04-06 Sabres-Lightning Postgame with Derek Kramer

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Yeah, Perry's been out there for 56 seconds. Here's Quinn walking in, trying to get to the front

of the net. That's left in the corner, up top for Dulley, sleep to the cross for Shotskars!

Jason Zucker!

Three, two, Sabers 12-22 remaining in the second period.

That's the game winning goal courtesy of Jason Zucker. That's our goal of the game. It's brought to you

by Roswell Park Comprehensive Campus Cancer Center. Early detection of cancer is our goal

to get in the game at roswellpark.org slash WGR, the Buffalo Sabers winning 4-2 over the Tampa Bay

Lightning, tying the lightning once again for the Atlantic Division lead in points. As the Sabers

go 3-0 and 1 against Tampa, collecting 7 of all possible 8 points on the season against their

Atlantic Division rivals in the Tampa Bay Lightning. Derek Kramer here with you in the press box

at Keybank Center. A sell-out crowd once again here in Buffalo as they watch on a dingus day.

The Sabers giving the 4-2 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning. We'll get a chance to look

at the final stats of the game. It's brought to you by level financial advisors helping you retire

better. Visit levelfa.com. The Shots Sabers 29 to Tampa's 25. Face-offs pretty even in this one

Tampa with a 31-28 edge on face-off wins in this one. Special teams did kind of tell a story,

but it did not tell enough of it in the win for the Sabers. They go over four on the power play.

Tampa Bay gets one in the first period. They finish one of five on the man advantage in this game.

The Sabers getting the win here tonight, having a chance now with the win in regulation. They tie

Tampa Bay in points and the Montreal Canadiens now standing behind both the Sabers and the Lightning

Montreal sitting at 100 points as Tampa Bay and Buffalo now tied at 102 on this season.

Alex Tux going the first goal of this game and well speaking of Alex Tux. He's one of the three

stars in this one. It's brought to you by Blue Star Home Services. You're heating and cooling

experts ready to improve your home's comfort game plan. Get started at blue star hs.com.

Tuck is the first star of this game. His 30th of the season. Ukepeca-Lukin in with the win

there. 23 saves on at 25 shots. He is star number two in this game. Meanwhile, it's Jason Zucker at

star number three for the Sabers there as Zucker was able to score his 23rd of the season. It is

the game winning goal again in this one. The four to victory for the Buffalo Sabers over the Tampa Bay

Lightning. This period was a lot less eventful as compared to the other two. A lot less in terms

of penalty calls, a lot less in terms of any man advantage, special teams that you had to deal

with in this one and of course there's only one goal scored in this game and that is courtesy of

Jack Quinn on the empty netter. He does a great job handling it as the puck exits the zone

and then he's able to turn around, lobs it into the empty net, giving the Sabers the cushion that

they would need to be able to go away with this one winning a two goal margin of victory there for

the Sabers at four to two. But there was a couple of interesting plays in this one. In particular,

there was one that almost kind of puzzled people right away initially at 404 left. Tampa pulled the

goalie but it was because the Sabers got caught on an icing. John Cooper tried to have an opportunity

there to take advantage of some tired Sabers players there but face off the one right back to

Luke and he covers it up and two seconds later Vasiliski is already back in the net. Again,

it's a very low event. The Sabers get back to doing what they did for a good portion of that 40

game stretch where they were winning at a really good rate and what they were doing a decent amount

of the time is being able to park the bus, shut it down, being able to lock it up defensively and

if there were opportunities or rebounds kicking them over to the boards, kicking them over to the

corner, making sure that they were supporting Ukipakalukin in that third period as Tampa Bay tried

to put more of the pressure on. We'll be going down the locker rooms momentarily as Paul Hamilton's

getting into the locker room there and when we do get our locker room reports, it's brought to

you by outlet liquor. When you need to stock up, it's the place to buy a case. What's your outlet?

And we go now there now with Bob Irham. Bob, it just seemed like you guys were back to your game

as far as, I mean, you were halfway through the third period. I think you only give it up three

shots. It really seemed like defending what guys effort. Well, how did you feel? Yeah, I thought

that was our best game and I don't know probably since we played them last, maybe a few games after

that. We played pretty well, but I think it was just big for us to have a big emotional game again

and we knew it was going to be that coming into this one. So we all reset quick after that trip and

we had a reset, especially the defensive effort. The coverage is just the details on the defensive

aspect. Yeah, I think it's tough. We've been on such a good run there and not making excuses for

ourselves, but it's bound to come to an end at some point. So hopefully that's behind us and

we can stack a few more wins together before the end here. How much did it help you? Just the fans,

we're into it right off the opening draw. I mean, they were into it. Did that kind of get the

blood flowing for you guys too? Yeah, I think so. It was a big shot of adrenaline. I know for myself,

so they've been given us a lot of energy lately and it's been a blast playing in front of them.

