Sabres Classics: Pominville's 'scary good' goal eliminates Senators

"Oh, now do you believe? Now do you believe? These guys are good - scary good!"

Rick Jeanneret's call truly made Jason Pominville's series-clinching shorthanded overtime goal in Game 5 of the 2006 Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators a seminal moment in Sabres history.

"When I hear his call, I still get chills," Pominville reflected in an episode of "Sabres Memories."

With Jay McKee in the penalty box, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff sent out rookie forwards Pominville and Derek Roy (both of whom started the regular season in the American Hockey League) to kill off the infraction.

The next thing you know, the Sabres retrieved the puck and were up the ice. Pominville cut around Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson to score on Ray Emery to give Buffalo a 3-2 victory and send the Sabres to the Eastern Conference Finals.

It marked the first time in NHL history that a series had been decided by a shorthanded goal in overtime.

The game will be featured on Thursday's edition of "Sabres Classics" on MSG and the MSG Go app. It will be available online Friday on a special NHL.com video channel.

Game 5 was a back-and-forth affair with Buffalo taking an early lead thanks to Henrik Tallinder's first of the postseason in the opening minute of play. Alfredsson tied it up on the power play midway through the first period. Then 7:56 into the second, Sabres co-captain Chris Drury scored with the man advantage, but Brian Pothier made it 2-2 about six minutes later.

Pominville's goal, his fifth of the playoffs, came 2:26 into the extra period.

"That series was an incredible series, but to win that series and to score shorthanded, it's probably one of my favorites," coach Lindy Ruff said.

Buffalo advanced to the Conference Finals for the first time since 1999. They faced the Carolina Hurricanes in what turned out to be a seven-game series.

That series will be featured on "Sabres Classics" next week. Stay tuned for details.

Friday night, don't miss "Sabres Legends" at 8 p.m. on MSG.

The hour-long special will feature "Beyond Blue and Gold: Founding of the Franchise," looking back at the legacy of the Seymour and Norty Knox, the original owners of the Sabres; "Rick Jeanneret Through the Years," a highlight package featuring some of RJ's most memorable calls; and "Sabres Memories: Ted Darling," which honors Buffalo's original play-by-play announcer.