Sabres Drop Preseason Opener in Florida
Buffalo News
September 15 2005 (Sunrise, FL) -
Despite three point nights from linemates Jochen Hecht (pictured) and rookie Jason Pominville, the Buffalo Sabres lost a 4-3 decision to the Florida Panthers in NHL preseason action last night at BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida.
Hecht potted two goals and added a helper while Pominville took a positive step towards making the team by scoring the other goal and adding two assists. Their centerman, Chris Drury, contributed two assists as well.
"We were very shaky in the first period, especially the young kids who played tonight", coach Lindy Ruff pointed out in the post-game interview. "After looking like we were back in it with Jochen's first goal, Nieuwendyk scores right at the end of the period to kill any momentum we had."
Ruff is talking about Joe Nieuwendyk potting a rebound with only six seconds left in the first period, which gave the Panthers a 3-1 lead going into the dressing room.
The Sabres came out firing in the second period. First, Hecht scored his second on the powerplay and then Pominville wired home a beautiful one-timer to knot things at three. However, rookie Kenndal McArdle scored on rebound with three minutes remaining in the third to give the Panthers a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Martin Gelinas and Olli Jokinen scored the other Florida goals.
Ruff played Drury with Hecht and Pominville, Derek Roy centered Clarke MacArthur and Mark Mancari, Chris Taylor was in the middle of Branislav Fabry and Michal Vondrka and Maxim Sheviev centered Marek Dubec and Jakub Hulva.
On defense, Ruff's pairings were Dmitri Kalinin and Teppo Numminen, Brian Campbell and Henrik Tallinder, Mike Card and Michael Funk and finally, Brandon Smith and Calle Aslund.
The Sabres will be back at it tonight back at HSBC Arena in Buffalo for a contest against the Edmonton Oilers. Game time is 7:00pm.
| FINAL | 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | TOTAL |
| Buffalo | 1 | 2 | 0 | | 3 |
| Florida | 3 | 1 | 0 | | 4 |
|
| FIRST PERIOD |
| SCORING |
| 1. Florida - M. Gelinas (J. Stumpel, T. Jaakola), 2:51 (PP) |
| 2. Florida - O. Jokinen (M. Gelinas, G. McNeill), 5:49 |
| 3. Buffalo - J. Hecht (J. Pominville, D. Kalinin), 17:07 (PP) |
| 4. Florida - J. Nieuwendyk (B. Orpik, D. Booth), 19:54 |
| PENALTIES |
| Buffalo - M. Sheviev (Tripping), 2:33 |
| Florida - D. Stasyuk (Interference), 13:19 |
| Florida - J. Stumpel (Elbowing), 16:21 |
| SECOND PERIOD |
| SCORING |
| 5. Buffalo - J. Hecht (J. Pominville, C. Drury), 8:38 (PP) |
| 6. Buffalo - J. Pominville (J. Hecht, C. Drury), 14:44 | | |
| 7. Florida - K. McArdle (B. Orpik, M. Van Ryn) 16:59 (PP) | |
| PENALTIES |
| Florida - A. Brault (High Sticking), 7:33 |
| Buffalo - M. Sheviev (Roughing), 12:59 |
| Florida - M. Van Ryn (Roughing), 12:59 |
| Buffalo - D. Roy (Tripping), 15:45 |
| THIRD PERIOD |
| SCORING |
| None |
| PENALTIES |
| Buffalo - C. Taylor (Charging), 14:02 | | | | |
| Florida - K. McArdle (Tripping), 18:35 | | | | |
|
| GAME INFORMATION |
| SHOTS ON GOAL | 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | TOTAL |
| Buffalo | 8 | 14 | 10 | | 32 |
| Florida | 13 | 11 | 11 | | 35 |
| POWERPLAYS | THREE STARS |
| Buffalo | 2 - 4 | 1. J. Hecht (BUF) 2g 1a +1 |
| Florida | 2 - 3 | 2. J. Pominville (BUF) 1g 2a |
| ATTENDANCE | 12105 | 3. K. McArdle (FLO) 1g +1 GWG |