Montoya stopped 30 shots in a 2-1 win over the Sabres on Tuesday, and the first thing that came to the goalie’s mind was how he didn’t allow Vanek to get the better of him as happened when the two first met in the 2003 Frozen Four semifinal—and in this same building, no less.
“Get out of here, I can remember it like it was yesterday,” said Montoya, who eight years ago was playing for Michigan and gave up the overtime goal to Vanek in a 3-2 loss to Minnesota. “It’s my college hockey nightmare.”
This time, Montoya stopped Vanek four times, including a key save coming with the forward parked on the doorstep, and with the Sabres enjoying a two-man power play with 8:02 remaining.
“It all comes around, right?” Montoya said, breaking into a hearty laugh. “It’s a big win for this team and it’s a big feel-good right now. We’ve got something going.”
Brian Rolston(notes), with the go-ahead goal 9:23 into the third period, and Matt Moulson(notes) also scored for New York. Coming off a 3-2 victory at New Jersey on Saturday, the Islanders won their second straight road game after opening the season 0-5-2 away from Long Island. New York (7-11-4) also won consecutive games for the first time since a three-game streak spanning Oct. 10-15.
“We showed some desperation and then Al was there when we needed him to be,” coach Jack Capuano said. “We kept coming. We have to play with an attitude that maybe we didn’t play with the first couple of weeks.”
Jochen Hecht(notes) scored for the banged-up Sabres, who have gone 3-4-1 in their past eight and dropped to 6-7-1 at home this season. The Sabres now have the distinction of losing to each of the two conference’s worst teams in less than a week after dropping a 5-1 decision at Western Conference cellar-dwelling Columbus on Friday.
Buffalo was missing seven regulars, and lost defenseman Jordan Leopold(notes) to an undisclosed upper body injury in the first period.
Coach Lindy Ruff wouldn’t provide a definitive update on Leopold’s status only to say: “He’s hurting. I don’t know if he’ll miss time or not.”
Ruff, however, could easily pinpoint the reason behind the loss: Lack of finish.
“We missed a couple of beauties,” he said. “You miss those, they come back to bite you. We didn’t show enough composure.”
Buffalo went 0 for 4 on the power play, including a two-man advantage that began 11 minutes into the third period and spanned 1:34.
A minute into the two-man power-play, Vanek was stopped on the doorstep by Montoya. And then the goalie recovered in time to lunge forward to get a piece of Derek Roy’s(notes) shot from the right circle.
“He was sound in the net and he made sure there were no good second opportunities,” Roy said. “That’s partly our fault. We have to get to the net a little better.”
Montoya also came up big by getting out his left pad to stop Jason Pominville(notes) from in close midway through the first period.
He stopped 14 of 15 shots he faced in the final period, and had little chance on Hecht’s goal, scored two minutes in to tie the game at 1.
Vanek’s pass from the left boards bounced off Pominville’s skate in front and caromed directly to Hecht in the slot, where he buried a shot inside the right post.
The Islanders didn’t let down. Rolston scored off the ensuing face-off after he was robbed of a goal when Buffalo center Luke Adam(notes) reached out with his stick to stop a rolling puck at the goal line.
Set up to the left of the net, Rolston was moving the puck to his backhand when the puck hit off the stick of Buffalo forward Nathan Gerbe(notes) and trickled in through the legs of Jhonas Enroth(notes).
“We’ll take whatever we can get right now,” Rolston said. “We fought hard and it was a good win.”
NOTES: Prior to the game, the Sabres recalled forward Paul Szczechura(notes) from AHL Rochester, a day after he had been demoted. He filled in for Patrick Kaleta(notes), who missed his fourth game with a lower body injury. … Isles F Jay Pandolfo(notes) missed his first game since breaking his foot in a 3-2 win at New Jersey on Saturday. Rookie Nino Niederreiter(notes) took his place after missing four games as a healthy scratch. … Sabres G Ryan Miller(notes) is expected to practice Wednesday for the first time in more than two weeks since being sidelined with a concussion/neck injury. He’s missed eight games since being bowled over by Boston’s Milan Lucic(notes) in a 6-2 loss at the Bruins on Nov. 12.
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Lew Cypher 3 hours ago Report Abuse I'm not a fan of either team, but I'm very curious about something that maybe an Islander fan can answer. Looking at the numbers, and from the one Isles game that I saw this season so far, I'd say it sure looks as if this Montoya is definitely the best of the three goalies they have. So then the obvious question is WHY do they still keep using Dipietro every chance they get? Is it the usual story of "if you pay 'em you play 'em"? I realize Rick D's contract is ridiculous and all, but there has to be a time when a team just says "do I want to win or not"? Just curious if this is the only reason behind the Isles goaltending situation as it stands, or is there something else going on there?
