Sabres Edge

Live from Sabres at Bruins

BOSTON -- Rookie goaltender Jhonas Enroth made his NHL debut tonight against the Bruins with Ryan Miller taking a break after the Sabres' 5-2 debacle against the Flyers.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said before the game that he decided last Monday to play his backup against the Bruins whether it was veteran Patrick Lalime or the 21-year-old Enroth. Lalime is still suffering from a groin injury. Ruff decided to stick with his plan and play the former second-round pick.

Enroth's first game was against a Bruins team that scored only one goal in their previous three games while suffering through a drought that lasted 192 minutes, six seconds. He was matched against Bruins backup Tuukka Rask in a battle of backups. 

So much for a matchup between Ryan Miller and Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas, the two leading candidates to play goal for the U.S. Olympic team. At least the two backups offer some international flavor. Enroth is from Sweden while Rask from Finland, the two countries that played for the gold medal in 2006.

 --- Bucky Gleason

FIRST PERIOD

16:41 remaining: Enroth beaten on the first shot of his career. Mark Recchi deflects Derek Morris' shot from the point just under Enroth's arm with Paul Gaustad off for roughing. It's not the start the kid wanted to his first professional game, but it's a difficult shot to stop.

12:36: The Bruins kill off bench minor for too many men on the ice. The Sabres produce no shots on the power play. The Sabres need to put much more pressure on Boston if they plan on scoring. The Bruins are making it look easy in the early going.

11:40: Pominville made a nice play to intercept a clearing pass in the left circle, but he negated the scoring chance when he missed the net while trying to pick the corner.

11:18: Chara dumped Myers after Big T took a run at Big Z.

9:36: Paille off for goaltender interference after running into Enroth.

8:16: Wideman sent to the box for holding Stafford in the corner, giving the Sabres a two-man advantage for 40 seconds. The Sabres need to do a better job getting pucks to the net. Of course, it doesn't help when they waste the first 20 seconds after losing the faceoff.

7:26: Paille jumps out of the penalty box and gets loose on a breakaway. Enroth makes a good pad save to prevent this game from getting out of hand early.

5:31: Montador and Thornton drop the gloves. Montador was attempting to inject some much-needed energy into his teammates, Thornton earns a decision.

3:29: Chara scores his first of the season on a slap shot through a screen with Grier off for tripping. Enroth never saw the puck with Recchi parked just outside the crease. The Bruins have scored both goal on the power play, which was 0 for 19 going over the previous six games.

0:00: End of period. Bruins 2, Sabres 0.

SECOND PERIOD

18:38: Bitz gives the Bruins a 3-0 lead after a communication breakdown between Enroth and Steve Montador, followed by a terrible clearing pass from Jason Pominville. Steve Begin steps into the passing lane and gets a shot on goal, and Bitz cleans up the mess with a shot into an open net.

17:13: Roy cuts the margin to 3-1 when he collects a bouncing puck in the slot and beats Rask. Craig Rivet made a good play just to get the puck toward the net from the blue line.

13:40: The Sabres are called for too many men on the ice. It's the last thing they needed after getting outshot, 20-10, to that point not to mention outplayed.

8:42: Marco Sturm is called for boarding after running Andrej Sekera into the wall.

2:44: Tallinder misses an open net after a scramble. A goal there would gave helped the Sabres regain some momentum going into the third.

1:42: Rask makes a good save on Roy. The Sabres are trying to apply more pressure.

1:29: Sturm gives the Bruins a 4-1 lead after Roy coughs up the puck in the neutral zone, loses a battle with Patrice Bergeron deep in the Buffalo zone and Sturm is left alone in the left circle. One-timer, goal.

0:00: End of second period. Bruins 4, Sabres 1.

THIRD PERIOD

17:18: Marchand is sent to the box for high sticking. The Sabres generate little on the power play, their fifth of the night.

13:16: Enroth makes a good glove save on Wheeler after he finds an open lane off the wing. It's the 28th save on 32 shots for the rookie. Rask has been tested 19 times.

9:22 Marchand back in the box for holding Tallinder behind the net.

8:55: Bergeron breaks free on another shorthanded breakaway before losing the puck. The Sabres PP is now scoreless in six opportunities.

6:00: Thornton finds himself in another fight, this time with Gaustad. Both players land a few punches before Thornton wrestles Gaustad to the ice. Draw. Thornton hits the showers after getting two minutes for roughing and five for fighting.

2:50: It's getting ugly. OK, it's getting uglier. Jochen Hecht and Mark Stuart square off with the Bruins defenseman landing several punches in a one-sided decision.

2:50: Chara is sent packing after slashing Kaleta and nailing the Sabres' pest with a right hand. Kaleta hits the showers, too, along with Tim Kennedy. Something against WNYers?

1:48: Pominville scores to make it somewhat interesting, but the damage is already done.

0:00: End of game. Bruins 4, Sabres 2.

 

Signs point to Enroth

If the Sabres' morning skate was any indication, rookie goalie Jhonas Enroth will make his NHL debut tonight against the Boston Bruins in TD Garden. The Bruins were expected to play backup Tuukka Rask, who shut out Edmonton a week ago in his last start.

Enroth, 21, worked out for only about 20 minutes this morning before retreating to the dressing room. He would have taken extra shots with his teammates if he was certain he would be warming the bench tonight. Ryan Miller did not practice this morning after giving up four goals in the 5-2 loss to Philadelphia on Friday night, so the Sabres were without a goalie for much of their pregame workout.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff was not available this morning. Enroth offered little when asked about his prospects for tonight. Defenseman Toni Lydman asked the rookie if he was ready, another sign the kid was preparing for his first NHL game. The Sabres are playing their third game in four nights. They're playing a Bruins team that has scored one goal in three games over the past week.

Enroth had a 3-7-0 record with a 3.90 goals-against average and an .872 save percentage this season in Portland when he was promoted Nov. 4. He had a 26-23-6 record, a 2.75 GAA and a .914 save percentage last season in the AHL.

--- Bucky Gleason

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Live from Flyers at Sabres

A bit of a surprise as the teams take the ice for the pregame skate. It has nothing to do with players and everything to do with uniforms.

For the first time this season (for the first time since the Winter Classic?) the Sabres are wearing white at home. The Flyers are in black instead of orange, but it's still better than white. I've always been a fan of the home team wearing white. This way, you'd get to see 29 different jerseys come through town. Instead, since the NHL adopted a "white on the road" policy, you get the same-looking opponent night after night.

The reason, by the way, for white on the road is to help the equipment managers. With the proliferation of third jerseys, the equipment guys were being forced to carry three sets of uniforms on the road because they never knew what the home team would wear. The Sabres, for example, used to wear red on Fridays, and if the Canadiens came to town with just their red road jerseys, there'd be some trouble on the ice.

And although I don't like white on the road, I can't be mad at the equipment guys. They are without a doubt the hardest-working men in hockey. The Sabres' guys will get to Boston tonight around 1 a.m., spend a few hours getting the dressing and training rooms ready, then be back at the arena by 8 a.m. to get ready for the players' arrival. And that's if they even leave the arena. They often just sleep there.

