The Sabres will scratch captain Craig Rivet again tonight when they host Pittsburgh. Mike Weber, who has played just two games, will be in the lineup in his place. Weber hasn't played since Oct. 26.
Rivet has been scratched four times this season. He was minus-4 in the past two games upon returning to the lineup.
"It's based on play," coach Lindy Ruff said. "We're going to have to play the guys that are playing the best right now. Mike hasn't been in but we feel that it gives us a physical defenseman, a guy with some edge and we're going to give him a shot."
Jhonas Enroth is up from Portland and will start in goal with Patrick Lalime backing him up. Enroth is 2-1-1 with a 3.43 GAA and .876 save percentage but gave the team life earlier this month by becoming the first goalie in NHL history to get his first two career wins via shootout.
"Winning is everything," Ruff said. "I think that he gave us a good effort in the games he played. We played well around him and we're hoping to do the same [tonight]."
---John Vogl
