Kraft Hockeyville 2010 Tuesday: Buffalo vs. Ottawa LIVE UPDATES

Hockey Independent is reporting live from Dundas, Ontario on the final day of Kraft Hockeyville 2010.  Check back throughout the night for updates from the NHL pre-season game between Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators at J.L. Grightmire Arena in Dundas.

For the blog of Hockeyville events that occurred earlier in the day, click on the following link:
Kraft Hockeyville 2010 Tuesday: LIVE UPDATES from Dundas

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11:57 pm The Sabres record a 2-1 pre-season win over designated “home” team Ottawa, but without a doubt, the capacity crowd at J.L. Grightmire Arena in Dundas, Ontario were the winners on this night and for the previous two days.  As Kraft Hockeyville 2010, Dundas was able to live a veritable three-day hockey fantasy experience.  From the appearance of the Stanley Cup on Sunday to school and hospital visits by NHL alumni on Monday to the palpable enthusiasm given by Dundas schoolchildren, despite torrential rain, to the Sabres when they arrived on their team bus and the excitement throughout the public game-day skates and the game itself, the town of Dundas, by the outpouring of support for their community and for hockey, truly showed they were worthy recipients of the title of Hockeyville.

9:31 pm Despite a furious Ottawa rush at the end of the game with goaltender Lehner pulled for an extra attacker, Buffalo hangs on to win the Kraft Hockeyville 2010 pre-season game. Sabres 2, Senators 1. FINAL

9:27 pm Buffalo’s Dennis McCauley and Ottawa’s Matt Carkner draw roughing penalties.  Carkner receives an extra two with under two  minutes left in the game giving Buffalo a power play.

9:26 pm The Senators are pouring it on looking for the tying goal but Miller turns away each of their scoring chances or covers up, preventing rebounds.

9:18 pm Ottawa’s Chris Neil and Buffalo’s Mike Weber mix it up at the side of the net before being separated by the linesmen after Ryan Miller froze the puck after a Sens’ scoring chance.

9:11 pm A no-hesitation wrist shot from the right circle by Jason Pominville off a pretty pass from Luke Adam gives Buffalo the lead at 11:14 of the third period. Sabres 2, Senators 1.

9:04 pm Scoring chances have been limited so far in the final regulation period.

8:56 pm The 3rd period is underway in a 1-1 tie.

THIRD PERIOD

8:40 pm Dundas is formally presented with a $100,000 novelty cheque as part of its winnings in the Kraft Hockeyville program.  The money will be used towards renovations and upgrades to the Grightmire Arena.

8:36 pm With time winding down in the period and power play, defenceman Patrick Wiercioch fires a point shot through traffic at 19:47 of the second period to square up the game. Sabres 1, Senators 1.

8:33 pm McCormick fights again, this time getting the scrap he wanted against Eric Gryba and decisively defeating him to go 2-0 on the night.  McCormick picks up an extra two for roughing and Ottawa heads back to the power play.

8:26 pm In a battle of Codys, Buffalo’s McCormick wins a fight against Ottawa’s Bass.

8:25 pm As predicted by Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff this morning, players seem to be having trouble finding space to pass or shoot due to the narrower and less lengthy dimensions of the Grightmire Arena ice surface.

8:12 pm Ottawa defenceman Andre Benoit goes to the penalty box for roughing leading to Buffalo’s first power play of the night.

8:06 pm At 3:29 of the period, Ottawa’s Eric Gryba and Buffalo’s Cody McCormick collide, almost leading to a fight.  McCormick goes to the box for hooking.  This is Ottawa’s third power play of the game.

8:03 pm The second period has begun and both teams have turned up the physical intensity.  The first scrum occurs in front of the Ottawa net.

SECOND PERIOD

7:47 pm During the 1st intermission, special guests Don Cherry and Ron MacLean of CBC Hockey Night in Canada’s Coach’s Corner stroll out onto the red carpet.  Cherry pays tribute to a Canadian war veteran who fought in Afghanistan.

7:41 pm Miller makes another solid save, using his blocker to parry away a wrist shot from Jesse Winchester with about half a minute left in the opening frame.

7:33 pm Miller makes a nice left pad save on Senator Eric Gryba who fired a low shot from the point through traffic.

7:29 pm Buffalo takes another penalty as blueliner Steve Montador gets called for holding the stick at 11:14 but just 15 seconds into the penalty-kill, Sabre defenceman Rob Niedermayer slips a shot by Ottawa goalie Robin Lehner for a shorthanded tally. Sabres 1, Senators 0.

7:25 pm The Senators come up empty on their first power play.  Ryan Miller stopped a tip-in attempt just as penalty time expired.

7:22 pm Buffalo defenceman Mike Weber takes the first penalty of the game, a holding call at 7:55 of the first period.

7:10 pm The puck drops and the game is underway.  Buffalo rings a shot off the crossbar almost immediately.

FIRST PERIOD

7.03 pm NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was just introduced … to predictable booing.  Dundas residents, technically members of the city of Hamilton, Ontario, still stew about repeated legal wrangling that has prevented the region from realizing their eternal dream of landing an NHL club.  Former Canadian women’s team captain and current CBC broadcaster Cassie Campbell received prolonged applause.

6.59 pm STARTING LINEUPS: OTTAWA: LW Jarkko Ruutu, C Chris Kelly, RW Chris Neil, D Matt Carkner, D David Hale, G Robin Lehner. BUFFALO: LW Thomas Vanek, C Tim Connolly, RW Jason Pominville, D Shaone Morrisonn, D Tyler Myers, G Ryan Miller

6:47 pm The two teams have returned to their dressing rooms as the Zambonis clean up the ice for the final time before the first faceoff.  An announcement was just made thanking the NHL and Kraft Canada, but the biggest cheer was reserved for the Dundas organizing committee which spearheaded the drive to win the title of Hockeyville 2010.

6:29 pm Fans, many armed with “ThunderStix” noise-makers and air horns, cheer as the Senators take the ice first, followed by the Sabres.  The Grightmire Arena will be the site of the final and showcase event of Kraft Hockeyville 2010: the NHL pre-season game between the two clubs.