Bleacher Report - Buffalo Sabres

Sabres-Panthers: Florida Claws Their Way Past Buffalo

Ron Van Lew — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:11:30 -0500

The Buffalo Sabres tried to continue the winning streak tonight as they hosted the Florida Panthers at the HSBC arena.

Unfortunately for Buffalo the third period would prove to be their sticking point tonight as the Panthers rolled to a 6-2 victory.Though a bit on the boring side, the first 40 minutes of play was tightly contested as Florida was hanging on to the 2-1 lead.

But in the third period the wheels came off for Buffalo. After Cory Stillman gave Florida a 3-1 lead, Clarke Macarthur brought Buffalo back to within one goal scoring his sixth of the year on the power play.

Unfortunately for Buffalo the one goal deficit would not last long as again Florida would tickle the twine behind goaltender Ryan Miller , as Michael Frolik scored his second of the night on the ensuing power play to regain Florida the two goal lead.

As a bit on insult added to injury 14 seconds after the Frolik goal Florida would add another with the net empty in favor of the extra attacker for Buffalo. Florida was now in total command with the score at 5-2.

The last bit of sand thrown in Buffalo's eyes was when Buffalo's last year's deadline acquisition Dominic Moore scored his first of the year on Ryan Miller with one minute left in the third period.

This must have been an exciting goal for Moore as he decided he needed to collect the puck from the referee that signified his 36th career goal in just under five seasons in the NHL. Good for you Dominic congrats. I think the state of Florida is working on the heroes parade for you as I type this.

None the less Buffalo was outworked terribly in the third and showed little

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The Significance of Sabres' Ryan Miller

Chris Hoy — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:22:54 -0500

There are many stories floating around about Ryan Miller these days, especially since he has been named the Third Star of the Week by the NHL. I’m not here to say that they’re undeserved, so don’t get the wrong idea. He leads the league in wins, GAA, and save percentage, so any accolades that come his way are well earned.

From a Buffalo point of view, I’m here to address the question: Why is Ryan Miller so important?

Ladies and gentlemen of the Jury, I present my evidence.

Exhibit A – He is evidence that the front office made the right decisions the past few years.

The decisions to let Mike Grier and Jay McKee leave town back in 2006 were not popular among Sabres faithful. Marty Biron, Brian Campbell, Chris Drury, and Danny Briere leaving town over the course of the next couple dozen months or so nearly started a riot in Niagara Square. What did the Sabres brain trust do in response?

Re-sign Miller, Thomas Vanek, sign Craig Rivet, and draft Tyler Ennis, a top prospect in Portland of the AHL (with the pick from the Campbell trade).

McKee played himself out of a job with the Blues. Drury has played well with the Rangers, but not at the level in which he’s getting paid. Briere is always injured and has worn out his welcome in Philly. Campbell got paid $5 million to do what the Sabres paid Jaroslav Spacek $3 million to do last season. Grier has come back home to tutor Buffalo’s young prospects, and Marty Biron may be on his way out as well (I’m really hoping this will come to pass, anyway) after falling out of favor in Philly.

Cost-conscious? I think there is a crystal ball hidden somewhere on Washington Street. The decision to build the team around Miller has thus far resulted in a 12-4-1 record.

Exhibit B – He gives Buffalo star power on the national stage.

Miller always seems to have the experience necessary to make Buffalo relevant. Need a story on the state of American-born hockey players? Miller was born in Michigan. Need evidence that the Hobey Baker Award (the weird, ice-skating cousin to Heisman) is not meaningless? Miller won it in 2001. When the press needed an experienced outdoor player to interview during the first Winter Classic? Yep, there was Miller, who played in the “Cold War” game for Michigan State against Michigan in 2001. How about a commercial? There was the Amp Energy Drink ad campaign from 2008 (Yo Mama’s so ugly, she made an onion cry!).

Exhibit C – He gives Buffalo star power on the International stage.

International experience is not lacking here. Miller was a member of the 2001 USA Men’s team at the IIHF Men’s World Championship. He played on the team for the next two years, leading the tournament with a .949 save percentage at the 2002 IIHF Men’s World Championship and was second in the tournament with a 1.76 goals-against average.

The U.S. finished in fourth place in 2001 and seventh place in 2002. He even watched his cousin Kevin play in the 1988 Olympics. There were many people in Buffalo who were furious at Miller’s snub from the 2006 U.S. Olympic team in favor of Rick DiPietro (remember him? Me neither.)

