Tyler Myers ignited Buffalo's third period comeback 2 minutes into the third period. He tied the game at 2 by back-handing in a rebound past Khudobin, right after the Bruins goalie made the save on Jochen Hecht on a nice 2-on-1 breakaway with Nathan Gerbe.
Myers has worn the goat horns plenty in Buffalo in the first fourteen games. He's been jeered by the fans for his inconsistent play in all three zones. His coach sent him to the press box vs. NYI and BOS as a means to get the big man's head back in the game.
On Friday night, be broke out of his slump and channeled his vintage 200 foot dominance on his third period goal. Gerbe and Hecht created the opportunity, Khudobin turned the shot away, then Myers hammered it home because he was skating 200 mph to the Bruins net with his stick down, looking for loose change.
He got paid. Handsomely.
" I think you saw in games earlier this year that I would try and do that at the wrong time, and it would get me in trouble. I think especially the last two games that I'm starting to make better decisions on when to jump and when not to. Its just s matter of balancing it"
When I coached hockey, I called it the 100% rule. You better be 100% sure before you commit to a pinch. Myers was 100% sure on Friday night.
"Exactly, its something that I've been battling since the first game this year. Its definitely getting better and there's still some progress to be made bnut I'm starting to make better decisions"
Credit Drew Stafford for keeping his stiff upper lip during his fourteen game goal scoring drought. A youner player would have silked and pouted amid such an challenging encounter. Stafford entered Friday night's game against Boston with the dubious distiction for having 40 shots on goal with a score. That stat placed him #1 overall in the NHL in terms of top shotter with zero to show for it. After practice on Thursday, Stafford said that he prefers to take the high road and not get too down on himself because he wears an "A" on his sweater, and that there's nothing worse in a locker room than a guy who's feeling sorry for himself because of his own offensive shortcomings. Stafford a one one 31 goal scorer knows that the game of hockey reveals a man's true character.
In the first period against Boston, Stafford dumped his slump with a beauty goal. One to call his very own. Hard work and a positive attitude has served Stafford well.
After the game, Stafford wanted no part of talking about his goal.
"Thats something that I've been working for. Finally its nice to get rewarded. Hopefully flood gates", he said.
His true joy was that the Sabres had shaken off a crappay second period to rally for a third period come-from-behind win.
" That was a character win for us against a team like that. It feels good to beat them (Bruins) and its definitely a statement by us to be able to come back. I think in the third period we were by far the better team".
The Sabres entered the third period trailing by a goal after they mailed in the effort in period two. Stafford said that during the intermission the message was simple: Get your heads back in the game.
"Nothing different. We've been saying that its just a natter of going out and doing it. Its one thing if you are saying the right thing. You have to go out and do it. I think we definitely executed in the third and we were by far the better team".
Were the abres angry as they sit in the room during the second period?
"I think we are always angry the way the losses have been piling up, so we needed a big one. It makes it that much sweeter than we came back, in a character to win for us agaisnt one of the best teams in the league".
Stafford has been a streaky scorer in his NHL career in Buffalo. Now that he has one gola, it would not surprise me at all if he goes on a 19 goals in 15 games tear.
For Stafford and Myers, confidence is everything.
Both guys were smiling and enjoying the moment in the winning locker room. Its been a while since they could say that they were happy with their own offensive performance.
Bruins outshoot Sabres 17-6, now lead 29-16 after 40. Ryan Miller will have to make 40+ saves tonight if this team is going to snap its two game losing streak.
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Myers, Sekera, Ehrhoff and Sulzer are using every inch of their D zonc to commit ghastly, soft turnovers and giveaways. Ive lost track at the actual number.
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2-1 Bruins:
Rich Peverley gets a Valentines gift when a Hamilton point shot karoms off the zamboni door/wall, then reverse spins it s way onto Rich Peverley's stick as he was camped out all alone in the slot.
Sabres out hit Bruins 13-3; Sabres with 8 takeaways to Bruins 3; 7 blocks for Sabres, 3 for Bruins
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1-1
Niagara Ice Dogs alum, Dougie Hamilton, potted a PPG for all of his friends and family to see.
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1-0 Sabres
Tyler Ennis stripped Ference then found Drew Stafford all alone in the slot for the biggest goal that Stafford has scored in his six year Sabres career. Thus ends the 14 game goal-less streak.
In a surprise move, Lindy Ruff is healthy scratching robust, burly D Mike Weber.
Cody McCormick and TJ Brennan will also sit this one out.
Why is Lindy compromising the grit and tenacity of his lineup by sitting a guy who has arguably been his best D man for the past two weeks in Weber?
Weber's +/- is even, which means he is not on the ice when the enemy scores 5 on 5 goals.
He plays the basic, fundamentally sound game that Lindy is preaching.
Leopold has been an absolute train wreck at times and yet he satys in the lineup, even after Tyler Myers was benched. Leopold is not worthy of a night in Suite 150?
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