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Stafford leads Sabres to emotional shootout win

Feb 23, 2007 - 5:53 AM BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- In an intense battle between Northeast Division rivals, the Buffalo Sabres came out on top thanks to a rookie.

Drew Stafford scored in the fourth round of the shootout to lift the Sabres to a wild 6-5 win over the Ottawa Senators.

Buffalo improved to 6-0-1 in its last seven games, while Ottawa fell to 5-0-1 in its last six. The clubs meet again at Scotiabank Place on Saturday.

"There is a big rivalry there," Sabres goaltender Martin Biron said. "What happened in the playoffs last year, rivalries start in the playoffs. Rivalries make the emotions run so high. With tonight, it's just going to bring the best out of everyone Saturday night."

After both teams were unable to score on their first three opportunities, Stafford skated in and deked Martin Gerber before backhanding the puck past the goaltender, putting Buffalo ahead.

"I tried something a little different there," Stafford said. "I was lucky enough to find a hole, so I'm kind of relieved that one went in."

Ryan Miller preserved the win with a glove save on Mike Fisher on Ottawa's final chance.

After defenseman Dmitri Kalinin gave Buffalo a 5-3 lead at 3:21 of the third period, Ottawa tied the game with tallies 2:36 apart later in the session.

Jason Spezza drew the Senators within one at 6:22 with a power-play goal, and Fisher forged a tie at 8:58 when captain Daniel Alfredsson's shot deflected off him and past Miller.

"We know we're a good team in the third period, and we did battle back hard," Alfredsson said. "We gave them some real easy goals. That's what we feel more frustrated about. We're fine with losing in a shootout, but it shouldn't have gone that far."

Dany Heatley scored twice and Alfredsson also tallied for Ottawa. Heatley, who has nine multi-goal games this season, has collected seven tallies and 15 points in seven meetings with Buffalo.

Thomas Vanek recorded his sixth multi-goal game with a pair of tallies and co-captain Chris Drury and rookie Clarke MacArthur also scored for Buffalo. MacArthur's tally was the first of his career.

Things got ugly after Ottawa tough guy Chris Neil delivered a shoulder to the head of Drury at 5:07 of the second period. Drury left the game and did not return.

"My take on it is, it was a late hit and a dirty hit," Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. "I don't agree with the hit. It was late, (Drury) was vulnerable at the time. It was a shot to his head. I don't condone it."

"You've seen it, everyone's seen it," Neil said. "You'll see it on highlights again tonight. It was a clean hit. I got my video guys to review it as soon as I came in (to the locker room). I don't like to see guys get hurt out there, but you're coming through the middle with your head down, you've got to be aware of who is on the ice."

Three altercations ensued, including one between starting netminders Ray Emery of the Senators and Biron. Buffalo enforcer Andrew Peters also battled with Emery, resulting in the ejections of both players, as well as Biron.

I've heard Lindy cry on TV so many times," said Ottawa coach Bryan Murray, who was involved in a heated argument with Ruff following the on-ice battles. "I watched the game and see Chris Neil come across with a good bodycheck. It looked to me like Drury's helmet was undone or wasn't tight, and he hit his head on the ice when he went down.

"Then they send out five guys, sucker-punch our skill guys and guys who have a reputation on our team of never fighting. This has happened before, and there's been suspensions, so I assume the league will address it."

Ruff took a different view.

"You can't respond any other way," he said. "I was proud of those guys. There was a little bit of emotion. I don't condone the tail end of it with Andrew, but you get caught up in the emotion. The players did the right thing."

Returning from a three-game suspension for slashing Montreal's Maxin LaPierre on February 10, Emery made 12 saves before being ejected. Gerber came on to stop 15 shots.