Hardly a 'Dominator'
Hasek stumbles when Sabres need him most
Posted: Sunday May 31, 1998 12:24 AM
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Hasek has allowed nine goals on the Capitals' last 69 shots(AP) |
BUFFALO, New York (AP) -- Buffalo Sabres goaltender Dominik Hasek said he had read all the comments made by the Washington Capitals. About how they were getting into his head and disrupting his concentration.
He knew all about how they scored seven goals in 50 shots in Game 2 and 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. Going into Game 4, Hasek said nothing bothered him.
Maybe he should check again.
"Dominik said we didn't get to him," Capitals coach Ron Wilson said after the Capitals' 2-0 win Saturday night. "Well, I think we got to him."
The Sabres played better in Game 4 than they did in Game 3. They held the Capitals' top scorers in check and had plenty of chances to score. The difference was the two guys in the nets -- Olaf Kolzig for Washington and Hasek for Buffalo.
Hasek stumbled when the Sabres needed him most and finished with 17 saves. Just 2:34 into the third period, Craig Berube scored on a shot from the blue line. Then, with 6:22 left and his team on the power play, Hasek misplayed Joe Juneau's slap shot from 70 feet.
"I didn't see the puck on the first goal," Hasek said. "I don't know [what happened on the second goal]. It is probably the fourth time in my life that I gave up a goal from outside the blue line."
On the other end of the ice, Kolzig was standing tall, stopping 30 shots. Included was a barrage by Buffalo midway through the second period and during a power play that lasted 3:03 in the third.
"We did a good job of taking it to him [Kolzig]," said Sabres forward Dixon Ward. "He just played extremely well. You've got to give the guy all of the credit in the world. He's played better against us than any goalie in the playoffs."
Making matters worse for the Sabres is their power play, which is 2-of-22 after they went 0-6 Saturday night.
"What else can you say?" Sabres forward Donald Audette said. "We've got to find a way to put the puck on the net."
Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said the power play will be his team's focus during the two days between games. And, of course, the play of his goaltender who won the Olympic gold medal for the Czech Republic this year.
"He [Hasek] was in a good frame of mind today," Ruff said. "He was in a better frame of mind today than I've seen him in a long time."
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NHL Finals
