Playoff Push: March 20th

Eastern Conference Standings - March 20
(Sabres.com)

A visit to the Tampa Bay Times Forum, seven goals and a chicken wing tie were hopefully the confidence boosters this Sabres team needed as they push for the playoffs.

With a three point night from Drew Stafford and a pair of goals from Jason Pominville and Marcus Foligno, the Buffalo Sabres cruised to a 7-3 victory last night in Tampa Bay.  Brad Boyes and Corey Tropp also found the back of the net for the Sabres.  Scoring two on the power play, the Sabres had a multiple PPG game for the first time since the day after Christmas.

"We were able to capitalize on a couple of rushes and made some good plays on our power play," captain Pominville said.  "When they have to change their game plan and open the game up, I think it falls into our style of play.  We've got guys that have speed and can make you pay, and we did.  Getting closer to where we want to be is fun.  That's what it's all about, so we'll try to keep climbing, and we're slowly getting to where we want to be."

Ryan Miller made 24 saves on 27 shots in net for the Sabres.  "I just think we played the right kind of game to exploit a little bit of their system," Miller said.  "They were down in the game.  They felt they probably had to push, and we got more goals because of it."

Make the jump to read how odds were impacted and more...

Buffalo Sabres defeat Tampa Bay Lightning in regulation (+4.8%).  The Sabres are 4-1-2 over their last seven games and remain two points behind Washington for eighth place in the Eastern Conference.  Each team has nine games remaining.

Washington Capitals defeat Detroit Red Wings in regulation (-3.6%).  Scoring on two of their first three shots, the Capitals jumped on the Red Wings early and took a 3-0 lead into the first intermission. Alex Ovechkin scored twice in the first, both on the power play.  Detroit would score three of their own bringing the game to a 4-3 score, but a last minute Capitals goal secured the 5-3 win.  Washington remains in eighth place, two points ahead of Buffalo and four ahead of Winnipeg.

Boston Bruins defeat Toronto Maple Leafs in regulation (+0.2%).  The score speaks for itself.  8-0.  The Bruins completed a six-game sweep of the season series behind two goals from Benoit Pouliot, a goal and three assists from Brian Rolston and the fifth shutout of the season for Tim Thomas.  They were so dominant that after two periods they had as many goals, seven, as the Maple Leafs had shots.  "I have never really seen anything like that (domination)," Maple Leafs goalie James Reimer said.  "I'm not sure why one team has an advantage."  I agree with you James.  I did my best to get #RakeTheLeafs and #golfcourse trending on Twitter.

After last night's action, playoff odds have increased 2.5 to 15.5%.  Tonight features three games that will have a minimal effect on the Sabres' playoff odds, and we are Penguin fans.  Game outcomes will impact odds as follows:

Winnipeg Jets at Pittsburgh Penguins

PIT - Reg Win (+1.3%)

PIT - OT Win (-0.2%)

PIT - SO Win (-0.2%)

WPG - Reg Win (-2.0%)

WPG - OT Win (-2.0%)

WPG - SO Win (-2.0%)

New Jersey Devils at Ottawa Senators

OTT - Reg Win (-0.4%)

OTT - OT Win (-0.5%)

OTT - SO Win (-0.5%)

NJ - Reg Win (+0.8%)

NJ - OT Win (0.0%)

NJ - SO Win (0.0%)

Florida Panthers at Philadelphia Flyers

PHI - Reg Win (+0.4%)

PHI - OT Win (-0.1%)

PHI - SO Win (-0.1%)

FLA - Reg Win (-0.5%)

FLA - OT Win (-0.5%)

FLA - SO Win (-0.4%)

Tyler Myers has served his final game of a three-game suspension.  The Sabres went 1-0-2 without him.  He will return tomorrow night when the Montreal Canadiens visit the First Niagara Center.