I've been on the Miller bandwagon but frankly burned my jersey tonight after that shamefull performance being outplayed by some kid and dominated by alfredson again, i wail and knash my teeth
02/03/2010 10:27PM
Marc
Sabres need to move aplayer and obtain a solid scorer to overcome Otawa...
02/03/2010 10:30PM
A little concerning
The Sens are one of the hotter teams right now, so this loss is not terribly suprising. However, Buffalo just can't seem to find a way to beat these guys and could easily find themselves out of first place at this pace. The Sabres are always competitive, which I like, but these are key games they need to win. Will be interesting to see what happens in the next few weeks. Still think we are short a puck moving dman and a scoring winger. Corvo and Whitney anyone?
02/03/2010 10:31PM
Alfredson nightmares!
i had just finished my therapy and on Risperdal and Zyprexa after the President trophy year when alfredson sent us to the golf course, and now i have to book another apt. for the psychiatrist to deal with this dominance this team has over the sabres. Im frankly embarassed to be a Buffalonian at this point
02/03/2010 10:34PM
Olympic Emabrassment awaits?
at this point you have to put in Tim Thomas as the Goalie of the olympic team. you cant rely on Miller and his damaged emotional state and subsequent depression after that Ottawa beat down
02/03/2010 10:40PM
Don't make any moves Farcy!
GOLLY! we can't let this game get us down man! We have Farcy who will show his patience and golly maybe just the smallest of tweaks but not too m uch Farcy because we don't want to ruin the integrity of the organization! What we have is good enough! good enough for the golf course that is!
02/03/2010 10:41PM
WE LIKE OUR TEAM!!!!
YEEEUP!!!!
SO DO THE SENS!!!
ELITE MY AZZZZ!!!
SLEEP DARCY SLEEP!!!
FORE EVER FORE!!!!
LOSERSSSSS!
02/03/2010 10:43PM
Adam Mair
Far be it from me to question Lindy Ruff, but what is Adam Mair doing on the ice with 1 minute left in a tie game? Didn't we put him on waivers earlier this year and no one took him, which means he isn't any good?
02/03/2010 10:43PM
lot's of toughness tonight!
glad to see a 20 year old kid be the tough guy on the team, yup don't trade stafford DArcy! we love our guys here in Buffalo! good thing Kaleta wasn't around hate to see him get beat up again! no need to tweak anything!! YEAH!!!!
02/03/2010 10:50PM
LOL
Been saying this would happen all year. Sabres are folding it in. Miller is average like his entire career. Sabres fans were too quick to declare this team a winner. Sabres will be lucky to even make the playoffs this year. Even if they make it, they will be knocked out in the 1st round. 39 50= 89 years of no championships in Buffalo pro sports history. The tradition continues! LOSERS ALL THE WAY!
02/03/2010 10:51PM
GET READY:
FOR SPRING !!!!
02/03/2010 10:52PM
Wake Up Darcy
Two wins in the last 8 games, blowing the most important game of the season. When Miller is bowled over, only young Myers goes to his defense. I don't want to hear Darcy say again and again, there are no deals out there. Other GM's seem to find deals. This club as constituted is going nowhere in the playoffs. Darcy, besides Myers and Miller, I don't care who you get rid off -- you have a long list -- don't sit back as usual -- finally do something!
02/03/2010 10:54PM
Knock Knock????
Guess who?
ALFIE AND SPEZZA !!!
MILLER SUCKS!
02/03/2010 10:55PM
Clearly not ready to contend
Another big game, another big fail. Each and every test this team has faced, they have flunked. Not enough scoring, lack of discipline on the backend, and poor goaltending. This team could be looking at 5th or 6th by the Olympics.
02/03/2010 10:57PM
Hey Lindy wake up
Why did we have Mair, Ellis and Kennedy on the ice with ! minute to go in a tied game? Routtu once again a scumbag back stabber, hit on Vanek, N.H.L. please review and suspend this repeat offender.
