Sabres Edge

Lindy shuffles his deck

You can never read too much into Lindy Ruff's line tinkering at practice, especially two days before the next game. But after an 0-2-1 week that saw his offense score just six goals, it stands to reason Ruff will be doing some shuffling of his forwards before Wednesday night's game in Washington.

Patrick Kaleta is not on the ice (Paetsch is at forward). Mike Grier is out working on his groin and trading spots with Adam Mair. Here's how the lines look at this point:

Vanek-Roy-Pominville
MacArthur-Connolly-Stafford
Hecht-Kennedy-Grier/Mair
Ellis-Gaustad-Paetsch

POST-PRACTICE UPDATES: Kaleta had one of Ruff's "maintenance" days and should be fine for Wednesday. Ruff said Grier could be back in the lineup Wednesday after missing five games but a lot will depend how the veteran responds at Tuesday's practice after going through all of Monday's workout.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

LaFontaine comes back, with the puck

It's always a pleasure to talk with Pat LaFontaine, one of those extraordinary individuals who can make folks see life in a different way. We had a chat for 25 minutes Friday, and I left the arena smiling, amazed and hopeful. It's just what happens when you're around him. When it comes to life, he gets it.

He brought a special treasure during Friday's trip to HSBC Arena. He brought the final puck from Memorial Auditorium, a puck that went from LaFontaine to Seymour H. Knox III and back again.

"I knew that it had never been in the new building, and I knew Seymour would be smiling down, and the Knox family, to know that the last puck ever shot made it," LaFontaine said. "One of the reasons I was brought to Buffalo was to help get a new building. That was Seymour’s dream. He brought hockey into Buffalo and wanted it to stay in Buffalo.

"I thought he’d be smiling down at that, knowing that the puck, the torch, has been carried to the next one."

---John Vogl

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Live from Sabres at Ottawa

OTTAWA -- I really need to learn French. I picked up the press clippings this morning to read over lunch, and half of them were in Francais. That's not good if you don't know the language.

Part of it's my fault. Quite a few years back, when the Sabres had J.P. Dumont, Daniel Briere, Steve Begin, Martin Biron and a couple of other francophones, I purchased a learn-to-speak-French CD-ROM. I figured it would help when they chatted together. It's still in its package next to my desktop.

Part of the blame, though, lies with Frontier Central School District. In the summer before seventh grade, they (apparently) sent out a form asking incoming middle school students what language they wanted to take. I never got one.

When they called to check on it right before school started, I said Spanish. Sorry, all booked. OK, I said, how about French? Nope, filled up. All we have open is German.

So I took six years of Deutsch. With complete confidence I can tell Jochen Hecht what time it is and ask him if he'd like to play ball if it's not too late at night. Nein, danke, meine Mutter ist bose wenn ich spat komme. (I hope I got that right; if not, I can only tell time.)

Anyway, I guess since there's a hockey game in about 18 minutes, you'd rather hear about that. Keep this quote from Lindy Ruff in mind. It's from Friday morning when I had a feeling Patrick Lalime would be starting tonight: "He’s got a lot of extra work. In his case, he sees a lot of game-like situations and is exposed to the types of shots, so Patty will be ready when we need him."

We'll find out in 16 minutes.

7:04 p.m.: By the way, I don't hold that against Frontier. Lots of good times there. And, apparently, it's a fine educational institution. Bob DiCesare, Bucky Gleason and I all went there (though not at the same time). We all went to Buffalo State, too (some of us longer than others).

7:07 p.m.: If you're wondering why I'm chatting aimlessly instead of watching hockey it's because this is a "Hockey Night in Canada" production and the faceoff is eight minutes later than usual.

7:10 p.m.: Mike Fisher in the starting lineup for Senators. I wonder if Carrie Underwood is here.

FIRST PERIOD

7:15 p.m.: Game on. Sabres' starting trio is Jochen Hecht-Tim Connolly-Jason Pominville.

7:17 p.m.: Derek Roy flanked by Thomas Vanek and Clarke MacArthur.

7:18 p.m.: We'll have to wait on the other lines because the short-handed unit is out. Hooking call on Craig Rivet with 1:50 gone.

7:19 p.m.: At least the Sabres don't have to worry about Dany Healthy scoring on the power play like he usually does. Cheap plug: See Sunday's notebook for a story on the Sens' changes without him.

7:24 p.m.: Sabres killed the penalty, and it's the first commerical break which should allow them to get their lines back together.

7:27 p.m.: Tim Kennedy-Paul Gaustad-Patrick Kaleta.

7:30 p.m.: Andrej Sekera-Matt Ellis-Adam Mair. Yeah, with a defenseman who's never played forward before, no wonder it took half the period to see them. Probably won't see them much. I'd have used Nathan Paetsch instead of Sekera, for the record.

7:35 p.m.: One shot for Sekera. One high-stick to the face to Mair (no penalty). One penalty to the Sens, for hooking on Peter Regin with 6:46 left.

7:39 p.m.: Final commercial of the period, still no score with 4:13 to go. Shots are 11-5 for Buffalo, though no high-quality scoring chances.

7:45 p.m.: Good shift by the two Fs and D line. Sabres back on the power play with 1:18 to go as Brian Lee goes to the box.

7:47 p.m.: Power-play goal by Vanek with 51.8 seconds left. Pascal Leclaire stops Pominville's point shot, and Vanek buries the rebound. Both Vanek and Gaustad were parked in front; they usually anchor the two different units.

End of the period, Sabres lead in goals, 1-0, and shots, 17-5.

SECOND PERIOD

8:08 p.m.: Here they go again? Sabres get a penalty in the opening minute, and the Senators' score 10 seconds later when Filip Kuba's shot from the point goes past Lalime and the screen of Milan Michalek with 50 seconds gone.

8:15 p.m.: Leclaire briefly shaken up as Matt Carkner clears Hecht from the crease but also knocks the Sabres' winger into the goalie, whose mask flies off.

8:20 p.m.: It was a matter of time. The zone time was tilting in the Sens' favor, and Daniel Alfredsson makes the Sabres pay by scoring with 11:46 left. It's 2-1 Ottawa.

8:21 p.m.: The Sabres get a chance to regain momentum as Ottawa's Alex Picard goes to the box with 11 minutes left.

8:25 p.m.: Nice glove save by Leclaire as the penalty expires. I know it's only because of injuries, but I think this Vanek-Gaustad pairing on the power play has potential.

8:38 p.m.: Back-to-back penalties on Sabres give the Senators a five-on-three for 1:06 with 3:52 to go. (That's a lot of numbers in a short span, would never write that in a story).

8:41 p.m.: Buffalo escapes the two-man disadvantage to prevent game from slipping away.

8:45 p.m.: Sabres get yet another penalty -- this one to Kennedy for hooking with 1:16 left -- and if my Frontier math is correct, that's four penalties on Buffalo in the second period. They'll have to kill 43 seconds of Kennedy's at the start of the third period.

It's 2-1 Ottawa at the end of two. Sabres hold a 25-17 shot edge, but the Sens had a 14-8 advantage in that period.

THIRD PERIOD

It's 9 o'clock on a Saturday ...: And an irregular goalie shuffles in. Brian Elliott has replaced Leclaire, who must have been injured on the collision.

9:06 p.m.: "Lower-body injury" for Leclaire. Sabres killed the remaining 43 seconds of Kennedy's penalty.

9:08 p.m.: Great sequence by Chris Kelly gives Senators a 3-1 lead with 17:21 left. First, Kelly wins the faceoff in the Buffalo zone, then passes back to Carkner. Kelly then finds a hole in the slot and tips Carkner's shot past Lalime.

9:15 p.m.: Milan Michalek scores to give Ottawa a 4-1 lead with 13:49 left. The Sabres' winless streak will reach three games (0-2-1) barring an appearance by Frank Reich, Steve Christie and Andre Reed.

9:21 p.m.: For Buffalo fans in need of more things to complain about, here you go: Alfredsson scores his second of the night with 12 minutes left to make it 5-1.

9:22 p.m.: Kaleta gets Buffalo within 5-2 with 11:03 left. Ruff was disappointed the Sabres didn't finish well in their 6-2 loss to Florida earlier in the week, so the players have something to prove to him at the end of this blowout.

9:24 p.m.: Well, are the Senators the Houston Oilers? Pominville makes the score 5-3 with 9:30 remaining.

10:45 p.m.: Sabres lost, 5-3. No comeback, just complaints in the locker room about lack of focus.

---John Vogl

No Stafford, Lalime likely

OTTAWA -- Drew Stafford, who suffered a lower-body bone bruise during Friday's 2-1 overtime loss to Boston, will not play tonight against the Ottawa Senators.

"He's too sore today, so he won't be available," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said after an optional morning skate in Scotiabank Place.

The Sabres, down to 11 forwards, will not recall a player from Portland to fill Stafford's spot. Instead, Ruff will put Andrej Sekera in the lineup and choose either Sekera or fellow defenseman Steve Montador to play up front.

"We could go various ways," Ruff said. "Montador could play forward. Andrej's played some forward in practice, so we'll just use the option that is there.

"We're not going with seven D. That's too disruptive, so we'll use one of those guys up front, and if it works, it works. If not, we'll just go with 11 forwards and one defenseman will spot in and out."

