Two big points on the line as Sabres visit Carolina Thursday, 03.03.2011 / 3:04 AM Tal Pinchevsky - NHL.com Staff Writer STATS 62 GP 64 30 W 30 25 L 25 7 OT 9 67 P 69 0.540 P% 0.539 2.81 G/G 2.84 2.87 GA/G 2.95 18.9 PP% 17.0 81.2 PK% 80.3 32.8 S/G 30.2 30.8 SA/G 33.7 48.0 FO% 44.3 BUY BUF PHOTOS › | BUY CAR PHOTOS › DATE VIS/HOME FINAL Jan 13, 2011 CAR@BUF BUF, 3 - 2 SABRES (30-25-7) at HURRICANES (30-25-9)
TV -- MSG-B (HD), FS-Carolinas (HD)
Last 10 -- Buffalo 5-3-2; Carolina 4-4-2.
Season series -- This is the second of four meetings between two teams fighting tooth-and-nail for one of the Eastern Conference's lower playoff seeds. In their first meeting on Jan. 13, Drew Stafford scored the winner as Ryan Miller made 27 stops to seal a 3-2 Sabres win in Buffalo. After this pivotal Thursday-night matchup, these teams will square off twice more in the next month.
Big story -- While it's not quite as cluttered as the Western Conference, the East is turning into a spirited race. Coming into Thursday's game, Carolina held eighth-place in the Conference by a measly two points over the Sabres, who hold two games in hand over Carolina.
But Buffalo might be looking past the Conference's final playoff spot. With a big 3-2 win at Madison Square Garden, the Sabres put themselves within three points of the seventh-place Rangers with three games in hand. With one more game against the Rangers along with the additional matchups against Carolina, Buffalo could make a move. But it won’t be easy, as the win at MSG marked the beginning of a season-long seven-game road trip.
Team Scope:
Sabres -- Against the Rangers on Tuesday, Jochen Hect's third-period goal proved to be the winner as Ryan Miller made 24 saves in the second and third period alone to preserve the big 3-2 win. The game also marked the arrival of forward Brad Boyes, who was acquired from the Blues on Deadline Day in exchange for a second-round pick.
Boyes scored a goal in his Buffalo debut, giving the Sabres offense the jolt Buffalo was hoping for when they acquired him from St. Louis. Playing on a line with Tyler Ennis and Tim Connolly, Boyes made an impression on his new team.
Hurricanes -- Carolina's hold on eighth place has never been flimsier. To their credit, the Hurricanes were able to hold on to the final playoff spot thanks to a 2-1 win over the Panthers on Tuesday.
Against Florida, Eric Staal’s team-leading 28th goal held up thanks to a sparkling 41-save performance by Cam Ward, highlighted by 18 stops in the third period alone. Despite the win, Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice was not pleased by his team's 22-shot performance.
"The biggest mistake that you make in this League is to take a look at a team and think that it somehow will get easy," said Maurice. "It’s just not an easy sport, and that's what's great about it."
Who's hot -- Sabres defenseman Andrej Sekera has 4 points in his last two games while Hecht has 4 points in his current four-game point streak. … For Carolina, Cory Stillman has 3 points in three games since being traded before the deadline. Winger Erik Cole has 5 points in four games since a forgettable performance Feb 19 against New Jersey in which he registered a minus-4 rating.
Injury report -- Buffalo defenseman Jordan Leopold missed Tuesday's game with an upper-body injury and Derek Roy (quad surgery) is on IR. … Carolina is fielding a healthy lineup.
Stat pack -- Boyes should be chomping at the bit for a potential playoff run. Despite having played close to 500 NHL regular-season games, Boyes has only four playoff games on his resume. But he made them count, registering 2 goals and an assist for the Blues in a 2009 first-round sweep at the hands of the Canucks.
Puck drop -- So how long has Lindy Ruff, the League's most-tenured coach, been at the helm of the Sabres? So long that his first season behind the Buffalo bench, was also the first-ever season for the then-recently-relocated Carolina Hurricanes. That 1997-98 season saw the 'Canes miss the playoffs and the Sabres make it to the conference final before being eliminated in six games by Washington.
(nhl.com)
_________________ HOCKEY IS BACK!
Last edited by Yhoshi on Thu Mar 03, 2011 4:18 am, edited 3 times in total.
Being OK with a Sabres loss in OT/SO (putting them behind CAR by 3 points) instead of winning in regulation and taking 8th place is retarded. Check yoself.
its not a sprint, its a marathon.. any scenario that allows the sabres to surpass a team with wins with games in hand is tolerable to me. not ideal, but tolerable.
a loss in this game doesnt negate the other 36 points available after this game.
It's a game that isn't a must win, with 20 games left, but it would go a long way in providing momentum. The way I see it, the Sabres need to get roughly 26-28 of the next 40 points available. Given our schedule, it will be a battle every night.
_________________ "She's like plan C after an 18 pack"
a win tomorrow will be a huge chunk of points. but if the sabres lost in a SO, i would be able to sleep at night knowing they are only 3 points back with 2 games in hand. i wouldnt be happy about it, but id tolerate it.
It's a game that isn't a must win, with 20 games left, but it would go a long way in providing momentum. The way I see it, the Sabres need to get roughly 26-28 of the next 40 points available. Given our schedule, it will be a battle every night.
Yup takes roughly 93-94 points over the past 5 years to get into the playoffs. meaning 26-28 out of 40 points would put us in the playoffs if trends continue.
Not bad for a team that was in the bottom 5 of the NHL in mid November.
_________________ "She's like plan C after an 18 pack"
i said losing in a SO/OT isnt ideal, but its tolerable. and unless you can prove i said otherwise, or that i said something that could be interpreted otherwise, you are just being an asshole at the moment.
its not a sprint, its a marathon.. any scenario that allows the sabres to surpass a team with wins with games in hand is tolerable to me. not ideal, but tolerable.
a loss in this game doesnt negate the other 36 points available after this game.
huge game, but points points points.
That sure as fuck looks to me like you said that the Sabres winning tomorrow is merely tolerable to you and not ideal.
its not a sprint, its a marathon.. any scenario that allows the sabres to surpass a team with wins with games in hand is tolerable to me. not ideal, but tolerable.
a loss in this game doesnt negate the other 36 points available after this game.
huge game, but points points points.
That sure as fuck looks to me like you said that the Sabres winning tomorrow is merely tolerable to you and not ideal.
i dont think so. an OT/SO loss still leaves them 3 points back with 4 extra points available. and thats exactly what i meant, and thats exactly how it reads out.
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