Ryan Miller insisted after the Sabres lost their third straight game to the Bruins on Wednesday that they played well enough to be in better shape than a 3-1 deficit in the series. All they needed was a few breaks and sustained good play over a full game.
The Sabres gave the Bruins what both teams anticipated in Friday's Game 5, which was Buffalo's best game in the best-of-seven series in a 4-1 victory. The series now shifts back to Boston for Game 6 with Buffalo hoping to come home for Game 7.
"We're definitely making things interesting now," said Miller, who stopped 34 shots. "Now that they've seen our best game, they have to react to our best game."
The Sabres landed in a world of trouble with their failure to put away the Bruins early in the series. They blew a two-goal lead in Game 2 and again in Game 4. They scored the first two goals again Friday, then added a third before finding an empty net.
Buffalo still has plenty of work ahead after dropping both games in Boston. The Sabres have never won a series after losing three of the first four games. The Bruins have a 14-1 record when winning in the same situation, the lone loss coming in 2004 to Montreal.
"You have to give them credit," Bruins winger Blake Wheeler said. "They took it to us, and we didn't answer at any point in the game."
Chara in hot water
Bruins defenceman Zdeno Chara was given an instigator penalty in the closing seconds of Game 5, which should mean he would be automatically suspended for the next game according to league rules. The penalty was not announced after the game.
It would be surprising if the NHL held up the automatic penalty in the playoffs. Last year, the league rescinded a suspension last year during the Stanley Cup final after Penguins center Evgeni Malkin was issued an instigator against Detroit.
Chara was involved in a tussle with Sabres newcomer Cody McCormick with 0.2 seconds remaining in the third period. The two teams don't play again until Monday in Boston, giving the league an extra day to determine a ruling.
Ennis comes up big
Tyler Ennis played only 10 games during the regular season and gave the Sabres no choice but to keep him for the playoffs. Now, through five post-season games, he's suddenly their leading scorer.
Ennis helped set up Jason Pominville's goal that gave the Sabres a 2-0 lead in the first period and backhanded a loose puck while diving across the ice into an empty net to put the final touches on the Sabres' 4-1 victory.
The 163-pound rookie has a goal and three assist in five games in these playoffs. He looked overwhelmed early in the series but has grown more comfortable as the series carried along.
"Every game, I'm learning stuff," said Ennis, who was named the AHL rookie of the year while playing for Portland. "My first few games, there was a lot of adjustment and there's still adjustment. I'm getting more confident and making better plays. Every game, you're learning something."
Rask shaky
Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask gave up three goals for the second time in the series but looked shaky from the start. Adam Mair scored on a wraparound that bounced off Rask's stick, off his skate and landed behind him. He also looked lost when Mike Grier beat him with a wrist shot off a faceoff in the second period.
"Sometimes, things don't go the way you planned," Rask said. "We've got to figure out what went wrong and be ready for the next one. There was no emotion flowing out there. It's disappointing when we're not ready."
Pominville produces
Jason Pominville had a goal and set up another in his best game of the series. Pominville was among several veteran forwards who were criticized by coach Lindy Ruff for not producing in the first four games. Pominville had one goal and no assists in the series before Game 5.
"After taking heat, it feels good," Pominville said. "The heat, I don't know if that's the reason or what. We put pressure on ourselves to do well."
Notes
The Sabres have led for more than 127 minutes in the series but still trail three games to two. The Bruins have led for 19 minutes and 40 seconds. ... Tim Connolly failed to record a point for the fourth time in five games. He has just one assist in the series. ... Buffalo blocked 26 shots in Game Five while Boston blocked nine.
The Sabres gave the Bruins what both teams anticipated in Friday's Game 5, which was Buffalo's best game in the best-of-seven series in a 4-1 victory. The series now shifts back to Boston for Game 6 with Buffalo hoping to come home for Game 7.
"We're definitely making things interesting now," said Miller, who stopped 34 shots. "Now that they've seen our best game, they have to react to our best game."
The Sabres landed in a world of trouble with their failure to put away the Bruins early in the series. They blew a two-goal lead in Game 2 and again in Game 4. They scored the first two goals again Friday, then added a third before finding an empty net.
Buffalo still has plenty of work ahead after dropping both games in Boston. The Sabres have never won a series after losing three of the first four games. The Bruins have a 14-1 record when winning in the same situation, the lone loss coming in 2004 to Montreal.
"You have to give them credit," Bruins winger Blake Wheeler said. "They took it to us, and we didn't answer at any point in the game."
Chara in hot water
Bruins defenceman Zdeno Chara was given an instigator penalty in the closing seconds of Game 5, which should mean he would be automatically suspended for the next game according to league rules. The penalty was not announced after the game.
It would be surprising if the NHL held up the automatic penalty in the playoffs. Last year, the league rescinded a suspension last year during the Stanley Cup final after Penguins center Evgeni Malkin was issued an instigator against Detroit.
Chara was involved in a tussle with Sabres newcomer Cody McCormick with 0.2 seconds remaining in the third period. The two teams don't play again until Monday in Boston, giving the league an extra day to determine a ruling.
Ennis comes up big
Tyler Ennis played only 10 games during the regular season and gave the Sabres no choice but to keep him for the playoffs. Now, through five post-season games, he's suddenly their leading scorer.
Ennis helped set up Jason Pominville's goal that gave the Sabres a 2-0 lead in the first period and backhanded a loose puck while diving across the ice into an empty net to put the final touches on the Sabres' 4-1 victory.
The 163-pound rookie has a goal and three assist in five games in these playoffs. He looked overwhelmed early in the series but has grown more comfortable as the series carried along.
"Every game, I'm learning stuff," said Ennis, who was named the AHL rookie of the year while playing for Portland. "My first few games, there was a lot of adjustment and there's still adjustment. I'm getting more confident and making better plays. Every game, you're learning something."
Rask shaky
Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask gave up three goals for the second time in the series but looked shaky from the start. Adam Mair scored on a wraparound that bounced off Rask's stick, off his skate and landed behind him. He also looked lost when Mike Grier beat him with a wrist shot off a faceoff in the second period.
"Sometimes, things don't go the way you planned," Rask said. "We've got to figure out what went wrong and be ready for the next one. There was no emotion flowing out there. It's disappointing when we're not ready."
Pominville produces
Jason Pominville had a goal and set up another in his best game of the series. Pominville was among several veteran forwards who were criticized by coach Lindy Ruff for not producing in the first four games. Pominville had one goal and no assists in the series before Game 5.
"After taking heat, it feels good," Pominville said. "The heat, I don't know if that's the reason or what. We put pressure on ourselves to do well."
Notes
The Sabres have led for more than 127 minutes in the series but still trail three games to two. The Bruins have led for 19 minutes and 40 seconds. ... Tim Connolly failed to record a point for the fourth time in five games. He has just one assist in the series. ... Buffalo blocked 26 shots in Game Five while Boston blocked nine.
