Author: Buffalo Winter

Sabres take a bite out of the Big Apple

Sabres 5 – Rangers 2 (en) The Buffalo Sabres have now won 12 of 13 games which last happened 20 seasons ago, ironically when current Rangers General Manager Drury led the Sabres with 12 points during their last 12 wins in a 13-game stretch during the 2005 Christmas season.

The Sabres scored the game’s first goal four minutes into the first period and kept the lead all game, rookie (G) Ellis was outstanding stopping 30 of the Ranger’s 32 SOG, Buffalo’s NHL premier penalty killers denied New York’s man advantages even when the Rangers had a four-minute power play.

Buffalo scored even strength, on the power play, shorthanded, and an empty net, the Sabres scored twice in the third period on only 3 SOG to take the 4-2 lead and eventually closing out New York 5-2 with the happy net goal, which ties up the regular season series between these two combatants at 1-1 with the rubber match not until April.

Buffalo is now the second seeded wild card in the Eastern Conference and begin a 5-game homestand this Saturday night versus the Anaheim Ducks at 7 pm EST as the Sabres look to solidify their playoff seeding.

Buffalo 11-1 in last 12 games

Sabres 5 – Canucks 3 (en) Buffalo skated to the front quickly as the Sabres scored first on their first shot on goal during the first period, then proceeded to score shorthanded and stopped all 14 Canuck shots on net to end the first period with a 2-0 lead.

The Sabres increased their lead in the second period to 3-0 as (RW) Tuck made it look easy as he put a wrist shot high into the net and (G) Luukkonen played his second period of shut out hockey.

Buffalo’s 27 years old (D) Metsa in his 12th NHL game scored his first goal giving the Sabres a solid 4-0 lead with 14 minutes remaining in the game, then the skate blades began to come off as Vancouver scored three times in five and a half minutes to make it a one goal game with just four minutes left.

Right after Vancouver scored their third goal HC Ruff called a timeout to calm the boys down, which worked because with 76 seconds on the clock Sabres (RW) Doan scored the empty net goal to seal a 5-3 victory for the home crowd.

Next stop for the Sabres is The Big Apple as Buffalo skates into New York City to take on the Broadway Blue Shirts this Thursday night at 7 pm EST.

You cannot win them all

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.

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.

New York Rangers vs Florida Panthers

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?

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.

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.

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.