Sabres Central

Tampa Tramples Sabres 4-2
By Rick Anderson
Saturday, November 13, 1999

The Buffalo vs. Florida sports extravaganza weekend started on a bitter note as the Sabres lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 last night in Tampa. The Sabres had their 4 game winning streak come to a crashing halt as they could not hold two one-goal leads and their defensive play fell completely apart.

After playing one of their best games of the season against Boston Wednesday, the Sabres came unglued in their own zone and did not bail goaltender Martin Biron out when he needed help. Buffalo actually outshot Tampa in this one 30-28, but their efforts came early and late in the game. The Sabres, who were outshot 21-15 after two periods, actually came on strong in the third with 15 shots on Dan Cloutier compared to Tampa's 7 shots on goal. Biron's tendency to give up big rebounds was accentuated last night as huge rebounds resulted in all four Lightning goals. The inability to cover up may influence Lindy Ruff to go to Dwayne Roloson in goal tonight against the Florida Panthers.

Pavel Kubina sprays Martin Biron with snow before scoring winning goal

On Wednesday against the Bruins, the Sabres were able to stand up the Bruins as they attempted to enter the Sabres zone and force them to dump it in. Last night, they seemed intent to play a wide open style of hockey after gaining 1-0 and 2-1 leads. Biron was left hanging out to dry on the rebounds, getting the same kind of defensive effort that was evident in the Sabres 7 game losing streak.

The game started off like the blowout against the Bruins as Maxim Afinogenov opened the scoring just 45 seconds into the game. The goal was the result of some nifty passing plays by Afinogenov, Michael Grosek and Rhett Warrener. Warrener started the play by passing to Grosek who fed Afinogenov charging into the Lightning zone. Afinogenov made a excellent pass back to Warrener at the top of the right faceoff circle and the defenseman fed it right back to Mad Max who had skated into the slot. Afinogenov's shot was perfect, beating Cloutier for the quick 1-0 lead. The goal was the second in as many games for the Russian youngster, who played brilliantly throughout the game. Speaking about the sudden emergence of Afinogenov, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said, "His outside speed is great. You can see how dangerous he is down low. It's sad, but he was one of our most dangerous guys."

Afinogenov's play sparked a ferocious third period attack on Cloutier, as the Sabres peppered him with 15 shots. However, Cloutier was up to the task and in my mind was the game's top player.

"In the third period, Cloutier made two or three great saves to hold us at bay," said Ruff.

"When they got the first shot and the score, it always makes it a little tougher," said Cloutier . "But I told myself it's in, it's over with, let's drop the puck and keep going and that's what I did and we got the two points. Buffalo is a team that never quits. We played well defensively in the third period. We allowed a few more shots, but the guys took care of the rebounds."

That was the name of the game, rebounds. No this wasn't an NBA game, but the ice surface resembled one as it was wet and soggy, slowing down the speed of both teams. Cloutier made the initial save and usually was able to cover up. When he didn't, the defense was able to clear it out. Down at the Sabres end, things were much different.

After Maxim's goal, the Lightning evened it up when the Sabres had trouble getting out of their own zone on the powerplay. Grosek and Alexei Zhitnik coughed it up in front of Biron and the initial shot by Ex-Sabre Petr Svoboda was blocked by the Sabres rookie goalie. However, Steve Martins banged home the rebound to tie the game at 1. Svoboda and Mike Sillinger got the assists on the short-handed goal.

"The whole team is playing better defense," Svoboda said. "To play team hockey, that is the key. We can't fall a sleep and win hockey games."

That's exactly what happened to the Sabres on Tampa's first goal and the three that followed. The Sabres who have had a hard time beating Tampa Bay the past two seasons, have to get back to the style of play that helped them win six of seven games.

Steve Martins celebrates Tampa's first goal as Maxim Afinogenov watches in disgust

"We had plenty of chances to win a hockey game," said Ruff. "You have to bury your chances on the road. We gave them some life. Tonight we spent a lot of time killing penalties. You can't give Tampa those type of opportunities. We weren't sharp tonight."

