Miller, Kuleta lead Sabres over the Flyers

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Ryan Miller made 35 saves and Patrick Kuleta scored the only goal of the game as the Buffalo Sabres took Game One of their first round match-up against the Philadelphia Flyers to take a 1-0 series lead. Game Two is Saturday night in Philadelphia. Miller was the star of the night as the Flyers outshot and outhustled the Sabres for most of the night but Buffalo hung on just long enough for Kuleta to be the hero. On the game-winning goal, Marc-Andre Gragnani put a shot on net that Sergei Bobvrovsky saved but the rebound came out to Kuleta who despite having a Flyers’ defenseman draped all over him slammed home the rebound for the only goal of the game.

“I just went to the net,” Kaleta said. “It started out with Gerbs (Nathan Gerbe) down low, being hard on the puck, tough on the puck. Goose (Paul Gaustad) made a great pass to Grags (Gragnani), and Grags, good shot. I just went to the net and finished the rebound.” The Flyers played Game One without their top defenseman Chris Pronger, but could get him back for Game Two if doctors clear him to play. Down 1-0 and a facing a potential mountain to climb if he doesn’t come back in time for Game Two, the series with the Sabres could be over almost as soon as it began. One question was answered when Bobvrovsky, who made 24 saves on 25 shots, answered the bell and his critics in Game One. Now it will be up to the Flyers anemic offense to get on track in support of the young netminder. Once again the power play was held in check going 0-5 including a brief 5-on-3 situation. Buffalo went 0-1. The Flyers had 40 hits in the game while the Sabres had 36 and the Flyers and won 54 percent of the face-offs, but Buffalo had 16 blocked shots to while Philly only blocked 4. Contact the author at brian.jennings@ prohockeynews.com
Contact the photographer at Lewis.Bleiman@prohockeynews.com