Sabres Playoffs 2010

Stats Of The Series

Sabres Power Play (10th in NHL during regular season): 0 for 19

Boston At Home (18-17 during regular season): 3-0

Goaltending Match-Up (Similar during regular season): Rask 2.25 GAA vs. Miller 2.38

Wild Third Period Ends Great Series

Fittingly, these two teams battled to the very end with each team scoring a pair of goals.

The Buffalo News best describes the emotions in its live blog:

12:42 left: That might be it as the Bruins go up by two on a Krejci tap-in after Lucic simply works over Roy after getting the puck from Myers. 3-1, Boston.

12:20 left: Hold everything. Gerbe gets that one RIGHT BACK on a horrible giveaway from Ryder, who handed the puck right to Gerbe in the slot. 3-2, Boston. His first playoff goal.

5:11 left:  That might it be this time as Satan taps one into an empty net a few seconds after Miller robbed him. It all started after Montador blew a tire behind the net like he did in overtime in that February loss in Carolina. Ugly. 4-2, Boston.

1:13 left: Hold everything II — Vanek puts one home with a one-timer to Rask’s right on a Pominville feed.  4-3, Boston. Think he would have made a difference? MVP in this series was Johnny Appleseed, er, Boychuk for cutting down Vanek in Game Two.

GAME OVER/SEASON OVER: Bruins hold on for 4-3 win. Final shots were 32-30 for Boston.

Stafford Scratched For Game 6

Drew Stafford will sit to make room for Thomas Vanek’s return, the Buffalo News reports. Good move, as he has been really struggling lately.

JUST IN: Vanek Will Play Tonight In Boston

The verdict on Thomas Vanek?

“All indications point to him playing,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff told the Buffalo News before the Sabres’ morning skate today.

The last several days have been an emotional rollercoaster for Thomas. He actually scored the first goal of the series less than five minutes in, but then suffered an injury in Game 2 that sent the Sabres in a freefall, dropping that game and the next two in Boston.

Vanek did get some good news shortly after he sustained the injury — no bone breaks or serious damage — but the Sabres still struggled. Hopefully, his return tonight gives them a boost of energy and some much-needed power play help in hostile Boston.

Will Vanek Play In Game 6? It’s Up To Him

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff has left the decision with leading scorer Thomas Vanek to determine whether his sore left ankle is strong enough to play in Game 6 of the team’s first-round playoff series at Boston on Monday.

“He’s close now. It’s his decision whether he can play or not,” Ruff said Sunday after Vanek took part in his second straight day of practice after missing the past three games. “If he knocks on my door tomorrow and says, ‘I’m ready,’ he’s playing.”

-Canadian Press/The Hockey News

Sabres Fill Up ‘Hope Tank’

“I think the hope tank just got filled up again, which is to be expected after playing like that. We hope that our tank, our hope tank went up and we’re hoping with playing like that we could, you know, raise the level of the doubt tank on the other side.”

-Sabres Head Coach Lindy Ruff

Miller Time And A Block Party

Ryan Miller earned his first-star status in the Sabres’ 4-1 win tonight in Game 5.

Miller made 34 saves, including a key stop on a breakaway early in the first period. But also worth noting: the Sabres blocked 26 shots!

These included diving blocks from forwards Pat Kaleta, Derek Roy, and Mike Grier (off the side of his head). Now that’s desperation! It all added up to a well-deserved team win.

Photo Credit: Mark Mulville / Buffalo News