Sabres Light up Scoreboard Against Bruins

Game 53, Boston Bruins @ Buffalo Sabres, 2/8/2012

When I rolled into the First Niagara Center on Wednesday night I was hoping to see a very good effort out of a desperate hockey club. Well not only did I see a desperate hockey club give a lot of effort, I saw a machine. The Buffalo Sabres had their biggest win in recent memory in a 6-0 bashing of their rival Boston Bruins. It was ugly and it was on national television. Just what the doctor ordered in this season of craziness in Buffalo.

When the puck dropped it seemed like both hockey clubs came to play. Both teams were skating and moving the puck well. Then all hell broke loose. Cody McCormick fought Bruins “tough-guy” Shawn Thornton. Not too long after Christian Ehrhoff ripped a wrist shot from the point, which deflected off of Bruins forward Gregory Campbell, and then went right passed the Bruin net-minder Tuukka Rask. Not long after the Bruins scored a goal that looked like it would tie the game up. However, a ruling of “incidental contact” on the play cancelled out the goal causing the Bruins bench to get frustrated. The Sabres finally had something go their way. Hey the City of Buffalo had something go their way!

The first period action wasn’t over yet. Patrick Kaleta and hated Bruin Milan Lucic battled in a fight that really got the crowd going. As big a size advantage as Lucic has on Kaleta, Kaleta still held his own, and pumped up the crowd with his arms, much to the dismay of the Bruins. Also during the action, Bruins forward Brad Marchand was noticeably chirping at Sabres the entire game. He was really focusing in on forward Ville Leino. With just a few minutes left in the first, Ville Leino answered back with a very creative pass to Captain Jason Pominville putting the Sabres ahead by two.

The second period opened with another Sabres goal, this one by Tyler Ennis. Rask’s night was over. Tim Thomas was in. The Sabres had numerous chances on a power play to make it 4-0 but Thomas looked sharp. Another incident that happened during the second period was when Ville Leino “snowed” goaltender Tim Thomas after a save. That isn’t something the Bruins liked very much but it is those "little things" that will bring the Sabres together better as this season goes on. I liked what I was seeing. Just when the game couldn’t get any better for the Sabres, Pat Kaleta put a weird angled shot by Thomas.

The third period was more of the same; pure domination by Ryan Miller and the Sabres. Leino set up Pominville again. Drew Stafford made the game an even more laughable 6-0. The third period was the highlight of the game.

When Milan Lucic hit Ryan Miller the entire hockey world focused on the Sabres lack of response. Frankly it was embarrassing. This time it was the Sabres time to embarrass the Bruins. This time on national television. This time on the scoreboard and then it was a brawl. Lucic lost his mind during the brawl. Buffalo got in his head. He was tossed. As the referees were sorting things out, a “Boston Sucks” chant broke out. Then there was a little “Sweet Caroline.” Boston was pay-backed and the entire hockey world saw it. This time the embarrassment was on Boston.

Notes: The Sabres play a Friday home game against the Dallas Stars. Thomas Vanek will be back in the line-up. If you take the first period of the Islanders game away from Ryan Miller, he has let in 0 goals in 10 periods! Allowing just 2 in 14 periods and all together 5 in the last 5 games. He moved to 14-1-2 against Boston at home in his career. The Sabres haven’t lost in regulation at home since Dec. 13th, going 5-0-4 during that time. James Patrick will be behind the bench once again Friday night.