Sabres cruise to 5-2 victory
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BUFFALO, N.Y. — Ales Kotalik and the Buffalo Sabres provided an answer to anyone questioning whether they are the elite team in the NHL.
It’s a response that came through loud and clear Wednesday night in a 5-2 victory over the New York Rangers in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
“I think we showed everybody we were ready,” Kotalik said. “A lot of things were said before the game, and we made sure we showed to respond not in the paper but on the ice.”
Kotalik was referring to Rangers Coach Tom Renney’s comments suggesting the top-seeded Sabres weren’t the league’s “cream of the crop.”
“Yeah, obviously, everybody heard it,” Kotalik said. “We talked about it. It’s a good thing.”
Thomas Vanek scored twice and Kotalik once during a three-goal second period that broke open a scoreless game.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Friday at Buffalo.
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