Is there a confidence or a calmness that comes as a defender when you have to be playing so well?

Yeah, for sure. All our goal is a bit unreal this year. You know, whenever we need to save,

they seem to make it, so it's been fun playing in front of them and it's been awesome.

See them have so much success. You find out. You find Alex for the first. I mean, how much

should it feel like Alex just motoring out there all night? Yeah, he's playing well. You know,

he seemed to have 20 shots on goal himself and skate and moving his feet, track and hard. So,

you know, when you have your leaders like that, playing so well, everyone usually falls suit.

Bullbuyer, I'm on the post game, Brian, but I'm sorry to tear it back to you.

Thanks, Rob. I mean, Paul. As Bullbuyer, I'm there. He gets to assist on the evening.

He assists on the first goal there, as Alex Tuck comes right out of the penalty box,

Tuck with a lot of speed able to go right into the slot. And speaking of Alex Tuck, we go back to Paul.

Playing against a really good opponent, potential playoff matchup down the stretch here. I think

it's thought we played a really hard fought match, thought full 60. Everyone was going.

We didn't back off. We played together as a unit. And something that we've been missing

in the last couple of games, thought also a really good start. Definitely myself included,

especially definitely needs to stay out of the box a little bit, especially against the power

play that that's lethal, but I thought a pukated job.

Fending up to the last game and seem like you guys were back to defending extremely well.

What went with that is with that you guys were able to defend well tonight.

Yeah, we just committed to it. Every line that went out there didn't get scored on.

That was a big reason for such a...

But no, I thought the commitment was there from all 20 guys, and then we had to be playing

like a groupie place on Louisville.

Alex, how does this team want to build off this game to develop some more late season

events, whether it's winning back to back games, playing with the same bloodline intensity

or playing for the playoffs? Yeah, I think it hit the nail on the head there.

No, I mean, we gotta take this and take the confidence that we get away from wins like this,

and we gotta roll with it. Honestly, because when it comes down to playoffs, it's usually the hottest

team that makes it the farthest, and a team that has a really good base and structure,

and some of the deepest teams. I think we can check off all those boxes.

I'm really excited. I'm really proud of our group tonight.

I'm excited to finish off strong, a couple more games, another home game, and playoffs.

Seems like you were flying tonight. You got the goal coming out of the penalty box, plus you had

great opportunities, and it seemed like because of skating, you got some great opportunities.

It looked like you felt pretty good out there. Yeah, I needed the resort back to that.

It's been a little inconsistent for myself, I think. I had a little minor injury a couple

weeks, but a month ago that I think was a sped excuse, but I don't think I was getting back to

my game as much as I could of, and I thought tonight was a solid game. I just gotta keep skating,

like you said. That's a big component of my game, and I think I can, if I can continue to do that,

I could be a lot more effective than I have been as of late.

Do you talk about coming to games when you were a kid when this franchise was a playoff team?

What was it like to be a player to come out in that atmosphere tonight?

Oh, it's incredible. It's incredible. I wasn't able to make it to any playoff games growing

up sadly, but no, it's mean to be able to even watch on TV was phenomenal, and you see the crowd,

I mean, they're all in. They got their backs, and they're excited. They deserve this.

How important does it make it for you to get home on this advantage when you see the energy

that they bring? Yeah, I think this is going to be one of the hardest buildings

that they'll need to play in. When we got a crowd like that, especially, and we're playing that

well on home ice, so home ice advantage I think is huge in the playoffs, so we're going to keep

trying to push forward. Alex is entertaining as that 8-7 game was a couple a month ago or so.

How important were you to shut things down in a third period with you holding a 3-2 lead?

Big, and it's huge. Obviously, you've got to win out of it, but just knowing that you have that

in your back pocket, and you can score, but you can always also defend well, I think it's huge.