Ruff would not say who would start in goal for the Sabres, but it appears Patrick Lalime will play for the first time in three weeks. Ryan Miller took shots from the handful of players on the ice while Lalime stayed off to rest. The opposite scenario would have played out if Miller was slated to start.

Lalime, a former Senators netminder, lost a 6-3 decision in Ottawa last season while making 30 saves.

---John Vogl

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Live from the Arena: Sabres vs. Bruins

Greetings from downtown as the Sabres get set for a nifty November special against the Boston Bruins. It's the last home game before Thanksgiving and instead of Sabres classics on the HD board prior to the warmups, we're getting Peppermint Patty roaring, "Where's the mashed potatoes?" as she's eating Snoopy's popcorn in "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving." Love it. Always cracks me up.

As for tonight's game, it will be interesting to see how the Sabres react after Wednesday's stinker against Florida. The Sabres responded to their first two-game losing streak of the season (Nov. 6-7 against Philly and Boston) with a three-game winning streak. Avoiding long slumps is a big goal this year and if the Sabres keep doing it, it will be a big step up the maturity scale from last season.

"We don't want to sulk about a game and feel sorry about ourselves," Derek Roy told me after today's morning skate. "We want to go right back out there, work hard and get a victory. That's the difference between this year and last. We're on the same page when we lose a game. Everyone has that bad taste in their mouth and wants to turn it around the next game."

Ryan Miller is in goal for the Sabres while Tuuka Rask will make his third straight start in net for Boston as Tim Thomas nurses an undisclosed injury. If you want to catch up on the Bruins, you can give a look to the Boston Globe's blog, shepherded by longtime veteran Kevin Paul Dupont.

And as you get set for the opening faceoff -- with Jay-Z blaring in my ears (again) -- enjoy Snoopy battling the lawn chair.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Overtime

4:13 left: It's over. Connolly drops the faceoff and Chara's long floater gets past Miller on a deflection by Patrice Bergeron.Tough 2-1 loss. Bruins had only two shots in OT. 26-26.

Third Period

17:20 left: Guess Lindy Ruff got a message across. Sabres already have four shots, including a Vanek laser that Rask stopped. Myers got it going on the first shift, bulling into the Bruins zone and created an opportunity.

17:00 left: Vanek nearly scores from in tight but takes a Mark Stuart glove to the mouth and skates to the bench for attention.

12:56 left: At least Sabres found some jump in this period. Shots are 7-3 for Buffalo. So their attention span has widened. Now it's time to get a go-ahead goal.

10:51 left: Just traded chances. Lucic nearly had his second for the Bruins and Kaleta was wide a few seconds later for Buffalo on a great Gaustad feed.

7:04 left: Another pinch by Myers resulted in a great chance for the big guy that Rask gloved for his 12th save of the period.

3:55 left: Rask comes through again, stopping a Hecht shot from the slot after the Buffalo winger scooped up a loose puck.

1:30 left: The Bruins are clearly holding on for their point in their second game in two nights. Rask just stopped Kaleta on a semi-breakaway. Shots are 14-6 for Buffalo and the Sabres are pressing.

On to OT: Shots were 15-6 for the Sabres and 26-24 overall through regulation. Bruins have to be happy to have one point in the bag and a chance for two.

Second Period

15:00 left: Would love to know what's up with all the booing for Zdeno Chara? Just because he's 6-9? Guess all the Bruins fans have to start riding Tyler Myers. Boston, by the way, has come out hot in this period by already getting five shots. Miller robbed Steve Begin just 19 seconds in to preserve the Buffalo lead.

14:17 left: Calling the Sabres. Period has started. Roy to the box for hooking after Krejci misses from the edge of the crease.

12:13 left: The Sabres have announced Drew Stafford has a lower-body injury but may return. He went off late in the first period favoring a leg/ankle. Meanwhile, another penalty for Buffalo (Lydman for hooking).

10:45 left: Pominville takes a Chara slapshot flush on the right shin and goes gingerly to the bench. Ouch.

10:00 left: Another good kill keeps the lead intact. Pominville is still on the bench. Stafford is not.

9:06 left: And the inevitable happens as Lucic pots a 2-on-1 with Butler caught, on a perfect feed from Byron Bitz. Bruins tie it at 1-1 on their 10th shot of the period. Sabres have two. Which team played last night?

6:26 left: Miller robs Blake Wheeler from in tight as the shot count reaches 14-2. He should sue for non-support in this period. One positive: Pominville is back on the ice.

2:00 left: Kaleta had a decent chance for the Sabres but they have simply not skated in this period. Bottom line. Their elite goaltender is the only reason they're still in this one.

End-2nd: The Sabres get out of that 20 minutes alive at 1-1. The Bruins had a 14-3 bulge in shots and it's 18-11 for the game. Yep, Buffalo has just 11 shots in 40 minutes. Their season low is 25.

First Period

15:40 left: The Sabres take the early lead as Gaustad tips home a low Pominville shot from the point on the power play. Byron Bitz was off for hauling down Kaleta (who else?). It's been physical so far, starting with Milan Lucic rubbing out Henrik Tallinder behind the Sabres' hit just 28 seconds in. Kaleta has made sure to answer a couple times. Vanek was robbed on the power play by a glove save from Rask.

13:15 left: Just the start the Sabres wanted with a 5-0 edge in shots until the Bruins finally got their first. We'll see how many more they get with Matt Ellis now off for hooking. Toni Lydman back in the lineup after 14 games paired with Montador on defense. Other defense pairs are Tallinder-Myers and Butler-Rivet. No surprises up front: Hecht-Kennedy-Kaleta started. Then came MacArthur-Roy-Pominville, Stafford-Connolly-Vanek and Ellis-Gaustad-Mair.

11:08 left: Two shots on the Boston power play, including a solid Miller save on Dennis Wideman.

End of the 1st: Apologies for the lack of posts as we had an Internet outage in the press box. All good now. I took advantage of the time to get a between-periods hot dog, a nice addition up here that has drawn lots of attentions from all the scouts and not much from the writers (heh-heh). Anyway, the Sabres held their 1-0 lead through one and shots are 8-4.

Interesting numbers from the first period: Buffalo had 10 hits (they had 1 in the opening period Wednesday) and won 11 of 14 faceoffs (they were 17-49 for the game Wednesday).  Hopefully, we'll be back to normal here for the second.

Ducks fans need to give it to the kid

How many times have adults looked silly pushing kids out of the way for foul balls? We have a new leader in the clubhouse for stupidity after Thursday night's Ducks win over Tampa Bay in Anaheim. Scott Niedermayer scored the game-winner in OT and was trying to give a little girl his stick after he was announced at the first star. Didn't go so well. Check it out. TV clown didn't exactly help matters either with his inane "questions."

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Morning skate: Lydman in, Roy and Connolly OK

Lots of questions and only some are forthcoming at the morning skate for tonight's Sabres-Bruins game. Lindy Ruff said Thursday was a "maintenance" day for Derek Roy and Tim Connolly and didn't seem to think they would be out tonight, so we'll see if there's any news on that front when the Sabres hit the ice at 10 and meet the media afterwards.

UPDATE: Roy and Connolly are both on the ice in their regular spots. The lines are MacArthur-Roy-Pominville, Vanek-Connolly-Stafford, Hecht-Kennedy-Kaleta, Ellis-Gaustad-Mair. Mike Grier is also out skating lightly.

UPDATE II:  Toni Lydman will be back in the the lineup, skating with Steve Montador. Andrej Sekera and  Nathan Paetsch are the scratches on defense.

The bigger question surrounds the Bruins. They won in a shootout last night in Atlanta and are not expected to skate here this morning after making the late-night charter flight. So we may not find out until pregame warmups if Tim Thomas will be in goal or if Tuukka Rask will make this third straight start. Thomas is out with coach Claude Julien last night called a "minor undisclosed injury." Yeah, thanks for nothing there, Coach.

Marc Savard is expected to stay out one more game due to the broken foot that has kept him out the last 14. He's likely to play Monday in St. Louis. Savard, by the way, is on the verge of signing a seven-year contract extension that's in the $32 million range. Rugged winger Milan Lucic (finger) returned last night after missing 14 games but was hardly himself with just one hit in 14 minutes. Ex-Sabre Daniel Paille has two goals and four assists in 14 games since his trade to Boston last month.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Bruins come to town with win

Boston, which gave up the tying goal to Maxim Afinogenov in the final minute of regulation, still beat the Thrashers, 4-3, Thursday night. The Bruins play in Buffalo tonight, giving the Sabres a shot at revenge. A return to form by Thomas Vanek would give them a better chance.

---John Vogl

Kane turns 21

Patrick Kane turned 21 today, and NHL.com caught up with the Buffalo native in Calgary. Kane's Blackhawks face the Flames tonight.

Part of the conversation dealt with Kane's arrest and incident with a taxi driver in Buffalo over the summer.

"Yeah, I wish it didn't happen," Kane told the Web site, "but at the same time, could it help you grow as a person? I think so. [Being 21 brings] ... a little bit of freedom, but at the same time it comes with responsibility. You've got to be smart with what you're doing."

The topic is never far away, as the story reports that Toronto coach Ron Wilson -- who will coach Kane for Team USA in the Olympics -- was surrounded by reporters in Chicago last week, saw the forward walking by in the United Center hallway and called out, "Hey Patrick, I've got some spare change."

