Jason Pominville powers Buffalo Sabres past Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 -NHL Update
Buffalo just got closer to securing a playoff spot after their mid-season slump as Jason Pominville made the overtime game-winner, powering Sabres past Carolina Hurricanes, 3-2, Wednesday night, March 7, 2012, at the sold-out First Niagara Center in Buffalo,
New York.
Sabres are now just one game away from tying eighth place Winnipeg Jets for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference along with Washington Capitals, who sit at number nine with 70 points.
"It's nice to have a chance at it," said Buffalo’s veteran goalie, Ryan Miller."We just have to be excited for this opportunity. There's a lot of hockey left to be played."
The key to securing a victory was taking as many shots as possible for Buffalo. They had 42 shots on Carolina goalie, Cam Ward, who luckily blocked 39 but the overtime goal cost them the match despite a tough defensive push.
Miller on the other hand, only faced 24 shots and fell short on just two.
The Buffalo defence kept Hurricanes out totally in the five minute extension as Carolina did not have a single attempt in OT and Sabres took two for the win.
Carolina is number 14 with 65 points, far away from the postseason but determined to win.
"Our guys, you can tell by the way we're playing, we believe we can battle every night and keep picking up points," Carolina coach, Kirk Muller, said. "We're scratching and clawing for every point."
Power plays played their part in the Buffalo victory as Carolina have seven opportunities out which Sabres capitalised on two including the overtime game-winner.
"Those penalties, we've got to be a little more smarter about that," Carolina’s Jaroslav Spacek said. "We didn't play a patient game in the end. A couple of penalties in the third period and it probably cost us the game."
Jaroslav Spacek opened the scoring at 2:47 in the first period followed by two straight from Buffalo’s Tyler Myers and Thomas Vanek in the initial minute of the second and Hurricanes’ Chad LaRose to close it off in regulation.
Buffalo has the next in Boston against the Bruins on Thursday, which just might go in favour of the Sabres.
Carolina is set to take on the struggling Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday as the Hurricanes will definitely be looking to comeback.
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