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, NY – APRIL 27: Thomas Vanek #26 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the New York Rangers during Game 2 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Semifinals on April 27, 2007 at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres defeated the Rangers 3-2. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) /

April 27th, 2007

Power plays defined this contest two days later. Martin Straka of the Rangers struck first on a power play goal at the 10:08 mark of the first period. But Brian Campbell scored on a power play goal of his own just 50 seconds later to knot the game at one.

It remained a defensive struggle throughout the second period before New York’s Paul Mara scored at the 18:40 mark, giving the Rangers a 2-1 lead. Chris Drury scored early in the third period, which tied the game at two-all. And finally, Thomas Vanek gave the Sabres the lead at the 10:11 mark.

Stellar goaltending from Ryan Miller shut out the Rangers in the third period, allowing the Buffalo Sabres to take Game Two. Miller finished the evening saving 31 out of 33 shots on goal for a 0.939 save percentage, posting similar numbers to Game One.

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