For the second time in two days, I get to post a brawl video. Showed the Ray Emery fight last night, and the Sabres had the Steve Shields-Garth Snow battle on the scoreboard before the teams came out. Since the folks in the arena shouldn't have all the fun, here you go. And stay with it till the end. Matthew Barnaby's act near the four-minute mark is priceless.

FIRST PERIOD

7:39 p.m.: Just 36 seconds into the game, we get a look at the league's best power play as Tim Kennedy goes off for cross-checking.

7:41 p.m.: No shots for the Flyers.

7:43 p.m.: Game's first shot is a big save by Emery, as Clarke MacArthur tips Craig Rivet's pass on net with 3:50 gone.

7:45 p.m.: Sabres get an early power play when David Laliberte goes off for slashing with 15:02 to go.

7:47 p.m.: Ryan Miller gets into the act, stopping Darroll Powe on a short-handed breakaway.

7:48 p.m.: Could be because it's the Flyers, but fans are into it a little more than usual so far. Two "Let's go, Buffalo" chants already that were unprompted by scoreboard messages or organ playing.

7:54 p.m.: Sabres get a break from the shoddy durability of sticks when Mike Richards' lumber, er composite, shatters on a point-blank slap shot with nine minutes to go.

7:59 p.m.: A second chance for Richards disappears when Kennedy hustles back and dives to stop a Richards breakaway with seven minutes to go. Still no score, shots are 7-5 for Buffalo.

8:01 p.m.: Miller comes up big again, stopping Matt Carle's chance on a cross-ice pass.

8:02 p.m.: Patrick Kaleta draws yet another stupid penalty, getting Arron Asham to retaliate with 4:20 to go. Personally, I would have called Kaleta for diving, too. It wasn't that hard of a hit, but the ref was mere feet away and bought it.

8:08 p.m.: Another goal under review, with Daniel Carcillo cross in front of Miller and tipping Braydon Coburn's high shot. Goal stands, and Flyers take a 1-0 lead with 1:21 to go.

8:11 p.m.: Teams head to dressing rooms with the Flyers holding a 1-0 lead and 11-9 shot edge.

SECOND PERIOD

8:30 p.m.: Here's a newsflash. Chris Pronger is pretty good. The superstar defenseman makes the score 2-0 just 28 seconds into the period, scoring on a high shot from the point that goes just under the crossbar.

8:32 p.m.: Asham hits the points with 17:40 to go. If the Sabres don't wake up -- Derek Roy just turned the puck over -- the Flyers have the ability to put them away in a hurry.

8:35 p.m.: Kaleta hits Ole-Kristian Tollefsen in the leg, starting a scrum with Richards with 16:08 to go.

8:38 p.m.: James van Riemsdyk goes off for holding the stick, giving the Sabres a four-on-three. They bury it. Jason Pominville fires a slap shot off the back boards, and Derek Roy gets the puck on the other side of the net and beats Emery to the post with 15:32 to go. It's 2-1.

8:40 p.m.: Tim Connolly gets assist on goal, giving him 300 career points.

8:49 p.m.: As with most Flyers-Sabres meetings, game is developing a bit of an edge. Daniel Carcillo is stiring things up for Philly, and he's finding willing opponents. Flyers going on a power play with 8:56 to go after penalty on Matt Ellis.

8:58 p.m.: Carcillo and Steve Montador make their way to the penalty boxes for cross-checking with 5:46 to go.

8:59 p.m.: van Riemsdyk makes it 3-1 with 5:05 to go on a goal Miller should have stopped. The Flyers forward slides the puck to the crease, and Miller tries to block but instead sends it through his pads.

9:06 p.m.: The Sabres limp to the dressing room, no one more so than Craig Rivet. The captain took a shot off the foot in the closing minutes and is in pain. The Flyers lead, 3-1, with a 25-17 shot edge.

THIRD PERIOD

9:24 p.m.: They're back, and so is Rivet.

9:28 p.m.: Miller lets in his worst goal of the season, a knuckler from Powe with just 2:34 gone. The soft but wobbly shot goes under Miller's arm when he tries to catch it.

9:40 p.m.: Tyler Myers' third goal of the season brings crowd to life. Rookie defenseman slides puck toward net and it ricochets off skate of Coburn past Emery with 9:26 to go.

9:51 p.m.: Sabres have topped double digits in shots in a period with 3:16 to go, but Emery looks strong with a two-goal lead.

10:21 p.m.: Just got back from interviews, and as you likely know by now, the Sabres lost, 5-2. No one will argue that the Flyers were the better team tonight.

---John Vogl

Sekera OK to play

Sabres defenseman Andrej Sekera, who missed Thursday's practice because of illness, returned for the morning skate today and will be in the lineup tonight when the Flyers visit HSBC Arena.

Ryan Miller will be in goal for the Sabres, with Ray Emery in the opposing crease. Adam Mair and Nathan Paetsch are expected to be scratched for the Sabres. Toni Lydman is injured.

---John Vogl

Offensive differences in Sabres-Flyers

It would be tough to find teams with more wildly different philosophies. The Sabres will take the HSBC Arena ice tonight intent on using all four lines equally. If the Flyers are going to score, it's usually two lines that are going to do it.

More than 86 percent of Philadelphia's forward production has come from its top six forwards. The fourth line has contributed only 4.2 percent. Meanwhile, the Sabres' four lines are chipping in at rates of 37 percent, 31.5 percent, 17.8 percent and 13.7 percent.

The offensive disparity can be traced to different financial plans. Since the salary cap was instituted, Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier has been a proponent of a balanced pay scale. The Flyers like high-priced stars and lower-paid complements. That said, those stars can take over a game, and usually do.

So, what's your preference? A handful of All-Star, Olympic-caliber players capable of scoring any shift surrounded by pluggers, or a group of relatively even units that still have talent up top?

---John Vogl

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Emery returning, so it's video time

I've said it before and I'll say it again, whenever Ray Emery gets in the local news, this video will be here. Emery will start for the Flyers on Friday in HSBC Arena.

For the record, I could watch this every day. It's one of the four most memorable NHL games I've covered so far, joining Mark Messier's final game (in Madison Square Garden), the Winter Classic in Ralph Wilson Stadium and Marc-Andre Fleury's 55-save performance in Pittsburgh's triple-overtime, Game Five victory during the 2008 Stanley Cup finals.

---John Vogl

Flyers coach mentions those who must not be named

Philadelphia coach John Stevens, who visits HSBC Arena with the Flyers on Friday, broke a Buffalo taboo today while meeting with Philly reporters. He mentioned former Sabres co-captains Chris Drury and Daniel Briere while lauding the Buffalo offense. (Briere, by the way, is injured and won't be available for booing Friday.)