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Capitals2011 4 hours ago Report Abuse Why does Buffalo pay Ville Leino and Thomas Vanek the same salary? Vanek has 27 pts while Leino has 6.
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Vange9435 5 hours ago Report Abuse If I'm the Islanders and want to give my team the best shot to win, Montoya should be in goal 90 to 95 percent of the time. Period.
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Richard 6 hours ago Report Abuse Post a huge red sign behind the net that reads: I AM A BARN DOOR-CAN YOU HIT ME !
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traperwolf.v. 9 hours ago Report Abuse GO"SABRES"GO!!!
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Indiana 13 hours ago Report Abuse It's obvious the Sabres are not a good team even without injuries. Ruff is the coach and he needs to take responsibility soon.
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yahoo user 14 hours ago Report Abuse Nice job there, Buffaloon. You Buffaloonies already have seen the Bills be eliminated and now you have yet ANOTHER long and cold winter right around the corner with plenty of Sabres losses mounting.
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Neely8 16 hours ago Report Abuse They should of started that fakin fcker Miller tonight. But wait a second we all know this is CHOKEVILLE,USA SO WHATS FCKN NEW!!!!!
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C 16 hours ago Report Abuse I bet they spend Wednesday doing passing drills....again again again again and make sure they are heading the toward the opponents goal versus staying parked in their own end. Unbelievable, you guys s*cked tonight. Ruff isnt to blame, their is no team it was a bunch of individual players.
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dingus 17 hours ago Report Abuse Not impressed with this year's team...seems like they cant get a decent shot on goal ever, no matter who they play...blocked shots, not moving that puck quick enough leads to turn overs and gives players opportunity to get back into the play...i didnt want to say it, but being down here in Carolina...it might be time to get some new blood in at head coach position...i know they have injuries right now...but guys like, leino, roy, stafford, gaustad, gerbe are not producing goals...and pominville, vanek, and hecht line is the only line that seems to score...
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scott 17 hours ago Report Abuse some thing has to change @#$% how come thay can not play a good game
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mrbaron 18 hours ago Report Abuse I'll say it again...........fire LINDY RUFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hire a Mike Keenam or Don Chery type of coach, a coach who will not accept mediocrity. Lindy has lost this teams respect. A 2 man advantage for over 90 seconds, against the Islanders, and nothing. I feel sorry for Terry P.
Lindy Ruff must GO!!!
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David 18 hours ago Report Abuse It has to be said folks - LINDY HAS GOT TO GO!.......theyve given him the tools and he can't bring it together - falling further and further back of the pack.....ive been behind him since day one but his time is past.....
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dave 19 hours ago Report Abuse If they can't beat the Scrublanders at home tonight, I may just sell off the rest of my season tickets................
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Jerome Casey 20 hours ago Report Abuse 4-3 shootout sabres
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Hillbilly Bill 21 hours ago Report Abuse It will be a grinder, but the Sabres are good at home. Lets go Buffalo !
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Todd 22 hours ago Report Abuse 17-10....Islanders over the Bills....they'll pick off Fitz 3 times.
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MONKEY MAN Tue Nov 29, 2011 12:58 pm PST Report Abuse the Sabres will lose to the Islanders tonight, then destroy Detroit on friday. that's the way they roll...
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George D Tue Nov 29, 2011 11:35 am PST Report Abuse Sabres better show up...man they lost to Yotes and Jackets,, that was 4 points that we needed...better play well at home tonight dammit!!! Sabres 4-2 -agree with Paul! maybe 4-OOOOOOO shut out???? and then Detroit...YIKES!
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Geno Tue Nov 29, 2011 10:52 am PST Report Abuse Right... Beating a injured team builds confidence!...because they wouldn't beat them if they were healthy. Thanks for that summary at the top, no need to read the rest.
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michael t Tue Nov 29, 2011 10:20 am PST Report Abuse I feel sorry for Isles fans. The owner and GM are terrible. But this game is one that the Sabres might not show up for. Isles are always strong against the Sabres. That being said, I predict 5-2 Buffalo.
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Andrew Tue Nov 29, 2011 07:34 am PST Report Abuse let's see. we only have 1 road win this season. not much hope that we'll have 2 after tonights game.
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BrianP Tue Nov 29, 2011 05:56 am PST Report Abuse Play Montoya, and we have a shot. Play the Albatross, and we are doomed once again!
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