---John Vogl

'Maintenance day' for Roy, Connolly

The Sabres, who have back-to-back games Friday and Saturday, gave Derek Roy and Tim Connolly the day off from practice today.

It's commonplace for Connolly to get extra rest, but Roy's absence was rare. He was walking gingerly after Wednesday's 6-2 loss to Florida. Judging by the red marks on the back of his left leg today as he walked into the Amherst Pepsi Center locker room, he received treatment on the leg.

Both are expected to be on the ice when Boston visits HSBC Arena on Friday.

"Indications are they should be able to play. It's more to give them an extra day," coach Lindy Ruff said.

Right wing Mike Grier is not expected back. He skipped practice because of his groin injury.

"Not as good as we hoped," Ruff said of Grier. "Obviously, we had to keep him off again. He's at that same point where Toni [Lydman] was at where it just doesn't quite want to come around."

Ruff said he would decide later today whether to insert Lydman into the lineup Friday.

---John Vogl

LindyRuff

Inside the NHL -- Live Chat

Celebration gone bad in Sweden

Still fretting Wednesday night's Sabres stinker against Florida and need a laugh? I got your ticket. First saw this YouTube on Yahoo's Puck Daddy blog. It's of an 18-year-old Swede named Henrik Andersen. Dude tried to Lambeau Leap into the glass Alex Ovechkin style after scoring a goal Monday but had a little issue.

Bizarre choice of music but you'll be laughing too hard. Trust me.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Panther postmortems

Some leftovers from the Sabres' 6-2 loss Wednesday to Florida:

Numbers games: The Sabres had been 9-0-1 when scoring first. ... They won just 17 of 49 faceoffs, easily their worst showing of the season. ... They were charged with 25 giveaways. ... They had just one hit in the first period. You get the picture. ... In addition to notching his first goal as a Panther to cap the scoring, former Sabre Dominic Moore did the job defensively for Florida as he won seven of 11 faceoffs and had a team-high four blocked shots.

Injury update: Mike Grier (groin) didn't take the morning skate but Lindy Ruff said that was no setback. "He's actually doing pretty good," Ruff said. "We just decided to give him a day off because he's been skating fairly hard. He's kind of at that stage where it isn't getting any better but it hasn't gotten any worse."

Best effort of the night came from the Sabres' front office: A large rigging apparatus hanging from the ceiling near the zamboni end of the arena was for Thursday's Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes. The Sabres responded to complaints from fans who said it was blocking their views of the HD board and game clock by offering a complimentary $66 ticket to tonight's show or concession items during the game.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Three stars: Panthers 6, Sabres 2

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Live from the Arena: Sabres vs. Panthers

Greetings from HSBC Arena. Long time, no see as the World Series and some post-Series R&R had me off the blog for quite a while. Back on the case tonight as the Sabres host the Florida Panthers but I still feel a little like I'm in Yankee Stadium. That's because the infernal/informal Yankees anthem "Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z was blaring through the building here during warmups. Must have heard it a hundred times it seems in those 10 days in the Bronx between the ballpark, radio and (OK) a couple watering holes.

(I've since been told John Vogl may have been involved in prodding the Sabres game staff into putting it out over the airwaves here after he pointed out there was too much Run DMC going out. Let's just say Vogl has probably forgotten more music than I even know so we should probably go with his tastes!)

For those checking in from inside the house and wondering about all the rigging hanging from the ceiling, it's for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular that's here tomorrow. (Vogl probably wants the Rockettes to serve as Sabres Ice Girls tonight since they're playing the Panthers. From previous game threads, I recall he's a big fan of the Panthers Ice Dancers that skate nightly down in Sunrise).

Anyway....Great matchup in goal with red-hot Ryan Miller and Tomas Vokoun. The Sabres will be starting the fourth line (Ellis-Gaustad-Mair) with Sekera and Montador on defense. Onward.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Third Period

12:30 left: Where have I been? Nothing to say. One shot apiece. A game going nowhere. Panthers have to love this.

10:18 left: Kaleta (who else?) tries to spark the Sabres with a couple hits and it works as he feeds Myers in the slot for a one-timer that's Buffalo's best chance of the period. The big guy couldn't get much on his shot and Vokoun handled it easily. The Panthers have just six shots in the last 30 minutes but have the lead. Kind of road game only a coach could love.

9:10 left: The Panthers might have put it away as old nemesis Cory Stillman (Carolina '06) converts on a 2-on-1 to make it 3-1. Perfect pass from Steven Reinprecht and Vanek could not catch Stillman after Rivet didn't keep the puck in the Florida zone.

7:23 left: Close to last-chance time here as Victor Oreskovich goes for hooking. Power play 0 for 3 with five shots so far.

5:43 left: MacArthur converts to make it 3-2 as Rivet holds it, holds it, holds it -- long enough for a female leatherlung below the press box to screech "shoooot it" -- gets it to Vanek and Vokoun can't handle the rebound. Crowd back into it. MacArthur's sixth, tied with Stafford and Vanek for team high honors.

3:05 left: Rivet really skating and feeds Pominville for a slapper from the slot that Vokoun stomachs. Shots are 27-21 for Buffalo and 10-4 in this period. The Sabres have momentum rolling and still plenty of time to get the tying goal. Attendance: 18,546, just shy of a sellout.

2:19 left: Kaleta gets a killer interference penalty, taking out a Panther who had yet to touch the puck. Looked OK with the naked eye. Good call on the replay.

2:02 left: Killer. Frolik tips in a Bryan McCabe shot from the point to make it 4-2 and start the exodus to the exits. His second of the night.

1:48 left: Empty netter as Olesz puts this one away at 5-2.

59.5 left: Utter collapse as Olesz feeds Moore for a tap-in that makes it 6-2. Panthers getting payback for Buffalo's 5-2 win last month in Sunrise.

It's over: 6-2 final. Final shots 28-24, Buffalo.

Second Period

18:39 left: Bad start as Weiss gives the Panthers a 2-1 lead. Frolik got around Montador and Miller made the save but couldn't control the rebound in his glove. As he went to whack it away with his stick, he knocked it right to Weiss, who simply tapped it into the open net.

16:07 left: Sabres go to the power play as Bryan Allen goes for hooking Kaleta, whose solid backchecking in the neutral zone allowed Kennedy to scoop up a loose puck and begin 30 seconds of pressure inside the Panthers' zone.

14:11 left: Five seconds left in that penalty and Olesz gets a delay of game for a puck over the glass.

12:16 left: Rivet rings one directly off the post on a long, low floater from the point. PP blanked.

8:37 left: Panthers to the PP after Roy is called for hooking. Key chance for them to convert and take a two-goal lead. This place is lifeless tonight. In the stands and on the ice.

6:03 left: Ex-Sabre Dominic Moore is stopped on a backhand by Miller. It's the Panthers' first shot in 12 1/2 minutes, since the Weiss goal. It's just 5-3 for Buffalo in this period. Booooring.

3:42 left: Roy gets leveled in open ice by Keith Ballard, then barely misses trying to get payback a few seconds later. A rare moment of spark in this one.

1:09 left: The Sabres are finally getting some chances in the Panthers' zone and Moore took a foolish penalty in the Buffalo end to put the Sabres back on the PP.

End-2nd: Panthers still lead, 2-1 and the Sabres had a 10-5 advantage in shots (even at 17-17 through two). Buffalo finally got some momentum in the final three minutes as Myers was stopped by Vokoun (and the rebound jumped over Gaustad's stick), Vanek was stopped after a Stafford feed and Hecht was also thwarted.

First Period

16:16 left: Rivet off for slashing in the Panthers' zone so it's Florida to the PP. The Sabres had three of the game's four shots to that point. As has been customary the last few games, Lindy Ruff got all four lines a quick shift within the first 2 1/2 minutes (It was actually inside two minutes last week against Calgary). After the Gaustad line came MacArthur-Roy-Pominville, Vanek-Connolly-Stafford and Hecht-Kennedy-Kennedy. The other two defense pairs were Butler-Rivet and Tallinder-Myers. Lydman-Paetsch out as healthy scratches.

13:50 left: No shots for the Panthers on the PP.

12:20 left: Not a great start for Rivet thus far. Stephen Weiss deked him silly, putting the puck through the captain's legs to get in alone on Miller. Of course, that hasn't helped opponents much this year. Stoned.

10:40 left: Best save of the night so far and it's not by either goaltender. It's by Panthers winger Rostislav Olesz, on his knees in the crease to block Mair's backhand with Vokoun out of position. Great work by Mair to get the puck from the Buffalo zone and create a 2-on-1 that eventually led to the scramble.

9:19 left: At the second TV timeout, shots are 5-5. Still scoreless. Only a few empties in Sections 301 and 325 so a near-sellout on a Value night. But not much noise either.

5:37 left: Stafford bulls to the net to beat Vokoun and put the Sabres up 1-0 on a backhand from the edge of the crease. But it was Vanek who did a lot of dirty work to create all that open space. Couple minutes earlier, Vanek hit a post. He's had a good period. Stafford's sixth, tying Vanek for team-high honors. Of note: Sabres are 9-0-1 this year scoring first.

2:02 left: Miller stops point shot by Keith Ballard, his 10th save of the period. Panthers have a 10-7 edge in shots.

