The bad thing about that? They're Islanders. Jason Blake, right, just scored his first playoff goal and it was on the powerplay. The Sabres looked good for the first five or so minutes, but the Islanders weathered the storm and converted on their opportunity.
The game is huge for both teams. The Islanders do NOT want to go back to Buffalo down 3-1 in the series. In losing tonight, the Islanders have basically scheduled their first tee time of the summer.
Thomas Vanek just scored on a slapshot. Pardon the interruption. DiPietro made a terrible play on Vanek's shot.
Buffalo wants to win this series as quickly as possible. More than five games in the first round is not a good omen for any of the previous 17 Stanley Cup champions. Only two teams have needed more than 11 games to get out of the first two rounds and continued their successful playoff quest.
As I've stated, Buffalo needs to step up. Their lackadaisical play may beat the Islanders, but it won't work. I'd like to see them play balls out to set their timing for the next series. They won't need to make any adjustments and will be ready to play.
Chris Drury has just scored off a beautiful play by Danius Zubrus. That's Drury's 4th point in the playoffs (3 g, 1a) and Zubrus' fifth, all assists. Score is now 2-1 Buffalo with 6 minutes left in the game.
I guess instead of typing my words, I should slowly begin to eat them. But I won't until I see this effort for two complete games.
Players that need to step up:
Ales Kotalik: Other than a couple shifts in game 3, he has done nothing. If he plays as physical as he did during game 3 for more than 1/2 his shifts, then he's deserving of a number 1 star.
Max Afinogenov: Hasn't done a gosh darned thing, other than draw two penalties on one play. Hogging the puck way too much and not giving Vanek or Roy anything to work with but backchecking from his giveaways. Stafford should never have left that line.
Derek Roy: Misses Stafford. Tries to hard to be good with Afinogenov and ends up giving the puck away or making bad passes. A player like Stafford opens things up for Roy because the puck is spread around more.
Jason Pominville: The population of Pominville's at zero, with plenty of miscarriages. Has been invisible.
Daniel Briere: Hasn't done a thing. Argue he has two points, and you're an idiot. Neither of the first two assists showed any work or prowess. One was a shot cycle where every Buffalo player hacked at the puck, and Briere happened to be the second to last. The other was a pass to a player who carried the puck for 6-8 seconds and passed for a one timer. He also scored a goal, on a 5 v 3, but has had a ton of giveaways as well as being selfish with the puck.
Mike Sillinger has just scored to tie the game off a play made by Ryan Smyth. The goal came on a powerplay, due to a terrible call on Teppo Numminen. Numminen ran Jason Blake into the boards who embellished badly and drew a penalty.
Players that have been impressive:
Chris Drury: Leads the team in goals and has been doing everything he can to win games. Unfortunately, Drury takes draws against Mike Sillinger, who is much better and is beating Drury nearly every time. Lindy needs to try someone else on those draws.
Danius Zubrus: Hitting everything that moves. Setting up plays with his physical play and grinding out everything he can.
Dmitri Kalinin: Perfect play except for a small hiccough tonight. Clearing the puck well, skating hard, joining the rush, great outlet passes.
My first round playoff predictions:
(7)Minnesota Wild defeat (2)Anaheim Ducks 4-3, ANA lead series 3-1
Minnesota has been playing so well, but Anaheim is just one goal better every, until the Wild stomped them last night. It wouldn't be crazy to think that Minny comes back to win this one, because the games have been so close and the Wild are so streaky.
(3)Vancouver Canucks defeat (6)Dallas Stars 4-3, VAN leads series 3-1
Roberto Luongo made 72 saves in his first playoff game ever, which went into the 4th OT. Luongo has outclassed Dallas himself, because Dallas, though slightly, has outplayed Vancouver for the bulk of the series.
(4)Nashville Predators defeat (5)San Jose Sharks 4-2, SJS leads series 2-1
This is the most violent series this year. Alexander Radulov of the Predators was suspended for a game for elbowing Steve Bernier of the Sharks. Joe Thornton has been great, and J.P. Dumont has been even better, with 4 goals.
(4)Ottawa Senators defeat (5)Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3, OTT leads series 3-1
The might be the most physical and clean series of the first round. The Penguins, after getting smacked around the first game, have made this a very physical series. I expect the Penguins to win the next game, but I don't think the series will make it to seven. The young kids just can't play up to the men in Ottawa yet, even though Colby Armstrong put the hit of the first round so far on Patrick Eaves.
Chris Drury has scored less than a minute into the third period on a powerplay. This is the second two game goal just this series for Captain Clutch.
(1)Buffalo Sabres defeat (8)New York Islanders 4-1, BUF leads series 2-1
I still think Sabres will win this series in five games.
(8)Calgary Flames defeat (1)Detroit Red Wings 4-3, DET leads series 3-1
Calgary got spanked, badly, in the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. Miikka Kiprusoff single handedly made the scores at least reasonable. The third game however, was a thriller won on a Jarome Iginla goal in which he made Niklas Lidstrom look silly. I expect Calgary to win at home, tomorrow, but that could be the end of their road. If they get into a rhythm, though, they could still make a run at it.
(6)New York Rangers defeat (3)Atlanta Thrashers 4-2, NYR leads series 3-0
The Rangers have totally outclassed the Thrashers every game, including a 7-0 win last night. They are currently playing in Atlanta, and the score is 2-2 at the end of the second. I am pulling for Atlanta to win tonight to extend the series a little. Mostly to make my predictions more correct :). In all realism, I expect the series to end in NY in the 5th game, if not tonight.
(7)Tampa Bay Lightning defeat (2)New Jersey Devils 4-3, TBL leads series 2-1
Tampa has done what I thought they'd do. Control the puck, beat the Devils with speed, and tick off Marty Brodeur. It's payed off, yet again. They are playing currently, and the score is 3-3 at the end of the second. I still think the Lightning will win in 6.
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