Ryan Miller Saves the Day

Ryan Miller managed to keep the Buffalo Sabres in what looked to be the worst game of this short season. 

Buffalo faced Boston last night for the first time this season.  They will meet a total of six times this season.  Every point they earn is important, and even more-so when facing a northeast division rival. 

While watching the first period, I was transported in time back to last year.  The Sabres were slow, unorganized, and did not have that cohesive look they have exhibited this year.  They couldn't keep the puck in their own end, and they managed a mere six shots on backup netminder Manny Fernandez.

The Bruins were able to put up 16 shots on Miller in the first period, and about half way through, Dennis Wideman managed to zing one past Miller.  The first period would end with the Bruins up by a score of 1-0.

When the Sabres came out in the second period, they started to look a little bit like their new selves.  They were playing a little bit better, and looked to be a bit more of a team. They started to put pucks on the net and had a few good chances.  However, with Drew Stafford in the box for a goaltender interference penalty, the Bruins Phil Kessel stuffed another one past Miller.

The play started when the Sabres pressed their luck shorthanded and got caught behind the play.  Kessel's wrister shot right past Miller. 

Less than two minutes later, however, the Sabres were on the power play when Craig Rivet took a shot from the point that Clarke MacArthur got his stick on and whipped past Fernandez. 

The Sabres were back in the game, and looking for more.  The second period ended with the score 2-1 in favor of Boston.  Buffalo did manage to outshoot Boston 12-10 in the second period.

By the third period, the Buffalo Sabres were looking good, and looking for that tying goal.  It would come just over five minutes into the third period when Drew Stafford put a wrist shot past Fernandez for his first goal of the season. 

With the game tied up, both teams became a bit more conservative, not wanting to make any mistakes.  There was good defensive hockey by both teams, with Buffalo managing 9 shots and the Bruins just five.

Buffalo came on strong in the overtime period, but just couldn't get one past Fernandez to end the game before the shootout. 

During the shootout, both goaltenders were strong.  Ales Kotalik and Kessel were both stopped in the first round.  In the second round, Stafford put one past Fernandez and Miller stopped Patrice Bergeron cold.  In the third round, Derek Roy was stopped, however David Krejci was able to put one past Miller.  In the fourth round, Jason Pominville and Zdeno Chara were both stopped.  Finally, in the fifth round, Thomas Vanek scored and Marc Savard lost the puck off his stick in front of Miller to end the game.

The best part of the whole game was the play of Ryan Miller was amazing. The best save of the game came in the third period when he came back across and snatched the puck out of the air on a rebound shot by Krejci.  He stood on his head and kept the Sabres in the game.  It was good to see him play like the old Ryan Miller again and I am very impressed with his improvement in the shootout.  He stopped three shots, allowing only one past him.  

The Buffalo Sabres are off to a 5-0-1 start, surprising some people, but not this loyal Buffalo fan. 

Other notes - Thomas Vanek did not score in regulation for the first time this season...For some reason, the Buffalo fans felt it was necessary to boo Zdeno Chara every time he touched the puck...The new center ice logo at the arena looks even better in person than it does on TV.