Alright folks, let’s get this show on the road. Comments/participation certainly encouraged!
Click on “read more” to follow along with the Live Blog.
And you’re on the other side, folks. Puck drop soon. No Jeff Carter, No Chris Pronger.
Chatter during the National Anthem: I live in Austin, Texas. It was 92 degrees here today. Here’s an omen: Driving home from work, I pull up to a busy intersection and in the lane next to me pulls up a rather portly fella sporting a Philadelphia Flyers home jersey of Danny Briere. I gave him the good ole’ Let’s Go Buffalo honk and showed him a Sabres cap sitting in the passenger seat. He flipped me the bird. THIS WAR HAS NO BORDERS, FOLKS.
1st period
20:00 And we’re off. Ruff looks grumpy!
17:36 Ennis! Early and often. That’s how you beat Boucher, find the net from all angles. The Flyers look angry, and that can be either a great thing or a disaster, depending on how Buffalo reacts.
16:35 Stafford had a little space on the wrap around, pusher it too far. Maybe Boucher is having an off night? That’d help!
16:00 Whoa? 2-0. Boucher not sharp, two softies early. Don’t let up Blue and Gold.
12:30 Sabres have come out flying. Boucher letting up big rebounds when he’s not flat missing shots. They need to keep up this pace for a full period or more. Flyers are trying to match the physical intensity, but going out of their way to do so. Keep up the offensive pressure. Pominville could miss the net from inside the net, by the way.
11:20 Flyers penalty. Should have nearly been a penalty shot. I’m sure we’ll be hearing about it. Mike Richards?
9:00 Flyers not on the same page. Hartnell runs into Carle, great play by Leino to break up a 2 on 1.
9:00 Flyer’s strategy for the rest of the series might be to try and get a lead and then spend the rest of the game on the penalty kill, as inefficient as the Sabres powerplay is.
8:15 Philadelphia Flyers MVP Steve Montador helping them out again. Chance for Philly to get back in it with a powerplay.
6:40 The Sabres have this team where they want them. Totally in their head. Mike Richards complaining yet again. When your captain is developing the storyline for your team that the referees are such a problem, that’s a losing strategy. Very ballsy thing for Pominville to call the Flyers “not very tough” considering he is, you know, Jason Pominville, but all of this seems to be working so far.
5:10 Obvious interference penalty on Danny Briere. Let the Flyer’s have their excuses. We’ll have the second round.
4:24 After one billion passes, Grags, perhaps the best Sabre this series, makes it 3-0. Look: keep it coming. If there’s any team that can put up a bunch of goals in a hurry, it’s this Flyers team. Keep. it. coming.
4:24 Hot potato, hot potato! In comes Michael Leighton, the Flyers third goalie this series.
3:10 Pominville hurt, maybe a foot. Not good news. Bad pass by him as well.
1:00 They’re dropping like flies out there. Weber slow to get up, Leopold out, Pominville out. Prognosis on the last two yet unknown.
:00 Great period. When this team is going, it reinforces that Miller can occasionally be the best in the world. When this team is going, though, he usually doesn’t have to. Joe is stepping in for your intermission entertainment, I’ll see you in the second period.
Mind of Joe: Wow! The Flyers have gone from whiners to wieners! They truly sucked it up during the first period. How about this for a first? Two different goalies get pulled in a series after letting in one goal in their previous starts. Gees. Peter L. is treating his goalies like Lindy treats his lines. Mix them up as much as humanly possible. Maybe he can call Roman, Hextal or Martin Gerber. Anyways, you can’t just call out the Flyers for sucking, because the Sabres have been buzzing all period. You can tell, they smell blood. They are still pouring it on and are showing no signs of letting up. Really liked the puck movement on the powerplay. Also, as Matt stated, Mike Richards looks like a complete assclown. All he does is complain. He’s not playing like a captain. The Flyers look like they are wilting as we speak. BTW, I saw a replay in which Briere speared Myers in the nuts. What the hell, Philly?! They are doing more nut shots than a Jenna Jameson porno and a Ric Flair wrestling match-up.
(Back to Matthew)
WELL HELLO THERE FOLKS~!
Intermission: Your first period time on ice leader for Buffalo? Tyler Myers and by a considerable margin. I would also like to mention that Danny Briere is a game low -2 right now.
2nd period
20:00 We’re back, let’s hope the second period has as many Buffalo celebrations as the first!
19:40 Replay of the Pominville injury looks like it might be a sliced achilles, let’s hope not.
15:30 Delay of game penalty following a penalty by Gaustad, and the Sabres parade to the penalty box returns. Missing a defenseman and one of your top penalty killers, this needs to not be the case.
13:15 Miller stands tall against the power play. How long can he keep this up?
11:48 The answer is until 11:48 in the second period. Tough rebound, but what can you do? Sabres need to get the momentum back.
11:20 A bouncer from the other end of the rink clanks off the cross bar behind Ryan Miller. He’s got to be careful not to let the floodgates open here.
10:03 Comeback in full motion. 3-2. Miller might not have even see that one.
9:02 They’ve gotta chop this up a little bit, get some stoppages, slow things down. Take the crowd out of it a bit. The Flyers have adjusted their offensive strategy from trying to force things in the slot to taken advantage of Miller’s sometimes shaky play of point shots. We’ll see how this develops.
6:15 Cross checking penalty to Gragnani. This is the NHL version of a full-court press, folks. That’s what the Flyers are showing you. Thing is, you can’t sustain that over an entire game. Sabres goal? Survive the rest of the Flyers push and win this in the third period. The team has gotta stay calm.
