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
The Sabres could go undefeated for the rest of the season, and we will still have crybabies and idiots out there whining and complaining.
Posted by: Dave | November 17, 2009 at 12:35 AM
3 year contract for 10.6m at 37 year old. I wouldn't clear cap room to take on that contract.
Posted by: Jeff | November 16, 2009 at 08:51 PM
Carolina wants to move Ray Whitney and in my opinion he could help the Sabres go all the way. We should go after him!!!!
Posted by: Rick | November 16, 2009 at 08:15 PM
Ya know, I bet Connolly can do a few push ups. He's got a bullet for a shot, which has to come from somewhere. And excuse him for trying to make something happen on the power play. Yes, he gambles. Sometimes it doesn't pay off. But sometimes it does. He's still the most creative player on this team and the only one willing to try unconventional things, like both his moves against Phaneuf in the Calgary game. It's easy to point out the negatives, but he's putting up points and the team is winning. Your complaints are pointless.
Posted by: Tim | November 16, 2009 at 04:02 PM
Good to see that the team is getting close to 100 percent healthy and that they're still having fun at practice. It's nice when the coach and the team is joking around. That mean's they're winning!
Posted by: Rhett4 | November 16, 2009 at 02:57 PM
Softees Connelly, Pommer, Stafford and Macarthur are excused from any physical training. They call it the Darcy plan.
Posted by: CBC | November 16, 2009 at 02:49 PM
How about Connolly? How many pushups did he have to do? He turns over during the power play more than anyone. I have more faith & confidence in the grunt line than the power play line.
Posted by: cak | November 16, 2009 at 02:39 PM