1:39 left: The Panthers tie it on Michael Frolik's neat one-timer from the slot, as he chopped it past Miller by beating Tallinder to the puck by a split second (although it was in the high slot and it would have been nice had a foward been there). Great pass from Nathan Horton from the left boards.

End-1st: Tied at 1-1. Panthers have a 12-7 edge in shots.

Price was right for Habs

If you didn't see the end of Tuesday's Habs-Hurricanes shootout in Montreal, spend two minutes before tonight's Sabres game watching this. Both teams went scoreless through five rounds before Montreal's Maxim Lapierre beat Manny Legace top shelf. Fair enough. But watch how Carey Price wins it -- with an unbelieveable pad save off Matt Cullen that ends with the puck tantalizingly close to the goal line.

(And the screaming French adds to the video too!)

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Panthers update

The Panthers have made the trip to Buffalo without one of their top players, David Booth. The forward, who received a devastating hit from Philadelphia's Mike Richards that was condemned by Ryan Miller, suffered a setback last week while working out. There is no time table for his return to physical activity, let alone game action.

"We knew going through this process there'd be good days and bad," Florida coach Peter DeBoer said today after the morning skate in HSBC Arena.

DeBoer said the Panthers, who are 2-0-1 in their past three games, are still searching for an identity with 18 games gone. They'll play their 19th tonight against the Sabres with Tomas Vokoun in the net.

"We're still trying to find that consistency," DeBoer said. "We were much to easy to play against early in the season.

"We have to be an aggressive, tenacious, in-your-face team in order to compete."

---John Vogl

Follow the flame

The buildup to the most anticipated hockey tournament in history continues today, as Penguins captain and Team Canada star Sidney Crosby carries the Olympic torch in Halifax, Nova Scotia. For those who want to see it, CTV is carrying every moment live from Halifax to Vancouver.

The torch is scheduled to arrive in Niagara Falls, Ont., on Dec. 20, and it will wind through Fort Erie on Dec. 21. The men's Olympic hockey games begin Feb. 16 when Ryan Miller and Team USA face Switzerland.

---John Vogl

Sekera stays in, Lydman out

Despite Toni Lydman's return to health, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff plans to stick with his same defensive pairings tonight when the Panthers visit HSBC Arena.

Ruff wouldn't confirm his choice, but since Toni Lydman and Nathan Paetsch are still on the ice working with backup goalie Patrick Lalime while the rest of the blue-liners have long since showered (and, in some cases, left the building), the lineup is obvious:

Henrik Tallinder-Tyler Myers

Chris Butler-Craig Rivet

Andrej Sekera-Steve Montador

---John Vogl

Miller's mojo

Some X and O talk with Ryan Miller developed Tuesday after practice in the Pepsi Center. Always interesting and you always learn something. Miller has never been better in his career but don't expect him to take a lot of credit. He's quick to credit his team. Great leader.

"The way we're playing has been great," Miller said. "The defense has been really solid. Everybody kind of feeds off each other. That's why it's a good team environment. The defensemen are benefitting from the forwards paying a little more attention to coming back through the neutral zone, and the backcheck pressure has been very good. For me, it means less zone time (when opponents have the puck inside the Sabres zone).

"When we do have zone time, we're going to be fresher and we can push, find loose guys and push harder on the puck. They're not going to have as much time to make plays."

How is that significant? Miller said he's spending more time this season focusing straight-up on shooters and not worrying about any sort of back-side, fancy plays. No arguments so far how that adjustment is working.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

  

Decision on defense

Toni Lydman is ready to return after missing 10 games with a groin injury. The veteran is healthy but will he be on the ice when Florida comes to HSBC Arena Wednesday night?

Lindy Ruff wouldn't commit to putting Lydman back in the lineup after practice Tuesday in the Pepsi Center. The Sabres won all three games they played last week and Ruff often doesn't mess with a winning lineup. Ruff just said "we're going to discuss it" and make a decision Wednesday morning.

One problem is that the blueliner likely to come out for Lydman, Andrej Sekera, is coming off back-to-back solid games that earned Ruff's praise. The Sabres have three games in four nights again this week and Ruff may wait to break up a winning combination. Ruff said he'll have a decision in the morning but it wouldn't be a total shock to see this one go to the pregame warmup.

When healthy, Lydman is one of the club's old reliables. He was certainly their best defenseman overall last year. Tough call with the club winning without him.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

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Road record is safe

One of the Sabres' most recent nuggets of NHL history will stay on the books as the New Jersey Devils lost Monday night in Philadelphia, 3-2. That ended the Devils' string of road victories to start the season at nine -- one shy of the Sabres' mark of 10 in a row that opened the 2006-07 season. Once in a while, folks in Buffalo actually have something to thank the Flyers for.

Never like to pump Versus but the network had that one Monday will have another big one Tuesday when Alexander Ovechkin likely makes his return for the Capitals in Madison Square Garden against the Rangers.

---Mike Harrington

Miller honored; Stafford, Lydman getting close

Ryan Miller was named the NHL's Third Star of the week today after winning all three games in goal for the Sabres, including the spine-tinglers Friday and Saturday against Calgary and Philadelphia. He gave up just four goals in the three games, also beating Edmonton on Wednesday.

Miller leads the league in wins (12), goals-against average (1.77) and save percentage (.939) in what's easily starting off as the best season of his career. Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg and Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk were stars 1-2.

The Sabres practiced for about 50 minutes today in HSBC Arena. Drew Stafford and Toni Lydman both were basically at full strength with Lindy Ruff said he's expecting to play Stafford here Wednesday against Florida. Lydman also should be ready but that will necessitate a decision on defense.

Mike Grier skated on his own and is still a few games away with his groin injury. Tyler Ennis was returned to Portland after scoring Saturday in his NHL debut.

The Sabres did a little cross-ice 3-on-3 at the end of practice. Players committing giveaways were sentenced to 10 pushups, although some apparently protested they had done calisthenics before practice. Ruff joked that he caught Tim Kennedy not doing the full 10 after one giveaway.

"I caught him cheating. South Buffalo math is different," Ruff cracked. "I'd like to meet his math teacher. Ten minus seven is three and that was the number we were missing on that last pile of pushups."

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Sabres caught Flyers in the trap

The Sabres have taken great pride in playing a puck-possession style in which they tried pushing the pace for much of the season, but they switched almost exclusively to a neutral-zone trap en route to beating the Flyers. Coach Lindy Ruff, who for years expressed disdain for the trap, figured he had no choice.

Installing the trap was the biggest adjustment Ruff made last week after the Sabres lost to the Flyers and Bruins on successive nights. It prompted Ruff to review how the Sabres performed in the second half of back-to-back games, and it wasn't pretty. They were 0-3 this season and had been outscored, 13-4, in the second game before beating the Flyers.

The Sabres rolled out a 1-3-1 against the Flyers, who became increasingly frustrated while trying to get the puck through the neutral zone. It helped Buffalo win more races to the puck despite having tired legs from playing a tough game against Calgary the previous night at home.

"We played [Friday] night, and they didn't," Ruff said. "I said I had to take a hard look at back-to-back games and how we approached them, maybe taking a little off of the aggressive side and be ready to look for turnovers and going the other way.

"We were at a little bit of a competitive disadvantage. We faced teams that have done the same in our building. With our record in the back-to-back, it was time to take a look at maybe toning down our game a little bit."

Don't be surprised if you see more of the same this weekend. The Sabres play the Bruins on Friday before traveling to Ottawa on Saturday.

--- Bucky Gleason

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Live from Sabres at Philly

PHILADELPHIA -- Former first-round pick Tyler Ennis learned how quickly things can change in professional hockey. The rookie spent Thursday night playing against Chris Taylor. Forty-eight hours later, he was making his NHL debut against Chris Pronger and the Flyers.

The Sabres realized Saturday morning they would be without winger Drew Stafford, who suffered a hip-flexor injury, and summoned Ennis from Portland in time for the game. His plane landed about 5:10, and he didn't arrive at the Wachovia Center until about an hour before faceoff. Ennis played his first shift on the power play with Tim Connolly and Paul Gaustad up front.

He was with Connolly and Thomas Vanek on his first regular shift.

Ennis was selected 26th overall in 2008, the year the Sabres took Tyler Myers with the 13th pick overall. The 5-foot-9, 163-pound center has Mite size but NHL hands and speed. He had six goals and 13 points, making him Portland's second-leading scorer behind Mark Mancari. The 20-year-old had 43 goals and 85 points last season for Medicine Hat in Western Hockey League.  

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff was impressed after seeing Ennis record two assists Thursday night when Portland played Rochester in HSBC Arena.

"He makes a lot of good plays," Ruff said. "With a skill guy out of the lineup, we look to put a little more skill against these guys."  

FIRST PERIOD

20:00 remaining: Santa Claus stopped in the press box and gave me a candy cane. No, I didn't boo him. That's what they do in Philadelphia.

19:34: Flyers waste no time buzzing around the Sabres net. Mike Richards, Scott Hartnell and Claude Giroux each had chances with Ryan Miller making saves.

18:32: Dan Carcillo goes off for cross-checking after starting trouble, which he does, with Tyler Myers. Ennis plays his first shift on the power play has a scoring chance after deflecting Jason Pominville's shot from the blue line.

16:49: Sabres take a 1-0 lead when Vanek buries a pass in the slot from Clarke MacArthur on the power play. The goal was the result of good puck movement. Roy found MacArthur below the goal line, and MacArthur sent a touch pass to Vanek in front of the net.

