Sabres Edge

The New Jersey Devils without Martin Brodeur? That's one weird sight. But that's how things have been since the future Hall of Famer went down with a torn biceps Nov. 1. We'll get our first look in HSBC Arena at the Brodeur-less Devils tonight as they meet the Sabres for the second time in five days.

"It's definitely different," Buffalo defenseman Nathan Paetsch said after today's morning skate. "He's been the cornerstone of that franchise for a long time, the best at what he does. But they have capable backups and they have a great system so you still have to prepare the same."

In Brodeur's place, Scott Clemmensen has compiled a 2.43 goals-against average in winning eight of 10 starts. Backup Kevin Weekes made 30 saves versus the Sabres on Saturday, but has lost five straight against Buffalo (including both matchups this season). Clemmensen will get the call tonight against Ryan Miller. No surprise on the scratches as it's the injured Nathan Gerbe and Craig Rivet and healthy scratch Andrew Peters.

It's a full house. Hmmmm. Wednesday vs. the Devils sold out and loads of empty seats on a Friday against the Leafs. Pricing, pricing, pricing. The Sabres know it know. Nothing they can do about it after the fact however.

Numbers updates: The Sabres have killed off 39 of the last 40 power plays against them and lead the NHL since Thanksgiving at 97.5 percent. ... Thomas Vanek has scored a league-high 29.6 percent of the team's goals (24 of 81). Ottawa's Dany Heatley is a distant second at 21.5 percent (14 of 65). ... Derek Roy has seven goals, 10 assists in the last 15 games.

Nice Seinfeld clip on the HD board showing Elaine Benes telling boyfriend David Puddy "we're gonna kick your butts tonight." Puddy, you may remember, was a huge Devils fan who went shirtless during a game at Madison Square Garden in the memorable episode "The Face Painter"

Go here for your pregame chuckle courtesy of Puddy.

---Mike Harrington

Third Period

17:24 left: Colin White off for holding, putting Buffalo on the power play. Devils are 11-0-1 this year leading after two; let's see if Buffalo can snap that streak.

16:41 left: Kotalik kills that PP with a tripping call while diving at John Madden for the puck in the offensive zone. Borderline.

13:56 left: David Clarkson strips Nathan Paetsch and beats Miller, just after a big hit by Bobby Holik on MacArthur. 4-2. Sloppy.

11:19 left: The Devils' lone shot in the period is their goal. Great road game by New Jersey. Meanwhile, McArthur looks a little woozy on the Sabres' bench. Roy and Vanek back together with Stafford for at least a shift.

10:29 left: Another rebound banged home by Brian Ralston to make it 5-2 after David Clarkson took out Miller.

10:17 left: Another response by Gaustad on a Pominville rebound to make it 5-3.

9:07 left: Slashing penalty by Hecht in the offensive zone. Momentum killer.

1:38 left: Still 5-3. Building emptying. Net empty. What happens to the team we see playing in Pittsburgh and Newark?

It's over: A 5-3 loss. Final shots were 30-26 for the Devils. Yuk.

Second Period

14:23 left: Another dead home game. Nothing happening. Weird. Just six goals for the Sabres in their last 10 periods here.

10:00 left: Still awake? Lots of people talking today about how exciting the wrestling card was here Sunday night. Cuz the hockey game is a snoozer.

8:50 left: Who said nothing was happening? The Devils go ahead, 3-1, on a screened shot that trickled through Miller (no announcement yet) and Kaleta comes back 18 seconds later, tapping a goalmouth pass home from Dan Paille.  The PA announced Kaleta's goal first and said it was his first of the season. Nope. It's his second. Greece's Brian Gionta gets the Devils' goal.

2:00 left: The Devils' third goal is swtiched from Gionta to defenseman Bryce Salvador, who took the floater from the near the blue line.

End of the 2nd: It's still 3-2 for the Devils. Shots were 11-6 for Buffalo in that period, 23-20 for New Jersey in the game. Kaleta's goal gave the Sabres and the crowd some life.

First Period

18:24 left: Bad start for Miller as he bats a huge rebound off his blocker from Mike Mottau's shot right into the slot and Travis Zajac bangs it home to make Puddy happy and put the Devils up, 1-0. Adam Mair went by Zajack and Ales Kotalik was late but Miller needs to corral that puck or at least send it to the corner, not right into the slot.

13:02 left: The Sabres tie it up as Drew Stafford has a tip-in from the edge of the crease on a sensational pass from the left corner by Clarke MacArthur. Nice play from a guy coming off being a healthy scratch. Stafford's seventh.

12:31 left: On his second shift back after missing seven games, Patrick Kaleta draws a holding penalty from Bobby Holik. On his first shift, Kaleta unleashed one of his board-booming checks on Mottau. Wisecrack from the press box: "You could hear his return."

8:16 left: The Sabres took no penalties Saturday night. They took two silly ones in a 40-second span here (MacArthur cross-checking, Tallinder hooking) and the Devils take advantage of the 5-on-3 as Zach Parise lifts his own rebound over Miller with two seconds left in the first penalty. Jersey, 2-1. Until the goal, the Devils' passing had been brutal on the two-man PP while Miller had been solid and Derek Roy made a key stop off the backboards after Jamie Langenbrunner looked like he had an open net.

2:26 left: The Sabres aren't doing much forechecking here and the Devils have been controlling play with a 15-9 edge in shots. But let's see if a stupid penalty by Mike Rupp changes the momentum. At least 3-4 seconds after an offside at the Devils' line, Rupp decks Kaleta and draws a roughing call. Kaleta is just a total under-your-skin guy to play.

End of the 1st: The Devils lead it, 2-1, as Buffalo gets some zone time but no shots on the power play. The Devils, in fact, got the only one. Shots were 16-9 in the first.