Just five months after the Buffalo Sabres lost in game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Carolina Hurricanes, the two teams were at it again. This time they faced off in the inaugural game of the 2006-2007 season. But the results were different, with Buffalo coming out on top, 3-2.
As would only be appropriate, at the end of regulation the squads were locked in a 2-2 tie. Even more appropriate, after a five minute overtime period they were still gridlocked, and headed into a shootout.
After a Ryan Miller save on the first shot of the shootout, a Sabres victory was on the stick of Buffalo assistant captain Daniel Briere, who smoothly notched a backhand past Carolina net minder Cam Ward. After another save by Miller, Sabres forward Thomas Vanek tried a similar backhand and was denied by Ward. One more Miller save was all it took to give Buffalo the victory.
With the sour taste of watching the Hurricanes raise their Stanley Cup Banner in front of over 18,000 fans at the RPC Center, the Sabres were out shot 11-1 in the opening half of the first period, but managed to score on their second shot of the game. Buffalo forward Jason Pominville notched the first goal of the Sabres season on a deflection of a Dmitri Kalinin blue line shot.
Only five minutes later the Hurricanes regained the momentum on a 2-on-1 break when a Ray Whitney pass found last season's rookie sensation, Erik Staal, who calmly snapped the puck past Miller.
The game remained scoreless until midway through the second period, despite both teams having several power play opportunities. Carolina broke the tie on a 5-on-3 advantage, when Erik Cole neatly redirected a shot from the point. Ray Whitney and Justin Williams were credited with the assists on the play.
The Sabres, who have returned the core of their team from last year, were able to match the goal several minutes later when team captain Chris Drury got position in front of the Hurricanes' net and deflected a point shot from Henrik Tallinder. Derek Roy also received an assist on the play.
After a hard fought third period by both teams, the game went to overtime with the score tied at 2-2. Both teams were also tied at the end of regulation with 31 shots on goal.
Even without former standout defenseman Jay McKee, who fled to St. Louis through free agency, Buffalo's defensemen maintained their prowess at shot blocking, registering 28 for the night. Returning defensive leader Brian Campbell picked up the slack with eight blocks, while fellow returnees Teppo Numminen and Kalinin got in the way of four Hurricane shots apiece.
The overtime period saw both teams playing defensively. Buffalo only managed one shot, while the Hurricanes tallied three in the five minute overtime period.
With the shootout victory, Buffalo moved to 1-0, while Carolina fell to 0-1. The Sabres will be in action again on Friday when they head home to HSBC Arena to host the Montreal Canadians at 7:30 p.m. in front of a nearly sold out crowd.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
