Buffalo Crushes Toronto 5-0 on Thomas Vanek Hat Trick and Ryan Miller Shutout

The Buffalo Sabres made the long flight back from Anaheim on Tuesday, returning home for their first game at HSBC Arena since Jan. 17.

Coach Lindy Ruff expressed concern that the Sabres might be road weary and not ready to go on Wednesday night against their hated rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He need not have worried, as the Maple Leafs did not show up.  True, the Maple Leafs had lost in overtime the night before, but they not only left their legs behind, they forgot to pack their passion as well.

From the opening face-off, the Sabres dominated, beating the Leafs to nearly every loose puck and passing crisply.  Ryan Miller, coming off a shut-out in Phoenix, handled the few shots Toronto managed effortlessly.

Within two and a half minutes, Craig Rivet spotted Tim Connolly and fired the puck at Connolly's stick.  The slick center deftly deflected the puck into the net for Buffalo's first goal.

Ten minutes later, Drew Stafford recorded a highlight reel goal, taking a drop pass from Clarke MacArthur inside the blue line, turning the Toronto defenseman Mike Van Ryn inside-out, and rifling the puck into the top right corner.

The Sabres continued to take the play to the Sabres, and only outstanding goaltending by Toronto netminder Justin Pogge kept the score at 2-0.

The Sabres continued flying in the second period.  Toronto obliged by taking five consecutive penaties.  The Leafs left Vanek alone in front which is not advisable.  He scooped up a loose rebound, spun, and slid the puck past the defenseless Pogge.

The Sabres kept coming, sending odd man rush after rush at the beleaguered Toronto goalie.  Vanek, Roy, Pominville and Kotalik all missed from point-blank range.  

After two periods, the Buffalo was outshooting Toronto 24-9.  They had more than ten odd man rushes.  But errant shots or one too many passes foiled every attempt.  

The second period ended 3-0 despite Buffalo's near total domination, and there was some concern that if the Leaf's managed an early goal in the third, the game would be far from over.

Not to worry.  Early in the third, Drew Stafford spotted Vanek cutting behind the Toronto defense and hit him with a perfect pass.  Vanek cruised in and blasted a slap shot from about twenty feet out that dinged inside the far post for a 4-0 lead.

Toronto continued to march to the penalty box, and less than four minutes later, with two Leafs in the box, Vanek capitalized, tipping in Connolly's pass from the corner for his third goal of the night, a natural hat trick, and 32nd of the season.  Despite the poor economy, Buffalo fans showed their appreciation by showering the ice with caps. 

The remainder of the game was of interest only to see if Ryan Miller could record his second straight shutout.  Toronto mounted a flurry towards the end, but Miller was solid, squaring to every puck and not over committing.  

Buffalo easily could have won this game 10-0.  The Connolly-Vanek-Stafford line created chances virtually every shift.  

Teppo Numminen returned and steadied the defense, admittedly against a Leaf team that played as though forechecking is a dirty word.  And Pat Kaleta had at least five Leafs focused more on trying to get revenge for his hits than on playing their game.  

Overall, a very good win.  As long as the Sabres don't get big-headed and forget that against a team that is actually trying, they will need to work much harder and get physical.