"When they let Briere and Drury go, I think they knew they had some young players that were up and coming and they were hoping would fill the void," said Stevens, who noted that Maxim Afinogenov and Ales Kotalik were not the answer before continuing his response. "They’ve certainly replaced them with some guys that can do some really good things offensively. [Thomas] Vanek has come about as an offensive star in the league.

"I think Buffalo has got one of the better offensive attacks in the league. I just think the way they attack -- three lanes, D are up in the attack all the time -- they really pressure you in the offensive zone.

"[Ryan] Miller has really proven to be one of the upper-echelon goalies in the league. I think the big change in Buffalo this year has been their ability to keep the puck out of their net. They’ve always been a good offensive team, but it seems they’re more committed to playing more defense now than they maybe were in the past. I think it’s showing in their record."

---John Vogl

Three Sabres miss practice

The Sabres, who had a meeting scheduled to discuss subtance abuse and league policies, held a short practice today following Wednesday's 3-0 victory over the Islanders. For three players, there wasn't even a short practice.

Defenseman Andrej Sekera was off the ice due to illness, while blue-liner Toni Lydman and goaltender Patrick Lalime stayed away because of groin injuries.

Lalime and Lydman will not play Friday when the Flyers visit HSBC Arena, while Sekera is questionable.

"We'll see how he's doing tomorrow," coach Lindy Ruff said. "He was a little under the weather after the game last night and wasn't feeling that well this morning. Flu-like, possibly. Maybe not like the other guys [Patrick Kaleta and Paul Gaustad were too sick to travel to New York over the weekend], but you've got to let it run its course."

There is no time table for the return of Lalime, meaning Jhonas Enroth could make his first NHL start this weekend. The Sabres travel to Boston on Saturday.

"[Lalime] still isn't, obviously, ready, so that pushes Jhonas into a bigger role for us," Ruff said.

Lydman had been participating in most drills with his teammates, but the Sabres are now taking a different approach with the defenseman, who has missed the past five games.

"Toni we've decided just to rest for a couple days," Ruff said. "He's close, but the doctors felt with maybe a couple days' rest and then going back and skating, it might be a better approach than fatiguing it on a continuous, day-to-day type scenario."

---John Vogl

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Live from Islanders at Sabres

Didn't I just see these teams? Twice?

This is the third meeting in 20 days between the teams, who aren't even in the same division. In fact, after tonight the Sabres will have played the Isles more times than their Northeast Division rivals combined (they faced Toronto and Montreal once).

Martin Biron is back in net for the Isles after shutting out the Sabres on Saturday, while Ryan Miller looks for redemption after getting pulled in the second period of the 5-0 loss. Jhonas Enroth is backing up Miller with Patrick Lalime sidelined by a groin injury.

Once again, I'm a fan of the arena audio personnel, who started the night with Pearl Jam, added in the Foo Fighters (whose Greatest Hits album is out) and just played the Black Eyed Peas. Tonight's gonna be a good night, indeed.

Well, maybe not for Nathan Paetsch, Adam Mair and Toni Lydman. They are scratched for the Sabres.

FIRST PERIOD

7:08 p.m.: Looks like the smallest crowd of the season has gathered, with half-sections empty in the corners. Game on.

7:15 p.m.: Feel bad for the folks who had to wait for the whistle to get to their seats. It didn't come until 6:36 had elapsed. Lots of time gone, not much action. Teams are a little off with their passing, resulting in neutral-zone play.

7:16 p.m.: One of the best rules is the one that forces a team to keep its players in the game if they ice the puck. It always generates more offense, as just happened with the Sabres getting a few chances on Biron. No score, with 12:25 to go.

7:22 p.m.: I wish my predictions about meeting good-looking women and making money came true as often as my hockey predictions. As I guessed Monday, Derek Roy scored his first of the season tonight. The power-play goal came with 11:33 gone to give the Sabres a 1-0 lead. Thomas Vanek screened Biron, and Roy ripped a high shot just inside the post.

7:25 p.m.: Biron gets the crowd buzzing by leaving the crease to go after Patrick Kaleta. Kaleta got dropped near the New York bench, then made a beeline for Frans Nielsen. Kaleta hit the center into Biron, and the goalie went after Kaleta and wrapped him up until the officials sent Kaleta to the box with 8:50 left.

7:30 p.m.: Action is picking up after a slow start. Islanders have an 8-6 shot advantage with 5:56 to go.

7:37 p.m.: Sabres have a five-on-three for 27 seconds.

7:41 p.m.: First period ends with the Sabres holding a 1-0 lead and 14-8 shot advantage. Isles kill their run of penalties, though they get help when Craig Rivet shoots wide with Biron down.

7:50 p.m.: Was just handed my copy of the Sabres' 2009-10 yearbook by media relations guru Kevin Snow, who says fans can get their copies now for $10.

SECOND PERIOD

7:59 p.m.: Songs by Miley Cyrus and Nickelback fade out as the second period starts.

8:02 p.m.: Three shots by the Sabres and one song by Guns N' Roses with three minutes gone.

8:07 p.m.: The Sabres have a 9-2 shot edge with 13:18 to go, and it could be more if Jochen Hecht and Vanek hadn't fired wide from close range.

8:12 p.m.: Andrej Sekera's cross-check gives the Isles the power play with 11:56 left.

8:15 p.m.: Ryan Miller stops Josh Bailey then getes help when Doug Weight shoots wide. Sekera gets the puck coming out of the box and forces Biron to make a tough stop with 9:45 to go.

8:22 p.m.: Vanek skates between two Islanders defenders to set up Drew Stafford, but the right winger can't connect with 5:52 left. Still 1-0 Sabres.

8:29 p.m.: Sabres Edge legend Sean Bergenheim helps Buffalo take a 2-0 lead on the power play with 2:47 to go. Stafford sends a no-look pass through the crease to Vanek, who misses it. Bergenheim, though, bounces the puck off Biron's pad while rushing to help, and Vanek doesn't miss the rebound.

8:33 p.m.: End of an impressive second period for the Sabres, who have a 2-0 lead and 29-15 shot edge.

8:36 p.m.: Kudos now to both the video and audio folks. The World Series is on the scoreboard during intermission.

THIRD PERIOD

8:50 p.m.: The World Series is off because the hockey game is back on.

9 p.m.: The Isles are the better team through the first 6:26 of the third, holding a 6-0 shot edge. Miller still has his shutout going.

9:19 p.m.: It's soon to be determined if the Sabres have a 3-0 lead. Paul Gaustad may have slid the puck over the goal line during a scrum, and the refs are reviewing the video with 3:41 to go.

9:23 p.m.: Goal by Gaustad. The Sabres have a 3-0 lead and are on their way to a 9-2-1 record. Shots are 10-9 in Sabres' edge after slow start.

9:27 p.m.: Sabres win, with the teams scuffling in the corner with 7.3 seconds to go. That's what happens with three meetings in such a short period of time.

---John Vogl

Kalinin at home in Russia

Dmitri Kalinin, the longtime Sabres defenseman, seems to have found his niche in his Russian homeland. The defenseman, who now goes by "Dmitry," has been named the Kontinental Hockey League Defenseman of the Month for October.

