Lalime hurt, Enroth called up

Sabres goaltender Patrick Lalime has suffered a groin injury, forcing the team to recall second-year netminder Jhonas Enroth from Portland.

Lalime was injured during Monday's practice and though he was in HSBC Arena on Tuesday, he was unable to skate.

"It didn't come around," coach Lindy Ruff said this morning. "It's actually the first time he's ever had some type of groin strain. You never know with groins. We hope it's not long. It depends on how it responds."

Lalime has appeared in just two games this season. He is 0-1 with a 4.14 goals-against average and .854 save percentage. He stopped 12 of 14 shots after replacing Ryan Miller in the second period of Saturday's 5-0 loss to the New York Islanders, who visit the arena tonight.

Enroth, in his second pro season, is 3-7 with the Pirates, recording a 3.90 GAA and .872 save percentage.

"He struggled the first part, the last few games he's played well,'' Ruff said. "If he's here for any length of time, he's going to have to play.

"We're going to stick to the program. By the weekend, if Patty isn't ready to play, there's a good chance Jhonas would play."

---John Vogl

Comments

[Mike K.]

Scott; Tim and Jeff...I know what happened over the summer. I'm just looking forward into the season with D.P coming back to the Islanders. By the end of the season the back up issue is going to bite us in the arse. Biron and many free agents believe they can command a high salary but not today and surely not in the NHL. At 1.4 the Islanders stole Biron, he's worth that in the locker room alone. Even the mental midgets that run the Sabres should see that. I just hope the Sabres give a better effort at signing Biron either by trading for him or by signing him in the off season, either way the Sabres will be a better team with Biron than without him.

[Mike K.]

Miller has shown signs that he can be a great goalie but he usually ends up in the middle of the pack by the end of the season and that's the point. Miller is over used and not capable yet of playing 60+ games at a high level. By the end of the season he is wiped out physically and mentally...this only increases the chances for injury. Imagine the Sabres in the hunt for the playoffs and Miller goes out with an injury. Our chances of winning with Lalime and Enroth in the crease are slim to none. Biron should end his career here, any player that says he wants to be a back up is a liar and any player that believes he does not need a capable player to push him to be better is also a liar. The Sabres can't lose with aquiring a player like Biron. I say get it done at the trade deadline or in the off season. It just makes sense, sort of like bringing Greer back here...I really wish Drury was back here but now I am asking too much.

[Chuck Unsworth]

You have a kid in Portland who played in Alaska last year. J.P. He pretty much owned the ECHL. I am happy to see him get a few starts in the AHL. He is a solid goaltender. Great skills, plays all the angles and does not give up rebounds. He was a work horse for us last year, He is small but dang the kid can flat out play the game. Ruff will ride miller into the ground but JP played 60+ regular season games here last year and took us to game 7 of the kelly cup playing and ECHL schedule 3 games in 3 nights alot of times. Plus he played every playoff game. Im just happy this kid is getting a shot. The sabres saw something in him to sigh him out of prospects camp this year

[jan]

Miller may be one of the better goalies in the NHL, but he still has some work to do to become one of the top goalies in the league. He said this summer at some point he would like to be "considered" as a candidate for the Vezina trophy at some point during his career. He may be able to motivate himself to do better, but he needs his teammates to deal with opposing players who will take a run at him. (the opposition knows that taking runs at Miller does get to him) If his teammates decide to take a period off during a game thinking that Miller will keep the team in the game until they decide to start playing, that can tire out a goalie. They can't (and they shouldn't)expect him to "steal" a lot of games. If Ryan continues to play well, we know there's a good possibility he'll play a lot of games during the Olympics, and then be involved in the hunt for a playoff spot. That's a lot of games for Miller to play, especially when your coaching staff doesn't have faith in the backup and they aren't sure that their AHL goalie is ready to help out. We'll see what happens.

[TJ]

I don't trust Ruff's preaching that, "if Lalime isn't ready this weekend, Enroth will play" and that "they (Sabres) are sticking to their plan (of resting Miller)". Ruff has already shown once again to lack confidence in Lalime by playing Miller last week in the 3-games-in-4-nights. Now, if Enroth is the back-up, Ruff will rely even more on Miller to play because he won't trust the rookie goalie.

The points about Biron are obviously relevant - although I thought Biron said in the TBN interview that he and the Sabres couldn't agree on money and term, not on playing time. Biron seemed to understand that Miller is the #1 but, with the Olympic year, figured he could see more starts this season.

With Lalime becoming an UFA this summer, it wouldn't surprise me to see the Sabres try to acquire Biron at the trade deadline - especially if Miller does get overworked leading up to the Olympics and then sees most of the action during the Olympics. Biron's price will be lower then as will the balance left on Lalime's contract.

Enroth seems to need to prove himself first as a bonafide pro goalie in North America. I don't know if the Sabres are ready to promote him or slow down his development by inserting him in as Miller's back-up - so getting Biron back for a 2-3 year term may help the transition IMO.

[Kent]

We don't need to worry about it right now. Miller can play 3 games a week for the rest of the month.

