Live from Sabres at Toronto
TORONTO -- Ryan Miller, probably the most intellectual person I know, admonished a few Toronto folks for thinking too much today.
The Sabres goaltender has 20 wins against the Leafs, 11th all time and most among active players. Martin Brodeur and Chris Osgood are second with 17 victories. A few media members in the Centre of the Hockey Universe asked Miller after the morning skate what his secret is and why he has such success against the Leafs.
"We play them more than other teams," Miller said. "You guys are getting way too deep with this."
Indeed, as members of the Northeast Division, the Sabres and Leafs have met six or eight times a season during Miller's career. Since Toronto hasn't made the playoffs since about 1980 (or so it seems), Miller should have more wins.
Speaking of winners, I went to see "Up in the Air" this afternoon in the funky Scotiabank Theatre. It was entertaining for everyone, judging by the laughter and other reactions throughout the movie, but especially for anyone who travels a lot. As for me, it was the most biographical film I've ever encountered. The only real difference is George Clooney uses Hilton instead of Marriott, has more cash and is (arguably) better looking. Go see it. It's worth it.
Back soon with the puck drop -- unless the ACC Internet crashes like last time.
FIRST PERIOD
7:13 p.m.: And we're off, with Jonas Gustavsson in net for the Leafs and a "Go, Leafs, go" chant already started.
7:17 p.m.: Leafs have taken first five shots, with an obvious plan: crowd and bump Miller. Tim Connolly gets Sabres' first attempt with 15:47 to go.
7:22 p.m.: Sabres open the scoring with 13:49 left on a goal by an unlikely source: Nathan Paetsch, who's playing forward with the absences of Thomas Vanek and Patrick Kaleta. Matt Ellis did a nice job absorbing a hit to get Paetsch the puck, and he shot it five-hole.
7:31 p.m.: And with 5:08 left, we get the first commercial break -- which usually comes at first whistle after 14:00. Lots of skating with no whistles, obviously. But back to commercials. I'm big on getting to movies on time so I can see the previews (although I only go to about one movie a year) but take your time in Canada. The first 10 minutes were commercials, then they got to previews, then they got to the movie.
7:36 p.m.: Sabres fall to 3 for 46 on the power play in the past 11-plus games. They also almost gave up a short-handed goal, but Miller bailed them out with a breakaway save on West Seneca's Lee Stempniak with 3:40 to go.
7:42 p.m.: The Paetsch-Adam Mair-Matt Ellis line almost gets its third goal of the game with 1:18 to go. As it is, it remains 1-0 Buffalo.
7:46 p.m.: The Sabres head to the dressing room with a 1-0 lead. Shots are even at 13-13, with Miller looking good and Gustavsson shaky. Shocker, eh?
SECOND PERIOD
8:09 p.m.: Once again the ACC is not A-OK. While I couldn't log on, the Leafs' Viktor Stalberg tied the game with 16:19 to go.
8:15 p.m.: We're down to 11:58 left, with the Leafs holding a 17-15 shot edge. Place is a little lively, but I'd still like to see how it is with a playoff-making team.
8:19 p.m.: Steve Montador misses a glorious chance to put the Sabres back in front with 9:59 to go. Six players plus Gustavsson are down in the crease, with puck still free at top of crease. Montador pinches, gets puck, stops and takes time to shoot -- then doesn't find the net.
8:27 p.m.: Another close call for the Sabres, this time as Tyler Myers works a give-and-go with Jason Pominville and doinks one off the post from close range with 8:25 to go.
8:34 p.m.: Tim Connolly, who took a hard hit in the Pittsburgh game, gets crunched into the boards by Luke Schenn with 4:15 to go. He is fine, but you always wonder.
8:37 p.m.: Stempniak sets up second Toronto goal, giving the Leafs a 2-1 lead with 2:40 to go. The forward streaked down the left side, waited for Ian White to reach the front of the net then fed him for a redirect.
8:40 p.m.: This time, it's the Leafs heading to the dressing rooms with a one-goal lead. They also have a 22-21 shot advantage and took over the latter stages of the period.
THIRD PERIOD
9:03 p.m.: The players have been back working, but the Internet stayed in the dressing room till now -- there is 15:50 left, no change in score.
9:13 p.m.: Leafs fans riding Miller with chant, but it's the Buffalo offense that could get catcalls this game so far (except for fourth line).
9:22 p.m.: Jochen Hecht scores with 7:01 to go, tying the game. Drew Stafford's shot was deflected to Hecht, who cruised in front and put a backhand past Gustavsson.
10:08 p.m.: With the Internet available at the bottom floor of the ACC we can now tell you Derek Roy scored with 1:25 left in overtime to give the Sabres a 3-2 win, their ninth straight over Toronto and eighth in a row in Ontario.
---John Vogl
