Sabres1 – Blue Jackets 5 (en) Sometimes the other team’s goaltender just shuts the door as was the case last night as Columbus (G) Greaves faced 33 Buffalo SOG with only one getting past him.
For Buffalo, goaltending was not the only inconsistency; the Sabres special teams had five power plays that fizzled and were even scored against shorthanded, there are no real reasons or excuses, there are games that get away from you, no shame.
Sabres (RW) Doan scores a backdoor goal with an assist from (C) Norris
On the bright side Buffalo launched over 30 SOG and won most of the faceoffs and (RW) Doan continues to shine for the Sabres as he knotted the game at one apiece before the Sabres skate blades came off altogether.
Buffalo has two days off before hosting the Vancouver Canucks this coming Tuesday night at 7 pm EST.
Rangers 5 – Panthers 1 (en) This game had nearly everything, the Classic’s first Hat Trick, power play goals, a disallowed goal, and a short-handed empty net goal, the only thing missing were the fans.
Can you imagine going to Florida where it does not snow to attend an outdoor ice hockey game where the fans pay hundreds and hundreds of dollars to sit in the front row seats that are literally 20 to 50 yards away from the playing surface?
Rangers (C) Zibanejad goal number one
Once the Rangers (C) Zibanejad completed his hat trick the announcer commented that if a fan could throw a hat onto to the ice celebrating the hat trick it would be a world’s record, this remark highlights how far away the fans were from the game.
Rangers (C) Zibanejad goal number two
The Rangers are undefeated (6-0) in Winter Classic games, have scored 5 goals in three of them and not only did Rangers (C) Zibanejad score the first hat trick of the Winter Classic games but he also earned a Winter Classic record 5 points.
Rangers (C) Zibanejad goal number three
The defending two-time Stanley Cup champion Panthers outshot the Rangers with an almost 2-1 advantage (37-20) but could only score during the third period on the power play with the goaltender pulled creating a 6 on 4 Florida man advantage.
The game’s outcome places both Florida & New York in a tie with Pittsburgh in the Eastern Conference standings behind Buffalo for the second wild card seeding.
Sabres 4 – Stars 1 The Buffalo Sabres are the second wild card seeded team in the Eastern Conference after winning ten in a row which includes an unprecedented seven road victories.
The game started off on the wrong skate as the Stars quickly took the 1-0 lead just 15 seconds after the opening faceoff and carried it into the second period as both teams combined for 28 SOG during the first period alone.
The second period belongs to Buffalo, and they proved it again last night taking a 2-1 lead on goals by Sabres (RW) Doan and (D) Byram with (C) Thompson and (C) Ostlund earning the primary assists then these four players continued their offensive contributions in the third period.
Sabres (C) Thompson sweeping the loose change into the net
During the third period Buffalo (C) Thompson scored twice with (RW) Doan, (C) Ostlund, and (D) Byram earning assists as the Sabres took a 4-1 stranglehold on Dallas with eight and half minutes remaining in the game Buffalo also held Dallas to 7 SOG during the period and Sabres (G) Luukkonen was a brick wall throughout the game assisting in Buffalo beating Dallas 4-1 on the road.
Historically, Buffalo has done well versus Ohio teams
The Buffalo Sabres next travel to Ohio preparing for a road contest versus the Columbus Blue Jackets this Saturday afternoon at 3 pm EST, endeavoring to continue their current winning streak.
Sabres 4 – Blues 2 (en) The Buffalo Sabres have earned a nine-game winning streak that also includes six road victories, the Sabres last victorious six-game road streak was accomplished in 1976 led by the French Connection during Christmas.
The French Connection (LW) Martin, (C) Perrault & (RW) Robert
Buffalo began the game on a high note, controlling play and scoring first, but the Blues bounced back with two goals in five minutes before the first period was half over, then St Louis went on the power play against one of the premier penalty killers in the NHL and could not score.
Sabres (G) Lyon with just his stick and one skate defends the net
During the second period with Buffalo down two goals, the Sabres (RW) Tuch scored twice with his first score ruled a “no-goal” because he directed it with his skate, but his second goal counted and tied the game at two heading into the third period.
Before the third period was two minutes old, Sabres (LW) Benson demonstrated superior eye-hand coordination while at the side of the St Louis net as he batted in the puck giving Buffalo the 3-2 lead early in the period.
Sabres (LW) Benson scores the game winner
The Sabres held the Blues to only two shots on goal during the third period and Sabres (C) Krebs scored the empty net goal with 76 seconds remaining in the game for the 4-2 victory.
New Year’s Eve finds the Buffalo Sabres dueling the Dallas Stars in Texas at 8 pm EST, and afterwards there should be enough time to celebrate the countdown to Midnight.
Sabres 4 – Bruins 1 (en) The Buffalo Sabres have won their eighth game in a row bringing them into a tie with the Florida Panthers for the second wild card seeding in the Eastern Conference.
Enthusiastic home crowd
Playing without their Captain the Sabres wanted to beat the Bruins for him, Buffalo (D) Dahlin went home to Sweden for the Christmas break and was given more time for personal reasons.
Buffalo (C) McCloud scores Sabres first goal, (D) Samuelsson assists
The Sabres began the game controlling most of the play and outshooting Boston 13 to 9 but came out of the first period down 1-0, then during a strong second period Buffalo again launches 13 SOG scoring three times for the 3-1 lead after two periods of play.
Buffalo (C) Krebs scores Sabres second goal, (D) Samuelsson assists
Buffalo (G) Luukkonen was at his best in the third period stopping all 11 Bruins SOG to preserve the two-goal lead and after a few near misses its (C) Norris scoring the “Happy Net” goal for the Sabres 4-1 victory.
Buffalo (D) Samuelsson scores the Sabres third goal
The Buffalo Sabres begin a three-game road trip this Monday night at 8 pm EST versus the St Louis Blues.
Buffalo Winter 