Sabres head to Eastern Conference Finals

By Steve

Well, the Buffalo Sabres are living up to the hype. Clinching their 2nd round series with the New York Rangers in 6 games at the Garden. Every Sabres fan from Syracuse to San Diego has been saying the Sabres are going to win the cup, this is "our year" the Sabres are the best team in the league etc etc. Whether all of that is true or not doesn't really matter, the Sabres are doing just enough to get by and are succeeding.

The truth is though, the Sabres are only half way there. Next up is an Ottawa team that looks pretty fuckin good right now. They rolled up Brodeur and the Devils in 5, put down the baby Penguins in five and look primed for the Sabres probably starting on Thursday. No one can say the Islanders or Rangers looked better than either the Penguins or Devils heading into the playoffs. Furthermore, no fan will admit the Sabres at times struggled in both series' although less so against the Islanders. The same can't be said about the Sens who basically steam rolled through their first two rounds.

Some will point to the Senators 4-3-1 record against the Sabres in the regular season while others will mention how much better Miller is than Emery. However, their statistics up to this point are very similar. Miller's GAA and save % are 2.07 and .928 while Emery's are 2.04 and .919. True Miller has faced 76 more shots and played one more game so what does that then say about each team's defense. And in there lies the true determining factor in this series. Not the goaltending, but the defense of each squad.

If the Senators allow the Sabres to skate and pepper Emery with 30+ shots a game, the Sabres will have an advantage. If however, the Senators try and clog the neutral zone and mirror the play of the two losing NYC teams, this series may again end up with 2-1 games.

Prediction:
Buffalo needs to find their 4th and 5th gear. This means players like Connolly and Vanek need to contribute even more. Tin Can will be playing in his 14th game since returning and should be about done with "preseason". The powerplay and penalty kill need to improve although not dramatically, and the Sabres need to take game 1 at home. The Sabres alleged 4 lines and experience of last year's playoffs should help them this year as Emery is unproven still in big games, while players like Alfredson and Heatley need to once again prove themselves as superstars in this league.
Sabres in 6

Hot
Hecht
Drury
Emery

Cold
Briere (3 assists last game I don't give a shit still 0 5-5 goals)
Vanek
Brett Hull