Dom's back, but Sabres still can't score
By Rick Anderson
February 2, 2000
The Dominator is back! Playing his first game since October 29 against Florida, Dominik Hasek came back and was in full form as he seems ready to lead the Sabres' charge to the playoffs. Hasek was his Gumby self for the first time since last year's playoffs as the Sabres and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks skated to a 2-2 tie.
The big question before the game was whether the Dominator was rushing back too soon from his severe groin tear he had suffered on October 29. A lot of speculation was that he was cutting his rehab a couple weeks in order to play in this weekend's All-Star game. After his spectacular performance Tuesday night, Hasek put all doubters and naysayers in their place.
The Ducks came out and tested Hasek early. Pavel Trnka ripped off a slap shot that the Sabres' veteran goalie had no trouble stopping. Hasek really showed the sellout crowd of 18,690
that he was back at the top of his game when he made an incredible sliding save on Teemu . Hasek went down, slid across the goalmouth and came up with the puck while his legs were angled up in the air. That save left the crowd gasping for air, wondering if his groin could sustain such wear and tear. No big deal for the Dominator, as he got right back and was astonishing the rest of the night.
With a little over 2 minutes gone into the second period, Hasek was tested again when denied Mike LeClercon right in front of the net. Ten minutes into the second, Ted Donato got a breakaway against Hasek, but he stopped him with his right pad.
Overall, it was a great return for one of the greatest goalies ever to bless the ice of the National Hockey League. However, his shutout bid was denied in the third period when the Sabres took a couple costly penalties. Fredrik Olausson and Steve Rucchin tallied while the Ducks had man advantages, ruining what would have been a dominating return for the Sabres' famed netminder. Hasek finished with 29 saves and seems ready to do whatever it takes to get the Sabres back into the playoff race.
"Without (Hasek), we would have won the game," Selanne said.
Miroslav Satan notched the Sabres first goal at the 11:47 mark of the first period. He stole the puck at the blue line from Kevin Haller and skated straight at Ducks' goalie Guy Hebert. Satan's wrist shot went through the five hole and the Sabres had their first goal in two games.
The Sabres thought the had all they needed when captain Michael Peca got his ninth of the season. Vaclav Varada got the puck to Peca, who backhanded a shot past Herbert making it 2-0 with 4:09 remaining in the second.
The way Hasek was making saves, that seemed like more than enough cushion. However, there was no denying the Ducks' mighty power-play.
Hasek's shutout bid was shattered at the 4:43 mark of the final stanza when Olausson's screened slap shot from the right point made it over Hasek's right shoulder and into the net while the Ducks were pressing on the powerplay.
At the 13:35 mark of the third period, Varada took an elbowing penalty that would eventually cost the Sabres the win. Rucchin tipped a shot by Oleg Tverdovsy past Hasek who was once again screened on the play. If the Sabres had played a more disciplined third period, they may have been able to get the needed two points. As it was, Buffalo slipped in the standings and are now 5 points out of the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
"I don't know what happened. I thought when I went to the side I had him. He made a good save," Satan said.
Herbert ended the night with 39 saves, some of them as electrifying as Hasek's.
"Hebert matched Hasek save for save," said Anaheim coach Craig Hartsburg. "He probably bested him at the end in overtime. Our goalie was probably better than (Hasek) was."
In the end, no matter how great Hasek played, the Sabres still could only manage 1 point against the Mighty Ducks. The offense still has to capitalize on scoring chances. That has been Buffalo's shortcoming all season, no matter who was in goal.
Herbert marveled over Hasek's remarkable recovery. "I wish I could look that good after three months," he said.
"It didn't surprise me that he was so sharp," Lindy Ruff said. "The workouts he's been going through -- I wouldn't want to do it."
The Sabres take on Ottawa Thursday night and attempt to start a winning streak that will get them back in the playoff hunt.
The return of Hasek seemed to spark Michael Peca, who came on with one of his strongest performances of the season. Peca had 6 hits, which could be a season high for the captain. He also scored the second goal and put a low check on Selanne that infuriated the Ducks leading scorer and led him to take a very undisciplined penalty in the overtime that could have cost the Ducks the game.
"The saves he made early on, it was tough to tell that the guy had even been out of the lineup," Peca said. "We seemed to be a little spirited in front of him, and he was unfortunate to give up the two power play-goals in the third period. It was really exciting to see the level of his play."
"We were looking at each other on the bench wondering what he'd been doing three months - secretly playing back in the Czech league or something," Peca continued to rave about the Sabres' future Hall of Fame goalie. "On the Donato save, he was able to keep his right leg extended. If there was a positive sign, it was the way his groin held up on that save."
"I was nervous," the Dominator said. "It was a special night, because I was out for three months. I felt very confident. They played well in front of me. They made a couple of mistakes. It's very disappointing. We are fighting for the playoffs. Every point, especially in this building, is important."
"He was absolutely unbelievable," Sabres winger Miroslav Satan said. "He made some great saves for us. He kept us in the game and saved a point for us."
"It was great to have him back," saidJason Woolley . "I think it was the right decision to play him . . . I think it's always the right decision to play him."
HOME
SEASON'S RESULTS
SABRE TALK MESSAGE BOARD
NEWSROOM
99 PLAYOFFS
"It was tough," Hasek said after his first start in 40 games. "I felt pretty good the whole game. The groin got a little bit tired, but it had nothing to do with the two goals."
Dominik Hasek stops Steve Rucchin with one of his great saves
The overtime was wild and crazy. Buffalo ripped off a team record 9 shots on Herbert, who was outstanding in the entire game. Peca checked Selanne to the ice when he blocked his path down low. Selanne took exception to that check later and came after Peca while the Sabres' captain was on the bench. Because of that, the Sabres went on a power play that resembled a machine gun attack on Herbert. The Sabres got off six shots on the Anaheim goalie, two of which were point-blank shots by Satan. On one of those, Satan was fed the puck right in front of Herbert and stood motionless for what seemed ages. Then he tried to put on his patented move to the right for his backhand, but Herbert followed him every step of the way and made the save.
The two captains collide at the boards as Michael Peca puts the hurts on Anaheim's captain Paul Kariya
THE PLAYERS
STATISTICS
SCHEDULE
PROSPECTS
LIVE GAME RADIO
HISTORY
TEAM INFO
PHOTO GALLERY
MULTIMEDIA
SABRES POLL
TROPHY CASE
LINKS
THE STAFF
E-MAIL SABRESWORD
Copyright © 2000 Sabres Central, all rights reserved
