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Marcus Foligno made a strong case last night to be the recipient of the game puck from the staff here at Sabrenoise.com.  He was a force for the Bufalo Sabres last night, drawing penalties, getting goals, and leading the team by example.

This is the type of play that the Buffalo Sabres have desperately needed and expected from number 82 after his breakout season last year with the Blue and Gold, and his continued excellent performance with the Rochester Americans to start the season during the lockout.

It was Foligno’s best game of the season, according to CC.  Hopefully it will be the spark the young forward needs to get things moving this season – althought it could be too late to help the team.  Caitlin sees the potential in Marcus Foligno to be a good power forward in this league, but has only recently started to use his size and skill as an advantage over his opponents.

There was some other second place votes for Foligno amongst the staff here, but the game puck award ultimately goes to backup goaltender Jhonas Enroth – who was starting to spell Ryan Miller because of a sinus infection.

Rich Spaulding sums up Enroth’s start the best - he deserved the win in New Jersey before being carted off due to caffeine cramps.  Maybe his play in the New Jersey game built his confidence up enough – because last night heearnedthe win against the New York Rangers.

If his confidence is returned, which only future starts will tell, is it enough to keep Ryan Miller healthy enough for a playoff run – or is it enough to give the organization the push to deal Ryan Miller before losing him to free agency.  While Enroth is not starting goaltender material – he could be the single season stop gap that the team needs to get a serious contender in the net behind whatever team they are able to assemble.

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Caitlin goes on to say that her vote was swayed by the fact that Enroth faced thirty plus shots – and was able to outduel Henrik Lundqvist – a task not easily done.

If you listened to the coaches at the end of the game, they painted vastly different stories – interim Buffalo Sabres head coach Ron Rolston told the media that his team was starting to play better, and that tonight they pitched in a solid 60 minutes.

New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella told the media following the game that his team sucked tonight, and that they needed to be better if they wanted to hold their position in the standings.

Was Jhonas Enroth the benefit of playing a team that sucked?  Maybe.  Is that sometimes what a team needs to get their legs underneath them and get some confidence, sure.

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Despite being out shot by their opponents yet again by a drastic margin – the Buffalo Sabres were able to hold and and defeat the New York Rangers by a score of 3-1.

Marcus Foligno scored two goals – and Thomas Vanek put in one on the breakaway and the Sabres stopped the bleeding temporarily and kept some distance between the last place team and themselves.

The game didn’t start out pretty, as the New York Rangers got on the board first with a short handed goal.  Derek Stepan was able to get one past Jhonas Enroth in the dying seconds of the Darroll Powe tripping penalty.

If mental toughness is what the Buffalo Sabres are lacking this year, then they showed up big with a good dose of it tonight.  Despite letting in another short handed goal – just over one minute later, Marcus Foligno scores a between the legs backhanded goal to tie the game up at 1.    He collected the puck off the back boards and – unable to do much of anything else, with some fancy stick work slid the puck into the opening of the net to tie the game.

What didn’t help the Buffalo Sabres tonight – the fact that their miserable powerplay continues to frustrate fans – the New York Rangers took six penalties tonight – and the team was unable to convert on any of them.  If you count the short handed goal, they were -1 for 6 on the power play.

Buffalo was able to stay out of the box tonight though.  I have to admit, I got a little gunshy when Jochen Hecht took the holding penalty in the third period.  I for sure thought the New York Rangers were going to net one on their only powerplay – and then have plenty of time to send the game into overtime.

For any fan looking for the Buffalo Sabres to make a run at the playoffs, the starting line is right here.  You just stopped the eighth place team from picking up a point, and you got yourself two points.  The Rangers are now just five points ahead of the Sabres – but the blue shirts have two games in hand.

Buffalo is actually at a disadvantage when it comes to games played, as only them and the Philadelphia Flyers have played 27 games.  There are now three teams between the Buffalo Sabres and the bottom of the barrel.  The Carolina Hurricanes shutout the Washington Capitals – and Tampa Bay has a one goal lead on the Florida Panthers.  If Florida can sneak a win out of their interstate rival – they will jump out of last place.  Washington, the Tampa Bay Lightning both have 21 points, Florida only 20.

Tonight’s win for the Buffalo Sabres was only their tenth win of the season.  The Florida Panthers, Edmonton Oilers, and Calgary Flames are the only remaining teams under double digits.

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Another instance where the Buffalo Sabres are not going to get a call.  Jordan Leopold was pushed into the boards – only slightly different than how Patrick Kaleta took out Brad Richards just a few nights ago – and there was no call on the play.

While it was only a push – it was in the numbers – and could have been avoided.

Buffalo now has three days off – before an afternoon affair with the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.