Round 1 Buffalo(TigerToa) 3 - Pittsburgh (Frankididou) 2

The high flying Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres met in the first round of the playoffs in an intense battle that will be considered one for the ages. (details below are best as I could remember ... scores are accurate)

Game 1
Pit 0 @ Buf 2 (F)
Both teams came out and tried to dictate their style of play in the game as Penguins came out hitting hard while the Sabres tried to play their puck pocession game. It seemed as both offences suffered as chances were very slim even during the Sabres powerplays. The Sabres broke the goose eggs late in the 1st period to take a 1-0 lead into the second frame. The war continued as neither goalie faltered and no pucks found twine. In the third, the Sabres were able to add an insurance goal early and Miller reinforced wall he had built in the Sabres net as the Penguins fire power was brought to bear as much as they could ... but with a total of 24 shots between the two teams, not much was available.

Game 2
Buf 4 @ Pit 2 (F)
The teams took no time to reaquaint themselves as the the intensity seemed to creep even further as the offences adjusted are were able to get more shots off. As in the first game, the Sabres drew first blood in the first period to take 1-0 lead into the second. The script had changed however, as the Penguins went on the power play and Crosby was able to beat Miller to tie the game up. The Sabres came back and scored two more goals, but the Penguins would not be denied and scored late in the third to bring the game back to within one. Early in the third, the Sabres scored to make it a 4-2 game and held on tight as the Pens started to take control of the flow of the game as a sign of things to come. Only thanks to Millers great saves did the score stay 4-2.

Game 3
Pit 3 @ Buf 0 (F)
With a renewed vigor, the Penguins stormed back and totally dominated the Sabres, not only scoring first, but also holding the stunned Sabres to 2 shots. The talented Pittsburgh squad smelled blood and continued their imitiation of their football brothers Steel Curtain through the second while extending the special team dominance with a power play goal that pinballed off a Sabres defender into his own net. In the third just when the Sabres got some life, the Penguins scored again driving a final dagger into the hometown team. Fleury barely broke a sweat during the game but was there when it counted.

Game 4
Buf 1 @ Pit 3 (F)
The Sabres were able to seemingly turn up the offence in the first period with an early goal but the moment was short lived as the Penguins came back and respond with one of their own. From then on the play went back and forth with the defences getting the better of both teams. But the Pens eventually solved the now human Miller and take a 2-1 lead into the third and added injury to insult with a spectacular hit on the Sabres Connolly who crumbled on the ice and had to be helped off to an early visit to the trainers table. Once again the Sabres powerplay failed to provide any sort of a spark and the Penguins added a third insurance goal.

Game 5
Pit 1 @ Buf 2 (F)
In a gut wrenching, controller soaking final game, both teams laid their sweat and tears on the ice and a battle escalated even further. With both teams getting a few chances in the first period, both goalies were stellar in shutting out the big guns. In the second period,the Pens came out storming and were able to get one past Miller early. As the hometown team squandered two more powerplays, it was looking bleak for the fans. As the third opened both teams had many seeming open nets but some spectacular defensive play kept the score at 1-0. The Sabres eventually were able to get another one past Fleury 5 minutes into the third frame. From then on, it was a battle of wills as no inch was given freely. But the goalies and defense stayed true keeping the score at 1-1. Then with just under a minute left, the puck somehow found its way to Drew Stafford in front of the net with very little room. As he was getting hit he somehow managed to get a shot away just over the pad and the glove of Fleury. Through the next 53 long seconds the Sabres and Miller were able to stave off the high pwered Pens and seal a very tough victory

Short video of the goal ...
http://www.easportsworld.com/en_US/video/3531250

Great games Franki, Outside of the 3rd game, I thought they all could of went either way! Enjoyed every gut wrenching second of it!