Kalinin had seven goals, three assists and was plus-10 in 12 games for Salavat Yulaev Ufa. That month topped many of his seasons in Buffalo.

---John Vogl

Martin Biron in his own words, Part 2

Martin Biron is back in Buffalo for the second time this season, only this time he'll be making the start instead of Dwayne Roloson. Here's the audio following the morning skate, with Biron chatting about getting his first win with the Islanders, the ovation he got from Buffalo fans when he replaced Roli in the previous matchup and his upcoming addition to the family.

---John Vogl

MartinBiron

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

Players back, but a coach down

The flu bug that recently struck the Sabres' lineup has been temporarily exterminated, but an injury hit the coaching staff today.

Associate coach Brian McCutcheon was hit in the head with a shot during practice in HSBC Arena. He needed stitches to close the wound.

"He suffered a pretty big cut on the head," coach Lindy Ruff said. "I think he'll be OK.

"He's one tough coach. It hit him hard."

The Sabres did extensive power-play work in an effort to boost a unit that ranks tied for 21st in the NHL at 16.7 percent. They finally had nearly everyone available to work with the man-advantage and short-handed sides.

Patrick Kaleta, who had been absent since becoming ill during Friday's game against Toronto, returned today. Jason Pominville was on the ice after taking one day off to attend the birth of his son, Jayden John. Paul Gaustad (who missed two games because of the flu) came back Monday.

Only Toni Lydman, who is slowed by a groin strain, failed to participate in all the drills. He is doubtful for Wednesday's visit by the New York Islanders.

"We've got a couple players back," Ruff said. "You don't know strength-wise where they're at. They haven't practiced for three, four days. Some of the players' families are dealing with it at the same time.

"Today we knew that we didn't have anybody new that was sick, and the guys that were are on the mend."

While Ruff didn't say the ill players had H1N1 -- the swine flu -- he said it was probable to assume that.

"I think everybody presumes now that anytime you've got the flu it is [swine flu], so I think you just presume that,'' he said.

---John Vogl

Roy and Vanek

Derek Roy's mind-set is simple: If there's a two-on-one with Thomas Vanek, the left winger is likely to find a way to score. So Roy is passing him the puck nearly every time.

Problem is, it's not working. The odd-man rushes are often fading away without a shot by anyone.

"Thomas is a 40-goal scorer," Roy said. "It's hard not to pass because he's always in position. He's all ready to one-time it or get in position to score a goal, and that's why he's so good at what he does."

Roy, a 30-goal scorer, has yet to find the net. Prediction: He will Wednesday; he seems to respond every time someone brings up one of his droughts to him. Not sure if it will be on an odd-man rush, though. Vanek is a very tempting target.

"That’s a great excuse [for not shooting]," coach Lindy Ruff admitted.

---John Vogl

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Lindy after practice

The reason Jason Pominville didn't skate today?

"The population of Pominville went up, so he had the day off," said coach Lindy Ruff, referring to a baby for Pominville and his wife.

Meanwhile, Patrick Kaleta should be back for Wednesday's visit from the Islanders. Here is the rest of the audio from Ruff's news conference.

---John Vogl

LindyRuff

Back at the rink

The Sabres, who took Sunday off, are back on the ice at HSBC Arena. Well, most of them, anyway.

Patrick Kaleta is still absent because of illness, while Jason Pominville isn't skating, either. The reason for that after Lindy Ruff's comments following practice.

Until then, here's a quick look around the NHL:

*Bucky Gleason catches up with Gerry Cheevers on the 50th anniversary of the first goalie mask.

*The Hurricanes have lost nine straight games, giving them their worst start after 13 games in franchise history.

*Alex Ovechkin is hurting, while Toronto's Phil Kessel is healthy.

*The Islanders' Jeff Tambellini, fresh off a hat trick against the Sabres, gets to play against the Oilers, the team run by his dad, Steve.

*Speaking of fathers, the Blackhawks are taking their dads on the road.

*Brad May got clipped in the eye with a stick but should be OK.

---John Vogl

Live from Sabres at Islanders

UNIONDALE, L.I. -- Greetings from Nassau Coliseum, where coach Lindy Ruff feels better because some of his players do. The Sabres will still be without a couple of players, though.

As guessed earlier today, Patrick Kaleta was indeed too ill to make the trip to Long Island. He and Paul Gaustad stayed home and won't face the Islanders. On the bright side for Ruff and the Sabres, linemates Tim Kennedy and Jochen Hecht -- who weren't well enough to start the second period against Toronto -- are feeling better today. They will play.

In a bit of surprise, it appears Ryan Miller may, too. The goaltender is on a roll, and Ruff hinted that the netminder will get his 10th start in the season's 11th game.

PREGAME

5:50 p.m.: So, Happy Halloween, long one of my favorite holidays. Never thought I'd be spending one in Uniondale, but oh well.

The Isles have decked the halls with webs and pumpkins, and costumed staffers are handing out treats to kids who are wandering the concourses with bags and baskets. It was a similar sight on Manhattan, where I spent the afternoon. It was pretty cool to see all the dressed-up kids walking into the local laundromats and art galleries and such to get chocolate. Of course, it also was really weird to see the tykes wander into the porn shop on 10th Avenue to get some candy. At least that's what I hope the store was giving away.

Anyway, while Manahattan is cool on October 31, so far it's definitely not Tampa Bay. Got to spend "Guavaween" there once (last year, maybe?), and it's an amazing party.

Speaking of parties, the five boroughs are getting ready for the New York City Marathon on Sunday morning. I ran the route as part of my day. I only ran about 10 feet, but I ran it nonetheless. Better than nothing; I usually only run if someone is chasing me.

The Big Apple is one of my favorite towns because neither of us use the night to sleep. I also like it because there's always something new to see. Today, I stumbled upon The Dakota, where John Lennon was shot.

Meanwhile, if it's Saturday, it must be bar-b-que. I previously hit Jack's in Nashville and the Harbor Club in HSBC Arena, and today featured lunch at Virgil's. As usual, the brisket and pulled pork were great, as were the cheese grits and Georgia pecan rice.

While Jack's was a first-time stop a few weeks back, I've been to Virgil's several times. Former Sabres writing mate Tim Graham and I used to go there, so I texted him hello while eating. Turns out, he was on his way to town to cover the Dolphins-Jets game Sunday. So, without further ado, I'm off to write the notebook for Sunday's paper so he and I can meet up for a soda or 10 as soon as possible.

6:29 p.m.: It's official. The goaltending matchup is Miller versus Martin Biron.

FIRST PERIOD

7:09 p.m.: The Sabres start the game with a fourth line of Nathan Paetsch-Matt Ellis-Adam Mair.

7:10 p.m.: The next line is Jochen Hecht-Tim Kennedy-Mike Grier. Cheap Plug Alert: The notebook leads with Kennedy and his faceoff schooling.