It's a big confidence boost for a team. What do you have on the top of the team like you

used to tonight? What is it in still and you guys? It's a confidence. He has their backs whenever

we have a minor breakdown, or sometimes a big breakdown, and I thought he was phenomenal

and I made some big saves when we needed it and really helped our team towards two points.

Why were you able to? You took 7 out of 8 points from this hockey team, and you basically had to

do that if you were going to catch them. What was it with this team that you were able to do well

against them? I don't know. I think we just kept battling. I thought tonight, especially,

we came out and we had a really good start, and we just won some more battles I thought

then we had in the past couple of games, and so yeah, we just got to really keep them momentum

and be hard to play against. Thank you, Alex. Alex, talk on the post game. There. Okay,

I'm going to hold it here and see if I can get a mic in. I'm looking in. It might not be easy,

but we'll see what we can do here. Okay, here we go.

Looks like we're not going to get an ukepa ka lukin in there, as Paul is trying to get everything

going in the locker room again. Those reports I brought to you by outlet liquor when you need

to stock up. It's the place to buy a case. What's your outlet? Excuse us as we're dealing

with a little of playoffs. There it is. I think we were skating well today. We didn't get

dragged into the kind of the modded game today, and I think we just played a solid game overall.

What's the motivation level for you when you're seeing a bassy making saves like that at the

other end of the guys? Are you inspired by that or motivated or what goes through? I mean, it's

always fun to play against him. Probably we'll go down as one of the best players ever do it, so

it's always great to get to watch him get to play against him. In the end, it's just like any other

game you don't think about it too much, but as I said, it's always a cool situation. What

into the went into the defensive effort in front of you? Way through the third period, you didn't

give it up to three shots. That was it. I mean, you really did play a good defensive game as a team.

What went into that? Yeah.

Excuse us with the little disruptions there. Okapeka, Luke and in speaking with the media 23 saves

on the evening as well as his first assist on the year on the empty net goal as Luke and in

ends up the second star of this game as well. So, UPL having himself a great night there,

especially in that third period where the Sabers do what they've been doing a good portion of

the season, which is being able to lock it down, find their way, steady income on the defensive side,

and making sure that they limit the dangerous chances that are going on throughout the evening

there. Looking in again, 23 saves on 25 shots in this game here tonight. Four of the Sabers in

the 4-2 went over Tampa Bay. Alex Tuck was speaking with the media earlier as well as you just heard

him there. 30th goal of the year. Six shots on goal for Tuck in this game as well as Tuck played

just shy of 18 minutes. He ended up with 17.59 time on ice this evening. Bo Byram also speaking

with the media there. He had two assists on the night as Byram was very steady in this game.

21.16 total time on ice in this one just over two minutes of power play time as well as two and a

half on short-handed as well. Byram gets the first assist of the game. He sees Tuck coming out

of the box. Tuck's able to attack that with speed going right into the middle and Alex Tuck was able

to bury that to get the Sabers started with the first goal of this game. As the Sabers once again

in 4-2 over the Tampa Bay Lightning, Buffalo tying the Lightning now with 102 points on the season

and Tampa Bay may still have the game in hand but the Sabers they might have helped their case

here in terms of the Atlantic Division race as well as best as they could because they go

301 getting seven of a possible eight points in the four games against Tampa Bay. This season it's

an impressive set here by Buffalo. They win four to two. Of course there's the eight seven game.

They win six to two in the second matchup and of course even in the first one they still

managed to get a point out of it when they lost four to three to Tampa Bay on the road.

Sabers played themselves a complete game in this one. I think that there was a lot that was done

that I was very impressed with the line of Josh Done, Josh Norris and Zach Benson. The three of

them were creating turnovers. Norris's goal is paramount on that. There's a turnover in the

neutral zone. Benson creates it. Don't drop it off for Norris and Norris who had not scored in

nine games. He breaks a nine game scoring drought. He ends up on the goal sheet there

and again it will allow the Sabers to get themselves a lead that would go into the first period.

It's a great game there also Benson in a way really trying to create havoc, creating all sorts of

chaos that he's known to do. He ends up taking a trade off on a roughing penalty with Jake Gensel and

nothing against Zach Benson but that's a trade off that. You keep a 30 plus goal scorer off the

ice. It's not necessarily a bad thing in terms of that when it comes to four on four hockey.

