Recap Game 2 v. Ottawa

The Sabres lost game 2 against the Ottawa Senators 4-3 in double overtime to fall behind 2 games to zero in the series. This is the first time in franchise history that the Ottawa Senators won the first 2 games of any series. Joe Corvo scored the GW goal in the second overtime after a clean faceoff win by Jason Spezza over Chris Drury. The puck hopped just before it got to Ryan Miller and he was unable to pick up the bounce. It was Ray Emery's first overtime playoff victory in five tries.
Buffalo seemed to dominate the majority of the game, but could not get bounces, and shot blocking from Anton Volchenkov kept the puck out of the net. Buffalo thought that they had scored very early in the game on the power play, but the goal was disallowed after the NHL ruled that Thomas Vanek batted the puck into the net. This play did seem inconclusive but apparently there was enough to overturn the call. Buffalo did not let that stop them though, as Vanek took Maxim Afinogenov's pass and scored the first goal of the game. Jochen Hecht followed that with another goal to make it 2-0. Ottawa would not escape the first period without a goal though, as Daniel Alfredsson scored his 8th goal of the playoffs. Mike Fisher would tie it on the PP to make it 2-2, then Wade Redden scored on a 5-3 advantage to make it 3-2 Ottawa closing out the second period. Buffalo fumbled around with the puck for most of the third period, but with 6 seconds left in the period, Danny Briere slammed a rebound into the empty net to send the game into overtime. This was Briere's best game of the playoffs in my opinion. On the goal, Thomas Vanek who played a great game, made a great play, fighting in a battle along the boards, getting hit and almost losing his helmet, but regaining his composure to fly to the front of the net and screen Emery. Overtime was a back and forth battle, but Ottawa finally prevailed in the second overtime. I thought Miller was very good. Even though I am a fan and I thought he may have been Buffalo's best defenseman throughout the playoffs, I thought Dimitri Kalinin was awful for the second straight game. Buffalo now has all but a must win game Monday in Ottawa.