Gaustad Leads Charge in Huge Win Over Flames
Buffalo News
February 5 2006 (Buffalo, NY) -
Paul Gaustad is just thrilled to be in the NHL after spending the majority of the year with Rochester of the AHL.
He better get used to the feeling.
Gaustad had a career-high 3 points, scoring once and adding two assists in an 8-2 Sabres destruction of the Calgary Flames at HSBC Arena. J.P. Dumont scored twice for Buffalo, with Mike Grier, Maxim Afinogenov, Jochen Hecht, Thomas Vanek and Ales Kotalik adding singles.
Gaustad, Dumont (2g), Vanek (1g 1a), Hecht (1g 1a), Afinogenov (1g 1a) and Brian Campbell (2a) all had multipoint games for Buffalo. The Sabres scored seven times alone in the decisive second period.
Tony Amonte and Chris Simon replied for Calgary, who hadn't lost in regulation in 10 games prior to this contest.
Martin Biron was excellent in net for the Sabres, stopping 29 of 31 Calgary shots. Brent Johnson was dismal, getting pulled after allowing six goals on 23 shots. Miikka Kiprusoff replaced him and allowed two more goals.
Lindy Ruff was able to utilize his third and fourth lines more than usual due to the large lead.
"It was nice to be able to give Gaustad, Mair and Grier some powerplay time", Ruff enthused. "It's a long season and it is pretty much necessary to find some rest time for the top liners when you can."
Jay McKee left the game late in the second period with a finger injury. Ruff says that he stubbed it along the boards and for precautionary reasons was held out the rest of the way.
"With the lead we had, I saw no reason to risk further injury", Ruff said. "The doctors say it's nothing serious so hopefully we can have Jay back for the Rangers game on Monday night."
Taylor Pyatt and Jeff Jillson were scratched once again for the Sabres.
Buffalo travels to New York to take on the Rangers Monday night. Game time at Madison Square Garden is 7:30pm.
FINAL | 1
| 2
| 3
| OT/SO
| TOTAL
|
Calgary
| 1
| 0
| 1
|
| 2
|
Buffalo
| 0
| 7
| 1
|
| 8
|
|
FIRST PERIOD |
SCORING |
1. Calgary - T. Amonte 19 (S. Reinprecht, R. Regehr), 1:49 (PP) |
SECOND PERIOD |
SCORING |
2. Buffalo - M. Grier 8 (P. Gaustad, A. Mair), 0:18 | | |
3. Buffalo - J. Dumont 22 (B. Campbell, D. Briere), 5:16 (PP) | |
4. Buffalo - M. Afinogenov 24 (T. Vanek, B. Campbell), 9:39 | |
5. Buffalo - P. Gaustad 5 (J. McKee), 9:53 | | | |
6. Buffalo - J. Hecht 18 (P. Gaustad), 10:13 | | | |
7. Buffalo - T. Vanek 26 (M. Afinogenov), 12:12 | | |
8. Buffalo - J. Dumont 23 (J. Hecht), 18:58 | | | |
THIRD PERIOD |
SCORING |
9. Calgary - C. Simon 12 (J. Leopold, D. Langkow), 3:13 (PP) | |
10. Buffalo - A. Kotalik 14 (T. Connolly, D. Kalinin), 13:57 | |
|
GAME INFORMATION |
SHOTS ON GOAL | 1
| 2
| 3
| OT
| TOTAL
|
Calgary
| 10
| 9
| 12
|
| 31
|
Buffalo
| 11
| 14
| 8
|
| 33
|
GOALTENDING |
Calgary | B. Johnson (L: 1-2-1) 17/23; Kiprusoff 8/10 |
Buffalo | M. Biron (W: 19-9-0) |
POWERPLAYS | THREE STARS |
Calgary | 2 - 5
| 1. P. Gaustad (BUF) 1g 2a +3 |
Buffalo | 1 - 5
| 2. J. Dumont (BUF) 2g +1 |
ATTENDANCE | 17174
| 3. J. Hecht (BUF) 1g 1a +3 |