11:57: Kennedy has a good scoring chance after taking a pass from Hecht in the right circle, but Emery makes a good save with his blocker.

10:23: Vanek sent to the box for hooking Coburn. It's an easy call and not a good penalty considering the Flyers have the best PP in the NHL.

8:14: Hecht does a great job killing penalties before getting dumped by Pronger in the Flyers' zone.

2:39: Roy draw his second penalty, this one on Coburn for interference after he chopped Roy's stick out of his hands.

2:09: Pominville rattles one off the post. He entered the game with eight goals and 17 points in 16 career games against Philly.

1:57: Gaustad and Pronger are sent off for roughing after a scrum in front of the Philly net. Gaustad was hardly backing down from one of the nastiest players in the game. If anything, Gaustad was initiating a dustup after Pronger popped him in the crease.

0:00 End of period. Sabres 1, Flyers 0.

SECOND PERIOD

19:24: Roy wins a battle with Darroll Powe along the wing, sets up Pominville for a one-timer and draws a hooking penalty in the process.

17:32: Montador makes a good play by getting a good wrist shot -- not a slapper -- on net bounces over Roy's stick in the slot on a good scoring chance.

14:46: Kaleta is drilled by Mike Richards along the wall.

14:40: Kaleta flattens Matt Carle in the neutral zone.

12:57: Jeff Carter is shipped to the box for slashing Andrej Sekera. Dumb.

12:33: Tim Connolly catches Emery out of position and nearly slips a wrist shot past the goaltender.

6:29: The Sabres continue to get into shot lanes and win races to loose pucks. They're simply playing harder than the Flyers at this point.

5:10: Ennis? Yes. The rookie takes a pass from Tim Kennedy, makes a move in the right circle and fires a wrist shot off Emery and into the net for his first NHL goal. Who was more thrilled, Ennis or Kennedy? Ennis. He can't wipe the smile off of his face. His teammates are having fun watching him have fun.

0:30: Miller beats Mika Pyarola to the far post, stopping a wraparound attempt. The Sabres are one step ahead in this game.

0:00 End of second period. Sabres 2, Flyers 0.

THIRD PERIOD

17:17: Pronger cuts the lead to 2-1 when he takes a pass from Jeff Carter and fires a wrist shot through a screen, beating Miller glove side. Now it gets interesting.

15:56: Vanek is sent off again, this time for slashing Mike Richards. The Flyers appear to be gaining momentum from Pronger's goal and the best PP in the league.

15:31: Not so fast. Briere retaliates against Chris Butler with a two-hander across the neck. Not too smart, Danny.

13:35: Gaustad scores on the power play, giving the Sabres a 3-1 lead, after he wins a faceoff against Blair Betts and heads for the net. Tyler Myers fires a low slapper, and Gaustad tips the puck between Emery's pads.

10:40: Pronger is called for delay of game.

9:39: Carter scores shorthanded after winning a battle around the net despite being surrounded by four Buffalo throwback jerseys. The play started when Connolly coughed up the puck in the neutral zone. Mike Richards did a good job getting the puck to the net.

1:35: Miller runs into Miller during another scoring chance.

0:00: End of game. Sabres 3, Flyers 2. Buffalo's three-game winning streak is impressive considering they played over four nights, two back-to-back games against tough teams in Calgary and Philly, plus travel.  

--- Bucky Gleason

Ennis to make NHL debut

PHILADELPHIA -- Buffalo Sabres prospect Tyler Ennis is expected to make his NHL debut tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers after winger Drew Stafford suffered a hip-flexor injury Friday night against the Calgary Flames.

Ennis, selected 26th overall in 2008, was flying from Buffalo to Philadelphia and was scheduled to land about two hours before the game. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff was still figuring out how he would use the 20-year-old center but was considering playing him between veterans Thomas Vanek and Tim Connolly. Ennis also was expected to get some time on the power play.

"He makes a lot of good plays," Ruff said. "With a skill guy out of the lineup, we look to put a little more skill against these guys."  

Ruff had a chance to see Ennis, who is 5-foot-9 and 163 pounds, record two assists Thursday night when Portland played Rochester in HSBC Arena. Ennis was second behind Mark Mancari among Pirates in scoring with six goals and 13 points. Ennis had 43 goals and 85 points in 61 games last season with Medicine Hat in the Western Hockey League.

Stafford did not skate during the optional morning workout. The other scratches will be forward Mike Grier and defensemen Toni Lydman and Nathan Paetsch.

--- Bucky Gleason

Lydman getting closer

PHILADELPHIA-- Sabres defenseman Toni Lydman continued making progress today after missing nine straight games with a strained groin. He's not playing tonight against the Flyers but is hoping to be back in the lineup sometime next week.

"It's getting better now," Lydman said after the Sabres' morning workout. "We're definitely almost there. I think so. That's my humble opinion. I don't know for sure."

Lydman was hesitant because he thought he would be back several times over the past three weeks only to suffer setbacks. The Sabres don't play again until Wednesday, which gives him another three days to recover before they make a decision. Mike Grier (groin) had a light skate but will not play tonight.

Lydman's return would put the Sabres at the 23-man roster limit. It would include eight defensemen, including defenseman-forward Nathan Paetsch. Most teams carry only seven. The Sabres will likely stick with eight unless they figure out a way to make room. 

Ryan Miller did not participate in the optional practice this morning but will likely be back in net for the third straight game. Veteran backup Patrick Lalime had a full workout this morning.

--- Bucky Gleason

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Live from Flames at Sabres

Buffalo defenseman Tyler Myers, born in Houston, moved to Calgary when he was 10. He was 14 when the Flames went the Stanley Cup finals in 2004 and remembers reveling in the Red Mile.

"It feels a little weird [playing them] being that I used to be that kid in the stands cheering for them in that Cup run," Myers said.

Well, Myers could feel right at home tonight in HSBC Arena. The red jerseys have invaded the Sabres' home, as Flames backers are packing the place to see their team here for the first time since the 2006-07 season. A big cheer just went up as the PA announcer said Jarome Iginla is in the starting lineup -- which brings us to this cheap plug: Read about Iginla as the top of Saturday's notebook.

More in minutes.

FIRST PERIOD

7:39 p.m: Lindy Ruff opens the game with Clarke MacArthur-Derek Roy-Jason Pominville and defensemen Henrik Tallinder-Tyler Myers against the line with Iginla-Olli Jokinen-Fredrik Sjostrom. Will be interesting to see if that stays all game.

7:40 p.m.: The Flames backers are already out of their seats as Daymond Langkow scores just 1:04 in.

7:44 p.m.: Quality shift by the Sabres' starting line, getting four good chances on Miikka Kiprusoff with three minutes gone. Roy got some applause with a big check along the boards to keep the puck in.

7:47 p.m.: My hunch proved correct, so now I'm kicking myself for not making it a prediction. Anyway, Adam Mair fights a long, quality battle with the Flames' Brandon Prust with 5:02 gone. Mair lands plenty of lefts early, but Prust unleashes a huge right hand to take the latter stages.

7:50 p.m.: New Flames coach Brent Sutter is regarded as a defensive coach, so I wasn't sure what type of game we'd have tonight. So far, it's filled with odd-man rushes leading to odd-man rushes the other way. Entertaining start after a sluggish game Wednesday.

7:56 p.m.: Patrick Kaleta wants to be the next to fight, it appears. He's twice pushed and tussled with defensemen in the Calgary crease. Second one comes after Jochen Hecht draws a hooking penalty on Adam Pardy with 10:46 to go.

8 p.m.: In a case of poor officiating, the refs allow Kaleta and Iginla push and shove twice. The two jostled hard when Kaleta came and pushed Iginla down along the boards, but instead of the refs sending both to the box, then sent them back to their benches. Instead of going in, they met in the middle and shoved again. That time, the refs woke up and sent them to the box with 8:06 to go.

8:06 p.m.: There's a person in the front row dressed as Gumby. Why? I have no idea.

8:09 p.m.: Sabres, who were dreadful on first power play, get another with 3:24 to go. They capitalize 18 seconds later. Robyn Regehr deflects two shots near Calgary net before Roy flips a backhand over a prone Kiprusoff.

8:14 p.m.: Now that was 20 minutes of real hockey, with the first period ending in a 1-1 tie. Aside from some subpar efforts on Calgary's goal and a few bad passing decisions, that was possibly the Sabres' best period of the season given the level of competition. They hold an 18-5 shot edge and 13-11 advantage in hits, standing up to a very physical team.

SECOND PERIOD

8:33 p.m.: The teams are back, and so is the action.

8:38 p.m.: Sabres' penalty killers, particularly Paul Gaustad, are stellar in holding Flames without a shot after Craig Rivet goes off for high-sticking just 1:35 in.

8:42 p.m.: Flames do better on a second power play, getting two shots when Hecht leaves for interference with 4:13 gone, but it's still 1-1.

8:46 p.m.: the Sabres had five penalties in the second period of their last game. They're well on their way again. Myers goes for hooking with 12:37 gone, giving them three penalties this period already.

8:49 p.m.: Sabres kill another one, but the shots are 7-0 Calgary with 9:52 to go.

8:51 p.m.: I know Sabretooth, and that ain't the real Sabretooth entertaining the crowd with a big dance routine during a commerical. He danced almost as well as I can. Almost.

