The Sabres beat the Flyers 3-2 in double overtime in the first game of their playoff series.
For the Flyers Mike Knuble and Simon Gagne (power play) scored. For the Sabres Tim Connolly Jay Mckee and Daniel Briere scored.

First the bad. Peter Forsberg giving up the puck right in front of Esche leading to the first goal. Robert Esche in the first part of the game looked a little shaky. Defensively giving up 58 shots while only getting 32. Flyers took too many penalties. R.J. Umberger leaving the game. Slow start and overall being outplayed.

Now the good. The Flyers came very close to winning even though they were outplayed. The penalty kill was outstanding. Overall good energy the entire game. Robert Esche keeping the Flyers in the game. R.J. Umberger will be back in game 2. I also have to add in Over Time playoff hockey. No commercials during the period, the way it should be.

While the Sabres do get the win, the game could have easily gone either way. The Flyers need to find a way to get more pressure on Sabre’s goalie Ryan Miller. Sabres outshot the Flyers 14-6 in the first, 15-6 in the second 12-9 in the third and 17-11 in OT.

Mike Richards and Petr Nedved both were minus 2. Mike Knuble led the Flyers with 6 shots, Peter Forsberg had 2. Joni Pitkanen led the Flyers in icetime with 34:04, Donald Breashear had the least with 4:20.

Daniel Briere, Robert Esche and Jay Kckee were the three stars.

The Flyers are staying at the Millennium hotel up in Buffalo. The same hotel the Flyers stayed at for the 1975 finals. The Flyers are carrying 3 goalies in the playoffs, Robert Esche, Antero Niitymaki and Scott Munroe. Instead of calling up Jamie Storr, the Flyers went with Munroe who signed an amateur tryout contract with the Phantoms.

Ken Hitchcock has commented that there may be a few lineup changes for next game. Most people are pointing to Ben Eager who might see some ice time, which I think would be a good thing. The Flyers are carrying 31 players with them for the playoffs as compared to 24 for the Sabres. One player has traveled with the team is former captain Keith Primeau. While some has speculated that he will be back this series, what he and Ken Hitchcock has been saying is that he will not. But it is really hard to tell. Primeau states that he is 85-90 percent, but when asked if he needs to be 100% to return he says this.

“What is 100 percent?” Is 100 percent next week? Next month? . . . I’m working toward a goal. The goal is to get back. But I don’t know when that day is.”

Speculate what you want.
So next game is Monday Night, still in Buffalo. Robert Esche will be back in net, Umberger will be back, Eager might play and we get to watch some great playoff hockey again.