And I seem to recall hearing something about a tournament in Vancouver this season…

Ryan Miller has already punched his ticket into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame as one of the most popular athletes in city history. He has brought a spotlight not seen in Buffalo since Dominik Hasek vacated the crease in HSBC Arena. His charitable work doesn’t get anywhere near the attention it deserves (his Steadfast Foundation aims to ease the suffering of cancer patients, most notable those living with childhood leukemia).

If he ever helps bring Lord Stanley’s Cup to Western New York, this is the man that everyone will clamor to hear at the podium. Why? Because he bleeds blue and sweats gold.

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Sabres-Flyers: The Buffalo Swagger Continues

Ron Van Lew — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:46:00 -0500

The stage was set. Buffalo versus Philladelphia. A chance for the Sabres to avenge the drubbing the Flyers put on them no more than a week earlier.

As the game was about to start, I still wondered if the Sabres could finally break that ugly habit of playing horrid on the back side of back to back games. It did not take me long to get my answer.

This was a war from the opening puck drop to the final horn. It had all the makings to set up the next two tilts these teams will have with each other this season. Scrappy play, bad blood, two goalies that will not back down,and two extremely talented teams looking to leave their respective marks on the Eastern conference.

Thomas Vanek was the recipient of an early Flyer's penalty, and a nice centering pass to get Buffalo off and running early. His wrister found it's way past goaltender Ray Emery just over three minutes into the first period. Buffalo took the lead 1-0.

Though no goals were scored the rest of the period, it wasn't for lack of effort. Both Emery and Ryan Miller made some great saves to keep their teams in the game early. In all six penalties were called in the first period with Philly receiving four of them.

The second period started with Buffalo controlling play for a majority of the period. Both teams realized they were in for a full 60 minute game and decided maybe the second period was not an ideal time to leave their team short handed.

At almost the 15 minute mark of the second period, Tyler Ennis playing in his first NHL game for Buffalo netted his first career NHL goal to give Buffalo a semi-commanding 2-0 lead. The second period would end at that score, But Philly seemed to be finding their game late in the second. It only amped up the possibility of a great final period.

Just as I thought, Philly came out flying in the final frame. Buffalo was on their heels and holding on for dear life. Chris Pronger announced his presence on the score sheet early in the third when his slapper from the point blew by Miller to cut the lead in half.

But a costly high sticking penalty by former Buffalo Sabre Danny Briere opened the door for Buffalo to capitalize once more. And center Paul Gaustad made no mistake as he deflected a Tyler Myers shot from the point past Ray Emery to regain the two goal Buffalo lead.

Philly was down but certainly not out of it.

As, yet again, they showed just how dangerous they can be short handed as Jeff Carter cut back into that Buffalo lead by scoring his seventh of the season just over half way through the third.

The Flyers continued to pressure the Buffalo Sabres for ten more minutes. But Ryan Miller and company were up to the task. Buffalo grab the short plane ride back home with a narrow 3-2 win.

Thoughts and Observations

Thomas Vanek has been a penalty magnet as of late. He really needs to focus on the game, and stop taking lazy, undisciplined penalties.

Chris Pronger may be my favorite defense men in the NHL. It is amazing at his age How well he still does everything. Without question Philly's best pick up in a long time.

Ray Emery has re-emerged as a top 15 goaltender in the NHL. It seems like decades ago now when he had his problems.

Buffalo's power play continues to struggle. Lazy passes, poor shots from the point. Something really needs to be done.

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Ryan Miller: Is There Any Question Who Team USA's No. 1 Goalie Is?

Ron Van Lew — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:04:32 -0500

At the beginning of this hockey season, the talk was not who was going to be the net minders for Team USA in the upcoming Olympics, but rather who would be the starter. Goaltender Ryan Miller has answered that question for everyone.

At the end of the 2008-2009 season, questions started to surface about just how "great" Miller could be. Or even if he was a franchise goaltender.

But those questions have now since all fallen by the wayside as Miller has shown his previous season was merely a blip on the radar.

As the season began Miller looked like a new man between the pipes. His footwork had gotten better, his confidence was soaring, and most important his success has never been better.

At this point of the season Ryan is leading the NHL in wins, save percentage,and goals against average. And is one shutout out of leading that category as well.

Know as a very cerebral goaltender, Miller is the kind of player that can get himself into a zone where his is almost unbeatable most nights. And as a spirited competitor he also wants to avenge any loses or poor outings right away by playing the next game.

As Buffalo fans continue hearing the announcers call "Miller robbed him blind," the coaches for team USA will have very little to think about when on Jan. 1. they name their starting goaltender for the Olympics.

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