8:55 p.m.: Sabres get a chance for their first shot as Jokinen hooks Hecht with 7:08 left.

8:58 p.m.: All Sabres get on the power play are boos, some guy yelling "We want one!" and a huge short-handed breakaway save by Miller on Rene Bourque after three Sabres enter Calgary zone on same side and turn the puck over.

8:59 p.m.: There's the big mock cheer we all know and love as Roy gets Sabres' first shot with 4:29 to go. Flames have a 12-1 edge with 4:18 to go..

9:03 p.m: "It's Tricky" by Run-DMC? Really? L.L. Cool J was better in that era, and there's nothing wrong with Jay-Z.

9:05 p.m.: Fans are honking for Goose as Gaustad fights/wrestles with Dion Phaneuf after the Calgary defenseman comes in high on Gaustad's clearing attempt with 2:41 left.

9:09 p.m.: Second period, nowhere near as entertaining as the first, closes the same way it started, tied 1-1. Flames take 12 of the 15 shots to close their gap to 21-17. To steal my favorite Bucky Gleason line, there were a lot of players out there with hands like feet. Bad passing and poor acceptance of passes, especially by Buffalo.

THIRD PERIOD

9:29 p.m.: Game on.

9:35 p.m.: Flames have a 2-1 shot lead with 14:47 left as the teams edge toward an almost-inevitable overtime.

9:41 p.m.: Sabres kill another penalty, this time when Rivet goes for boarding. Not the best game for the captain.

9:47 p.m.: Roughing penalties for Mair and Adam Pardy with 9:54 left give the teams some four-on-four play -- with more to come if they reach OT.

9:57 p.m.: Roy has really lifted his game lately. It's still 1-1 with 3:29 to go.

9:59 p.m.: My pet peeve will Sabres fans resurfaces with two minutes to go. Flames backers start a "Let's go, Flames" chant, and the Buffalonians respond with ... booing. I've said it before and have no doubt I'll say it again -- Hey, try cheering louder instead!

10:02 p.m.: Big surprise, teams are headed to overtime. The shots were just 6-6 in the period, with the squads playing for a point.

OVERTIME

10:07 p.m.: The Calgary kid draws a penalty with 2:31 to go. Myers moves around Jokinen and gets hauled down.

10:10 p.m.: The best player when the Sabres have the power play? Miller. Another big short-handed stop with 1:15 left.

10:11 p.m.: Depsite the best efforts of Myers, Steve Montador and Tim Connolly, the Sabres are going to a shootout.

SHOOTOUT

10:21 p.m.: Sabres win. Jason Pominville scores the winner, while Miller stops three of four.

POSTGAME

10:56 p.m.: Audio from Miller and coach Lindy Ruff below.

---John Vogl

RyanMiller

LindyRuff

Grier out; Olympic matchup in net

Mike Grier skipped the morning skate for the Sabres, meaning there's a 99.9999 percent certainty he won't be in the lineup tonight when the Flames visit HSBC Arena. Patrick Kaleta will fill his spot on the line with Tim Kennedy and Jochen Hecht, while Adam Mair gets his shot at redemption after being waived earlier in the week. I won't predict he gets in a fight, but I do have a hunch.

The real attraction should be in the crease, where two likely Olympians will set up. USA's Ryan Miller is starting for the Sabres, while Finland's Miikka Kiprusoff is going for Calgary. Miller's numbers: 10-2-1, 1.82, .938. Kiprusoff: 10-3-1, 2.49, .917.

---John Vogl

More from Miller on head shots

Ryan Miller is honored to be a member of the NHL competition committee. The two-year gig started last spring. He's hoping next spring the group gets to talk about something that really matters.

The Sabres goaltender noticed "media-driven" issues dominated the conversations in June while he wanted to talk about real problems plaguing the players. Instead of fighting and goalie equipment -- the causes du jour -- he wants to legislate hits to the head.

"I was mad that they were only reacting to media-related issues, like the fighting, goal scoring – those are complete media issues – or goaltending equipment," Miller said. "We have some real issues in the game we’re trying to address, and it seems like they get pushed off to the side because there’s pressure. They want to get the goaltending stuff done because they made a promise to the fans through the media that you would see a reduction in goalie equipment. Why? Goal scoring is going up. It’s still hard to be a goalie. There’s protection issues. There’s research and development issues. What are you guys doing about it. They just want to react.

"Because there was so much media pressure, we had to address fighting. Fighting happens in every other sport, and it’s penalized by getting kicked out. We penalize it differently, but it’s still major penalties and major amount of the game is missed. Five minutes is a long time for a scrap. Adding two, five and 10 to a fight, you’re out. We reacted to it, and now we have a major penalty for instigating a fight. But we don’t have anything that covers something that can end a guy’s career or put him out for the rest of the game, something that can hurt a team for more than just that game. Yeah, start a fight, start a scrap, it usually doesn’t affect a superstar or somebody that can change that game that night. But now we’ve got something that can put a guy out who can change the game every night, and nothing gets done about it."

He's hoping the next thing the media and league react to are head shots.

"Every year, it’s just like, 'Ah, we don’t want to take the hitting out of hockey.' Well, we don’t want to take our best players out of hockey," Miller said. "We want to have the best product on the ice every night.

"A fan who buys a ticket four, five months ahead of time, waiting to see their favorite player come through, expects to see their favorite player on the ice. That’s just the way it goes, and you’re going to have guys on the shelf for a week just because they got grazed in the head by some idiot with his elbow."

---John Vogl

Live from HSBC: Pirates style

Greetings from HSBC Arena, where the Portland Pirates will serve as the home team tonight. The Buffalo Sabres' AHL affiliate is in town to host the white-hot Rochester Americans.

Buffalo's old affiliate has won 11 games in a row and is in first place in the AHL's Western Conference North Division with a 12-1-1 record.

This is the first meeting between the two teams since the Sabres switched affiliates prior to last season.

One player who won't be on the ice for the Pirates is Nathan Gerbe. The second-year pro will miss his fourth straight game because of injury. You can read more on that in tomorrow's Pirates notebook.

I still like this idea of Portland playing games here, but I'm not sure about the timing. Having the game sandwiched between two Sabres home games might hurt attendance, by the looks of things in the Arena so far. Three straight nights is a lot to ask of Sabres season ticket holders (the assumed target market for this game), both in terms of time and the hit that takes on one's wallet.

That being said, it provides a great chance to see some of Buffalo's young prospects for a reasonable cost, something that's not easily done anymore considering the distance between Western New York and Maine.

Back for the drop of the puck in about 20 minutes.

FIRST PERIOD

As The News' John Vogl reported earlier today, Jhonas Enroth has been sent back to the Pirates by the Sabres. He's in net tonight. The rest of the Portland starters: Mike Weber and Matt Generous, D; Tyler Ennis, C; Mark Mancari, RW; Philip Gogulla, LW.

Portland scratches: Felix Schutz, C; Marc-Andre Gragnani, D; Gerbe; Brad Larsen, LW.

7:06 p.m.: We're underway.

7:13 p.m.: Decent chance for Pirates LW Jeff Cowan after a turnover at the Rochester blue line. Cowan's shot is gloved by Amerks rookie goalie Alexander Salak. We're still scoreless.

7:17 p.m.: Enroth's first big save of the game comes with 12:19 left in the first period after Rochester's Mike York got free behind the Portland defense. York went five-hole, to no avail. Shots are 4-3 Amerks.

7:24 p.m.: A good shift by Portland LW Derek Whitmore results in a couple good chances but still no score. Shots are now 6-6 with less than five minutes to play in a quick-moving first.

7:27 p.m.: First penalty of the game comes with 3:16 left in the first and goes to Rochester's Graham Mink for holding. Pirates to the power play.

7:31 p.m.: Before the Portland fans can even celebrate taking a 1-0 leadon Mancari's power play goal, the Amerks tie it 1-1 on Jeff Taffe's goal just 17 seconds later. It's 1-1. Mancari took Ennis' touch pass and blasted it home from the point. Taffe scored on a great feed from Jamie Johnson.

7:34: Tough way for the Pirates to end the period. On a delayed penalty, Rochester takes a 2-1 leadon Johnson's perfect tip of a point shot from Jason Garrison with just 27.4 seconds left in the period. Taffe also had an assist; he and Johnson have two points on the night.

7:36 p.m.: End of 1, 2-1 Rochester. Shots are 8-7 Amerks.

SECOND PERIOD

7:52 p.m.: We're back. Just one penalty in that first period. Not much hitting either.

7:56 p.m.: Portland to the power play as Rochester's Peter Aston goes off for holding at 1:46.

7:59 p.m.: Nothing doing on the power play, still 2-1 Rochester with 16:07 to go in the second.

8:01 p.m.: This time it's a Pirate to the box, as C Travis Turnbull is whistled for holding.

8:02 p.m.: Doesn't matter. Portland's Paul Byron ties it at 2-2 with a short-handed goal on an assist from Cody McCormick.

8:06 p.m.: Enroth makes a big save on a partial breakaway for Rochester's Jimmy Bonneau. Shots are 11-11 so far exactly halfway through the game.

8:15 p.m.: Philip Gogulla's third goal of the season gives the Pirates a 3-2 lead. It was scored on the type of goal you'd see at the NHL level. A perfect three-way passing play from the top line of Ennis-Mancari-Gogulla leads to an easy one.

