Double Minors: Sabres 3 – Bruins 4 SO

The first 20 minutes were exactly what Sabres fans were waiting for last night. The Sabres came out, played physical, fought Milan Lucic and looked like a hard nosed hockey club. It was the following 40 minutes that were less encouraging.

Another two-goal lead slipped away at home for the Sabres. While they got a point, it was a game that will be remembered for the Sabres standing up for themselves and registering a moral  victory. However, there was a lot more to that game than a few fights and a strong first period.

Give credit to Paul Gaustad. He came out and fought Lucic after he did little in Boston. Lucic manhandled him in the fight, but at least Gaustad showed he isn’t going to back down. The entire roster came out throwing body checks, Gaustad, Nathan Gerbe and Corey Tropp were especially physical. Their play led to another donnybrook after Gaustad tried to put Brad Marchand into the fifth row and Robyn Regehr stepped up for his team in another losing effort against Zdeno Chara.

Perhaps the Sabres left a little too much on the ice in the first period. Maybe their play awoke the Bruins to the kind of game they would have to play, because the Sabres were not the best team on the ice in the second and third periods. The Boston power play dominated the Buffalo penalty kill and the Sabres power play fizzled after picking up a pair of goals in the first period.

Buffalo’s chance to win came with 1:00 of power play time in overtime. They even had a pair of glorious chances but couldn’t finish. Thus is life sometimes.. But the bottom line is that the special teams didn’t do their part for the Sabres in yet another home loss.

• Two rookies have scored their first NHL goal for the Sabres this season. T.J. Brennan made a great play to convert a rebound for his first. It was only one game, but considering he is virtually the same player as Marc-Andre Gragnani, I would take Brennan any day over MAG. Brennan played physical and showed he has strong puck skills. Brennan made me less nervous than Andrej Sekera or Gragnani over the course of the game.
• Nathan Gerbe was Buffalo’s best player. Not to be too cliché, but you wouldn’t have known how big he was based on his play. Gerbe was physical all game and didn’t shy away from anyone. Considering his work ethic, you have to be excited to think what he will continue to bring to the table.
• Corey Tropp is also making me a believer. If he is a sign of what is to come for the Sabres, you have to be kind of excited. Tropp is pretty much Pat Kaleta with a little more offensive upside. His three blocked shot shift that was accentuated by a couple hits in the second period was a real eye opener. You have to wonder if his continued success may make Kaleta expendable at some point.
• Brad Marchand really exudes scumbag. I know Kaleta is right up there in the eyes of the NHL in terms of pests and dirty players. I won’t argue against that. However, the way Marchand plays makes that rat persona really. Honesty, what kind of pussy ducks body checks and chirps a bench after he scores. The guy is a complete disgrace, the fact that he is so skilled just makes it worse.
• I didn’t love Jhonas Enroth’s game tonight. He wasn’t bad, but he looked shaky once again. Marchand’s goal was particularly weak. Give him credit, he made some big saves in the third and the shootout, giving his team a chance to win.
• Not sure why the referees didn’t call the Stafford/Ference altercation a fight. Both dropped their gloves and Stafford landed a few shots on Ference. Props to Stafford for standing up for himself.
• Hated Jochen Hecht with Vanek and Pominville. With Brad Boyes out the landscape will seriously change in terms of line combos. But still, Hecht is a complete waste with those two. I was glad Roy was put back with Leino and Stafford, but I hated Ruff’s decision on Hecht. He played very well in a checking role, they should have rolled him out with Matt Ellis and Tropp.
• The early penalties and the Boyes injury basically made Ruff roll three players out at a time with little ability to keep lines together. I have an inkling that Zack Kassian may get the call for Boyes. Kassian has been scoring for Rochester and he is a right wing. Seems like a good choice. Hopefully he comes up and plays a real physical style.

Three Stars

1. Tyler Seguin

2. Benoit Pouliot

3. T.J. Brennan

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