02/03/2010 11:05PM
dont blame lindy
If Kennedy dumps the puck instead of trying to bank it off the boards and go after it they get a change and game goes to ot....
02/03/2010 11:07PM
TRADE FOR A GOALIE!
Oh my gosh! What's wrong with Miller???
Has he gone blind?
Two CRITICAL games vs Pitt and Ott and he STINKS THE JOINT OUT?
We're going nowhere with this bum!
Ooops Giguere's already GONE!
Darcy, TIME TO GET UP!
02/03/2010 11:10PM
Phanuef??
Lets see a veteran defenseman who PROTECTS HIS GOALIE...
HMMMM...
Uh OOPS !
TOO LATE!!!!
BURKE'S GOT HIM!!!
DEADHEAD SLEEPS!
YOU TRUST!!!
F-O-R-E!!!!
02/03/2010 11:14PM
Re: DON'T BLAME LINDY!!!
Nawwww, we'll just blame DICK JAURON!!!
WHAT AN IDIOT!
02/03/2010 11:19PM
Can we spend a little $???
We have the components, we have the key players but we need a couple of first line players... we say that we do but we need to get out and spend some money and get someone who can put the puck in the net 30 times for you and play both on the PK and the Power Play. We would have to give up somebody young like Sekera for example and also a draft pick, get somebody Darcy!!!! Get your head out of the books and get somebody or we will be golfing in April and May instead of going for Lord Stanley. To the NHL, please suspend Routtu indefinitely... if not one of your poster boys will be hurt and then it will be too late!!!
02/03/2010 11:20PM
henry...
funny how you hate the sabres yet you refer to them as "us"
02/03/2010 11:21PM
the real problem
people who post on message boards and say they are rich when they aren't and try and act impressive when they are a middle-aged loser. he knows who he is.
02/03/2010 11:27PM
dont blame lindy
of course not, why would anyone ever blame lindy. its never his fault for anything. he is infallible, never does anything worng. he should just be entered into the HOF right now, he should have his name just engraved across the entire stanely cup. NOBODYBETTER BLAME RUFF FOR ANYTHING!!! ITS NEVER RUFFS FAULT...right buffalo?
02/03/2010 11:29PM
Patience
I'm sure Darcy's P"atience" will pay off as usual. He will do nothing and the Sabes will collapse. I'm so tired of his cowardice.
02/03/2010 11:35PM
Lydman is Aweful
Just about every time I watch a game, Lydman makes a critical mistake. Not only did he give the puck away to Spezza that led to a goal, he was faked right out of his shoes by Kovalev right in front of Miller that was almost a goal. It is time for him to go!!!! We need some more defense to help Meyers and Miller out.
02/03/2010 11:36PM
MILLER TIME!!!
RUNS OUT!!!
02/03/2010 11:36PM
this weekend
we'll beat two lame teams this weekend(maybe) and all will be ok again, the problem is there are no lame teams in the playoffs.
02/03/2010 11:36PM
Lydman is Aweful
He makes too many critical mistakes that result in goals. It is time for him to be let go.
02/03/2010 11:43PM
Bring in Kassian
so at least someone will defend a cheapshot on Miller
02/03/2010 11:54PM
how do they compare to the 5-1 bills two years ago?
i hope not the same
02/04/2010 12:06AM
seriously????
nice to see everyone jump off the bandwagon here. there will be no room for you when they start the playoffs.
02/04/2010 12:15AM
Wow
Such hate for Buffalo. They are in first place in the division, they are obviously doing something right. They struggle against Ottawa, why is anyone surprised by this outcome. Playoffs will be a different story
02/04/2010 12:27AM
Butler
blows. No, he is seriously atrocious. In fact the combination of him and Rivet is awful. Rivet has puck smarts and knows what to do with it, but is slow as hell, leaving butler to get burned and make bad plays a lot. I say bench the both of them. Let up on lydman and montador, they've been doing their jobs, minus the giveaways by montador
02/04/2010 12:41AM
WTF
Why do we seem to misplace our testicles when we play the Sens? We sure are Ottawa's b@#ch! Nice going Sabres...hope you find your manhood next game.