The goal is in this one again. Alex Tuck started it in Kitakutrava tying it up Norris helping

taking it to a two one lead. Then Jake Gensel tied the game in the second period before Jason

Zuckers game winning goal. His 23rd of the season Jack Quinn capping it off with the empty net as we

are going to be waiting for Paul Hamilton at the end as he is still in the locker room right now.

Oh and we're waiting for head coach Lindy Ruff as well as the rush press conference will be

going on in just a few moments in this one.

Now what's left for the Sabers? Well up next they'll be able to take on the New York Rangers.

The Rangers at Madison Square Garden have not had themselves the best of time this year.

They have only 14 wins at home on the season though they have won a couple of games as of late in

Madison Square Garden but the Sabers having an opportunity here to try to take advantage of

an opponent that they should be able to defeat here.

And now Tampa Bay they're going to have themselves a little bit tougher of a schedule coming up here.

The Sabers are one of five straight Atlantic Division opponents that they have to end the season

all five of them in or fighting for playoff position. They lose the Buffalo tonight and Tampa Bay's

got Ottawa Monterey all that's going to be one to look at at the top of the standings there hoping for

you know on our end no overtime. Boston Detroit and then they'll end their season at home against

the Rangers. As for Monterey they've got a lot to say about the Atlantic Division as the season

is heading towards its close. The abs had won eight straight before they lost against New Jersey

yesterday. They'll end the season with the Panthers, then Tampa Bay, Columbus, the Islanders and

then Philadelphia as this race is tightening up even more so than a lot of fans would have expected.

If not for the fact that the Canadians had won eight games in a row it was looking like a two team

race for a good part to end this season between Buffalo and Tampa. The Sabers winning in regulation

does help. As again Buffalo taking a two point advantage now on Montreal tying with Tampa Bay at

those 102 points. They're both tied with regulation wins at 39 that's a primary tiebreaker for

these teams as well. So if the Sabers can keep pace they'll have a chance to be able to host

and stay on the inside track for the one seed as well.

Right now though as it looks Tampa because of the game in hand they do have the tiebreaker based

on points percentage. They would be taking on Boston Buffalo would be the home team or at least

they would get the fourth home game against Montreal as the standings look right now. Ottawa currently

at Wild Card 2 90 points there again they'll take on Tampa Bay next. The Islanders the Red Wings,

Blue Jackets and the capitals all fighting for a position there as well as the Philadelphia

Flyers who are now in third place in the Metro Polyton Division.

So the Sabers once again having themselves an opportunity here it was a rockest crowd too

by the way the crowd having a great time in this one it's dingus day it's a very

Buffalo-esque holiday of sorts where you know you celebrate Polish heritage and

it's a very fun day festive day around here and of course with the Sabers the moment

and the Sabers did a great job I think of stepping up into the moment they didn't let Tampa

try to bully them around again they didn't let anything get out of hand either though

and then of course they start early they get the first goal and when they do score the first goal

the Sabers are very good at being able to get things going and finish them off at the end of the day.

The injury report brought to you by Hamburg overhead door is your garage door

injured call the experts at Hamburg overhead door to get your door healthy again we didn't see

anything injury-wise for the Sabers and we'll go over to Lindy Ruffin right now.

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You know how to wash in the game I thought I spent a lot of time with looking a lot of stuff

this morning with the group and talking about how we need to play and I thought the guys put

in a great effort. What can you say about just the way Alex talked?

Yeah I mean it was like a rapid fire chance in the second period where he could have had two or

three and a great goal to lead it off but I thought he skated incredible in the game because I

just penalty killing was really good it was a big night for him I mean I thought our top

players had a good night like Nora said a good night and Alex had a good night that

Tom are really skated well competed so it was a night we needed our top guys and I thought they

they came through for us. Look at that it's on his saves but I mean he was a sharp all night

he has a left ski just pretty hard on him huh yeah there's some good saves I made a great save on

