Buffalo Sabres sink the Islanders on Ryan Miller Night
By Sion Fawkes
The Buffalo Sabres lost in heartbreaking fashion just 48 hours ago. On Ryan Miller Night, they won in comeback fashion over the Islanders.
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen channeled his inner Ryan Miller in Thursday night’s big win over the New York Islanders. In the game’s closing seconds, Luukkonen made what may have been the save of the game against a two-on-one, but that wasn’t his only highlight reel moment.
Earlier in the contest, he saved a breakaway shot attempt that likely would have put the game out of reach. There were at least two big saves made where he jammed his skate into the post just in time to keep the puck out of the net. Overall, the young goaltender is the key reason the Blue and Gold won this contest.
But he wasn’t the only reason they won. The Sabres, for once in the past two weeks minus their big win over Nashville last Saturday, looked alive on offense. Sure, they only scored two goals in regulation, but they constantly found open lanes and made Ilya Sorokin work all evening.
Buffalo Sabres win big on Ryan Miller Night
What really impressed me in this one was the way they adjusted to the Islanders no-frills approach. This is a team that loves to play a physical game, knock you down, then try for quick scores.
And as mentioned earlier, Luukkonen saw plenty of those quick scoring attempts. But he only allowed two past him.
All game long, the Sabres went to work in the offensive zone. They constantly moved the puck and slowed down the physical Islanders, who logged 24 hits and 28 blocks tonight.
Overall, it was a sound performance from the Sabres, who needed to defeat the Islanders perhaps more than anyone else this week to inch ever so closer to that second wild card spot. The win put the Sabres four points behind the Islanders and by extension, the Pittsburgh Penguins, both of whom currently have 51 points and are tied for the second wild card.
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They are also seven points behind the Washington Capitals, who hold the first wild card spot. The Sabres take the ice again in a matinee against the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday. Another win could put them in even closer striking distance.
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