02/04/2010 12:44AM
the real problem
the real problem on this team is craig rivet....this guy is the captain and captain are soppose to lead by example, they only thing this guy has done all year consistantly is collect his paycheck ontime...very average skater ,average to below average passer and as of late a real liabilty defense wise. captains.. good ones anyway, dont let players take shifts or nights off. captains stick up for there teamates and goaltender and make sure teams are paying the price if liberties are being taken...captain rarely take a night of and and should represent the heart and sole of the hockey club. anybody who thinks craig rivet has done any of they above is smokin some really fine shiva and i need some of that...rivet was given the captaincy way two early and are hockey club is paying for it dearly...last nights game was a prime example...no retaliation for kaleta or miller and like a lot of the games we have lost this year no edgyness or passion...as long as rivet is captian of this club players will take nights off and teams will continue to push us around at will when it matters the most...no accountabilty is the biggest problem this team has most nights and ruff can only do so much...thats a locker room issue...meaning its a captians issue!
02/04/2010 1:50AM
Sabres Vs Senators - Playoffs?
Nooooooooooo
02/04/2010 6:25AM
Miller
Miller looks like he is already tiring from the workload because they didn't get a backup Lindy can trust. Can't wait to see what post Olympics brings.
02/04/2010 7:18AM
Amazing!
I agree that this team appears to be shutting down during games. Taking whole periods off. But this constant Miller bashing is baffling. Alfredson did not punk Miller, he was playing the goal against the man with the puck when he scored. It is the Buffalo defense that got punked. All alone on Millers back side is not Millers fault. Where was the defender that should have been on him to avoid him sitting all alone on Millers blind side. We are where we are because of Miller. His play is awesome. So all these fair weather fans that have been waiting for a bad stretch to vent their frustations with what ever is wrong with their lives need to get a shrink and start to watch the games for real instead of hunting for something to complain about.
02/04/2010 7:59AM
RE: Hey Lindy wake up
Actually it was Kennedy, Mair, and MacArthur on the ice for the GWG.
02/04/2010 8:09AM
WHY?
Funny how we all get giddy over this team when they are winning 5 or 6 in a row but God forbid we lose a few games. Chill out PLEASE.
02/04/2010 8:18AM
Jonathan Quick
I hope Wilson considers playing Jonathan Quick (LA KIngs Goalie) in the Olympics for team USA as he is playing better than Miller and Thomas right now. Too bad we can't get Anderson!(Goalie- Colorado) the Sabres have never won a stanley cup, and I just can't get too exited. At least my country wins gold once in a blue moon! go USA!
02/04/2010 8:21AM
Another golf outing coming
This is the same team that was in the top 8 at New Year's the last 2 years in a row & finished 10th both seasons. Does this really surprise anyone? This is how Lindy & Darcy run their team & all of you disillusioned lemmings keep selling out games & booing while they lose important games. Those of us that would like to someday see a winning team in a great hockey city should stand outside HSBC & boo people that go to games & continue to support this this product. This has been expected all season long by anyone that follows hockey. The Sabres made no significant changes this year, like every year. They could trade any player on this roster except maybe Myers & even he wil be moving on in year or 2 while Darcy tries to explain how we do not overpay for talent. He really means they do not pay for talent at all & would rather stock the team full of heartless, lazy underachievers & a few hard working blue collar guys to carry everyone else. They are only 14 points out of 9th place & that can disappear after one of their all too common 8-9 game slides, like their current 2 wins in the last 8, 3-5-2 in the last 10. If any teams below them start winning, sort of like Ottawa, they won't stand a chance. Ottawa was 15 points behind them just a couple of weeks ago, now they are within 3 & the 2 games at hand won't mean diddly if we lose to Ottawa every time we play them. Trades are not going to fix everything, it is time for some changes at GM & possibly coaching. The predictions of a 3rd straight year out of the playoffs are looking more & more possible. Stop wasting your hard earned money & send this team a message!