7:11 p.m.: They are followed by Clarke MacArthur-Tim Connolly-Jason Pominville, and Thomas Vanek-Derek Roy-Drew Stafford.

7:13 p.m.: Andrej Sekera is back after a seven-game absence and is paired on the blue line with Steve Montador.

7:19 p.m.: First TV timeout with 12:07 left. The Sabres have an 8-0 shot advantage, including four on a too-many-men penalty. Vanek missed a tap-in at the side of the net on a nice pass by MacArthur.

The Islanders' Ice Girls have orange wigs and one-piece orange short skirts, as this break and my earlier wanderings show.

7:24 p.m.: Isles come to life, but Miller stops partial breakaway by Sabres Edge legend Sean Bergenheim with 9:17 to go.

Standing ovation for Commander Michael Hoblin of the military.

7:29 p.m.: Craig Rivet and Tim Jackman, who interferred with Miller in the first meeting, drop the gloves. But Grier and the linesman grab Jackman before punches are thrown. Rivet and Jackman still go for roughing with 6:57 to go.

7:32 p.m.: Vanek misses another chance. Montador feeds him for an open net, but defenseman Radek Martinek blocks the goal with his foot. Just seconds prior, a nice drive by Hecht results in penalty by Martinek with 5:09 to go.

7:38 p.m.: Tyler Myers is struggling. He gives the puck away to Richard Park, and Park rips a shot past Miller's glove to give New York a 1-0 lead with 2:47 to go.

7:40 p.m.: By the way, the combined crowds for Wednesday's Devils game and tonight's Isles game would not add up to one Rangers game.

7:42 p.m.: End of one, Isles with a 1-0 lead. Sabres have a 14-9 shot edge and will have 1:04 of power-play time to start the second after a delay of game call on Kyle Okposo.

SECOND PERIOD

8:01 p.m.: Sabres start the second the way they played most of the first: shooting and watching Biron make a save.

8:05 p.m.: Jackman fights this time, with Montador as the opponent. Lots of lefts thrown by the Sabres defenseman, but none connect with 16:56 to go.

8:10 p.m.: Roy does a nice spin move to get open with 14:14 left, then doesn't shoot. He's still looking for his first goal. He was averaging 2.5 shots per game entering tonight.

8:15 p.m.: Paetsch goes off in pain after slash from Josh Bailey with 12:53 to go.

8:18 p.m.: After allowing no shots on the penalty kill, the Isles take a 2-0 lead with 10:44 left. Jeff Tambellini sneaks one past Miller off the goalie's left arm after Bergenheim threw the puck to the net.

8:23 p.m.: Bergenheim hits the post with 8:10 left.

8:24 p.m.: Tambellini hits the net. Doug Weight goes around the net to feed the winger for a one-timer from the left circle with 7:40 to go, and that's all for Miller. Patrick Lalime comes in with the Sabres down 3-0 and holding a 21-16 edge in shots.

8:27 p.m.: Biron, by the way, is 6-2-1 against his former team, with one shutout.

8:29 p.m.: The Isles' second shot on Lalime makes the score 4-0. Bailey rips a high, glove-side shot from the slot with 4:40 to go.

8:41 p.m.: Period comes to a close with Islanders holding a 4-0 lead. Sabres' shot edge is 26-20. Looks like there won't be an overtime to interrupt the gathering between Tim Graham and I.

8:51 p.m.: Attendance has just been announced at 8,889.

THIRD PERIOD

8:58 p.m.: Two minutes gone, and Lalime is feeling ornery. He's taken swipes at two Islanders already.

9:05 p.m.: The score is still 4-0 with 13:56 to go. Barring an unreal comeback, the following things will happen with a loss:

*Sabres will fall to 4-1 on road.

*Miller will lose for first time in regulation, falling to 8-1-1.

*The team's four-game winning streak will end.

9:10 p.m.: "Mar-ty, Mar-ty" as Biron makes his 30th save of the night.

9:23 p.m.: The boards are rattling, with each team out to make a physical statement. With 4:35 to go, Rivet made his, starting a fight with Andy Sutton and earning a decision.

9:25 p.m.: Here come the hats! Here come the hats! Tambellini scores on the instigator-induced power play with 4:18 to go.

9:32 p.m.: Doug Weight gets penalty shot with 13 seconds left after slash from behind by Chris Butler. Weight crashed into end boards after tripping on Lalime's blocker. Save by Lalime on the penalty shot. It's over, 5-0 Isles.

POSTGAME

Ruff: "The only thing you can be disappointed with is we didn’t take advantage of the offense. We did a lot of good things. We just didn’t score, and Marty played well."

Miller: "They get three on me, and normally you like to stay in, but I think 3-0 at that point Lindy wants to get a different kind of look to the game."

Miller on the second goal: "I think he goes elbow, post, elbow, in. It’s one of those kind of nights where it just didn’t shake out."

Biron, who won his 200th game and first with the Islanders: "It’s great. I’ve felt like I’ve been getting better after each game and slowly getting the way I want to play. It’s good to give the guys a bit of a confidence boost."

Vanek: "This one falls on me. I’m the goal scorer here, and I could have put the Islanders away in the first period myself, and I didn’t. From that end, it’s disappointing. I’ve got to be better. I’ve got to put those away. It’s my job, and I didn’t do it. It cost us the game."

---John Vogl

So long, Spectrum

PHILADELPHIA -- After heading into the lot at Citizens Bank Park for tonight's World Series game, I snapped this shot of the old Spectrum next door (left). The final event in the 42-year-old building is tonight, a concert from Pearl Jam. After that, the former home of the Flyers and 76ers -- and the Sabres' former house of horrors from their early seasons -- is getting demolished for a series of shops and restaurants that's been dubbed Philly Live.

Comcast Spectator, the building's owners, has a fabulous Web site at Rememberthespectrum.com. It includes all kinds of trivia, notes, photos and the like. Worth a look. There was also a "Final Stroll" through the Spectrum last week for fans.  The Sabres, you may recall, didn't win a single game in the building until November of 1976, their seventh season in the league. They lost all three games of the 1975 Stanley Cup finals there -- and the great team featuring the French Connection scored just one goal in all three of those games!

Here's a video from the stroll featuring a chat with Flyers goaltender Bernie Parent, the Conn Smythe winner who stoned the Sabres in those games. Here's another one that includes a chat with  Bob "The Hound"  Kelly, who scored the Cup-winning goal at the Aud in '75.

As for this year's Flyers, Daniel Briere is sitting out today's game against Carolina with another groin injury. The Sabres will see the Flyers three times in November as their schedule gets dramatically tougher.

At 8-1-1 heading into tonight's game on Long Island, the Sabres have picked up 17 of their first 20 possible points. Don't mean to gloat but perhaps you recall that I pegged them for 19 of their first 24 in our preview section story on how they can make the playoffs. So if they merely split this home-and-home with the Islanders, which you would think would be the worst they would do, I'll be right on.