The Sabres are much better off having Enroth actually playing games in Portland then sitting on the bench in Buffalo.

If this becomes a long term issue the Sabres will address it.

The NYI aren't going to just trade Marty now when they are still in it. DiPietro has to be fully healed before they will even consider moving anyone.

[Greg B.]

Brilliant analysis Montreal Mike. I'd diss the Habs, but you give yourself away as a bitter Sabres fan.

[MATTHEWALLEN]

It could be worse. At least our starting goalie is playing well. UNLIKE Girly Carey Price will a SEXY 2-6-0 record and 3.64 GAA. I wish i could write that number in lipstick. BOOOO THE CANADIANS!!!!

[PDHSki]

I still believe having Lalime as a backup forces Miller into starting close to 70 games a season. If you could have signed Biron for 25 starts and taken some load off Miller, I think you'd be in a better place in the long run. In 06-07 (Biron's last year in Bflo) Miller was 40-16-6, and Biron 12-4-1. Conklin was 1-2-0 in his 3 appearances. The next year, 36-27-10, with Jocelyn Thibault going 3-4-2. I think a lighter load would help Miller stay fresh through the playoffs.

[Montreal Mike]

truth is , Miller is a little above average goalie..he has streaks of playing well, then goes backwards and starts crying about forwards runnung him...too bad he doesn"t have any players on the team to stop it...the sabres are still the same team as the last 3 years..average at best with no star , no 'go to guy', and overpaid guys like Vanek...even if they make the playoffs, which is in doubt, they are not talented enuff to go far...but I guess it's better to have a team with a chincy owner than no team at all...

[Caroline]

"Miller does better when he has another goalie that will push him to keep his #1 spot."

Yeah...maybe 3 years ago. Since then Miller has established himself as one of the top goalies in the league...he doesn't need a backup goalie to "push him" to be better. He can motivate himself to do that.

[twoeightnine]

"Miller does better when he has another goalie that will push him to keep his #1 spot."

So Lalime was pushing for the #1 spot this season?

[CalgarySabre2]

Usually an injury report is bad news; in this case it is really good news. Get Enroth into some games and see what he can do. That was what Imlach did with Don Edwards, and the back up at the time (Smith) waved "goodbye" and left the team. Maybe Lalime would do the same (we can hope). Rumour is that NYI might be willing to trade Biron once Dipietro is ready to be activiated - it is not too late to fix the error from the summer.

[sara]

Everyone is talking about how lalime is injury prone.. If I remeber correctly there were a few players injured last season... Including Miller.. So miller isn't that great, just has to constantly be on his toes to keep his spot

[W]

Yeah..nobody needs to push Miller. The last two years he has played extremely well..the best of his career, in fact, and that is with Lalime as his backup.

[Dave]

I don't think Enroth being our number 2 will be a bad thing. Patty may be a really good guy, but he tends not to be a very good goalie. Let's see what Jhonas can do.

[Greg]

When the time comes Lindy, give Enroth his shot at securing the #2 spot. He HAS to be better than that sieve Lalime.

[hockeyron]

LemonLime - $1 million/yr
Biron - $1.4 million/yr
Both Unrestricted after this year

[rick]

could have keep conklin 3yrs. ago but 2 different bums for that period

[jan]

Mike K., I agree. Miller does better when he has another goalie that will push him to keep his #1 spot. I wish the Sabres could have signed Biron, but I understand Marty wanted a chance to play more games as a starter. If the Sabres let Lalime go and Marty was willing to sign with the Sabres (knowing he would be the backup), I'm sure he'd get to play more games because the coaching staff would have more trust in Marty and Miller would get some needed rest. With the Olympics this year, Miller's gonna burn out. Wonder if Lindy will put Enroth in a game as the starter to see how he handles it (but I don't know the upcoming schedule to see if there's a game Enroth could start).

[Scott]

If you think the Sabres would pay Biron his multi-million dollar salary to be a backup, you've been living under a rock the past several years. Buffalo will only have one of two types of backups, both of whom will be cheap: a young kid learning the ropes or a older veteran who comes in to support the established #1, but not compete for his job.

[LaDouche]

Marty Biron is three years younger than Lalime and less injury prone. However, Marty may have been asking for more money than Lalime. that's always a consideration with Quin and crew.

[Tim in Amherst]

Agree with Jeff. Read an interview with Biron that indicated he DID have talks with the Sabres about coming back, but decided to go somewhere he would have a chance to start.

[Jeff]

They did try to get Biron back. Can't blame him for wanting more starts than Buffalo can offer.

[Mike K.]

I don't know about anyone else but I would've loved to see Marty Biron back behind the bench. A solid back up for Miller. Lalime is injury prone and just not good enough anymore to even be a back up. Biron is a great player to have in the dressing room and he was at his best pushing Miller for the starting spot.

[Dude]

Makes you wonder even more if they should have taken a chance on Biron and cut Lalime in the off-season.

[Casey]

This is good. Lalime blows anyways.

[pirates_fan]

Enroth has played well in Portland, it's the team in front of him that has given him the 3-7 record. I've been at the games.