Biron wins first game in month
By Rick Anderson
January 7, 2002
"Oh no! Here we go again," must have been the thoughts of Sabres players and fans after Antti Laaksonen put the puck behind Biron after a two-on-one break. However, the beleaguered Sabres goalie settled down after that and helped Buffalo beat the Wild 4-1. It was Biron's first victory in over a month.
Back on December 4, Biron was in the nets in a 4-2 Sabres win over the Hurricanes. After that game, it went all downhill for the Sabres starting goalie. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff called up Mika Noronen twice from Rochester to try to light a fire under Biron. It didn't work. Biron kept on struggling and fighting the puck.
What was going in Biron's head after he allowed a goal on the Wild's first shot? It must not have been too positive, but thankfully he was able to collect his thoughts and finally play a solid game in the nets. He ended up making 17 saves and not allowing another goal after that first one. Biron also may have saved the game when the stonewalled Minnesota's leading scorer, Marian Gaborik, as he had a clear breakaway on Biron in the second period. Biron dove to make a great save and keep the Sabres in front 3-1 at the time.
"I think it hit the post and my pad and just kind of stayed there," recalled Biron. "We did a little breakaway competition in practice, that might have helped."
Maybe this game will turn around Biron's fortunes.
"It's good for the confidence when you get a win like that," said Biron. "We have to build on this. A lot of positives come out of the way we played"
After spotting the home team the first goal, the Sabres chipped away at former Sabres goalie, Dwayne Roloson. Roloson had even less shots to stop than Biron, but 4 got past him. Jason Woolley started things off for the Sabres with a powerplay goal at the 16:06 minute mark of the first period. Vaclav Varada made it 2-1 Buffalo in the second and then Maxim Afinogenov turned a spectacular breakaway into Buffalo's third goal when he slipped it five-hole through Roloson's pad for his 15th tally of the season. J.P. Dumont got his team-leading 17th of the season on another powerplay goal in the final period.
The Sabres come home for 3 straight games this week before heading on a West Coast trip.
Read Sunday's The Sabres Week in Review for a in-depth look into this past week for the Sabres.
ESPN's Game Recap for more game details.
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The game started like it has all too frequently for the Buffalo Sabres and Martin Biron. Biron, who has been giving up very early goals as of late, did it again against the Minnesota Wild Sunday night. To make matters worse, it was on the Wild's very fist shot.
Miroslav Satan is given a free seat to watch the game as Wild defenseman Lubomir Sekeras lifts the Sabres forward onto the boards.
[AP Photo/ Paul Battaglia]
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