yeah yeah miller was outstanding, and that's an understatment
he's the best goalie left in the playoffs.
sabres now hold home ice.
7 wins...
my pucks and schmucks for game 1 (really only buffalo players since that's all I focused on):
PUCKS
Chris Drury: He truly is a hockey god. Like some sort of savant, just has the knack for making the plays at the critical junctures you need to win big games. The backchecking shot block with the stick when Miller was down and out was huge, and his block + clear to salt the game as well.
Jochen Hecht: Amazingly underrated player. Makes every other Sabre on the ice better. I mean, his pass turned McKee into Danny Gare for 3 seconds.
Jason Pominville: Made the key passes leading to the first 2 Buffalo goals.
Ryan Miller: Dominator who? Someone call a cop, he stole Game 1.
Henrik Tallinder: Is there any doubt he's our #1 guy? If he played like this all year, he'd get Norris Trophy consideration (good) and Noris Trophy salary consideration (bad).
SCHMUCKS
Rory Fitzpatrick. f***in Swinging Gate #8. He was taking the puck in open ice with no pressure at all and finding ways to cough it up. He was brutal. Somehow got a excuse-me assist on McKee's goal but had just about nothing to do with it; he was off the ice when it was scored. Campbell can play top-5 minutes when paired with a competent NHL defenseman, but he can't play defense for two like Teppo can.
Cory Stillman: Had the tying goal on his stick and gagged it 4 feet wide.
J.P. Dumont: Speaking of gagged... had two glorious scoring opportunities. At least he didn't hurt the team when he was out there by taking dumb penalties.
Toni Lydman: Return of the hand-grenade man; his worst defensive outing since Game 1 vs Philly. Good thing he's paired with Da Man. When he's not, he really suffers (see the pairing with Campbell on the Carolina shortie).