Sabers move on to Eastern Conference Finals

After beating the NY Rangers in 6 hard fought games the Buffalo Sabers move onto face the Ottawa Senators for the Eastern Conference finals.

After a stalled offense for games two, three and most of four the Sabers offense came back solve the Rangers' defense. The key was the Sabers coach Lindy Ruff and his assistants Brian McCutcheon and James Patrick striving for solutions to beat the Rangers' defense.

The Sabers will have their hands full with the Senators in the finals. There are also many story lines and much bad blood between these teams.

First, you have the Sabers taking out the number 1 seed Senators in a five game second round series during the playoffs last season.

Second, the blindside check on Sabers' co-captain Chris Drury by Ottawa's Chris Neil that left Drury with a concussion and forced him to miss four games. The check turned into a bench clearing brawl.

So, you can see these two teams really do not like each other, as evidenced by another article about the hatred between these two clubs.

So as we get ready for this series here is an opinion article that speaks of the coaching job Lindy Ruff has done since being in Buffalo.

Sabers are Marching through the Playoffs

Eastern Conference, Round 1

The Sabers, the number one seed took care of the Islanders in 5 games and now move on to round two to face the Rangers.

Stories from the round one series:

• Buffalo holds off Islanders' rally for series-clinching win
• Lapses leave Buffalo Sabres with room for improvement in playoffs
• Sabres feeling more comfortable with their No. 1 status
  

Now the Sabers move on to face the Rangers who swept their first round series with the Thrashers. The Rangers come into this series confident and ready, as proven by comments made before Game 1 by Ranger Sean Avery.

• Avery at center stage of Round 2
• Ruff: It's my job to keep team focused
  

Even after all the talk the Sabers came out ready and took game one by the score of 5 - 2.

Sabers Clinch Home Ice Through Playoffs

The Sabers are the kings of the ice.

Yes, the same team that started the season with a franchise-record 12 game winning streak, including an new NHL record 8 consecutive road wins to start a season.

The Sabers, and I will bet that the average hockey fan can not name a star player from their team, because they are a TEAM.

Three Buffalo Sabres were voted by fans to be starters at the 2007 NHL All-Star Game in Dallas: goalie Ryan Miller, forward Daniel Briere, and defenseman Brian Campbell. Briere won the All-Star MVP Award, tallying 1 goal and 4 assists. Lindy Ruff was the head coach for the Eastern Conference, who lost the game 12-9.

And of all team who do the Sabers get in the first round, The New York Islanders, coached by none other than Ted Nolan. Yes the same Ted Nolan who once coached the Sabers to the playoffs following the 1994-1995 season.

I predict this series to be good, however the Sabers have too much speed and offense, not to mention great defense for the Islanders.