Buffalo Sabres: Reliving the 2007 Eastern Conference Semifinals

By Sion Fawkes | May 16, 2022

NEW YORK - MAY 6: Dmitri Kalinin #45, Dainius Zubrus #15 and Jochen Hecht #55 of the Buffalo Sabres celebrate against the New York Rangers in Game Six of the 2007 Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 6, 2007 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Sabres won 5-4 to win the series 4-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

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BUFFALO – APRIL 25: Maxim Afinogenov #61 of the Buffalo Sabres skates with the puck against the New York Rangers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2007 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 25, 2007 at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres beat the Rangers 5-2. (Photo by: Rick Stewart/Getty Images) /

April 25th, 2007

It was a defensive struggle for two of the Eastern Conference’s most talented hockey teams for over a period-and-a-half. Finally, Thomas Vanek broke through and scored at the 14:19 mark of the second period. Just two minutes later, Ales Kotalik increased the Sabres lead to two points before Vanek completed the scoring frenzy at the 18:24 mark.

The New York Rangers found twine at the 10:44 mark in the third period to decrease the deficit to two points. It was short-lived, as James Pominville scored at the 13:47 mark, all but sealing the deal for the Buffalo Sabres.

The Rangers did score at the 19:12 mark on a power play goal from Brendan Shanahan. But Drew Stafford answered with an empty-netter just 32 seconds later, finishing off the Rangers in Game One. Ryan Miller had a game to remember, notching 32 saves out of 34 shots on goal, for a 0.941 save percentage.

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