Flyers Vs. Sabres, Game 4: Ryan Miller, Buffalo Defense Shut Out Philly, Even Series At 2

Ryan Miller was fantastic yet again for the Buffalo Sabres as they held off the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 4 of their first round NHL playoff series, 1-0, to even the series as we head back to Philly for Game 5.

Jason Pominville scored the lone goal of the game on a tap-in right along the goal line about midway through the first period. At that point, the Sabres were all over the Flyers, as they came out flying right from the opening puck drop. As it turned out, that was the deciding factor in the game, as Miller and the Sabres defense just proved too difficult to crack.

In that sense, Game 4 felt a whole lot like Game 1, where the Sabres also won 1-0. The Sabres clogged the crease, limited those cross-ice passes the Flyers like to use to get Miller moving, and just generally weathered a strong, fierce Philadelphia storm that lasted for much of the latter half of the game.

Perhaps the biggest save of the game came on Danny Briere in the third period, when Miller was face-to-face with his old teammate in a one-on-one battle. Briere tried to open him up with some stick moves, but ultimately Miller got his glove on the puck as Briere went to lift it over him.

It’s a series again, and now we’re locked in a best-of-three beginning on Friday night in Philadelphia. If Miller can play like he did in Game 4, it could be another frustrating night for the Flyers.