[Hockey News]

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -With the Buffalo Sabres facing renewed criticism after their latest sub-par playoff performance, goalie Ryan Miller shrugged his shoulders and offered some perspective.

"The sky hasn't fallen in yet, has it?" Miller said after practice Friday. "It wouldn't be the Sabres if we didn't do it the hard way."

For a team whose lone objective when the season began was winning the Stanley Cup, the Sabres sure haven't made things look easy.

After playing inconsistently in their first two playoff rounds, the Sabres find themselves down for the first time this postseason after being outplayed Thursday in a 5-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Besides giving up three third-period goals - half of the total they allowed in the final period during six games against the New York Rangers in the last round - and committing 19 turnovers, the NHL's most potent offense managed a meager 20 shots on net.

No secret the Sabres have to find their swagger if they want to rebound when they host Game 2 on Saturday.

"It's one game," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "I know it's tough. It doesn't sit well with anybody. ... We haven't reacted with a lot of moxie. But we've been able to bounce back."

The Sabres are accustomed to dealing with adversity. They led the league with 53 regular-season wins despite at one point missing seven players to injuries. And then there was last postseason, when Buffalo overcame the loss of five regulars to come within a win of reaching the Stanley Cup finals.

"We've risen to a lot of challenges along the way," co-captain Chris Drury said. "I think guys understand what tomorrow means."

Sabres confident they'll bounce back against Senators

[ThePundit]

3:27AM, Lefty? A little insomnia or just a long night out?

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

3:27AM, Lefty? A little insomnia or just a long night out?

Neither... the newsbot thread came though. I didn't edit it till about 6 or 6:30 this morning.

[blueandwhite]

So.
Blah.
2OT loss to the Sens, and Buffalo is suddenly clawing at their chance to keep going.
The Senators are playing massively good hockey. 37 shots for Buff, 32 for Ott, close and so few, really, with a double OT win.
Sens just close the Sabres down in their end repeatedly. Sabres need to do the same in their end. Of course I can't help but imagine, what if that very first goal had been allowed? but I know why it was called a no goal, and I don't argue this time.
Emery didn't look so impermeable, but I hate to say this mre than anything - Alfredsson is on fire.

[blazinsabrez61]

i hate alfredsson mroe than ever now after that hit
and idc if hes on fire, a player like him shouldnt get away with cheap shots
the goal was still very questionable
and i rly think the sabres played real well - especially in the 1st
had they kept the momentum going, who knows what would have happened? they could have scored 6 or 7 easily, but a few miraculous plays by the senators (and emery) didnt allow any more goals than were scored.
but once again, an amazing comeback right at the end, this time with 5.6 seconds left. tho it doesnt matter anymore, it was still exciting. and it still gives me reason to believe.
its just that buffalo cant keep doing that nemore. they need to take charge of the game b4 ottawa goes loose. the sabres need to change something about their game, but it better start tonight.