The Buffalo Sabres are swinging through Florida on a road trip with about a dozen games left in the season. Several teams in the east are pressuring them for the top playoff spot — a spot which, if you look at Ottawa last year, could be as much blessing as curse.
Last night, the Sabres defeated the Florida Panthers on the first game of this road trip, 5-3 in regulation. This win snapped a four-game winless streak (0-3-1), which appears to be their longest such stretch this season.
I got to watch much of periods two and three after putting Lije to bed. I think the team looked better than the mere snippets I’ve seen recently, but things immediately looked bad when Florida scored as I entered the room with the TV. One of Florida’s lines looked hot — and the rest were doing enough to stymie Buffalo. Luckily, Buffalo was able to keep it tied 3-3 leading into the third.
I saw a nice play where Stafford bounced a pass up to Vanek, who took it into the zone, passed it Campbell. Campbell skirted the left side of the goal, noticed Stafford in front on the right side at the right moment, dished it to him, and the result was the puck in the net behind Belfour. I believe this score gave Buffalo the lead.
I felt that Conklin did a good job in net, which was his first start for the Sabres since he was acquired at the trade deadline. He ended with 42 saves. I was really nervous with all the action in front of him, but he definitely did his job — even when the defense wasn’t necessarily there for him.
I also thought that Zubrus did well; he picked up a goal but looked like he was instrumental on a couple of good plays.
Pomniville’s population went up to 29. Marring all of this may be another injury — I forget which defenseman left for the dressing room, and I haven’t heard anything more about that.