Post by Buffalo Sabres on Mar 19, 2008 3:28:26 GMT -5
Preview
The Northeast division champs face the rival Bruins in an all northeast matchup. The Sabres come off a season where they finished second overall in the NHL with a very impressive season. The Bruins have had a GM change mid season and made some trade before the trade deadline that weakened their team for this run a little bit while helping their future. The Sabres come into this season's playoffs looking for revenge. After winning the cup in 2006 last season the Sabres were bounced by the Thrashers in the first round after winning the conference championship. Let's see if this years team has learned from those past mistakes.
Goaltending
The Bruins through out Martin biron to face the Sabres. Biron has kept the Bruins around for this post season with a 32-30-2 record with a 3.25 GAA and 4 shoutouts. He has a .885 save percentage although his team has trouble in their own zone. The Sabres offer up what is arguably the leagues best duo in Ryan Miller and Nikolai Khabibulin. Miller will be getting the call for the post season after his likely Vezina trophy nomination season where he posted a league best 2.37 GAA and a 40-15-6 record in just 64 games. He also is 2nd is shutouts with 6 and 2nd in save % at .905.
Forwards
The League's Art Ross Trophy winner is playing in this series and you would be wrong if you guessed it was a Sabre. Its the Bruins Joe Sakic who takes home the hardware this season beating his former teammate Iginla who was moved before the deadline to Columbus by two points at 115. Sakic is going to need some support though but sadly Joseph Stumpel, Arnason and Axelsson is all that is waiting in the wings. Zajac had a pretty good rookie year for the Bruins finishing 6th in rookie points. The Sabres counter with two very balanced scoring lines with 3 players better than a point a game and 4 more jsut shy of that at74 points and up. Boston will have to choose whether to try and defend the Briere, Ovechkin, Alfreddson line or the Datsyuk, Brindamour, Kozlov line. The Sabres appear to have learned from past mistakes adding a much more veteran team in the playoffs this year with Yashin, Murray, Nieuwendyk, Bondra, Perreault being added to the team to fill out the roster. Zherdev and Kessel are wild cards that could end up being big in the series.
Defense
With two of the leagues three highest scoring defenceman the Sabres are getting a lot of help from the back end as well. Pronger and Lidstrom lead the way with Schnieder also chipping in. The Bruins should be thankful that Brian Campbell was traded away from the Sabres prior to the deadline which took away another scoring threat. the Sabres balance out their d with hard hitting Bouillon and Wesley. the Bruins need a lot more support to their leagues 3rd worst pp and that starts with Aucoin and Stuart. The other young d on the Bruins will gain experience as the series goes on.
Injuries
Buffalo - No injuries to report
Boston - No injuries to report
The keys to victory!
The matchup isn't a good one from a Bruins perspective. The Bruins have the 3rd worst pp in the league and Buffalo is one of the least penalized teams so that doesn't give them many opportunities. the Sabres also have the leagues Best PP at an astouding 21% and the Bruins PK is less than thrilling. Biron is going to have to stand on his head and Big Joe Sakic will have to keep on having the fine year he is. Buffalo will have to do what they do. They allowed the least goals against all season, have the most shots for, 3rd best goals for and allow the least number of shots. Score on the powerplays and keep the puck away from the net and they should be ok.
PREDICTION:BUFFALO in 5 games.
The Northeast division champs face the rival Bruins in an all northeast matchup. The Sabres come off a season where they finished second overall in the NHL with a very impressive season. The Bruins have had a GM change mid season and made some trade before the trade deadline that weakened their team for this run a little bit while helping their future. The Sabres come into this season's playoffs looking for revenge. After winning the cup in 2006 last season the Sabres were bounced by the Thrashers in the first round after winning the conference championship. Let's see if this years team has learned from those past mistakes.
Goaltending
The Bruins through out Martin biron to face the Sabres. Biron has kept the Bruins around for this post season with a 32-30-2 record with a 3.25 GAA and 4 shoutouts. He has a .885 save percentage although his team has trouble in their own zone. The Sabres offer up what is arguably the leagues best duo in Ryan Miller and Nikolai Khabibulin. Miller will be getting the call for the post season after his likely Vezina trophy nomination season where he posted a league best 2.37 GAA and a 40-15-6 record in just 64 games. He also is 2nd is shutouts with 6 and 2nd in save % at .905.
Forwards
The League's Art Ross Trophy winner is playing in this series and you would be wrong if you guessed it was a Sabre. Its the Bruins Joe Sakic who takes home the hardware this season beating his former teammate Iginla who was moved before the deadline to Columbus by two points at 115. Sakic is going to need some support though but sadly Joseph Stumpel, Arnason and Axelsson is all that is waiting in the wings. Zajac had a pretty good rookie year for the Bruins finishing 6th in rookie points. The Sabres counter with two very balanced scoring lines with 3 players better than a point a game and 4 more jsut shy of that at74 points and up. Boston will have to choose whether to try and defend the Briere, Ovechkin, Alfreddson line or the Datsyuk, Brindamour, Kozlov line. The Sabres appear to have learned from past mistakes adding a much more veteran team in the playoffs this year with Yashin, Murray, Nieuwendyk, Bondra, Perreault being added to the team to fill out the roster. Zherdev and Kessel are wild cards that could end up being big in the series.
Defense
With two of the leagues three highest scoring defenceman the Sabres are getting a lot of help from the back end as well. Pronger and Lidstrom lead the way with Schnieder also chipping in. The Bruins should be thankful that Brian Campbell was traded away from the Sabres prior to the deadline which took away another scoring threat. the Sabres balance out their d with hard hitting Bouillon and Wesley. the Bruins need a lot more support to their leagues 3rd worst pp and that starts with Aucoin and Stuart. The other young d on the Bruins will gain experience as the series goes on.
Injuries
Buffalo - No injuries to report
Boston - No injuries to report
The keys to victory!
The matchup isn't a good one from a Bruins perspective. The Bruins have the 3rd worst pp in the league and Buffalo is one of the least penalized teams so that doesn't give them many opportunities. the Sabres also have the leagues Best PP at an astouding 21% and the Bruins PK is less than thrilling. Biron is going to have to stand on his head and Big Joe Sakic will have to keep on having the fine year he is. Buffalo will have to do what they do. They allowed the least goals against all season, have the most shots for, 3rd best goals for and allow the least number of shots. Score on the powerplays and keep the puck away from the net and they should be ok.
PREDICTION:BUFFALO in 5 games.
