Final Week of Season Begins

Marc-Andre Gragnani reacts after his game-winning goal Sunday.
(AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

The Buffalo Sabres emerged from another busy weekend in a positive manner by taking three out of a possible four points on their short road trip.  They did it without star goaltender Ryan Miller who did not travel with the team after injuring his upper body.  Jhonas Enroth, or should we call him the overtime specialist, held his own making 65 saves on 71 shots through both overtime games this weekend.  Seven of his eleven games he has started this season have gone to overtime where he has won five, three being won in the shootout.   Enroth is now 7-2-2 on the season.  Following his 2-0-1 week, Enroth has been awarded as the NHL's "Third Star of the Week".  I think with the type of injury Miller has right now, he may have played through it in the past.  But with the emergence of Enroth's great play at a clutch time; I would have to agree with the Sabres on giving Miller some rest.  Why not give the international star net-minder a rest and give the youngster some playing time, especially when he is hot?  If the Sabres are going to make a long run into the post-season, they are going to have to do it with two goalies, just as the Philadelphia Flyers did this time last season.  This is a great time to get both our goaltenders some playing time and allow them to become acquainted with the players.  Earlier today it was announced that Miller has taken the first step in recovering from his injury by taking part in a light workout.  Enroth will get the start this Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning and maybe Friday as well, but we could see Miller back by the season finale Saturday in Columbus.

This past Saturday's game in Washington saw the Sabres fall behind by an early two goals.  But goals by Thomas Vanek and Drew Stafford would bring things back to a tie.  The teams traded goals the rest of the way but Washington's last minute goal sent the game to overtime.  Three minutes into the extra period, Alex Ovechkin's shot found the back of the net with the help of a lucky deflection.  "We could have had two points, but this time of year we'll take this point and try to get two tomorrow" said Thomas Vanek following Saturday's game.  The Sabres would do exactly that with their very hard-hitting playoff-like overtime win in Carolina.  Chris Butler's first goal of the season gave the Sabres the lead halfway through the first period.  Carolina would tie it in the second with an unusual goal that flipped over top of Enroth.  But it was Marc-Andre Gragnani, pictured left, who would net the game-winner in overtime.  Gragnani was the first Buffalo Sabre ever to record his first career goal as a game-winner.  He really could not have timed his first goal any better saying it was "a lucky break on the goal, but we'll take it."  Despite allowing two power play goals in Washington, the Sabres killed all six penalties in Carolina.

Although not much help was received from other teams around the league this weekend, the Sabres are back in seventh place in the Eastern Conference.  Playoff odds are up 12.8 to a new season high 94.9%.  Four points separate 6th-9th places in the East as we enter the final week of the season.  The end is in sight for Buffalo who only needs four points to clinch.  A Carolina loss would make things easier.  Buffalo trails the sixth place Montreal Canadiens by one point with three games remaining for each team.  Drew Stafford tallied four points over the weekend bringing him to his first 50 point season in his five year NHL career.  The Sabres' next game is tomorrow night at HSBC Arena when the Tampa Bay Lightning will visit for a 7:00pm EDT face-off.