The Sabres looked like they were going to take it to the Lightning when Stu Barnes scored his fifth goal of the season when Vaclav Varada passed the puck to Barnes from the left corner. Barnes quickly directed the puck past Cloutier for the last Buffalo goal. After that, the Sabres spirits headed to the dressing room.

"We were on a little roll there," Barnes said about the winning streak, "and maybe we got a little comfortable. That's not the way this team needs to play. We need everyone playing well."

Geoff Sanderson ran into Cloutier and was called for goaltender interference. That halted the Sabres momentum for the rest of the game. When up a man, Tampa controlled the puck in the Sabres zone. Old Sabres-killer Stephane Richer took a blast from the point, and Biron blocked the shot. The defense could not get to the rebound first as Sillinger scooped it up and flipped it over Biron's shoulder for the tie.

Then, Geoff Sanderson was called for goalie interference and Tampa tied it again. The Lightning showed great puck movement in the Sabres zone, moving it very crisply when Richer took a shot from the left point. Biron made the save, but Mike Sillinger jumped on the rebound and it was tied at 2.

Pavel Kubina took the lead for good seconds after a so-called Buffalo powerplay. As he stepped out of the box, he joined a 2-on-1 rush up the ice and banged home a gigantic rebound past Biron at the 16:20 mark of the second period.

"Confidence makes all the difference in this game," said Kubina. "About seven games ago, I started playing better. I finally got my confidence back."

In the third period, the Lightning put intense pressure on Biron. Sillinger put a hard shot on goal, Biron sprawled to stop it but was way out of the net and Darcy Tucker took the puck and skated around the fallen goalie. He sent his backhander over Biron into the net for the final goal of the game. That came at the 5:46 mark of the third period. The Sabres put lots of pressure on Cloutier, but couldn't get it past the Lightning netminder.

Curtis Brown is foiled by Dan Cloutier in his attempt to score

"He played real well," Barnes said of Cloutier. "Played real strong and made some big saves at some important times of the game. We had a couple of good chances and he made some big saves."

"I was happy we won two points and we want to be above .500 here," Tampa Bay coach Steve Ludzik said. "We want to start getting our road record cranking too."

The Sabres who had a tendency all last year to get up and beat the good teams and down for the weaker teams, may be falling into the same rut this season. They have already lost to Nashville, Montreal and now Tampa Bay, while tying the expansion Atlanta Thrashers, whom they play a home-and-home series next weekend.

"Maybe we didn't respect the enough," defenseman James Patrick said. "They've got some very good players over there. It seems we play our system when we play teams like Dallas, but when we play (the Lightning) we got away from it. We needed to play the way they played."

Jason Woolley and Warrener received injuries during the game that will keep them out of the lineup tonight. Woolley went out early with a rib injury and Warrener injured the same ankle he fractured against Dallas in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Warrener hurt his ankle with less than half the third period remaining and his status for games this week is not known.

Dixon Ward who was left on the injured reserved list for last's game, is expected to be back in the lineup again for tonight's contest with Florida. And with the injuries to Warrener and Woolley, it complicates the juggling act Ruff must do to get to the 23-player roster limit. At least one defenseman will be called up for the game and it could be either Jason Holland or Brian Campbell.

Biron, who may sit his first game since starting the last six, is still looking for his new Sabres goalie mask to arrive. He has received a lot of comments about wearing his patriotic colored Amerks mask and is not that superstitions about donning the new one when it arrives via the postal service.

"If you have a bad night because of a mask or a good night because of a mask, there's a problem," the 22 year old goalie said. "It's nothing like that."

The mask he wore during training camp was too small, but the outfit that is manufacturing his new mask is still using the same mold and adjusting the size accordingly. The new cage would sport the Sabres colors and he was supposed to receive it before the Sabres flew off on their Florida swing. He now can blame the mail service for his continued use of the Rochester face mask.

"It's in the mail," laughed Biron. "It's always one of the best excuses."

The Sabres will attempt to start another winning streak tonight in Miami as they play the team that knocked Dominik Hasek out for what could be the season with a groin tear.

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