NEWS

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Season ends at home

BUFFALO, N.Y. - For the second consecutive season, the Buffalo Sabres fell shy of their ultimate goal.

The President's Trophy winning Sabres were defeated in the Eastern Conference Finals by the Ottawa Senators four-games-to-one in the best-of-seven series.

Daniel Alfredsson put the dagger into the heart of Buffalo with a wristshot that deflected off defenseman Brian Campbell's stick and slipped just inside the right post at 9:32 in overtime to give Ottawa the clinching 3-2 victory in Game Five.

"It stings pretty bad right now to make it bad to the Conference final and check out again," said goaltender Ryan Miller, who turned away 22-of-25 shots. "[Alfredsson's goal] surprised the heck out of me.

"It kind of hung me out and I really didn't get a good look."

Buffalo dropped all three home games in the series, including two in overtime. Their desperation level peeked as they fell behind by three games in the series and were able to rally in Ottawa to avoid the series sweep.

"[Losing] the first two home games, that hurts," said head coach Lindy Ruff. "To leave your building and to try and resurrect the series [on the road], gave [Ottawa] some momentum, I think."

"Even in Game Two, the guys stepped up but we didn't get that bounce, literally," said Miller. "That put us at a big disadvantage going into Game Three. We kind of realized a little too late how to play."

Maxim Afinogenov put Game Five into overtime with his second power-play goal in as many games.

Charging the net, Afinogenov brought the capacity crowd in HSBC Arena, and the 10,000-plus outside the building, to a fevered pitch with he slapped Daniel Briere's rebound off the right post into the back of the net with 10 minutes left in regulation.

But the cardiac kids couldn't do it again.

"We had a lot to be proud of," said Ruff. "It's disappointing. It's painful. But you've got to grow and you've got to stick with the program. It was a fun year."

A misplay by Ray Emery led to Buffalo's first goal. Cutting to the net, Jochen Hecht backhanded a loose puck which was flung to the front of the net by Daniel Briere, who collected the Emery bobble by the back wall, and tipped by Jason Pominville.

Hecht's fourth goal of the playoffs, second of the series, gave Buffalo the 1-0 lead at 4:30 of the first.

"Our goal was to go into the Finals and exceed what we did last year," said Hecht. "It just wasn't quite there for us in the end."

As Campbell was being released from the penalty box, Jason Spezza slipped Wade Redden's rebound through the slot to Dany Heatley at the right post to tie the game 1-1 at 15:41.

Ottawa took a 2-1 lead four minutes later.

On a two-on-one rush, Alfredsson faked a shot and fed Spezza with an across-ice feed for Spezza's seventh goal of the playoffs, and seventh point (2+5) of the series, at 19:21.

The Sens top trio combined for seven goals and 21 points in the series, including all three goals and seven of Ottawa's nine points in Game Five.

"Hopefully, this feeling sticks around for next year because we're capable of good things," said Miller. "We're the kind of team that can be back here every year. We have the talent, the desire and we just ran into a tough situation this year."

BUFFALO SABRES 2006-2007 RECORD

BUFFALO SABRES 2006-2007 SEASON SCHEDULE

2007 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

BUFFALO SABRES TEAM INFORMATION

Arena:
HSBC Arena
Capacity: 18,690

Training Camp / Practice Site:
Lafayette Ice Rink - Buffalo, NY

Mailing Address:
One Seymour H. Knox III Plaza
Buffalo, NY 14203

Phone Number:
1 (716) 888-4000

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Last revised: May 27, 2007 .