Then, of course, it gets a little more serious. The November schedule includes the Flyers (three times), Bruins (twice) and single games against the Capitals, Flames, Oilers and Senators.

OK. Back to baseball for me. And while you're watching the Sabres and Islanders -- and especially after the final buzzer -- stop on over to the Inside Pitch blog to check in what's going on with the Yankees and Phillies before, during and after Game Three. Time for another cheesesteak run.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

No morning skate for Sabres

ASTORIA -- The Sabres usually don't take a morning skate on the second day of back-to-back games, and they were quick to cancel today's outing. Several players are ill. Coach Lindy Ruff said he expects the energy level to be low tonight against the Islanders, so no reason to skate this morning.

We'll find out this evening who will be able to play (Paul Gaustad has already been ruled out), but it wouldn't be a surprise if Patrick Kaleta is among the ill. He was skipped on the first shift of Friday's 3-2 overtime victory over Toronto and played just one shift in the third period. Fellow linemates Adam Mair and Matt Ellis played just two in the final period; that may be because Ruff didn't want to break up any other lines.

As Bucky Gleason wrote, Ryan Miller was the reason the Sabres won Friday. The NHL stats have been updated for the day, and Miller remains at the top in goals-against average and save percentage.

---John Vogl

Three stars: Sabres 3, Maple Leafs 2 OT

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Live from Leafs at Sabres

Greetings from HSBC Arena, where the crowd gets a rise as the Canadian national anthem starts. Lots of Maple Leafs fans, and lots of empty seats in the corners of the 300 level.

No Paul Gaustad tonight for the Sabres, as he's out with flu-like symptoms. Lee Stempniak starting for the Leafs, and be sure to read his introduction to the Sabres' variable pricing plan in Saturday's notebook. Tim Kennedy starting for Sabres, and with Patrick Kaleta on bench, Bucky Gleason and I figure this must be the first time three local boys have all played in the same game downtown.

FIRST PERIOD

7:38 p.m: Game on. First "Go, Leafs, Go."

7:44 p.m.: First penalties are a pair of roughing calls with 3:46 gone to Kennedy and Ian White. It's a four-on-four, and the Sabres have put two shots on Jonas Gustavsson. "The Monster" from Sweden is making his first appearance in Buffalo.

7:47 p.m.: "Go, Leafs, Go" gains momentum, and the Buffalo fans respond with "boooo." Really? That's all you've got? I've always hated that. Why not try cheering louder than the Leafs backers rather than just booing? Might make the atmosphere more exciting.

7:48 p.m.: "Let's Go Buffalo" gets some calls.

7:52 p.m: First power play of the night goes to the Leafs, who have the best PP in the league. Craig Rivet is off for slashing with 11:30 left.

7:55 p.m.: Sabres kill the penalty with ease.

8:03 p.m.: Sabres get their first man advantage as Tomas Kaberle gets whistled for hooking with 6:03 to go. The shots are 6-4 in Toronto's favor.

8:04 p.m.: Now that's a really high-stick. Stempniak clips 6-foot-8 Tyler Myers to give Buffalo a 5-on-3.

8:05 p.m.: Just 13 seconds later, the Sabres take a 1-0 lead. Gustavsson stops Tim Connolly's shot, but Drew Stafford sends home the rebound with 4:49 to go.

8:06 p.m.: Another five-on-three, this time for 1:04 as Rickard Wallin gets tripping call with 4:06 left. Sabres call timeout to regroup.

8:09 p.m.: Sabres misfire, then Stafford takes high-sticking call with four seconds left in two-man advantage.

8:12 p.m.: Leafs tied the game at 1-1 with goal by Ian White. Alexei Ponikarovsky was parked in front when White fired high from the right circle with 1:07 left.

8:15 p.m.: End of one, 1-1. Leafs have 9-7 shot edge.

SECOND PERIOD

8:33 p.m.: And we're off...

8:36 p.m.: Colton Orr becomes the latest victim to retaliate against Kaleta and get a penalty, going to the box with 16:31 left.

8:38 p.m.: Ryan Miller stops Stempniak on short-handed breakaway with 16:03 to go.

8:40 p.m.: Sabres get chances, but no goal on long shift by Thomas Vanek, Derek Roy and Tyler Myers.

8:45 p.m.: The Monster stops Clarke MacArthur on breakaway with 12:03 left after Chris Butler sends pass to the winger.

8:49 p.m.: Great plays by Jason Pominville set up Tim Connolly for breakaway goal to give Sabres a 2-1 lead with 9:21 left. First, Pominville intercepts a cross-ice pass in his defensive zone. Then he sends a long pass to hit Connolly in stride at the far blue line, and Connolly scores his third of the season stickside.

8:57 p.m.: After sluggish affair early, chances and hitting picking up. Adam Mair and Kaleta rattle boards for Sabres, while Garnet Exelby flattens Kaleta with 5:38 to go. It's still 2-1, with Sabres holding a 19-15 shot edge.

9:06 p.m.: Miller makes stop on Francois Beauchemin at the buzzer to preserve the Sabres' 2-1 lead at the end of two. Sabres hold a 21-19 edge in shots.

THIRD PERIOD

9:24 p.m.: Just 22 seconds into the period, Myers goes off for hooking to give Toronto a fresh-ice power play.

9:27 p.m.: Ponikarovsky hits the post.

9:30 p.m.: Miller has been the best player on the ice tonight, with 24 saves through 44 minutes.

9:34 p.m.: Miller makes pad save on Stempniak with 14:20 to play. The shots are 9-0 this period so far.

9:35 p.m.: Leafs get another power play as Myers goes for holding with 13:33 left. Leafs are dominating everyone on Sabres with one exception -- Miller.

9:40 p.m.: Miller kills the penalty. There's 10 minutes left, and Toronto has a 13-1 shot advantage this period.

9:44 p.m.: Old friend Wayne Primeau goes off for tripping with 8:56 left, slowing the Leafs' momentum -- maybe.

9:58 p.m.: Mikhail Grabovksi sends the arena into bedlam with 37.3 seconds left, crossing in front and tipping a shot past Miller. The play is under review.

9:59 p.m.: Goal. Shots are 15-5.

10:32 p.m.; Sabres win in overtime on slap shot by Connolly.

POSTGAME

Connolly: "That’s a huge win for us. We’ve been playing really well and outshooting teams, and they came out, played real well and had momentum for most of the game. I think that’s our best win of the year, just being able to pull through when things aren’t going so well."

Chris Butler on Miller: "He was there for us again, but I don’t think we can get to the point where we have to rely on him to make a lot of spectacular saves every night. That’s just not fair to him."

Coach Lindy Ruff, who said Nathan Paetsch will likely play forward Saturday against the Islanders and Andrej Sekera will come off the injured list because several players are ill: "Other teams have got to go through it, and we’re going to have to just go through it.

"We’re going to have to hang in real tough and play a tough, gritty game [tonight] to come out with points because right now I don’t like where the energy level is on the team."

