The Sabres entered the hostile Fargo centre looking to cause an upset and give themselves the chance of going back home to win the series.The Flyers would be looking for a convincing performance after being shut out in game 4. The Flyers were missing Pronger still, Carter was also out of the line up.
The Fylers had got off to a good start, they had puck possesion and were stopping the Sabres from getting anytime in their zone. However, a mistake from Boucher on a simple Ennis shot at 2.24 meant they went behind early on. Ennis just threw a shot on net from the wing and Boucher just completely missed it,going in off his pads.
It was even worse for Boucher at 3.51 as he conceeded another bad goal. This time it was Vanek firing the puck from behind the red line and banking it in off the keeper. Boucher just didn't have his leg against the post and he started the game really struggling.
Suddenly you could hear the anxiety in the Philadelphia crowd as they were in shock at the start their team had made.
Mezaros took the first penalty of the game at 8.50 for tripping and needed a crucial penalty kill to try and get some momentum back in their game. They got this only allowing Buffalo 1 shot during the 2 minutes.
Montador went at 11.43 for high sticking, giving the Flyers a chance to try and get themselves back into the game. Briere had a couple of attempts early on the advantage and tried to stuff it through Miller's pads but he stood firm.
The Sabres took a 3-0 lead with a 4 on 3 powerplay goal at 15.36, Gragnani firing a shot low past Boucher after the powerplay unit set him up with some neat passing infront.
Boucher was pulled straight after and replaced by Leighton. Boucher unhappy as he got to the bench, throwing his mask to the floor.
The Sabres had come out in the 1st and shocked the Flyers. After being briliant since replacing Bobrovsky in game 2, Boucher clearly didn't turn up at the start allowing 3 goals on 11 shots. The bad news for the Sabres was they lost Pominville to injury with only a few minutes left in the period, apparently suffering a skate cut to his leg. He didn't return for the rest of the game.
The 2nd period started with a holding call on Gaustad at 2.39, the Flyers creating some good pressure and drawing another penalty at 4.30 when Neidermeyer shot the puck straight into the crowd. Hartnell had a big chance with Giroux feeding him infront but Miller got his leg to the puck to make the save.
The Flyers finally got themselves on the scoreboard and back ino the game at 8.12. Van Riemsdyk picking up a rebound off a Mezaros shot from the point and sliding it in behind Miller. Miller had been outstanding up to this point but allowed a rebound off his pads as he challenged the shooter at the top of the crease.
9.57 Saw Mezsaros hit another shot from the point, the puck this time rattling into the net shortside and the Flyers had dragged themselves back into the game halfway through the 2nd. The Flyers crowd were suddenly back in the game as well as the noise level inside the arena was raised.
A penalty on Gragnani with 6.15 left on the period gave Philadelphia a powerplay chance to tie up the game but apart from a Briere chance close in that Miller smothered they couldn't create a telling chance.
Roughly 3.30 had gone in the 2nd when the Flyers levelled the game, Briere finding himself on the door step to shove the puck past Miller on his back hand. A lovely pass from behind the net by Richards.
The Sabres had hardly put a puck on net since Leighton had come in and all that early work had unfolded andthe Flyers were back on top in this one.
The Sabres had a powerplay at 7.36 with Briere picking up his 2nd minor of the game and the Sabres gradually got back into the game. The 3rd period had now become an intense affair with both team knowing one mistake or one piece of skill could get the goal to win this game.
Leopold took a hooking penalty with only 2.22 left to put all the late pressure on Miller but the Sabres netminder stood tall and the game went into overtime.
5.31 into the OT period the game ended where it started with Ennis putting the puck in the net to silence the home fans. He gambled on going to the back door as Weber lined up a long range shot and as Leighton got his pad to save Weber's blast the puck rebounded straight onto Ennis's stick. He took no time in burying the puck and sending the Sabres bench wild.
Buffalo had stolen the advantage, coming into Philadelphia and getting the job done. They now head home with the chance to wrap up the series 4-2 but with this series, expect the unexpected!
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