Cory Perry right there with about six minutes left in the third period I thought both goal tenders

made plenty of good saves didn't have a lot but I had to make good saves and he gave us a great

effort the big reason why we want to uh just the way it was into the game they pulled

out Celesky with the fourth line on the ice and he you know crowds of puck right off the draw it

holds it to get the fourth line off it's just a play of goal he has to really be into the game

didn't know what to do with that. Yeah I mean a good great thinking by them to pull the goal

at that moment but countered by what he did wasn't just tells you how into the game he was and uh

he even tried for an empty net goal which I my thought at the end of that I said to him

hell of a try. This wasn't as animated of a game as the last meeting between the two teams was

that a important way for the team this game to really keep your composure against the lighting

that didn't seem like they wanted to be animated so it was uh it was a game I think both teams

knew the importance of winning a hockey game. What do you make of what this Atlantic division race

is going to come down to over these next 10 days? It's just one heck of a battle I mean I think

yet when you look at it you got to take a lot of pride in the fact that you made the playoffs in

a year where this division and this conference was so incredibly tough um I think the the effort by

our group from December on uh has been I mean has been sort of second to none to get to where we're at

this was a big game for us this was a big test for us tonight because we knew how big this game was

we knew it was against the team was sitting there just ahead of us we didn't play well in the

previous two games and good teams know how to you know have some pushback and I thought our guy

said great pushback. You got a big safe we're going to immediately to see 10-2 when he makes that

fixate right off the bat you know you've got him for the game he seems like he really fuels him

when he makes that big save right off the bat. I think it helps any goal tender like at the same

time I think it hurts some guys when they when they don't make it but I think getting that good save

you it goalies got to feel good I mean not a goalie but you would have to think that you know

you're you're seeing the puck you're moving well you made a good save and and you got to feel good

you know from that point on that uh you're seeing the puck pretty well.

Vinnie you're running a few guys that knows how electric this bar can be when it's playoffs or

playoff type atmosphere given that how important is it for your young team for home ice advantage

to be able to be fueled by what we saw tonight. Yeah I think the uh the energy and the building

was was incredible the uh I think you could you could sense tension you could sense excitement

you could you know when the game got too too it was it it was like a a real playoff atmosphere

where you know you the game could go either way they're waiting for our response the response when

we scored was incredible uh you know I saw a few clips before the game of some stuff in the

where they had the haggle thing and people were punching the haggle dummy on the way into the

building you know everybody's into it and uh I think you know I think our fans have been waiting

for this for a while so it's good to see. The Logan Stanley Luke Shen pairing how effective was

that on defense tonight? One particular work. I think the other team was pretty quiet so I think

it was very effective. Yeah you know I think there are matchups that will work I think there's

you know if you need speed matchups we've got we've got some guys in the back we can utilize

in for different opportunities. We felt this was going to be a game where we needed him we needed

his heavyness I think he his penalty killing was good um I thought he knocked a few people

over I thought overall his puck play was was good inside the game and he kept the game in front of

him um like any good veteran player would do entertaining is that 8-7 game was but um how important

was it to hold that lead in the third period and not let it get loose he was seeing that way?

I think we've seen a lot of third periods like this out of our club and we've talked about how

we need to play um don't do anything crazy um we'll get opportunities they'll press we'll get

opportunities uh if we don't we know if we if we play the right way and we defend the way we've

defended all year that we can close out the game at 3-2 and that's really the approach that you

need to take is they need to score two and if if you don't hand them anything um you're probably

going to get yourself a pretty good opportunity of winning the hockey game thanks thanks Lindy

Lindy Ruff post game there and that is after the Sabers 4-2 victory over the 10th bay lightning

Ruff with a couple of interesting things there UPL couple big says he notes the first one

there uh that he brings up is uh on Cory Perry that was in a pretty big grouping there was a

trio of big saves by UPL starting with Perry then he gets another one with Kutrov and then he

makes the final save uh snagging the puck on the point shot there from from radish and then with

404 left Tampa pulling their goalie and Luke and in attacks the face off covers the puck up so

that there's able to be a change and then John Cooper immediately shuffles back his left ski off

of the bench back into the net to try again later instead because the Sabers are able to get their

change as we'll be getting ready to speak with Paul Hamilton as the Sabers again 4-2

over the 10th bay lightning after Lindy Ruff press conference there

and again the Sabers 3-0-1 against Tampa Bay this season he brings out Lindy Ruff brought up the

Stanley Shen pairing today he just said it bluntly I think it was very effective crediting Shen

on his ability with the penalty kill a couple big hits in this one Shen did have himself overall

what you'd hope for a third pairing defenseman to do quite honestly um make sure you're not

hurting the team in terms of letting on letting goals in on the ice he was out there for one of them

against as it was a failed clearing attempt by Stanley Krebs couldn't get it along the wall

