Buffalo Sabres Try To Stay Afloat Against Carolina Hurricanes

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: Geoff Burke-US PRESSWIRE

It’s do or die time. The Carolina Hurricanes come into tonights contest at the First Niagara Center playing the role of spoiler in the Eastern Conference. Their last victim, the Washington Capitals were victimized out of the crucial third point in that game, because the ‘Canes were able to cash in and take advantage of odd man rushes, breakaways, and some good luck bounces to bury the Caps.

The Sabres have fallen to many teams this year because of those same success stories. Despite losing to the Winnipeg Jets in the most important game of the road trip, the Sabres did themselves a favor by winning more than losing. Winning two points games is great, losing four point games hurts.

Only four points out of the playoffs, and only a game in hand; the Sabres are going to have to shake the exhaustion and jet lag off tonight and put the hammer down on a Carolina Hurricanes team that sits just four points behind the Buffalo Sabres.

The biggest thing I have riding on tonights game is my bet with Kristina Kelly from CardiacCane.com. Her ‘Canes have a 2-1 edge in the series, so just a Sabres win tonight doesn’t get me out of hot water. The goal differential between these two teams is 2, Carolina holds the advantage 8-6, thanks to the lone Buffalo win coming in a 1-0 shootout. If the Sabres win by two goals, its a push and we reset the wager for next season. If the Sabres win by three or more; its a win for me. Sabres win by one or lose, then its off to the races and I have to squeeze into that T-Shirt that was fitted for my tiny counterpart.

Despite the obvious tired stretch the team and Ryan Miller has, Miller will be the netminder for tonights contest. It appears that Lindy Ruff will ride Ryan Miller as much as possible. Damn the torpedoes, lets just try to win as many as possible with Ryan Miller, who cares if he is overplayed heading into the probably playoffs.

With a little bit of help last night on the out of town scoreboard, the Sabres can pull back to within two points of the Jets with a win tonight. The only other game on the schedule will start after the Sabres game, as the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Toronto Maple Leafs. So if your flipping channels, you will be rooting for the Penguins and the Sabres tonight.

Don’t forget, with points being a premium in every game, you could be at the April 3rd game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Check out the Win Tickets tab at the top of the page, and register according to the directions to win two tickets for the April 3rd contest!