By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – Daniel Alfredsson scored in overtime to give the Ottawa Senators a 3 to 2 win over the Buffalo Sabres and a spot in the Stanley Cup finals. The Senators will face the winner of the Detroit-Anaheim Western Conference final. For Buffalo, where players and fans alike had expectations of playing for the Stanley Cup, the season is over.
Buffalo's Maxim Afinogenov forced the overtime session with a third period goal, tying the game at 2-2. That score came on a five on three advantage for the Sabres.
The Sabres scored the first goal of the game, in the second period. That was followed by two goals by the Senators in the period, by Dany Heatly and Jason Spezza.
Sabres Coach Lindy Ruff said the team never recovered from squandering a 2-0 lead in Game 2 against the Senators, losing in overtime.
Sabres center Chris Drury left the game after being struck in the mouth by a shot with 10 minutes left in the third period. He returned during the overtime period and played.
It marks the second time in as many years that the Sabres have lost the Eastern Conference Finals. Last year, they were beaten by eventual Stanley Cup winner Carolina.
The Sabres won the NHL's President's Trophy for having the best regular season record.
The Sabres also face an uncertain summer with Drury and Briere eligible to become unrestricted free agents.