ATD #10, Bob Cole Quarterfinals. Pittsburgh Penguins (7) vs Buffalo Bisons (2)

[Nalyd Psycho]

Game 1: Building a wall.

Game one is all Buffalo. Except. It's not. It's all Patrick Roy. Pittsburgh defence is keeping Roy from getting shellacked, but the superior transition game of Buffalo is making sure that Buffalo controls the puck a clear majority of the time. But nothing doing. The psychological torment of Roy's great play begins to weigh on Buffalo in the 3rd period. Sloppy penalties and odd man rushes are more and more common. Buffalo is holding fort, but, barely. The game heads into overtime, a lazy holding call on Barkley puts Buffalo on the PK. Leetch point shot goes clear past the Ciccarelli screen for the win.

Pittsburgh wins 1-0, leads the series 1-0.

 

[Nalyd Psycho]

Game 2: Break the wall down.

After a bad loss in game one, Badger Bob has his boys fired up to get vengeance and leave home ice with a split series. Early in the first stellar play by Roy and Gainey keep things on course for Pittsburgh. But Stan Mikita is unrelenting. No one can get the puck off him. Even if good chances aren't materializing and Roy stops the shots that do get through, no one can hold a candle to Mikita. Late in second period, a brilliant effort ending in a backhand finally gets Mikita and the Bisons on the board. With momentum in hand, the 3rd period goes according to plan. Goals by Dom Marshall and Roy Conacher easily outweigh Steve Shutt's goal.

Buffalo wins 3-1, ties the series 1-1.

 

[Nalyd Psycho]

Game 3: Welcome to Steeltown

With the series moving to Pittsburgh for game three, the Penguins come out flying. Their tight defence is hitting more. Their passes crisper and their shots harder. And no shot is harder than Henri Richard's top shelf wrister midway through the first. Early in the 2nd, George Armstrong builds on the lead when he finishes a nice passing play with a quick shot into an open net. With the two goal lead, Pittsburgh settles into their comfort zone, holding a lead. But Buffalo has other plays, Hextall scores with a beauty off a Mikita pass. Early in the 3rd, a Nilsson/Hedburg give and go ends with the trailer Conacher tying the game up. And before Pittsburgh can try to claw back, Mikita gives Buffalo the lead. With Pittsburgh leaving their comfort zone, opening up the offence, Buffalo is able to counter attack. Goals by Robert and Mackall soon follow. A great individual effort by Brian Leetch ends in a Ken Hodge goal, but, it is too little, too late.

Buffalo wins 5-3 and takes a 2-1 series lead.

 

[Nalyd Psycho]

Game 4: The Rocky road.

The intensity of Patrick Roy's gaze burns hard into the back of every Penguin on the ice. It doesn't take a genius to see that he's given his teammates a simple message. It ain't over. With renewed control, Pittsburgh sucks the life out of the potent Buffalo offence. Particularly focusing on Stan Mikita. Pittsburgh is hardly trying to score and Buffalo is incapable. Every second the passes feels like a minute. Pittsburgh simply waits for that one moment where Buffalo slips. And it happens Stewart takes a penalty. Leetch, to Richard, to Ciccarelli, and that's all it takes. Gainey adds an empty netter.

Pittsburgh wins 1-0 to tie the series 2-2.

 

[Nalyd Psycho]

Game 5: Buffalo turns up the heat.

Pittsburgh now knows the level of control it takes to overcome the Buffalo juggernaut. The Penguins play a picture perfect road game. Until midway through the second, brilliant work in the corner by Tim Horton springs Doug Bentley on a breakaway, nothing Roy could do. Latter, on a Shack-induced powerplay, Mikita sets up a Sjoberg pointshot that Hextall tips in. And to puts icing on the game, Horton gets a one timer past Roy, high stick side.

Buffalo wins 3-0, taking a 3-2 series lead.

 

[Nalyd Psycho]

Game 6: The Sauciest Game in Saucytown.

Pittsburgh is on desperation mode and it shows. Leetch sets up Damphousse, who sets up Graves for the go ahead goal. And they don't stop there. But their intensity backfires when Horton springs Mikita for a breakaway, tying it up. The series starts to get chippy, Kurtenbach wins fights against Graves and Shack. Dispite the more open play, the defence of Buffalo and the goaltending of Pittsburgh keeps any offence from happening. Horton is particularly effective at stopping Pittsburgh. With minutes to go, Conacher gets the winner, Mikita adds an empty netter for insurance.

Buffalo wins 3-1. Buffalo wins the series 4-2.

Three Stars:
1st Patrick Roy
2nd Stan Mikita
3rd Tim Horton

 

[pappyline]

Camper,congrats on a hard fought series. No doubt you will be a force to be reckoned with in future ATD's.

Nalyd, thanks for the write-ups.

 

[camperjr]

Camper,congrats on a hard fought series. No doubt you will be a force to be reckoned with in future ATD's.

Nalyd, thanks for the write-ups.

No thanks you, it was a honor to go against a old winner, hope to meet you again next time.