4:00 Let’s exhale folks. Another penalty killed. Things are settling just a little bit. Gotta test Leighton in the same way that you tested Boucher. Myers has been bulled over twice. I feel like if the Sabres score next, they win 4-3. If the Flyers score next, whoever gets to 5 first wins the game.
:46 A few shots late. Can the Flyers sustain this momentum for another 20 minutes? If so, they win the game.
:00 Alright, let’s take a few deep breaths. The Sabres took themselves out of that period in part due to the return of the penalty problems. The Flyers also forced the issue by wanting it a little worse in that period. And this is what it comes down to, the team that wants it more and plays harder and better in the third period of Game 5 in a 2-2 series will likely win this game and the series.
Mind of Joe: Eh. This is nerve racking. Well, you had to know the Flyers would come back in this one. The Sabres played almost as badly as the Flyers did in the 1st period. It’s a good thing that the PK, next to Ryan Miller, have been the Sabres MVP of this series. We really need to get scoring chances against The Great Michael Leighton. Hell, he’s played over 25 minutes and I have no clue if he still sucks or not. Can you believe that he’s only played 1..count them..ONE NHL game this year?! This is the same goalie who led your team to the Stanley Cup Finals. Crazy. Anyways, the Sabres need to get another goal. I don’t think they can hold onto a 3-2 lead. The Flyers just look really hungry right now. We need an insurance goal like an All State Agent needs to make rent off one commission (Yes, very lame joke). I have to agree with Matt, whoever wins this game, will likely win the series. The game is going to be real draining to whoever ends up losing this game. Both teams are laying it on the line.
3rd Period
20:00 Alright, Matthew here, we’re back ladies and gents. Win the period, win the game. That simple.
18:00 Passing has gotten a lot crisper for the Flyers. Another big rebound by Miller. Everybody needs to settle.
16:24 Broken play behind the net. Too soft on the take by Chris Butler — he’s got to be sure of it, and it’s a sure goal. We’ve got an even game, but the Flyers have the momentum, and begin to bite your nails folks.
15:00 Sabres, 10-9 in non Shootout Overtime games this year, Philadelphia 3-5.
13:13 Great forecheck and drop by Gerbe, excellent chance by Stafford. Gerbe might be the hardest working player in hockey.
12:24 Flyers penalty. The Sabres powerplay continues to be abominable. Now is the time for some magic, if ever.
10:24 Flyers kill it off and we’re back to even hockey. Brian Engblom who is suddenly unable to let a shot occur without a 30 second comment on it manages to also mention that the Flyers bench is protesting for penalty calls drastically now. I would expect to see a Sabres penalty kill, or two more before the end of regulation.
7:57 Lots of ice time for Ennis, so I’m assuming Ruff is happy with him. I can’t decide if he’s the best player ever (says Forslund, Engblom) or the worst player ever (says Twitter). I don’t feel like this game will go to overtime, for whatever reason. I don’t know if that’s a good thing.
5:57 Unusual amount of icing calls for the Sabres. Are they tired? Probably so. Meszaros is having a game for himself. Probably the best defensive game for any player on either team this series.
4:30 Two compliments on the Flyers — they probably have the best entry amongst their forwards of any team in the league. Just so smooth every time. Additionally, the van Riemsdyk/Giroux line has been the best in this series and its not particularly close. I am going to go out on a limb and say that if the Flyers score, it comes from one of those two.
2:22 Tough rebound from Miller and then a ridiculous save in recovery to save the season for the moment.
2:22 Sabres to the penalty kill. This has disaster scribbled on it.
1:13 Laviolette calls the timeout. Flyers look very good on the Power Play here. I hate to say it, but I’d be shocked if Buffalo gets this to the extra set.
1:03 Outstanding save by Miller. Longest minute there has ever been.
:00 Overtime in a great game. I was wrong about it not making it to overtime. I’ll take the Flyers. Let’s hope I’m wrong about that, too.
Mind of Joe: UGH!!!! I hate OT hockey. Sorry, but unless you are watching other teams play, I don’t find it to be all that much fun when your team is involved. Too nerve racking! Anyways, just pray, kids. It’s Easter weekend, miracles can happen. Work with me if you aren’t catholics, damn it! Anyways, the Flyers were better in that period and I’m not sure how much longer we can hold on. Yes, to quote George Lucas’ favorite Star Wars line, “I have a bad feeling about this.” BTW, the Sabres have lost their last three playoff games that have gone to OT. Yes, I am scared! Please, lets do this! It’s either going be Grier or Briere with the winner.
1st OT
20:00 Alright folks, here we go. The most exciting scenario in professional sports. Overtime hockey. I’ve got Vanek and van Riemsdyk. I think the Flyers take it though.
18:54 Every time down the ice we lose our breath, that’s overtime hockey. This game is going to end as the result of a bad pass by one team or another.
16:09 Montador whiffs and it’s almost the game. He’s a disaster.
FIN: Tyler Ennis! There it is. Oh my. Great to be wrong . 🙂
Mind of Joe: I looooooooooooooove OT Hockey. It’s the best thing ever! Awesome game! Awesome victory! Give it up to Ennis. He was our best forward tonight and was all over the ice and was agressive. I don’t know why people were hating him on twitter. I think people have Max on the brain with him. It’s like comparing Von Miller to Aaron Maybin. They need to stop that crap! Biggest difference: Ennis will get dirty and goto the net, while Max only did his stupid curl. Great win! Lets close this bad boy out on Sunday. You gotta wonder who the hell the Flyers are going to start in goal? Sorry, but I’m glad we don’t have that problem. Go Sabres!
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