8:17 p.m.: Whitmore is rewarded for his earlier hard work with his third goal of the season. His impossible-angle shot from the left somehow gets behind Salak and makes it 4-2 Portland. That one chases Salak. Chris Beckford-Tseu is now in net for the Amerks, if you're scoring at home.

8:25 p.m.: We saw one NHL-level play in that period and one mite-level play. With less than 10 seconds to play in the second Rochester's Keaton Ellerby trips over his own blue line, leading to a breakaway for McCormick, who beats Beckford-Tseu with just 3 seconds to go in the period. It's 5-2 Pirates.

8:26 p.m. End of 2, 5-2. Shots, 18-17 Rochester.

THIRD PERIOD

8:44 p.m.: We're back for the third. A quick note on attendance: It's bad. Probably about 4,000 or so, much less than the more than 11,000 who were here in February. Not a soul in the 300s. Posts will be sporadic in the third as we've got a game story to write.

8:56 p.m.: Portland to the power play with 10:12 left. Rochester's David Brine goes off for tripping.

8:59 p.m.: It's turning ugly. Mancari takes a cross-checking penalty with 8:46 left, negating the rest of the Pirates power play, after it looked like the referees missed a high sticking on Rochester.

9:00 p.m.: Announced attendance 4,685. Sounds about right.

9:02 p.m.: Rochester scores on the power play. York sets up former Sabre Chris Taylor in front with 7:39 left. A few "Let's Go Amerks" chants can be heard. It's 5-3 Portland.

9:12 p.m.: Timeout Rochester, 1:38 to play. Still 5-3 Portland.

9:13 p.m.: Kyle Wanvig ices it for the Pirates, scoring into an empty net with 1:17 left. It's 6-3.

9:15 p.m. Final score: Portland 6, Rochester 3. Back after the game with some quotes.

POSTGAME THOUGHTS

Ennis is the real deal. He looks like a young Derek Roy and made some dazzling plays with the puck. I wouldn't expect to see him in Buffalo soon, though. He's got a lot of getting bigger and stronger to do before he can handle NHL defensemen. ... The attendance was simply disappointing, no other way to put it. ... The Gerbe injury sounds like a real concern. Portland's people are being awfully quiet about it. Two concussions in the span of a year is scary.

POSTGAME QUOTES

Mark Mancari:

On the win: "It was a really important win for us. We had a tough loss last night and obviously coming in and playing the No. 1 team in the league, it was a sign of good things to come."

On getting bounces: "Sometimes you get that when you're working hard and sometimes you don't. Tonight was one of those nights where we did the right things and the bounces came our way and it showed on the scoreboard."

On his line: "My line played well all around. We were moving the puck and I was able to find Philip there for the goal, so that made a big difference. Tonight was our first night, the three of us together. ... I though things went really well. We had a lot of communication and we knew where each other were."

Head coach Kevin Dineen

On Tyler Ennis: Tyler has been a guy who's not unlike Timmy Kennedy here last year. When I was looking to get a player going we seemed to put him on his [Kennedy's] wing and all of a sudden he's playing some pretty good hockey. [Ennis is also] not unsimilar in that both of them have never been natural centers, so he [Ennis] is working himself into that role and has probably been our top player to this point."

---Jay Skurski

MacArthur hit: worthy of discipline?

It appears the NHL will not suspend or fine the Sabres' Clarke MacArthur for his major boarding penalty against Edmonton's Liam Reddox. Would you?

---John Vogl

poll by twiigs.com

Grier misses practice; no call for MacArthur

Sabres right wing Mike Grier, who injured his groin during the third period of Wednesday's 3-1 victory over Edmonton, stayed off the ice today while his teammates practiced in Amherst Pepsi Center. Grier is doubtful for Friday's game against Calgary in HSBC Arena.

"Mike is a little sore," coach Lindy Ruff said. "We don't anticipate it being too long, but he could miss a little time. He could. There's still a chance he could play tomorrow, too."

Patrick Kaleta practiced in Grier's place on the line with Tim Kennedy and Jochen Hecht, and the right winger would fill that role if Grier can't play. Adam Mair, waived earlier this week, would replace Kaleta on the fourth line with Paul Gaustad and Matt Ellis.

"Mike's been a great asset to our team, and hopefully he can go," Kaleta said. "If I'm called up to fill a bigger part, it's an opportunity for me and I'm going to try and do my best."

Goaltender Patrick Lalime, who missed four games with a groin injury, practiced fully with the Sabres and will serve as the backup Friday. The Sabres sent Jhonas Enroth back to Portland, and the second-year pro will stay with the Pirates following their game tonight against Rochester in the arena.

Meanwhile, it appears left wing Clarke MacArthur will escape further penalty for his boarding major against the Oilers' Liam Reddox. Neither MacArthur nor Ruff received a call from the NHL this morning regarding the hit, so a fine or suspension is unlikely.

"I don't even feel like I leaned on him that hard," MacArthur said. "He just went in so quick."

---John Vogl

Inside the NHL -- Live Chat

Inside the NHL -- Live Chat

Grier suffers groin strain

Sabres right wing Mike Grier left Wednesday's 3-1 victory over Edmonton with 12 minutes to play. Coach Lindy Ruff said Grier suffered a groin injury.

"We’re hoping that it’s not that serious," Ruff said. "I talked to him, and he felt that he didn’t think it was, but you never know with groins. We didn’t think our other guys were going to be that long, either. We’ll see how it is [Thursday]. That will be really the key day for us."

---John Vogl

Three stars: Sabres 3, Oilers 1

poll by twiigs.com

Live from Oilers at Sabres

It's General Managers Meetings South in HSBC Arena. The NHL bosses met in Toronto the past two days, and following the close of the sessions today a large number made the trek down the QEW to watch Sabres-Oilers tonight.

The only real "news" from the chats today -- which focused on head shots -- was they'll chat some more in March.

More following the drop of the puck.

6:57 p.m.: OK, more before the drop of the puck. The Sabres have just announced that Jim Lorentz and Joe Crozier will become the next members of the team's Hall of Fame.

FIRST PERIOD

7:10 p.m.: The usual fine Wednesday rendition of the anthems by Tara Minogue was accompanied by video of soldiers to honor Veterans' Day. Game on.

7:14 p.m.: Derek Roy nearly scores for the fourth straight game with 2:10 gone.

7:16 p.m.: Sabres have taken the first four shots with 3:15 gone.

7:18 p.m.: Oilers will get their chance at a few shots as Tim Kennedy departs for hooking with 15:53 to play.

7:21 p.m.: Sabres kill penalty and get the crowd buzzing by getting three great chances. First, Thomas Vanek's odd-man rush pass is broken up, but trailing Andrej Sekera forces Nikolai Khabibulin to make a glove stop. The rebound attempt bounces off Vanek and goes wide.

7:23 p.m.: All military edition of the Sabres' snapshots on the scoreboard during commercial break. There will be comments coming from Jason Pominville, Craig Rivet and Patrick Kaleta at some point, too. They filmed them Tuesday.

7:31 p.m.: Back-to-back quality shifts from the new top lines. The trio of Vanek-Tim Connolly-Drew Stafford dominate possession time in the Edmonton zone, and Clarke MacArthur-Roy-Jason Pominville immediately force Khabibulin to make a couple of stops. It's still no score with 7:16 to go, with Buffalo holding an 8-6 shot edge.

7:35 p.m.: A welcome for Petty Officer Adam Nethero, recipient of Chris Butler's Tickets for Troops program.

7:40 p.m.: Stafford scores his fifth of the season to give the Sabres a 1-0 lead with 4:29 to go. Connolly, from behind the net, fed Vanek in the slot. Stafford, positioned at the top of the crease, stopped Vanek's attempt but immediately backhanded a shot high into the twine.

7:43 p.m.: Sabres on power play as Sam Gagne trips Mike Grier with 2:14 left.

7:46 p.m.: End of period, with Sabres holding a 1-0 lead and 14-8 shot edge.

SECOND PERIOD

8:04 p.m.: The teams are back for more. And, apparently, so are you.

8:11 p.m.: Big save by Ryan Miller with six minutes gone gets the non-sellout crowd buzzing. Miller gets his blocker on Zack Stortini.

8:16 p.m.: Steve Montador scores his first as a Sabre, following up a blocked shot with a rifle one-timer. It's 2-0 Sabres with 12:26 to go.

8:21 p.m.: Thomas Vanek steps out of the penalty box, undresses Steve Staios near the Edmonton net, gets tripped, then heads back to the box for diving with 9:31 left. Staios also goes.

8:24 p.m.: Huge save by Miller with 7:55 to go. With Patrick O'Sullivan alone in front on an odd-man rush, Miller gets a glove on his blast, which sends the puck bouncing off the post.

8:31 p.m.: Miller looking sharp while going for his third shutout of year after a game off Saturday. He's got 20 saves with 4:12 to go.

8:32 p.m.: Fourth penalty of the period for Sabres, with Jochen Hecht nailed for hooking with 3:49 left.

8:33 p.m.: Make that five. It's a five-on-three for 1:23 as Paul Gaustad goes for interference.

8:35 p.m.: O'Sullivan won't be denied this time, making the score 2-1 with 2:11 to go as the crowd heartily boos. Miller stops Lubomir Visnovsky, but O'Sullivan buries a cross-ice pass from the faceoff circle with 22 seconds left in the two-man advantage.

