We mentioned after the first period that the Buffalo Sabres would need to start controlling play in the Philadelphia Flyers end if they wanted to have a chance at winning Game 7 and advancing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Through another 20 minutes here at Wells Fargo Center, that's yet to happen.
Sabres Vs. Flyers, Game 7: Philadelphia Scores Two In Second, Extends Lead To 3-0
The Flyers continued to pepper Ryan Miller and the Sabres with pucks in that second period, eventually turning their 1-0 lead into a 3-0 lead on power play goals from Danny Briere and Claude Giroux. In practice before Game 7, the Flyers turned their attention to putting more pucks on Miller, and they've executed that plan to a point so far in the game. Many of their 27 shots are off of second chance opportunities as well, and that's the kind of play that wears down the Buffalo defense and, of course, Miller.
On the other end, Buffalo hasn't put many pucks on Brian Boucher, only getting 14 through in the first 40 minutes of action. (The Flyers had 14 shots in the first period alone.) A big reason for that, though, is the Philly defense. They've blocked 23 shots through two periods, and Chris Pronger has led the way with five blocks -- broken hand and all.
The Sabres are going to need a goal early in the third if they want to have any hope of coming back in this Game 7, but with a little under a minute of power play time to start, that’s more than possible. There’s still 20 minutes of hockey to be played, and if Buffalo can turn the tide quickly, they still have a shot.
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