Thursday, February 21, 2008

Comeback

Remember last season, when no matter how many goals the Sabres were down you could count on them to still win the game late in the third period? Well for one night at least the Sabres have gotten that attitude back. The Sabres were down 3-1 with under three minutes left in the game, but managed to get a 4-3 overtime win.

To be honest the Sabres gave up some pretty bad goals to go down in the game in the first place. Over the course of the game the Sabres outshot the Lightning 46-25 so it wasn't like they were really playing that bad, but more like their goalie was good (stopped the first 31 shots), and that massive mistakes were being made in our own end.

The worst was Nolan Pratt who gave up a two or three really bad turnovers that resulted in scoring chances for Tampa Bay. Miller bailed him out each time (although Miller slipped up on two of those goals himself), but there is no reason to have Pratt in the lineup with play like that. We have a very capable Nathan Paetsch sitting around doing nothing, and still have Weber and Sekera if we need more depth. As I've said since before he was even signed we need to do better than having Pratt on the ice.

Vanek got his second hat-trick of the season getting credit for all three of the goals in the final three minutes plus overtime of the game. However Tim Connolly had the primary assist on all three of those goals (despite what the official score sheet says), and was primarily responsible for two of them. Although Vanek has improved lately, and is no longer missing the open nets, and got a powerplay goal for the third or fourth time in a week.

The Sabres play the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight, and who knows, the Sabres may even show up for the first 57 minutes of the game. (Although may I ask the NHL to schedule around Lost for the rest of the season?)

Official Three Stars
  • Thomas Vanek
  • Tim Connolly
  • Jaroslav Spacek

  • My Three Stars
  • Tim Connolly (three assists to set up the win)
  • Thomas Vanek (hat-trick for the final three goals)
  • Derek Roy (one goal, one assist, plus one)
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