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Here is the absolute best case scenario for the Sabres: they beat the Isles, and Toronto, Winnipeg, Tampa Bay and Montreal all lose tonight. That would vault Buffalo into 11th place in the East, and just 5 points behind the Maple Leafs in the standings. The worst case is if the blue and gold lose in regulation and the Leafs win, which would keep Buffalo in 14th place, but 9 back of Toronto. If you have not had a chance yet today, click here to check out Paul Hamilton’s morning skate primer.
As always, feel free to interact with me throughout the game tonight in several ways. Comment in the thread below, text me at 550550 and/or send me a tweet: @PatWGR. Give me a follow while you are there as well. I will add my two cents, in addition to the scoring plays during the game.
First Period
20:00 - The puck has just dropped, and Buffalo's most effective line gets the nod from head coach Lindy Ruff tonight. Nathan Gerbe-Paul Gaustad-Patrick Kaleta are the forwards, with Andrej Sekera-Robyn Regehr on the blue line and Ryan Miller between the pipes.
18:38 - SABRES GOAL. For the second game in a row the blue and gold strike early. Tyler Myers bangs home the garbage goal with the puck just lying in the crease. Jason Pominville had a whack at it, and so did Ville Leino. The two forwards picked up the assists. 1-0 BUF.
12:38 - There is some good, high energy pace as you might expect early on in this game. The Isles have iced the puck a couple of times to get a quick breather, but other than that I haven't notcied many whistles. Shots are 9-5 in favor of the blue and gold. That is one indicator of how much the puck is going up and down.
8:02 - I ma being nice to Kevin Poulin when I say that he has looked shaky so far in the game. Unfortunately for Buffalo, the Sabres have only been able to beat him once on 12 shots, but Pominville and Thomas Vanek almost combined for a tap in, and Matt Ellis had a 2-on-1 with Myers thwarted by good defensive play by the Isles.
7:07 - It is so rare now adays to see a player just skate to the penalty box without complaining how he didn't commit the infraction. Pominville clipped an Isles forward with a high stick and went right into the box without issue.
4:38 - New York got off a couple of shots early on the power play, but are not able to net the equalizer as the Sabres' captain exits the box. Shots are 13-12, Islanders late in the period.
End of period
Sabres 1, New York Islanders 0
Goals
1:12 - (BUF) Tyler Myers (6), (Derek Roy, Jason Pominville)
Penalties
12:53 - (BUF) Jason Pominville (2 min, high sticking)
20:00 - (BUF) Patrick Kaleta (2 min, high sticking)
20:00 - (NYI) PA Parenteau (2 min, high sticking)
Shots on Goal
BUF - 13, NYI - 14
Second Period
20:00 - Kaleta and PA Parenteau each received matching minors for a dust up in the Sabres' end after the period had ended. There was a healthy scrum that involved most of the players on the ice, and those two were right in the middle of it. We will start the period 4-a side as a result.
16:19 - SABRES GOAL. A perfect pass sets up Thomas Vanek right on top of the paint, and through a bit of traffic the sniper slides the puck past Poulin and into the net. Derek Roy made a nice pass after holding the puck for what looked like a bit too long. I guess not, as it resulted in a score. 2-0 BUF.
14:22 - I cannot write and say often enough how Pominville is leading by example this season. He was given the captaincy by Ruff at the team dinner in Helsinki, Finland, and the veteran forward has rewarded the bench boss with his best offensive season so far. Two more assists for the captain tonight give him 36 on the season, and we have half of a game left to go.
12:51 - Miller has been exceptional this period with two breakaway saves this frame, and he has had a couple rebound chances to turn away with some difficulty. The Isles only have 4 shots this stanza, but they all have been of the high percentage variety.
5:21 - Man, this game is being played at a frenetic pace. Sabres have 24 shots this game, with 11 already this period and the Isles stand at 20, with 6 coming this frame.
2:46 - Mike Weber just set Jay Pandolfo up on the trolley tracks and ran him over at center ice. Keep you head up, son. Matt Martin decides he isn't happy with the play and drops the gloves with Weber. The two skate off after the scrap. It was a perfectly clean hit by Weber, by the way...
2:09 - Buffalo will go on the PP for the first time tonight thanks to a Mark Eaton tripping minor.
End of period
Sabres 2, New York Islanders 0
Goals
3:41 - (BUF) Thomas Vanek (22), (Derek Roy, Jason Pominville)
Penalties
17:14 - (BUF) Mike Weber (5 min, fighting)
17:14 - (NYI) Matt Martin (5 min, fighting)
17:51 - (NYI) Mark Eaton (2 min, tripping)
Shots on Goal
BUF - 15 (28), NYI - 6 (20)
Third Period
20:00 - INJURY UPDATE: The Sabres have announced that Robyn Regehr has suffered an upper bosy injury and will not return to tonight's game.
15:59 - With the Sabres still up by a pair of goals, it will be interesting to see if Ruff shortens the bench to 3 lines, or if he stays rolling all 4.
10:55 - It looks like my question has been answered as the Zack Kassian-Brad Boyes-Matt Ellis line has picked up a pair of shifts since I thought out loud.
6:00 - The time just keeps flying by in this game. I ama amazed that both teams have kept the up tempo pace going from the opening puck drop to now.
5:08 - ISLANDERS GOAL. The 26th shot of the night by the Isles is the one that gets them on the scoreboard. Now things are going to get a bit tight here at First Niagara Center, with the Sabres trying to preserve the lead and get the two points. Frans Nielsen gets the goal. 2-1 BUF.
2:41 - It seems like the blue and gold have really taken their foot off of the gas pedal and have gone into the defensive shell to preserve the win. Shots this period are 9-9, with almost all of Buffalo's coming early.
:32.6 - Pominville hits the outside of the Islanders' net which is empty. Poulin is on the bench. The captain did not give up on the play there, however. He pinched down low and helped take a few more seconds off of the clock.
End of Game
Sabres 2, New York Islanders 1
Goals
14:52 - (NYI) Frans Nielsen (13), (PA Parenteau, Kevin Poulin)
Penalties
none
Shots on Goal
BUF - 9 (37), NYI - 7 (27)
Postgame
OK, so the Sabres were able to take care of their own business on home ice and defeat the Isles in regulation. Buffalo has now jumped ahead of their foe in the Eastern Conference standings. It does not matter what the Maple Leafs and/or Jets do if you do not win your games. There was some good, hard forechecking early in the game that helped lead to the two blue and gold goals tonight. The only thing I have to complain about is the finish. The team should not have sat back and let the play come to them. Part of it may be that Regehr was lost due to injury and others had to fill the void over the last 20 minutes. Next up is a date with the Boston Bruins on Friday in downtown Buffalo. The puck will drop at 7:30 p.m. on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550. Pregame coverage with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog gets underway at 6:30 p.m.