---John Vogl

NHLPA mess continues

Who's running the NHL Players' Association these days? Who knows.

Interim Executive Director Ian Penny has resigned, less than two months after the PA fired leader Paul Kelly. Some player reps reportedly have been upset with Penny about the Kelly debacle.

---John Vogl

Gaustad game-time decision, but not likely to play

Paul Gaustad, who has been suffering from flu-like symptoms, skipped the morning skate today and has been categorized as a game-time decision to play against the Maple Leafs tonight in HSBC Arena.

"We'll see whether he plays," coach Lindy Ruff said.

It's unlikely he will. Adam Mair skated in Gaustad's spot on the fourth line with Matt Ellis and Patrick Kaleta. Jochen Hecht worked at Gaustad's position on a power-play unit, setting up in front of the net.

Gaustad played through the illness during Wednesday's 4-1 victory in New Jersey. But he looked exhausted afterward and skipped practice Thursday.

---John Vogl

Dominator's Olympic bid hurting

Sabres legend Dominik Hasek, who came out of retirement with hopes of competing in the 2010 Olympics, has suffered a setback in his bid. He reportedly injured his thigh while playing for his Czech team and has dubbed his chances of appearing in Vancouver in February "quite low."

---John Vogl

Sabres, Myers staying together

Tyler Myers' story is just beginning. He and the Buffalo Sabres hope it continues to be a compelling one.
 
The Sabres made an obvious answer official today, announcing that their rookie defenseman will stay with the NHL club past his nine-game tryout limit. They could have sent the 19-year-old back to junior hockey and saved a year of his contract, but in the process they would have weakened their blue line.

"He made it pretty easy," coach Lindy Ruff said. "He played real well for us."

Myers leads the Sabres' blue-liners in goals (two) and points (five), and he's third on the team with 20:20 of ice time per game. Sending him back to Kelowna of the Western Hockey League would have left an obvious hole in the lineup, so he will remain with the Sabres for the "foreseeable future," General Manager Darcy Regier said.

"He's like the other guys in that he really just needs to continue his work, continue a process of continuous improvement," Regier said. "That's what we're looking for. Lindy emphasized that the expectations are there'll be ups and downs, there'll be adversity, but we expect him to continue to improve not just this year but in the future."

Myers, who's been living in a local hotel, will seek more permanent residence. Aside from that and the excitement of becoming an NHL regular, it was just another day of practice for Myers in the Amherst Pepsi Center.

"Obviously, it feels good," Myers said. "It's exciting, but I obviously don't want to stop after 10 games. It's early in the season, and I want to keep improving every game, show that I can build as the schedule gets tougher.

"I don't want to get too comfortable. I still want to play at a high intensity. Sometimes if guys get a little comfortable, they slow down a bit, so I want to make sure I keep it going and try to limit those mistakes, just keep improving."

---John Vogl

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Live from Sabres at New Jersey

NEWARK, N.J. -- I could start off with a joke -- something like, Newark, we make Detroit look nice -- but that would be too cliche. Since I don't deal with cliches, I'll leave the Newark-bashing to Conan O'Brien in the clip below.

One thing New Jersey does have is goaltender Martin Brodeur, and he will be in net for the Devils for the 10th time in 10 games. Ryan Miller will be across the ice for the eighth time in nine games for Buffalo.

Miller is likely to get more games off starting this week as the Sabres' schedule picks up some. Starting tonight, they have five straight weeks of three games in four nights. All the games are Wednesday, Friday and Saturday straight past Thanksgiving. Not overly taxing for the squad, but a boost from a lazy opening four weeks of the season.

More in about an hour when the puck drops.

6:13 p.m.: OK, so I'm back early. Wanted to remind folks that tonight's road game is on television in HD. The voices will be the usual (Rick Jeanneret and Harry Neale) but the feed will be from the Devils' MSG station. The opening segment will be from the Devils, as will the intermission shows. But I hear they will have a neutral flavor.

Now I'm really leaving for about 45 minutes.

FIRST PERIOD

7:08 p.m.: Game on. Tyler Myers is among the starting five -- and it probably won't be for the last time.

7:10 p.m.: And it's 1-0 Buffalo just 1:21 in, stunning the crowd of about, oh, 3,000 or so. Craig Rivet's point shot is knocked down in front, and Clarke MacArthur steps around Brodeur for his fifth goal.

7:15 p.m.: The line of Thomas Vanek-Derek Roy-Drew Stafford squanders an odd-man rush for more than the first time this season with no real shot taken with 4:30 gone.

7:17 p.m.: Mark it down -- Oct. 28, 2009, the date of Tim Kennedy's first NHL goal. The South Buffalo native gets the puck behind the goal line, gets to the faceoff circle and blindly fires a low shot that gets by Brodeur. It's 2-0 Buffalo with six minutes gone.

7:24 p.m.: The Devils have had a pair of odd-man rushes in the past minute, but Jamie Langenbrunner tips the first wide and Miller gobbles up the second with 9:21 left. It's still 2-0. And there's more than 3,000 people here now, but it's not above 10,000.

Commercial timeout, giving me time to wish a happy 85th birthday to one of my favorite readers, Joan Johnston. Get well, and glad to hear you're doing better!

7:29 p.m.: Big hit by Colin White and Rob Niedermayer on Kennedy after offside whistle, leading to a scrum and roughing penalties on Steve Montador and David Clarkson.

7:36 p.m.: Nice "Grease" routine by the Devils Dancers, who alas do not have a photo page on the Devils' Web site.

7:38 p.m: Sabres have a 14-5 shot advantage with two minutes to go.

7:40 p.m.: The only noise from Devils fans so far has been three or four derisive chants about the rival Rangers. Sabres have taken the few who took the trek to lovely downtown Newark out of the game.

7:42 p.m.: End of first, it's 2-0 Sabres, who finish with 14-7 shot advantage.

SECOND PERIOD

7:59 p.m.: And we're off...

8:03 p.m.: First power play of game goes to Devils with 2:56 gone. Paul Gaustad whistled for hooking.

8:05 p.m.: Devils cut their deficit to 2-1 with power-play goal. Langenbrunner feeds pinching defenseman Andy Greene for a goal with 15:43 to go.

8:09 p.m.: New Jersey had definitely gained momentum, but good shift by Matt Ellis-Paul Gaustad-Patrick Kaleta hems the Devils in their zone and evens the ice level with 11:15 left.

8:14 p.m.: As the fans give their applause to some brave men from the National Guard's 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Jersey's Ilkka Pikkarainen (wow, that's not easy) heads to the box for hooking with 9:59 to go.

8:28 p.m.: Sabres, still holding a 2-1 lead with 2:23 left, go back on the power play with Johnny Oduya holding call.

8:33 p.m.: Sabres enter intermission with a 2-1 lead and 20-15 shot edge. Best play of the man advantage was a defensive effort by Jason Pominville, whose stick shattered on a point shot. With no time to go to the bench, the right winger sped back and stuck out his right skate to block a pass that would have sent Travis Zajac in alone on Miller.

