Sabres Classics: Buffalo bounces back in Game 5 against Flyers in 2006

After taking a 2-0 series lead against the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2006 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on home ice, things didn't go so well for the Buffalo Sabres in Philadelphia.
Buffalo lost both road games in the series, setting up a Game 5 in Buffalo that would put one team on the brink of elimination.
"I still remember [coach Lindy Ruff's] meeting after Game 4 when we came back to Buffalo," co-captain Daniel Briere recalled in "Beyond Blue and Gold: Scary Good." "He called us up in the room and he played 150 turnovers one after the other so everybody was in it. And he didn't say a word.
"Then he just got up and it was like, 'Well, you know why we lost so it's up to you guys to decide.'"
The team got the message.

Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller was named the game's first star after he made 24 saves in a 3-0 win back on April 30, 2006. Buffalo scored twice on six power-play opportunities. Tim Connolly opened the scoring on the man advantage and added an assist as well. J-P Dumont (1+1) and Briere (0+2) also had multi-point nights.
The game will air Wednesday night at 8 p.m. on MSG as part of "Sabres Classics." It will also stream live on the MSG Go app and will be available on the NHL.com's video platform Wednesday afternoon.

Miller surrendered five goals on 33 shots in a 5-4 Game 4 so the team was happy to see him come back strong with the first shutout of his playoff career.
"Miller's performance] didn't surprise me," Briere said **[after the game**. "Ryan is very competitive and he doesn't like it when he even gets scored on during practice, warmups or a game. It wasn't a surprise to anyone that he came back strong tonight. It was almost a good thing when people started questioning his goaltending in the playoffs after last game."
Even with the Game 5 victory and finding themselves on the cusp of advancing to the second round for the first time since 2001, the Sabres were careful not to underestimate Philadelphia's resiliency.
"The shutout was secondary to winning the game, but it was a good bounce back game for Ryan," Ruff said afterwards. "We've had our problems in their building and we know [Game Six] is going to be a tough challenge."
We'll have more on that game Thursday when it airs on MSG.