Tuesday, April 19, 2011Posted: 12:27 p.m.Updated: 3:47 p.m.
By Tim Panaccio and Sarah BaickerCSNPhilly.com
BUFFALO, N.Y.It looked a lot like the Flyers slowed the game down in the second and third periods on Monday.
The Buffalo Sabres are most dangerous in transition, and the Flyers, who like a fast pace, seemed to reduced it to control the Sabres speed. It worked.
The first period, we were trying to run for our lives a bit and it wasnt too pretty, Danny Briere said. In the second, especially, when we scored that second goal, we felt we were gaining control.
After that, we never felt we were under pressure. We kept them to the outside most of the time. They had to press in the second half of the third period and I thought we did a great job to keep them to the outside.
Defenseman Sean ODonnell would agreeto an extent.
I dont think slowing down was a conscious thing, he said. We didnt change anything. It wasnt part of the game plan. That first period there was a lot of up and down and physicality and I dont think you can play three periods like that.
NHL
Richards not on ice
Mike Richards did not practice Tuesday. He was given the day off according to general manager Paul Holmgren, who called the absence, a "maintenance day." Richards is still suffering a severe head cold and was coughing during interviews after Game 3. He'll play in Game 4.
Answering the call
It cant be stressed enough that coach Peter Laviolette seems to know when to push the right buttons with Nikolay Zherdev.
Of course, this time, the button was easy to push, considering Andreas Nodl went out of Game 2 early with an eye injury and was unavailable for Game 3.
Laviolette either had to put Zherdev in the lineup Monday night, or one of his untested rookie prospects from the Phantoms.
Zherdev got the call. He answered with a game-winning goal, his first-ever playoff goal.
That was a big goal for him, and what a play by Mike Richards, Danny Briere said. Thats what Zherdev does. Hes good around the net.
Hes got quick hands. That was a huge goal. To get up two goal in the second period was huge. Just the way we felt after that first period.
Costly mistake
On Zherdevs game-winning goal, Sabres goalie Ryan Miller was calling for defensive help at the net when he saw Zherdev sneak behind Jason Pominville into the crease.
Jordan Leopold, a surprise starter coming back unexpectedly from a broken finger, stayed in the high slot.
I made a couple of mental mistakes on the third goal, Leopold said. I can take responsibility for that. Thats part of hockey.
So did his partner, Steve Montador, who also stayed up high.
Hes made some mistakes and hes caught in between right now, said Sabres coach Lindy Ruff about Montador. He doesnt want to quite commit on some plays, and some plays hes a little hesitant gapping up, which has led to some opportunities. Its a tough time of year right now.
Must win?
Montador feels that Game 4 is a must-win for the Sabres.
Then again, give how Buffalo played down the stretch, having to win almost every night to gain a playoff berth, its nothing new.
Weve been hearing it for quite a while and I think we realized it long before we were ever getting credit for it, dating back to November and December, Montador said. Everyone knows the story from there.
Were okay having to face some adversity. Were okay with knowing we have to come out and put our best effort out there. In a way, thats encouraging for us. Weve built our season on that platform. And given our situation, I think we answered quite well.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net
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