02/04/2010 8:49AM
No Comment From Me
I told you so that this team will start to suck when that 7 game road trip began. Now look at it! It's worse! Fire Regeir!
02/04/2010 9:12AM
Send a message
This team will not beat Ottawa in a 7 game series. You need to get someone NOW before the Olympics to send a message to this team that no one is safe. The "good ole boys" need to be a waken before we waste another season on what if's!!!
02/04/2010 9:58AM
RE: ANOTHER GOLF OUTING COMING!
FORE EVER FORE!!!
ELITE MY AZZZ!!!
ALL HAIL WATERFRONT QUINNIE!!!
LLLLLLLLLLOSERRRRRSSS!!!
DALERIOUS, MAN!
02/04/2010 10:02AM
As A Whole
This organization sucks!
02/04/2010 10:11AM
Question
Are we in 9th yet?
02/04/2010 10:49AM
Crash and burn begins
Ahhhhhhh!! The annual February-April crash and burn is right on schedule!
02/04/2010 11:48AM
does anyone get it
there is a reason the sabres dont win a lot after jan each year. here is the big secret.............
every other team on the buble starts to play harder. teams with guts and character start to show while the lazy teams without character fade. when a team physically challenges buffalo they always back away. and at this time of year every team that wants the playoffs pushes back harder and the sabres dont play that game. they dont have the players willing to stand up to ottawa which means they have no chance against pitts or wash. in the last 5 years ottawa has knocked connoly out of playoffs (schaffer)
drury out (neil)
kaleta out (ruutu)
and biut a players hand, phillips tried to knock miller out last night, and volchenkov has knocked three or 4 players into next week. they have never stood up 4 themselves while ottawa knocks player after player out. never wonder again why they dont beat ottawa because they are intimidated by them.
dont belive me just look at ruutu laughing at them as they left the ice
02/04/2010 12:12PM
does anyone get it
dont belive me just look at ruutu laughing at them as they left the ice
EXACTLY!!!!!!
02/04/2010 12:30PM
Re: does anyone get it
I for damn sure do. I really do not like to opinionate myself on this type of message board. I always voice my thoughts on the "elite" Fan Forum where it matters. I don't hide like some of the posters. The problem with the Sabres is that they are an image of their own General Manager. I think that explains enough.
02/04/2010 1:05PM
I wanna...
Like this team but how can you when your all star goalie gets run and the only guy who steps up is a 19 yr old kid who hasn't learned yet from the veterans? Are these guys all gutless? They do that to Miller--give them the two points but take someon'e head off. Bunch of pushovers.
02/04/2010 1:06PM
Miller To Start vs. the Canes and Jackets
Lalime for another refresher in Portland. Enroth called up. I think I beat Mr Hamilton to his own article. Ten game losing streak up and comin'. FREE FALLING. Kovalchuk to Boston. FIRE REGEIR!
02/04/2010 1:43PM
message boards like this
only continue to prove that Darwin was wrong. You hate the team so much, go bandwagon somebody else.
02/04/2010 1:50PM
regier
yeah, there's a great idea.Fire the GM cause they had a bad 7 game road trip, Brillant idea by another mis informed Sabres fan!! WAKE UP!
02/04/2010 10:44PM
why do i read this?
Miller sucks? Give me a break. Either we have fans of other teams enjoying a little downslide or lame fans who jump on and off the bandwagon depending on whether the Sabres win or lose one game. Seriously, look through these comments and tell me any of them that make sense. Ok, I can live with wanting a trade. But, this team is pretty solid, particularly since most of your complained before the season how they would not be competitive let alone make the playoffs. Are you that miserable? I get the Bills, you have every right. But the Sabres, give me a break. Before the season if you told me they would be in 1st place at this time and likely to make the playoffs, I would have taken it. I think most of you would have to, but how sad to see you turn. Miller sucks, spare me.
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