8:38 p.m.: Penalties kill Sabres' momentum during the period, which ends with Buffalo in front, 2-1. Oilers take 14 of the 19 shots and hold 22-19 edge for game.

THIRD PERIOD

8:53 p.m: Crowd lets the officials have it with a chorus of boos as the stripes take the ice.

9:01 p.m.: Roy gives the Sabres a power play with 16:12 left. He gets Staios to turn his back with two dekes, then gets hooked while forcing Khabibulin to make a toe save.

9:03 p.m.: Vanek making a home in the box with another trip, this one coming with one second left in Staios' penalty.

9:07 p.m.: Mike Grier heads to dressing room with 11:57 to go. He was working on an apparent leg/groin injury at the end of the bench before making the hike.

9:11 p.m: Penalty on Ethan Moreau with 10:23 to go puts Buffalo on a power play.

9:16 p.m.: Sabres get second chance to put Oilers away on power play with 7:42 to go.

9:19 p.m.: Scary moment as MacArthur pushes Liam Reddox headfirst into the boards. Doctors on the ice.

9:21 p.m.: Reddox helped off while MacArthur gets five-minute major. A suspension could follow.

9:32 p.m.: Jochen Hecht scores into empty net with 18.3 seconds left to give Sabres a 3-2 win.

POSTGAME QUOTES

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff on MacArthur's hit: "It’s really just a hockey play. Clarke’s leaning on him, trying to get position, and his legs got tangled up. It’s a tough call. I understand why they called it because of how he went, but there’s no intent. There’s not running. He was just leaning on him trying to make sure he didn’t get the puck out of the zone."

Oilers coach Pat Quinn on the same hit, which left Reddox with a smacked head and swollen wrist: "He knew exactly what he was doing. He puts his elbow right on his head as he's falling. But the league? Who knows?"

Montador on the game: "It wasn’t the prettiest. We obviously took too many penalties. It’s too much of a strain to put on the guys that do play penalty kill to kill off that many, as well as keeping so many guys inactive sitting on the bench. But Millsie played great; you could say that basically every day. The killers were great. We got the goals when needed."

Montador on his goal: "I just saw it sitting there and teed it up. I’ve felt I’ve had a number of chances over the last 10, 12 games to bury, and I just haven’t picked the corners or picked the spots. But tonight it went in."

---John Vogl

Lalime practices

Goaltender Patrick Lalime, who has missed three games with a groin injury, skated with his Sabres teammates this morning for the first time since early last week. Coach Lindy Ruff said Lalime could be ready for a full practice Thursday.

"I felt good," Lalime said. "It was a nice first day really practicing, getting some shots, but I felt good. The first one you’re a little more careful maybe. You don’t want to make it happen again."

Lalime had no time table for his return but expected to get a better idea tonight when he meets with doctors while his team hosts the Oilers in HSBC Arena.

"We’ll assess all that stuff and what he thinks and how I felt," Lalime said. "We’ll know more in the next couple days for sure."

Toni Lydman will not play tonight because of his groin injury, while Adam Mair and Nathan Paetsch will be the scratches. Ryan Miller will start in goal.

---John Vogl

Hecht fighting to score

The Sabres host the Edmonton Oilers tonight in HSBC Arena, and Jochen Hecht faces his previous team with no goals in nine games. He's found the net just once in 14 games this season.

It's hardly from lack of effort. Hecht's 43 shots are tied with Drew Stafford for the team lead and rank 62nd in the NHL. He's scoring on just 2.3 percent of his shots, though, which ranks 467th — dead last among NHL goal scorers.

"They're due. They're going to come," Hecht said. "They've got to go in sooner or later."

What isn't like to come is another fight. According to HockeyFights.com, Hecht historically fights only every other year. After Saturday's tussle with Boston's Mark Stuart, he's fought in consecutive seasons for the first time in his career.

Here's a look at the last two, with Hecht's record 1-1 in the bouts. Vincent Lecavalier had quite the shiner after Hecht stunned him.

---John Vogl

Mair clears waivers, staying in Buffalo

Sabres forward Adam Mair was hoping to stay in Buffalo, and he got his wish. No teams claimed the 30-year-old off waivers, and coach Lindy Ruff said the Sabres will maintain the status quo with Mair serving as the 13th forward. The Sabres had the option of sending Mair to Portland of the American Hockey League, but they have decided to keep Mair in the NHL for now.

Below are the audio links from today's interviews in Amherst Pepsi Center. Mair said he feels he can still contribute to the team, while Ruff acknowledges the tough situation Mair is in. Ruff also talks about facing the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday in HSBC Arena.

---John Vogl

AdamMair

LindyRuff

Mair still in Buffalo

It's 23 1/2 hours into Adam Mair's waiver stay, and the Sabres forward is still with the team. He is practicing right now in Amherst Pepsi Center with only 30 minutes left for a team to claim him. We'll have an update on Mair's future after practice.

---John Vogl

Poll: Adam Mair and the Sabres

poll by twiigs.com

Sabres place Mair on waivers

Adam Mair, whose seven-season run in Buffalo is the second longest among Sabres forwards, may be in his final hours with the club.

General Manager Darcy Regier announced this afternoon that Mair has been placed on waivers. He will remain on the waiver wire until noon Tuesday, with the other 29 teams free to claim the forward.

"We’ve just got extra forwards, and he’s not playing," Regier said in HSBC Arena. "He’s in a contract year, and it’s an opportunity for him to hopefully get a chance elsewhere."

Regier said he tried trading the 30-year-old but could not find any takers. Because of the interest shown by teams during the talks, however, there's a chance Mair could be claimed.

"There’s interest, and I think people recognize that he’s an NHL player," Regier said. "The situation you get into is ... there’s a lot of players. I think teams have extra players signed. That will play in with whether or not he clears or gets picked up."

If Mair isn't claimed, the Sabres have two options. He and his $775,000 salary could be sent to the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League, or the Sabres could do nothing and keep him on the team. Mair has played just three games after playing 72 or more each of the past three seasons.

"If he goes unclaimed, we’ll make that decision tomorrow, but nothing may change, quite frankly," Regier said. "But again, we’ve made no decision on that, pending the noon tomorrow deadline."

Mair, who joined the Sabres for the 2002-03 season, trails only Tim Connolly in service time among forwards.

"It's not really surprising in a sense that I wasn't playing," Mair told The Buffalo News. "I understand that it's a business. For me, I guess it's just wait and see what the next 24 hours hold. It's something fresh and new in my career that I haven't been through. I'll just wait it out, and if I get claimed then I get an opportunity to go play somewhere, and if not I'll either stay here or go down and help Portland.

"I'd like to continue to help this team. If I can, that'd be great. This is where I want to be."

Regier said the waiver option has increased for teams this season because of the number of players under contract.

"If you’re trying to make adjustments on your team, it’s one way to try to do it," Regier said. "In our case, it’s just the number of forwards we have. We have a lot of forwards.

"It’s difficult," Regier added. "He’s a quality guy, and he’s been terrific through the process."

---John Vogl

Mair practicing with Sabres

The Sabres have just begun a rare afternoon practice -- likely scheduled because of a late night with Ryan Miller's Catwalk for Charity -- and Adam Mair is on the ice in HSBC Arena.

TSN's Bob McKenzie posted on his Twitter account that the Sabres have placed Mair on waivers. The 30-year-old forward has played just three games this season after playing 72 or more each of the past three seasons.

Mair is again working out as a spare forward on the fourth line, spelling either Paul Gaustad, Patrick Kaleta or Matt Ellis. More on Mair after we speak with coach Lindy Ruff.

Ruff has swapped centers on his top two lines for practice today. Tim Connolly is in the middle of left wing Thomas Vanek and right wing Drew Stafford. Derek Roy is being flanked by Clarke MacArthur and Jason Pominville.

---John Vogl

Bucky's thoughts on 'new' Lindy

Here is an excerpt from Bucky Gleason's column today about Lindy Ruff:

Just before the season, Lindy Ruff pulled his leaders aside and told them they needed to take over the Buffalo Sabres' dressing room. He made it clear that he was finished barking after every poor performance. This was their team, he told them, and taking ownership was their responsibility.

It was as if Ruff recognized that his style had grown stale, that he knew adjustments were required if his team was going to go anywhere. He has said numerous times this season that the Sabres' core is no longer a bunch of kids. They're pros who know what's needed to win and should be treated accordingly.

Ruff hasn't undergone a total makeover, but the shift in his approach has been obvious all year.

Of course, it's easy to take a lighter approach when everything is going well. The Sabres had a great start to the season, but they were dreadful in losses to the Flyers and Bruins over the weekend. It was their first true test, and they failed.

You know what they received for their listless efforts? The day off Sunday and time to sleep in today.

In past years, his players would have begged for a punishing skate rather than endure Ruff's torturous video reviews. He was notorious for tearing down his players in meetings in an effort to drill his message into their heads.

His style works for young players, but it can become tiresome and suffocating for veterans who have been around for several years. After a while, they become bored with the messenger and stop listening to the message.

Ruff is the longest-tenured coach in the league. You don't spend that much time in one place without alienating a few players along the way. Ruff is both a good coach and the right coach for Buffalo. Funny, but staying here has actually forced him to become a better coach.