Are the Buffalo Sabres’ fortunes really changing for the good ? Newish GM Kevyn Adams and second year coach Don Granato have coaxed and prodded a pretty good season out of the young Sabres so far. They find themselves in the thick of a highly competitive Wild Card race in the east which has the Penguins, Islanders, Sabres, Red Wings, Panthers and Caps all within 6 points of one another for the final 2 positions. An 11 year playoff absence has got to have the fans and ownership wondering if this finally be their year.
The Toronto Maple Leafs move on to game 3 of the ROR/Accari era. The big debate seems to be whether the Leafs go with a true 1-2-3 centre ice scenario or should Reilly stay up as C2 with Tavares on the wing. I prefer the 1-2-3 option with a 3 deep centre ice group that opposing coaches would find difficult to defend.
WOW – what start by Toronto ! Ryan O’Rielly, still playing centre on the second line scored a beauty off linemates’ Marner and Tavares to open the scoring 4 minutes in. Just :37 seconds later Marner set ROR again as he lifted a back hand roofer to put his new team up 2-0. Not to be outdone, Captain Johhny slapped in a Marner rebound to make 3 zip at under 13 minutes. That was Mitchey’s 3rd point of this night. The Leafs were so dominant in every facet with wave after wave of quality chances. The Sabres didn’t get their first shot on goal until the 10 minute mark. Michael Bunting took a breakaway lead from Mo Reilly to pot his 5th goal in 8 games patiently waiting for a short side opportunity. That resulted in pulling G Lukenin the starter to have veteran, greybeard Craig Anderson in off the bench. Final SOG Leafs 16, Sabres 7.
A highly vengeful Sabres club came out for the second period roaring with assertive offensive play. They outshot the Leafs 8-2 in the first 10 minutes. But, Ilya Samsonov stood tall and made the blocks he had to make to settle things down. Slowly, the Leafs took control back of the game. Willy Nye scored his 32nd on a PPG From Tavares and Marner to make it 5 to nothing.
It’s always difficult to maintain momentum going in to a final period with a 5 goal lead. Right ? No excuses for a Toronto squad looking to get guys a hattrick or maintaining their shutout. Jack Quinn, Alex Tuch and Jeff Skinner made that arrogance disappear with some hustle and determination. They just ran out of time. They HAD to pull their goalie which resulted in ROR’s hattrick goal and Marner’s 5th assist. Make the final Leafs 6, Buffalo 3.
HOPPER NOTES: Three stars: Ryan O’Reilly (3g 1a), Mitch Marner (5 a) and John Tavares (1 g 3 a)….WOW…despite their extremely sleepy start, the Sabres are in the Wild Card race…they have several games in hand on those ahead of them and with the likes of Tage Tompson, Dylan Cozens, Owen Power and Lars Dahlin in their lineup they will be contenders come April…BTW, where has AM34 been lately ? …Coach Keefe did a real “shake and bake” with his defence combinations tonight: Holl with Reilly (didn’t like), Connors (rough night) with Brodie and the ever steady Marc Giordano with Lilegren (Sandin out)…does Luke Schenn fit in with that group ?…thanks again to my “ACE” reporter from the other night…my old pal Glennie now prefers the University Avenue route for the parade…CHHERS Everyone !