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The Sabres will try to extend their winning streak to three games without the services of Thomas Vanek. The forward suffered an upper body injury last night in the team's 3-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens. The New York Rangers come to town with the most overall points in the Eastern Conference, 67 points. Head coach Lindy Ruff may be without another forward tonight. For more on that and Zack Kassian's recall, click here for Paul Hamilton's morning skate primer.
Feel free to check in with me several different ways tonight. Comment in the thread below, text us at 550550 and/or send me a tweet: @PatWGR. Give me a follow while you are there as well.
First Period
16:04 - Nearly four minutes into the game and a lot of up and down action. I like the line of Nathan Gerbe-Tyler Ennis-Zack Kassian. Much like the Tyler Myers-Brayden McNabb defensive pairing before McNabb's injury is an all-or-nothing combo. They might not have the most size up front with that offensive trio, but there is plenty of skill and toughness.
14:23 - The other offensive lines are: Jason Pominville-Derek Roy-Ville Leino, Brad Boyes-Paul Gaustad-Patrick Kaleta, Matt Ellis-Luke Adam-Cody McCormick.
13:25 - Good save by Ryan Miller on Carl Hagelin, with the Sabres netminder coming across his crease to stop the chance. Buffalo gave the puck away in their own end and Hagelin was able to get by Jordan Leopold, but Miller stayed with the play and watched the puck right into his stomach to keep the game 0-0. Also, I like that Ruff came right back with Miller tonight. There was a long layoff with the All-Star break, and with the next game coming on Saturday it sets up nicely for Miller to stay in between the pipes for a solid string of games this month.
8:22 - The Sabres are not being dominated on the ice tonight, but are being outshot 5-1 by the Blueshirts. Miller has been tested in the last 5 minutes or so, but hasn't had to make a huge save yet. Mike Rupp is in the box, we will see if Buffalo gets any offense going on the man advantage.
5:36 - Well, Miller bails out Andrej Sekera on a play that has left both Brian Koziol and Brian Duff in our broadcast booth asking "what are ya doin!!!!!" It almost results in a shorthanded goal against, but the puck somehow stayed out of the net.
2:48 - Thanks to a pair of power plays the Sabres have drawn even in the shots department. Buffalo and the Rangers each have 9 to this point. The Sabres had a 5-on-3 PP chance, but failed to even get a shot thanks to some questionable passing.
End of period
Sabres 0, New York Rangers 0
Goals
none
Penalties
11:38 - (NYR) Mike Rupp; hooking, 2 min.
12:57 - (NYR) Dan Girardi; tripping, 2 min.
20:00 - (BUF) Patrick Kaleta; roughing, 2 min.
20:00 - (NYR) Brian Boyle; roughing, 2 min.
Shots on Goal
BUF - 11, NYR - 9.
Second Period
20:00 - The two teams will start the period 4-on-4 thanks to roughing minors to Patrick Kaleta and Brian Boyle after the final whistle of the first period. There was a scrum behind the Rangers' net and those 2 recieved the only penalties from it.
18:08 - What a big save by Miller on Ryan Callahan to keep the game scoreless. The goalie was able to kick his right pad out and steer the puck into the corner, out of harms way.
12:55 - New York has been buzzing around the Sabres' net for large pockets of this period. It seems like the dam is about to break at certain points, so to speak. However, the defense has been able to make a play at the right time to clear the puck to safety. Also, some fortuitous bounces have helped move the puck to the neutral zone. It seems like the piece of rubber is dancing all over the ice tonight, more so than normal.
11:09 - Shots are 8-4 in favor of New York this frame, but man has the play slowed to a screeching hault in the past few minutes. Just like last period, as the seconds tick down the play gets choppier and choppier.
5:49 - We have not seen any penalties called since the roughing minors after the first period was over. Referee Kelly Sutherland was struck in the face and injured in the first when a puck deflected off of Henrik Lundqvist. Justin StPierre in the lone referee on the ice with the two linesmen.
End of period
Sabres 0, New York Rangers 0
Goals
none
Penalties
14:51 - (NYR) Stu Bickel; hooking, 2 min.
Shots on Goal
BUF - 8 (19), NYR - 10 (19).
Third Period
17:53 - A strong play by Gerbe and Kassian that results in a scoring chance for Buffalo. Gerbe took the puck up the wing and dumped it back for Kassian, who unleashed a bullet on Lundqvust. Unfortunately for the Sabres there wasn't any traffic in front of the net to make things difficult for the Blueshirts' goalie.
16:55 - Oh my, Brad Boyes cranked the puck off of the goal post and missed a goal by inches. I could hear the 'ping' all the way up here and the puck made it past Lundqvist, but not across the goal line. That was a glorious opportunity for the blue and gold.
13:33 - Buffalo goes to the box for the first time in the game, now we will see the mental toughness of this team in action. Jason Pominville was cut by a high shot just a few minutes ago but is back out on the ice and killing Ennis' minor.
8:18 - The Sabres are out chancing the Rangers and outshooting the Blueshirts this period, but do not have anything to show for it. The shots are 9-4, Buffalo.
4:02 - Buffalo is on a PP and are getting more quality chances. It seems like the shoe is on the other foot now, where the Rangers were the ones with all of the chances earlier in the game.
End of regulation
Sabres 0, New York Rangers 0
Goals
none
Penalties
6:00 - (BUF) Tyler Ennis; high sticking, 2 min.
14:49 - (NYR) Anton Stralman; hooking, 2 min.
18:22 - (NYR) Michael Del Zotto; delay of game, 2 min.
Shots on Goal
BUF - 12 (31), NYR - 6 (25).
Overtime
4:10 - After a short carryover PP chance Ennis is called for boarding on Dan Girardi. It was a questionable call but Buffalo has to kill the minor if they want to get the extra point.
1:53 - Buffalo is able to kill the minor, and outstanding work by all 3 men on the ice. Gaustad made a few huge plays to block shots and chip the puck out of the defensive zone, the same can be said for Mike Weber.
End of overtime
Sabres 0, New York Rangers 0
Goals
none
Penalties
0:47 - (BUF) Tyler Ennis; boarding, 2 min.
Shots on Goal
BUF - 3 (34), NYR - 4 (29).
Shootout
Ryan Callahan scores in the sudden death portion of the shooutout to give the Rangers a 1-0 win over the Sabres. Marian Gaborik opened the scoring in the shootout and Jason Pominville answered in the third round, but no one else in the blue and gold could beat Henrik Lundqvist.
End of game
New York Rangers 1, Sabres 0 FINAL/SO
Postgame
It was a playoff-type atmosphere in downtown Buffalo tonight at all 18,690 were cheering and on their feet as regulation came to a close and the extra period took shape. Once the shootout began, all bets were off and I felt like the place would explode if the Sabres would have been able to win it. The good news is that Buffalo gets a "loser point" tonight, but the bad news is that tonight is another night that the offense fails to produce any results. Without Thomas Vanek others will need to step up, and near misses do not count. Next it is on to Long Island and a date with the New York Islanders on Saturday night. The puck drops at 7 o'clock on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550. Tune into the pregame coverage with Brian Koziol starting at 6 p.m. on WGR 550 and wgr550.com.