Tampa Bay does end up scoring that one but overall they do end up even in the plus-minus so they

do make up for it there and again as long as a third pairing is not detrimental to you that's

exactly what you need them to be 1254 of total time on ice for Luke Shen tonight 1244 Logan Stanley

in this one

at this time we will take a moment to say goodnight to our network affiliates if you want to hear more

of the post game you'll be able to hear it on our website at wgr550.com on the flagship website or

on the Odyssey app so for our network affiliates we say goodnight to you the Sabers getting the four

two victory over the Tampa Bay lightning in front of a sellout crowd here at Keybank Center

more post game coming up on the other side here on the Buffalo Sabers radio the Toyota Tundra and

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the first one here tonight in a big hit of one of the wall is gyrgansons crumpled there by

Luke Shen he and Stanley on the ice now

Luke Shen with your collision of the game it's brought to you by Dan Chacha injury attorneys don't

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your upstate Honda dealers for great deals on the entire Honda lineup visit your local

upstate Honda dealer today ukepaq alukin and Lindy Ruff brought this one up with a big save

on Corey Perry behind the net chafy forced up the wall sirens backhand pass

riparian lucan and gets over great stop by uco peca lucan in one of his 23 saves on 25 shots on

the evening and routes above those four to two victory over the Tampa Bay lightning the

savers go three oh and one against the lightning this season getting seven of a possible eight

points against their Atlantic division rival and now darekramer here with you in the press box with

now joined by Paul Hamilton Paul the savers find their way through they do a pretty good job

defensively and they take it home yeah i mean i looked i think it was just after the 10 minute

market the third period i looked up in the shots for three to two for Tampa which is exactly what

buffalo wanted that that meant they were playing you know their defense very well they weren't giving

up anything um when they did lucan was able to make the saves but that's the buffalo defense we

had watched for a long long period of time starting december 9th i mean they had they had defended

one goal leads quite a bit during that time and they did it against a better team than normal that

they had to do it and the thing is you know they came into the Tampa series starting in the

beginning of February right before uh you know the Olympic break they had not played Tampa all year

long so four games were coming up Tampa had a good lead on buffalo and we were talking about it with

Brian and i remember saying you know you can't win four games in one night you basically probably

are going to have to beat them all four times you get back in it but you can only win the first game

tonight and that game was the one they blew with like 20 seconds left they had they had the two

points and Tampa had none and it was disappointing to them because they felt like they let a point

get away they lost i think Gensel scored an overtime right at the end like right before the buzzer

and instead of getting two and Tampa none Tampa got two and buffalo got one and i remember saying

to Brian that i said okay you still have three you've got the one point and you just have to

look at the next one you can't win three in one night you just got to win the one and that's what

they did they won all three and took seven out of eight points from an extremely good team one

of the best teams in if not be best team in the eastern conference and got themselves back into

this and put themselves in position to win the Atlantic division and in position to win the

eastern conference depending on how things go here at the at the end so kudos to them to be

able to pull that off against Tampa you know and and to come back and win some of those games and

especially after the disappointment of that first game and you win the next three from them to

take six out of six points and seven out of eight overall i mean as disappointed as they were not

to get two points in that first game if we would have said before they started okay you guys don't

have to play the game we'll give you seven out of the eight points don't you think they take it

just a little bit there Paul um you PL though by the way three no against Tampa he had a trio of big

saves on Perry Kutrov radish Lindy Ruff bring up that big one on Perry in particular you PL

probably i would imagine has already solidified his case but a night like tonight is another

reason that i would expect that gold tender number one for the post season is going to be you PL

yeah and you feel bad for Alex lying in the last game that wasn't his fall i mean i mean it was

just the team did not play well in front of him the two before that he struggled and he you know

said he's the first one he he he stands up and he talks and he he's honest and he didn't try to hide

after those games um he had had great games before that he actually shut out sanose before those

two games and that was the game that uh you know and then the next game was the one that he lost in

overtime and had he won it that would have tied the NHL record for most consecutive wins on the road

by a gold tender with eleven he had ten so you know he got the overtime point in that one and

wound up ten zero and one and eleven games on the road so you don't have to worry about Alex

lying as far as you know hurting his feelings or whatever he knows if he doesn't play well and he'll

say so um and he had played well before that so you know he would like to find his mojo again

and again he gave up three the other night and it wasn't his fault at all i mean the savers

as rasmus down lean felt you know that was bad that was as bad as they ever played in front of

their goal and he he kind of felt they they hung both their gold tenders out the dry in that game

so um but luke it in has just been playing so well since the ninth of december i looked it up

three games ago with him uh he led the league in in save percentage since december 9th at

nine twenty two he has played three games since then but he hasn't done anything i i don't think

to hurt that save percentage uh so it wouldn't surprise him if he still leads the leagues since december

