Final
Miller helps Buffalo blank Philly to take Game 1
Apr 15, 2011 - 3:45 AM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Ryan Miller notched his second career postseason shutout by stopping all 35 shots he faced as Buffalo topped Philadelphia, 1-0, in Game 1 of this Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.Miller's only other playoff whitewash came at the expense of Philly, on April 30, 2006 in Game 5 of an Eastern quarterfinal, a 3-0 decision.
Patrick Kaleta's third-period tally was enough for the Sabres, who finished with 96 points on the year.
"We have played forty of these games," said Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff on the readiness of his club after making a strong run late to lock up a playoff berth. "We have been playing this type of game for three months. It has been the one goal game, whether it is 2-1, or 3-2, or tied late in the period. We have been tested continually down the stretch."
Sergei Bobrovsky acquitted himself well in his initial postseason start, making 24 saves for the Flyers, the Atlantic Division champions who had not been blanked beyond the regular season since Game 5 of the 2008 Eastern finals against Pittsburgh.
"It feels great but I would have loved to have won it," the 22-year-old Russian said. "It's only starting."
Game 2 of this best-of-seven set is scheduled for late Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia.
Buffalo finally broke through at 5:56 of the third period. Paul Gaustad won a battle along the right boards and dished back to the left point. Marc-Andre Gragnani's initial shot was kicked out by Bobrovsky, but Kaleta stood atop the crease to net the rebound.
"It was awesome. I wanted to go out there and be a positive contribution to the team and was fortunate enough to get a goal," said Kaleta, who missed more than a month late in the season with a knee injury.
The Flyers failed to convert on their fifth man advantage of the contest, coming with 8:57 left in regulation, after Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers was sent off for tripping Ville Leino on a rush.
Bobrovsky was called to the bench for an extra attacker with 1:23 remaining, but Buffalo checked away the remaining time perfectly.
The absence of defenseman Chris Pronger, still unable to play due to a right- hand injury since early March, didn't affect Philadelphia's ability to rein in their foes.
A scoreless first period saw each goaltender make 10 saves, but Miller needed to have his head on a swivel during a late-period Flyers advantage that featured multiple quality chances.
James van Riemsdyk had the best chance to score early on, hitting the post from the right wing just over five minutes in.
Buffalo then survived a 38-second two-man disadvantage midway through the second despite more heavy pressure from the home team.
"It's frustrating obviously. A loss is not easy and you kind of wonder where you went wrong and what you could have done," said Flyers captain Mike Richards. "We created a lot, we didn't give up much, and we were pretty tight defensively. We just have to find those pucks. I think four or five times tonight I missed some tips. Pucks were just missing the net and we have to find that."
Game Notes
This is the ninth meeting between the clubs in the postseason...Philadelphia won in 1975, 1978, 1995, 1997 and 2000, while Buffalo was victorious in 1998, 2001 and the last matchup in 2006...Flyers forward Nikolay Zherdev was listed as a healthy scratch...Buffalo welcomed back veteran forward Mike Grier, out since March 26 with a knee injury...Philly's last 1-0 playoff game came on May 1, 2003, a win over Ottawa in Game 2 of an East semifinal...Buffalo's last 1-0 game was a loss to Ottawa on May 14, 2007 in Game 3 of the East finals...The Flyers hadn't suffered a postseason home shutout since Patrick Lalime of the Senators took a 3-0 decision on April 20, 2002 in Game 2 of the Eastern quarters.
- BUFFALO: 1
PHILADELPHIA: 0
Final
Apr 14 10:04 PM - BUFFALO: 0
PHILADELPHIA: 0
End of 2nd
Apr 14 9:11 PM - BUFFALO: 0
PHILADELPHIA: 0
End of 1st
Apr 14 8:18 PM - BUFFALO: 0
PHILADELPHIA: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Apr 14 7:41 PM
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