Now that the rosters are officially finalized for the IIHF World Championships, the Buffalo Sabres can say that do have some representation at the tournament. Backup goalie Jhonas Enroth will suit up for team Sweden and defenseman Andrej Sekera will play for team Slovakia. Both have represented their respective teams internationally several times through out their careers. Lets take a look back at their records during international tournaments.

Jhonas Enroth

Enroth has been playing for Swedish international teams since he was 17 years old. Enroth won a bronze medal at the 2004-2005 U18 Tournament. In 3 games, he complied a 1.33 GAA and a .942 SV%. He followed up in the 2005-2006 tournament with 5 starts and a 1.81 GAA and a .943 SV%. Jhonas continued his international domination in two consecutive U20 World Junior Championships, winning a silver medal in 2007-2008 and being named one of the top three players on a team (along with Patrik Berglund and Kristofer Berglund) in that tournament.

Andrej Sekera

While Sekera doesn’t have the extensive resume Enroth has, he has still been very impressive during his international efforts. He played for team Slovakia at the U18 tournament in 2003-2004, appearing in 6 games he scored 2 points (1G, 1A) and was assessed 18 PIM. In two U20 World Junior Championship appearances, Sekera added 3 goals and 3 assists to his international totals. After the Sabres either missed or were eliminated from playoff contention in 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and now 2011-2012, Sekera will join the World Championship team. In the 08-09 and 09-10 tournaments, he was named one of the top three players on a team.

The Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins will face off in what will be the final game of the regular season and a lackluster final game it will be. Both teams have nothing to play for, with the Bruins already clinching the Northeast Division and the 2 seed in the post season and the Sabres being eliminated from post season contention after a loss to the Flyers two nights ago.

If there is anything right in the world, Jhonas Enroth will play tonight’s game in its entirety. There is no need to play Ryan Miller in this game, no need to risk injury, no need to make him more tired than he most likely already is. There is nothing on the line in this game and Enroth deserves a chance to play.

Marcus Foligno and Corey Tropp were returned to Rochester today as they are no longer needed in Buffalo. Its better to get them playing time and let them have a chance for postseason play, even if its not NHL postseason play. Both Foligno and Tropp provided and injection of energy for this team and now they can go back to Rochester better players and give the Amerks a better chance at the AHL Playoffs. Once tonight’s game is over, Brayden McNabb will also return to the Amerks.

» Continue reading “Sabres Face Bruins In Season Finale”

In the words of a very famous rabbit, thats all folks. The push for the playoffs came to an end for the Buffalo Sabres last night in Philadelphia after a 2-1 loss to the Flyers. If the Panthers had managed to come back and beat the Capitals last night, there would be very different conversations floating around right now.

It was heartbreaking, to say the least. The Sabres took an early lead on Ville Leino‘s 8th goal of the year, yep thats right people I said EIGHT… Either way, Leino scored late in the second period and it looked like the Sabres were going to pull off another miracle. This team is normally very strong when carrying a lead into the third, but this time they just couldn’t hold on.

Marc-Andre Bourdon tied it up on a booming shot from the blue line that found its way through a screen and past Ryan Miller. That was just around the 6 minute mark of the third period, meaning that should have been plenty of time to pull together and get something done, considering this game meant EVERYTHING for the season to continue. The Flyers responded with physical play that left the Sabres scrambling. Matt Read iced the game with his 24th of the year with 4 minutes remaining in the period.

» Continue reading “Buffalo Sabres Eliminated From Playoff Contention”

Philadelphia wins series 4-3

Game 1: Sabres – 1 Flyers – 0

Game 2: Sabres – 4 Flyers – 5

Game 3: Flyers – 4 Sabres – 2

Game 4: Flyers – 0 Sabres – 1

Game 5: Sabres – 4 Flyers – 3 OT

Game 6: Flyers – 5 Sabres – 4 OT

Game 7: Sabres – 2 Flyers - 5

 

A lackluster effort led to a heart wrenching end to the 2010-2011 Buffalo Sabres season.  The Sabres looked disorganized and lazy through most of the game and again tried to rely on Ryan Miller to save the day.  Miller stopped 15 of the 16 shots Philly managed through the first period, the lone goal coming on a Braydon Coburn shot from the point. Brian Boucher, who won this game of ‘ring around the goalies’ for the Flyers, was not tested at all in the first period, with Buffalo only managing 2 shots on goal.  Michael Leighton was the lucky goal to be scratched for this game and Sergei Bobrovsky dressed for the first time since Game 2 of the series.

The Sabres were badly outplayed in the first period with the Flyers out hitting, out skating and out shooting them by huge margins (shots on goal went in favor of the Flyers 16-2).  Miller was the only reason the Sabres went into the second by only a one goal deficit.  After allowing 1 goal on 16 shots, Miller went on to give up 3 more goals, power play goals to Daniel Briere and James van Riemsdyk in the seconds and an even strength goal to Ville Leino in the third.  Miller was pulled after the Leino goal and replaced by Jhonas Enroth, who stopped 7 of the 8 shots he faced, allowing a goal to Daniel Carcillo.

While the Sabres did manage to score twice in the third period, it was far too little far too late.  Tyler Myers scored at 6:33 of the third period to end Brian Boucher’s shut out bid.  Brad Boyes scored late in the third period to pull the Sabres within three, but that was the closest they would come to tying the game.

The penalty barrage continued in this game with the Flyers being assessed 22 penalty minutes including a10 minute misconduct to Carcillo (who was also given a game misconduct) and the Sabres were assessed 24 penalty minutes including a misconduct penalty to Nathan Gerbe. In total there were 213 penalty minutes handed out to both teams, 104 to the Flyers and 109 to the Sabres.

Overall, the Sabres did not come out and play like they had an interest in winning.  The Flyers dominated from the beginning and it was clear they had no intention of backing down.  The Flyers were the better team on every level in this game and the score sheet clearly indicates that.  It was a hard fought series until the very end, but Buffalo just couldn’t seem to muster whatever gas was left in the tank to finish the series off.

We as Sabres fans have a lot to look forward to in the future, with an amazing new owner and a lot of young talent coming up through the ranks.  Don’t be surprised to see some major changes made throughout the course of the offseason to not only the team, but the organization as a whole.  It was a good season and this team persevered through a dreadful start, several injuries to key players and managed to work their way into a playoff start.  Don’t look at this as the end of anything, look at this as the beginning of a new era.

 

Three Stars:

1^st STAR – Daniel Briere (1 goal, 1 assist, 6 shots on goal)

2^nd STAR – James van Riemsdyk (GWG, 5 shots on goal)

3^rd STAR – Braydon Coburn – (1 goal, 3 shots on goal)