Thomas Vanek may have gotten his mojo back and it couldn’t have come at a better time as far as Sabes fans are concerned. On the day his wife gave birth to twins Vanek pocketed two goals one of them an absolute beauty in overtime. This was Buffalo’s 1st win at home this season and they now have points in four straight games.
The Sabres fell behind in the first period. Karl Alzner benifited from a broken play as MYers blew a tire behind the net. a ripped a lazer home to put the visitors up by one. It was the 1st goal of Alzner’s young career.
The Sabres responded With a goal from defenseman Steve Montador who continued his strong play on the season. He grabbed a Leopold pass and fired a rocket off the post and into the net.
Buffalo then captured the lead with Thomas Vanek’s 1st goal in the last eight games. Camped in front of the net, he finally got a positive part and he but the biscuit in the basket for his 1st of the night.
Niklas Backstorm scored in the 3rd to knot the game at two, Taking a pass at the top of the circle and wiring it into the top corner. He was assisted on the play by Chimera and Semin.
It was overtime when the Sabre finally finished the Caps with a beautiful goal by Thomas Vanek, his second of the night. Carrying the puck into the zone on a broken play he deked John Carlsson out of his breezers. He then dodged the poke check of the goaltener Braden Holtby and buried it much to the delight of the crowd at HSBC arena.
Ryan Miller made 23 saves in his return with several very nice stops. His best of the night came against Alexander the Great, breaking in alone. Holtby be stopped 24 of 27 for his 1st career loss.
Some other thoughts from the game: Alex Ovechkin didn’t record a point on the night and was a -1. That breaks an eight game point streak. Jordan Leopold assisted on each of the Sabres goals. Before the game the NHL celebrated Mike Grier’s 1000th game.
Buffalo will face Vancouver on Monday, followed by a visit to Washington Wednesday night.