Article Written By: Adam Wible
The NHL returned to its regular season schedule Wednesday. They brought excitement that USA hockey lacked during the last week of the Olympics.
A couple of high scoring games, countered by low scoring affairs had one thing in common, every game was close. Out of the four games all but one was a one goal game.
The action packed night started in Buffalo as the Sabres hosted the Bruins. In a battle of the backup goalies, they let quite a few pucks into the net.
Buffalo broke open the scoring as Latvian Olympian, Zemgus Girgensons, connected on a pass from Bryan Flynn right in front of B’s goalie Chad Johnson. Bruins Chris Kelly tied the score at one half way through the first period.
Buffalo would be the first to score again in the second period. Tyler Myers found the net with a wrist shot on the power play. Bryan Flynn would score two minutes later to give the Sabres a 3-1 lead half way through the second period.
Instead of calling it a night in Buffalo, the B’s responded as Zedeno Chara found his goal on the power play. Shortly after, Brad Marchand beat Jhonas Enroth late in the period to bring them tied heading into the third.
Things would get interesting in the third period. Sabres forward, Matt Moulson, put his team in a hole, drawing a double minor for high sticking half way through the period. Milan Lucic fired a slap shot on the ensuing power play past Enroth to tie the game at three.
“When things like that happen, [Moulson] didn’t really mean to do it, it was unfortunate,” Sabres coach Ted Nolan said. “I’m quite sure he felt bad they had the go-ahead goal, but I’m quite sure he’s very happy he got the equalizer.”
In a strange series of events in the final minute, Moulson redeemed himself. Matt Moulson tied the game with 53 seconds left in the third period, with his 16th goal of the season. Moulson pounced on a rebound off a Zemgus Girgensons shot, and slipped the puck underneath Johnson.
“It was a bit of a lucky bounce,” Moulson said. “I was actually trying to get it to [Drew Stafford] and it hit one of their guys’ skates, came right back to me and off the post, off the goalie and in. I felt a little bad for taking that penalty in the end and them getting a goal. It’s good to get that one tied up and get the win for [Jhonas Enroth].”
It didn’t take long for the Sabres to win it in overtime. Matt D’Agostini would steal a pass and slip by the big Chara, before beating Johnson on a backhand breakaway.
“Once I saw the puck go out, I could tell [Chara] didn’t know I’d be coming up from behind him,” D’Agostini said. “I think he just thought he had time to go back and retrieve the puck. I kind of just snuck up behind him. I heard their bench screaming. I tried a little sneak attack on him in there, so it was good that I got by him and snuck it through the pad.”
Jhonas Enroth picked up his second win of the season.
“I guess it hasn’t been a good season for anyone in here, I think,” Enroth said. “But, finally we start getting some luck and getting some bounces. It feels nice to win finally.”
The other overtime game took place north of the border. As the Detroit Red Wings, traveled to Montreal.
In a possession filled game, Tod Bertuzzi was able to break the scoring open on the power play 14 minutes into the first, for the Red Wings.
Jimmy Howard looked superb in his return to action following the Olympic break. Making saves left and right, Howard had a shut out going into the final minute of the game. Brian Gionta beat Howard with a backhand shot, just seconds left in regulation.
Habs goalie and Slovak Olympian Peter Budaj did all he good keeping Montreal in the game. Replacing an injured Carey Price, Budaj did his best to get his team a point heading into overtime.
It would take the majority of overtime before,Gustav Nyquist beat Budaj for the win.
“I thought we played good and even in the final minute,” Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “It was a tight game. I wish we shot the puck a little more. But other than that, it was two teams checking really hard, and there wasn’t a lot of room out there. I just think we played well. We played with good structure.
“It’s well documented that Mule (Franzen) hasn’t played in a long time, Pav has been injured, and then Bert hasn’t played in a while. So that line right there, as good as players as they are, hasn’t got a lot of tempo in their game as of yet, but they’ll get it.”
The Red Wings (27-20-12) hold a three-point lead for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
The race for the final spot in the east is heating up.
Picks for tonight
Blackhawks (4-2), Penguins (3-1), Capitals (3-2), Stars (2-1)
Upset pick
Flyers (3-2 OT)
Cage of the Day
Check out a preview of my Stadium Series helmet by Stephane Bergeron pic.twitter.com/r1tLMd7mFM
— Corey Crawford (@crow_50) February 23, 2014
Boom! There ya go pic.twitter.com/mCOJBWCrv2
— Corey Crawford (@crow_50) February 27, 2014
Corey Crawford, gave us a peek at his Stadium Series gear, for Saturday Nights show down against Pittsburgh.
