Post-Game Wrap: Bruins-Sabres
Final: Buffalo 2, Boston 1
The effort was much improved, but the results remained the same as Boston dropped another tough one. Some early lapses in discipline hurt as Buffalo converted one of three first-period power plays and never relinquished its 2-0 lead after one. The Bruins pulled within one in the second and outshot the Sabres 12-5 in the third, but couldn’t net the equalizer. Boston is now 1-8-1 in its last 10 games with just 16 goals scored. The loss, coupled with Tampa Bay taking Anaheim to a shootout before losing, drops Boston to 12th in the East. The Lightning actually vaulted from 12th to eighth despite losing, an indication of just how tightly packed the conference is, as well as how ridiculous the current point system rewarding teams for losing in overtime and shootouts is. Of course, the Bruins would kill for a few shootouts losses these days, but they’re not scoring enough to even get out of regulation, let alone rack up any wins.
Records: Boston 23-21-8, 54 points; Buffalo 32-14-7, 71 points
Revisiting the Three Keys for the B’s:
1. Many healthy returns – Marc Savard’s return helped settle down the offense as the Bruins created more chances than they have in recent games, though they’re still struggling to convert them. Savard did set up the Bruins’ only goal with a crossing pass to Milan Lucic. Byron Bitz also returned, but was far less noticeable. He played a team-low 4:56 with no shots, just one hit and a giveaway. When Steve Begin and Marco Sturm return, Bitz could be one of the players heading to the press box as he’s had just one point in his last 16 games.
2. Searching for something special – The Bruins didn’t get much of a chance to see what Savard’s return could do for their slumping power play, as they didn’t draw a penalty until midway through the third. They managed three shots on their lone opportunity, but all three were long-range point shots by Zdeno Chara. Buffalo, meanwhile, had four cracks with the man-advantage and scored the eventual game-winner on the power play. The Sabres managed just three shots total while the Bruins had three shots short-handed, but Buffalo got the only shot that mattered past Tuukka Rask.
3. End of Miller time – The Bruins didn’t have much luck against arguably the NHL’s top netminder this year. Ryan Miller turned aside 30 of the 31 shots he faced, including all 12 shots Boston fired on him in the third. There was no matchup of Team USA teammates as Tim Thomas watched from the bench while Rask got the nod for the third time against Buffalo this year. Thomas will likely have the same view in Vancouver, as Miller is clearly going to be the No. 1 goalie for the U.S. with the way he’s playing this season.
Key Play of the Game:
The Bruins survived the first two penalties they took in the first period, but their undisciplined play finally cost them when Savard was sent off for high-sticking Jason Pominville just three seconds after Boston had killed Vladimir Sobotka’s interference penalty. The tired penalty killers couldn’t survive this one, as Chris Butler knocked down David Krejci’s attempted clear at the blue line, took a return pass from Tim Connolly and fired in a point shot. Rask made the initial stop, but Thomas Vanek got behind Chara and popped in the rebound from the top of the crease for a 2-0 lead at 17:32 of the first.
Fight Card:
There were no fights in this one, as Buffalo continues to turn the other cheek with just three fights in its last 28 games. The Bruins did try to stir things up early, most notably when Shawn Thornton pulled Steve Montador out of a scrum and dropped his gloves, but the ex-Bruin had no interest in going and Thornton received the only penalty with a roughing minor.
Flynn’s Finest:
Savard showed some signs of rust in his return (the ill-advised high-sticking penalty, 7-12, 37 percent on face-offs and no shots), but he showed his playmaking skills when he set up Lucic’s goal Savard played 18:26 and was a plus-1 and should help Boston’s struggling offense even more as he gets his timing and stamina back to 100 percent. Lucic also turned in a much-improved effort, and not just because he scored. He was also more physical (5 hits) and aggressive. That’s the kind of edge the Bruins need from everyone, but especially from Lucic, who sets the tone for the whole team with his physical play when he’s at his best. Chara also showed some of the fire that’s been lacking for much of this season, nailing Buffalo agitator Patrick Kaleta and chipping in with five shots and an assist. Mark Stuart (6 hits, 4 blocked shots) and Thornton (3 hits in just 6:29) also showed the kind of emotional investment and effort the Bruins will need to battle their way out of this slump.
Flynn’s Sin Bin:
Even with Savard back, the Bruins’ offense still has a long way to go. They were held to one goal for the third straight game and for the fifth time in their current 10-game skid. They couldn’t even take advantage of Buffalo’s many miscues, as the Sabres were charged with 27 giveaways to the Bruins’ 10. And Boston didn’t help itself with its lack of discipline early, with four minor penalties in the first half of the game. Dennis Wideman continues to pile up ice-time (23:21) with no results to show for it, as he was minus-1 with just one shot while missing the net with three others. The Bruins continued their struggles in the face-off circle, winning just 22 of 53 draws (42 percent). Savard (7 of 19, 37 percent) and Bergeron (6 of 16, 38 percent) were the biggest culprits, though both deserve some slack as they’re coming off injuries. It was the first game Bergeron took draws regularly since returning from a broken right thumb, and the injury is clearly affecting the usually excellent face-off man. Given that, it was a questionable decision to have Bergeron take a key draw in Buffalo’s end after Boston’s timeout with 1:02 left. Bergeron lost that one to Paul Gaustad, though Gaustad also beat Savard on the game’s final key face-off with 10.3 seconds left.
Next: The Bruins get right back at it as they return home to face the Los Angeles Kings tomorrow.
Down on the Farm: The offensive struggles in the organization aren’t confined to the big club. Providence continued its own scoring woes in a 2-0 loss to visiting Manchester, as Boston and Los Angeles’ affiliates got a head start on tomorrow’s showdown by meeting up in the AHL tonight. Geoff Walker scored on a power play and Jon Rheault added an empty-netter for Manchester (28-14-2-5). Dany Sabourin made 23 saves for Providence (21-23-3-0).
Tags: Sabres
