Too bad the NHL won’t score that an Own Goal
Oct 15, 2007 NHL
After trailing much of the game 2-0 to the Toronto Maple Leafs, scoring exploded in the third period leading to a 4-4 regulation tie. Sabres scoring continued to be balanced as Vanek, Pominville, Mair and Hecht tallied goals in the 3rd period, to be matched in kind by the Leafs. Ryan Miller was in the building but Jocelyn Thibault got his first start as a Sabre and, well, didn’t suck. Miller had returned late from his cousin’s funeral.
The third and overtime were high-flying, back and forth affairs of chances, until a trip on Vanek IIRC led to a Sabres power play. They buzzed 4 on 3 around a surprisingly stout Andrew Raycroft until Ales Kotalik rocketed a shot off the post with seconds left in OT. Leafs defenseman Brian McCabe swiped at it to knock it into the corner to force a shootout…but instead bounced it off the post again and into his own net. Sabres win, 5-4 on that Own goal.
Special recognition to Jochen Hecht, who had the goal that forced OT and an assist. He has played very, very well as the Sabres captain this month and has earned a new 4 year contract, if rumors are true.
More troubling is Jaroslav Spacek getting his face smashed into the boards by Antropov. Jaro skated off under his own power, but it wasn’t exactly a straight path. He and Soupy have been outstanding offensively so far, hope he’s okay.
Tags: B-Lo Sports, Hockey, injury, maple leafs, NHL, sabres, Spacek, toronto
