by Matt Barr

Liveblogging Sabres-Flyers game three

The Sabres might need to lose this one so the Flyers don't start killing people in game four. Then again, there's no guarantee they won't start killing people in game four no matter what tonight's outcome, so there you go.

7:08 Steve Tasker wouldn't have to do Adelphia On Demand commercials and pretend he's got a laser remote control if they'd vote him into the Hall of Fame.

7:10 The reanimated corpse of Kate Smith is singing God Bless America. Creepy.

7:14 Finally, a point from Afinogenov for my pool.

7:15 USA! USA! USA!

7:19 They might also start killing people in game three, I suppose.

7:21 A shortie. That's letting them up off the mat. The Sabres do look more tentative than at home; if the Flyers start thinking they might play with them, they should be able to take advantage.

7:28 "Let's Go Oilers." What an odd thing to chant in Philadelphia.

7:33 Slow Like Honey: a fine Fiona Apple song, not such a great power play game plan

7:34 Roy gave the puck to a teammate; that's progress. Considering Esche's meltdown last game and the early goal tonight, the Sabres should be peppering him with low percentage shots at every opportunity. They're not.

7:37 Eliot Spitzer is... disconcerting.

7:43 They're using the wavy-sticky defense against Forsberg on the penalty kill. So far so good.

7:46 Nice little keepaway manuever by Afinogenov to end the period. Almost taunted Forsberg into apoplexy, which would have been a bonus. 1-1 after one.

7:48 I'll take this one, Ales. No, it's not as physical as I expected; a couple bonehead penalties, which I did expect, but the Flyers don't have the sparks coming out their rear ends that I thought they would. The Sabres are dumping and chasing a lot more, not passing as crisply when they do. Kind of sloppy all around.

8:05 "Knocked down by Nedved." Four words you don't hear every day.

8:07 Miller looks hinky to me tonight. Not Esche-level hinky, but hinky nonetheless. Another Flyer lazy penalty: getting four penalties for roughing or elbowing might be productive; hooking and delay of game aren't. Though their best chances seem to be coming on the penalty kill.

8:09 Tentative. The power play.

8:14 2-1 Philadelphia, Forsberg whoopses it off McKee's skate. With Gretzky, you would have strongly suspected he meant to do that.

8:15 A Buffalo penalty. Blood in the water. Maybe Gagne will score a power play goal off McKee's head.

8:18 Wavy-sticky. They didn't do that on the goal. See?

8:20 Dimitrakos can't find anybody to pass it to. Has he considered they may be avoiding him?

8:24 Sweet. Forsberg stood there waiting for the puck to come to him up the boards; in flew a Sabre (don't know who) from behind him to grab the puck and go create a scoring chance. But a Buffalo penalty in the ensuing play.

8:27 Another Forsberg deflect-a-goal. It's Philly's night; the Sabres have to start playing with the snap, crackle and pop they did in the first two games or they can mail this one in.

8:29 Tallinder wants to score, he did yeoman's work to keep the puck in the zone and the pressure on. Let's hope it rubs off.

8:31 Handzus, 2:00 for Appearing, From Behind, to Hook

8:33 Dumont hurt. I frankly think no. 17 should be retired anyway. But that doesn't mean I want him seriously hurt or anything.

8:35 Whatever happened, it looks serious. One indiciation of this is that the Philly fans are booing as he makes his way off the ice.

8:36 Evidently Gauthier speared him in the gut. That's out of character.

8:40 This is more like it -- the Sabres are tenacious going to the puck and to the net. Another 22 minutes like this and they have an excellent chance.

8:44 3-1 Flyers after two. Buffalo began to outplay them the last 5-7 minutes of the period. Philly are playing better, but not well enough to have won game two, or really even game one in my opinion. Buffalo must not abandon wavy-sticky, it's all that's contained Forsberg. Perhaps they could repeal the laws of geometry, too.

8:59 The commercials make the Hockey Hall of Fame seem fun. It wasn't when I went. I mean it was great, and everything, but not fun. They had a Sutter room. That was sort of fun.

9:04 Buffalo begins the third tenaciously again. Good sign. You'd rather be up by two, of course.

9:08 Exception: Briere. He's been wishy washy all night, still is.

9:10 Kalinin meant to do that! Touches a pass in the slot from Afinogenov over to Connolly, 3-2. Connolly's body doesn't twist that way naturally, either; great concentration.

9:14 Kalinin again, breaking up a 2-on-1. Sabres are dominating, but will press to score and will give up odd man rushes. Also need to contend with the clock.

9:15 Power play. Obviously, kind of an important one. Half a period to go.

9:19 Flyers kill it off, great shot block by Handzus. Eight minutes to go.

9:20 That goon! Nedved takes another penalty. The Sabres have tightened their play up, the Flyers haven't. I know it's the New NHL and the refs aren't supposed to know it's the playoffs, but it's hard to believe there isn't an even up call in Buffalo's future. It would behoove them to capitalize on this power play.

9:23 You fool, Connolly, only Forsberg can pull those bank-goals off.

9:26 Roy a diving penalty. I'm very smart.

9:29 3:45-ish left now that the penalty is killed off.

9:31 Rathje got beat by Connolly but neutralized his stick. Deft move.

9:33 Crimeny. Minute and a half to go, Sabres are keeping pressure on, but running out of time.

9:35 Empty net; timeout. Faceoff outside the zone.

9:37 Gagne with the empty net goal; being Flyers fans, they're pelting the ice with hats. And pom-poms, and items of clothing. 4-2.

Half a game or slightly less of a fine effort, it's reasonable to ascribe the stinko beginning to road, two-game-lead, are-they-going-to-decapitate-us jitters. The third period plus should give them confidence enough they don't come out that way Friday. The Flyers played a very good road game (yes, I know): cautious, other than the dumb penalty here and there, lead-protecting, error capitalizing. Without being back on their heels 2-0, I expect their play will improve Friday, too. Yawner all around.

Briere needs to man up Friday, though.

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