9th and save percentage Paul last one here for you as uh we're gonna real quick uh bring in the

injury report brought to you by hamburger go overhead door is your garage door injured call the

experts at hamburger go overhead door to get your door healthy again Paul i'd imagine i didn't hear

anything and i didn't see anything uh pretty clean injury report for buffalo here well i'll talk

revealed that he had been nursing something and he felt that it affected his play and he felt

tonight he could really use his speed and it showed with i mean he could have six goals tonight

with the speed and the way he was creating uh man and it was good to see him out there skating

very well so you know it seems like he's okay i wonder you know taged tomson at a maintenance

day today for the morning skate didn't take part so i'm wondering if he's playing with something

that is bothering him because he just hasn't seemed to be taged tomson and other than one game uh

where i thought he was invisible i i wouldn't say it's because of a lack of effort anything and when

he didn't show you know he didn't wasn't taking part in the morning skate and it was a full skate

and Lindy rough said it was maintenance that started to make some sense to me that yeah maybe that

he just hasn't seemed quite himself recently and wouldn't shock me at all if he's trying to play

through something also all right Paul we'll talk to you on wednesday and uh travel safe out to

New York sounds good take care that's Paul Hamilton down there in the locker room as again saber's

winning four to two against the Tampa Bay lightning and before we go ahead and get things wrapped

up a four tonight chance to get connected with our fans it's powered by Verizon get to your local

Verizon store today as you can tweet in at WGR 550 or you can tweet at me at darekramer 49

ashton all in power most underrated player and power had himself a very steady game defensively

in this one i think that he was able to make sure that they were good clears good breakouts it's

just another one of those days throw in power where it's kind of on the under appreciated side

he doesn't put up points in this game but he does get a little bit into the nastiness of this one

right away in the game and if you can be as steady as you can as a second pairing defenseman helping

out in a game where you lock it down in the third period you take that every day of the week

finally uh 27 rings tweeting and that's better sabers yeah i mean that's exactly the kind of game

that you need to see from the sabers here after they've had their slow starts over the past couple

of games luckily the sabers were able to get themselves going right away in this one get the

crowd right back into it playing what looked more or less like the usual buffalo sabers brand of hockey

that we've been accustomed to watching over the past a few months last thing here it's

a kind of a light day around the league but with everything going on including the

nca men's national championship as well as other games in the NHL we go one last time to Jonathan

Colesville you got it yeah only three three other games going on tonight one currently in play

in San Jose about six minutes left in the first period between the sharks and Blackhawks

Chicago with a one nothing lead there coming up at 10 30 puck drop in L.A. between the

kings and predators at one final from earlier jets all over the crack in six to two Kyle

Connor scoring twice or when it pegged in that one hamburgs in action tonight they win in a

shootout over the Cleveland monsters four to three as Derek mentioned men's college basketball

national championship tonight in Indianapolis Michigan versus Yukon we are about halfway through

the second half 11 minutes to go Michigan right now with a 48 to 39 lead over the Huskies

switching to baseball Toronto starting at home stand up north and the blue jays not a good night

for them they get trounced by the Dodgers 14 to two Dodgers bats have five on runs on the night

as well so tough one for the blue jays there they fall to four and five on the season and tomorrow

pending weather we hope we have a we hope we have a good enough day but the bison starting at

home stand against the Syracuse Mets 105 first pitch scheduled there at the downtown ballpark

they're expecting you all right that's the driver on the league it's brought to you by AAA the

official partner of the Buffalo savers that'll do it for us here at Keybank Center

Jonathan Colziel thank you very much for your assistance at TJ Luckman on the board Paul Hamilton

our reporter down in the locker rooms there i'm Derek Kramer what's next for the savers

they will be on the road taking on the New York Rangers on Wednesday night pregame starting at

6 p.m so for Jonathan Colziel for Paul Hamilton for TJ Luckman as well as our pregame hosts

show up in the bulldog i'm Derek Kramer this has been another broadcast of the Buffalo savers

radio network the savers for the lightning two we'll talk to you on Wednesday pregame starting at

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