Buffalo were looking to win this series infront of another sell out crowd at the HSBC Arena, the Flyers were just looking for a result to take it to a game 7.
The game started with some crunching hits and Buffalo having some pressure in behind the net. Gaustad and Hartnell both dropped the gloves only 1.21 in and a bit of wrestling ensued. Both players getting 2 for roughing.
Only 2.13 had gone when Neidermeyer gave theSabres a 1-0 lead. Leighton beaten by a wrist shot glove side that he really should have got a piece of. The goal coming with the teams 4 on 4.
Miller pulled off a couple of good saves after that goal, the Flyers looking for a quick response.
The Sabres went on the 1st powerplay of the game at 7.50, Carcillo taking 2 minutes for cross checking. This led to the Sabres going 2-0 up. Some good passing allowed the Sabres to work the puck towards the net and Stafford hit a wrist shot that was deflected by Vanek and into the net. Goal was timed at 8.41.
The Flyers got their first powerplay soon after and the first chance for Pronger to try and get this faultering powerplay unit firing. Gerbe was called for holding the stick but the Flyes couldn't get anything going.
However, Briere got the Flyers back into the game at 14.53 Miller allowed a shot by Hartnell from between the circles to bounce off his pads and Briere was all alone infront to get the puck up high over the netminder. The Flyers had been getting the better chances and they deserved to get back into this one.
The Flyers went on their 2nd powerplay with 3.47 of the period left, Connolly getting a cross checking minor. It took them over a minute to get the puck set up before they could get a couple of shots through but Miller was playing well. A delay of game call at 17.38 gave the Flyers a potential 36 seconds of 5 on 3 as Butler fired the puck straight into the crowd. The Flyers lost their heads though as Pronger was called for Slashing at 18.02 and Meszaros was called for high sticking at 18.14 to turn what was a potential 5 on 3 for the Flyers to a powerplay for the Sabres.
The Sabres took full advantage. Vanek managed to get the puck at the side of the net, close to Leighton and he dragged the puck between his legs and flicked it through 5 hole of the Keeper. Leighton didn't have his paddle down and it was another goal he wouldnt have wanted to give up. This came with just 33 seconds left on the period and swung the momentum back in the Sabres direction. The scoreboard didn't reflect the 1st period as the Flyers outshot the Sabres 17-8 and somehow had managed to get themselves 3-1 down.
Leighton was pulled for the start of the 2nd period as Boucher came back into the series after being pulled himself last time out.
It only took the Flyers 49 seconds to get it back to 3-2. Straight off an offensive zone face off for Philadeplhia the puck scrambled to inbetween the circles and Van Reimsdyk snapped it past Miller. The crowd were stunned into silence after finishing the period wildy celebrating that 3rd goal.
The Flyers continued to press and hound the Sabres and were creating some really good chances, Miller like a rock between the pipes.
They got the game tied up at 8.40 with a powerplay goal, Briere allowed to control the puck and get take as much time as he wanted to wind up the slapshot and Miller stood no chance. The fans were in disagreement with the penalty that was called to allow the Flyers that chance. Leopold had been called for Holdaing and after the goal there was heavy booing from the crowd.
The Sabres hadn't come out of the changing rooms in the 2nd and it took them until the latter end of the period to get any offence going. They started to throw pucks on Boucher from any angle to try and create pressure around the net. This led to the crowd getting going again and another powerplay chance with Versteeg going for slashing at 13.06. The pressure was immense on the powerplay but Boucher was infront of everything for the first 50 seconds of it. It was turned to a 5 on 3 at this point, Richards taking 2 minutes for boarding. An awful shove on Connolly that sent his head into the glass.
Shots from Myers and Gragnani were brilliantly saved and the 5 on 3 somehow killed off followed by the remaining minute of 5 on 4.
The pressure was all coming from the Sabres now though and Gerbe sent a wrist shot on goal that seemed to be misjudged by Boucher and went softly passed him glove side. Boucher had been brilliant killing off the powerplays and as soon as they Flyers had got back to 5 on 5 he made that mistake and the Sabres were up 4-3 with 3.51 left in period.
The Sabres had managed to level the shots a little with all that powerplay time, shots on goal for the 2nd period being 18-14 in their favour.
Connolly was suffering after that hit into the boards late in the 2nd and he didn't return to the ice for the start of the 3rd period.
3.42 into the period a 2 on 1 breakaway by Ennis and Stafford led to Stafford hitting the post as he tried to get the bouncing pass up over the sliding Boucher.
The Sabres Butler got the first penalty of the 3rd period, a 2 minute holding call at 8.39. The Flyers spent most of the powerplay in the Sabres zone, controlling the puck on the outside but not getting many shots through to the front of the net.
The powerplay ended and the Flyers got the equaliser at 10.43. Miller making a save down at his post but not covering the puck and Richards got the puck infront of the net to Hartnell who put it past an out of position keeper.
It was the Flyers who had the jump in the 3rd and they were the team getting all the shots on goal to this point.
A passage of play with between 3 and 4 minutes left saw both teams go end to end, the Sabres having a partial break and shooting wide before the Flyers had 2 good looking odd man breaks. First it was Brier's pass deflecting of a Sabres stick and then Hartnell's attempt to get the puck to Briere was also deflected away.
The game would finish 4-4 after 3 periods to see this series go to overtime for the 2nd game running. The Flyers had been dominant on the clock shot in the period and were now leading 45-32.
The Flyers won the game 4.43 into the OT period. A scrambled goal that Leino managed to poke past Miller. Versteeg hit 2 shots from the point, 1 blocked and the other deflected down infront by Richards. This meant Miller was out of position and as he dove to get either his glove or stick on the puck, Leino beat him to it to put it in and silence the crowd.
A fantastic comeback from 2-0, 3-1 and 4-3 down to take the series to a deserved game 7.
No comments:
Post a Comment