Senators close to final as Alfredsson cuts down Sabres
OTTAWA: The Ottawa Senators took a huge step toward the Stanley Cup playoffs on Monday when they beat the Buffalo Sabres 1-0 with a lucky goal to take a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
One more victory will put the current Senators franchise in the last round for the first time in its history. Only two teams have ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a post-season National Hockey League series.
"We just have to continue to battle and be disciplined and hope we can get another couple of pucks past the goal tender," said Ottawa's head coach Bryan Murray.
Game Four is in Ottawa today and the winner of the series will play either the Detroit Red Wings or the Anaheim Mighty Ducks for the Stanley Cup.
"Nothing is guaranteed. It's great the way the guys have performed," said Senators goal tender Ray Emery.
Daniel Alfredsson scored the winning goal at 13:40 in the second period after a long range shot from Dany Heatley came straight back off the boards, hit the arm of outstretched Sabres goal tender Ryan Miller and slid toward the goal. Alfredsson darted in to fire home from a couple of inches.
"It's tough. We ruined a pretty good performance by the goal tender ... you've got to remain positive," said Buffalo head coach Lindy Ruff, calling the goal "a tough break".
Buffalo looked second best throughout and only managed a paltry 15 shots on goal, relying on a series of great saves from Miller to keep them in the game. He stopped 31 shots.
"We needed to do something to generate some life and we didn't," said Ruff, who praised Alfredsson.
The 34-year-old Swede, whose sluggish performances were widely blamed for Ottawa's tame post-season exit last year, has now scored in the last five games.
"I've been in the right place at the right time for the last few games ... I think I'm a better player this year," said Alfredsson.
Ottawa won the opening two games in Buffalo - the second on Saturday in double overtime - and both teams looked to be suffering the after-effects of that marathon.
Buffalo were a sorry zero for six on the power play and have failed to score on any of the 18 occasions they have enjoyed a man advantage over Ottawa in this series so far. The Senators were zero for seven on their own power play.
"They (the Sabres) did a really great job tonight of playing really responsible defense," said Emery.
Agencies
(China Daily 05/16/2007 page24)
