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