THIRD PERIOD

8:50 p.m.: Final period under way.

8:54 p.m.: Big hitting shift, with Gaustad and Ellis on the rough side of things.

9 p.m.: Miller keeping the Sabres ahead as the Devils' shot deficit, once 14-5, has closed to 22-20. Boos go out as they show Chase Utley's homer that gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead over the Yankees up the 95 North.

9:04 p.m.: Gaustad gives the Sabres breathing room, scoring with 10:35 to go after the shots had tied at 22-all. Ellis threw the puck to Gaustad in front, and he paused before slipping it past Brodeur.

9:09 p.m.: Pominville to the box for running Brodeur with 8:59 to go. The Devils are 1 for 1 with the man advantage.

9:12 p.m.: Just as Pominville exits, Gaustad enters for high-sticking Zach Parise. Dainius Zubrus nearly cut the Sabres' lead to one by hitting the post.

9:15 p.m.: Too many men call on New Jersey cuts off power play with 5:23 to go. Sabres in position to win third straight, all on the road.

9:21 p.m.: Turn out the lights. Pominville scores on the power play with 2:39 to go. It's 4-1, and the Sabres will improve to 7-1-1 and 4-0 away from HSBC Arena. They return home Friday to host the Maple Leafs.

POSTGAME

Kennedy: "It’s a real special feeling. I’d been working real hard the last eight games trying to get one, and to get the first one on a goalie like that, it’s something that I’ll always remember."

Lindy Ruff on Ellis: "I thought he was the first star of the game. Work ethic and what he did, they couldn’t take the puck away from him. That was a tremendous goal. At that time of the game, that was a big goal for us."

Devils coach Jacques Lemaire: "You could tell why they're on top and have such a great record. They have four good lines, and they all play the same way. They are a puck-control team, and they create plays. There's no doubt we faced a better team."

---John Vogl

Caught with their hockey pants down

NEWARK, N.J. -- The city of Boise, Idaho, doesn't take kindly to naked hockey players.

According to the Associated Press, the Idaho Junior Steelheads have been banned from a city rink for four days for conducting a strip shootout. Players who failed to score had to remove an article of clothing. Apparently, the players aren't top prospects. A young girl on an adjacent rink witnessed the boys in their "skivvies," according to the story, and a parent called a city hotline. The story also says one 17-year-old player mooned a teammate.

"The city forbids people from showing their buttocks in public, largely to curb erotic dance parlors," the story reads. "Exemptions include dance, ballet, music or dramatic performances, or artistic displays; nudity during hockey practice isn't on the list."

The Steelheads were said to be inspired by a recent similar event held by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Here's the story from the St. Petersburg Times and video of the Lightning event. Don't worry, it's rated somewhere between G and PG.

---John Vogl

Peters a scratch against Sabres

NEWARK, N.J. -- Andrew Peters' first game against his former team will have to wait.

New Jersey coach Jacques Lemaire has elected not to dress Peters for tonight's game against the Buffalo Sabres in Prudential Center. Peters played 200 games for the Sabres before signing a two-year deal with the Devils in September.

"I'm disappointed when I don't play. I'm not angry," Peters said this morning. "You want to play every game, no more today than any other day, to be quite honest with you. All the games you sit you always want to be in but I don't look at this game any differently than any other game."

---John Vogl

Paetsch in for Lydman again versus Devils

The Sabres will be without Toni Lydman on Wednesday when they face New Jersey. The defenseman has suffered a setback with his groin injury. Nathan Paetsch will play his second straight game as Steve Montador's blue-line partner in place of Lydman.

"Toni was doing pretty good [Monday] and probably pushed it a little too hard," coach Lindy Ruff said after today's practice in Amherst Pepsi Center. "He felt sore, so we decided to keep him off today. That's normal for groins when you get to that point where you think you can almost go."

Paetsch played 13:09 in Saturday's 3-2 shootout victory over Tampa Bay. He had five shots, one hit and was minus-1 in his season debut.

"I thought he played well," Ruff said. "He was in on some offensive opportunities. That pair gave us a couple real nice plays in the offensive zone. I thought they did a nice job for us."

Sabres defenseman Andre Sekera, who has been out since suffering a rib injury Oct. 10 in Nashville, is close to returning but won't be ready for the Devils.

"There's a chance for the weekend," Ruff said. "We'll just have to see."

---John Vogl

Lindy on Myers: laughable

Lindy Ruff is still adhering to the company line about Tyler Myers, saying today the Sabres still haven't made their final decision about the 6-foot-8 defenseman. Ruff actually had a difficult time keeping a straight face when talking about Myers after practice.

When asked if he could understand why fans and people who have watched the kid play would say there's absolutely no decision to be made, that he should stay, Ruff responded, "I totally understand that'' before he broke into laughter. Barring some unforeseen circumstance, the kid is going nowhere but house hunting.

Here's the deal: The Sabres are protecting themselves just in case something bizarre happens between now and after Wednesday's game, when they'll be required to make a final decision.

Even if he were injured, he would remain on the roster until he was cleared to play. If it was a serious injury that required months of rehab, the Sabres could technically send him back with only nine NHL games and delay the clock on his contract until next season.

Technically, anything is possible. He could get arrested. He could punch one of the coaches. He could forget how to skate backward. Realistically, he's sticking around.

--- Bucky Gleason

The bandwagon is filling up

They are sitting up and taking notice out there.

TSN's rankings have the Sabres on top with a leap from sixth to first.

Meanwhile, the Loafs are occupying the basement. How the mighty have fallen.

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Live from Sabres at Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. -- Greetings from St. Pete Times Forum, one of two pro stadiums I've been in today. Drove over to St. Petersburg, and there was some free kids event going on in Tropicana Field, home of baseball's Rays. Wandered around the outfield for a little while. No idea how the outfielders pick up the white ball with the white doomed roof.

Anyway, as I posted earlier, no Toni Lydman tonight for the Sabres. Nathan Paetsch gets his first action of the season. I'm predicting he fights.

Get to watch one of my favorite goalies, Tampa's Mike Smith. Ryan Miller's technical brilliance is nice and effective and doesn't give coaches much worry, but Smith is different. He bolts from the crease every chance he gets, tries three-line passes whenever the opponent is trying to change and just brings an element rarely seen.

Be back in about 20 minutes for puck drop.

FIRST PERIOD

7:38 p.m.: No Darth Vader to drop the puck tonight, but KISS gave the command to "let's play hockey" via videtape on the Jumbotron.

7:43 p.m.: Two good chances for the Sabres already, but Derek Roy passes up shot on three-on-two to try and feed Thomas Vanek, then Smith makes nice save on Drew Stafford with 4:30 gone. Roy just took a stick in the mouth from Zenon Konopka of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.

7:47 p.m.: We've got a four-on-four as Kurtis Foster hooks Patrick Kaleta, who gets called for diving. No score with 13:37 to go.

7:50 p.m.: First penalty of Tyler Myers' career is a holding call with 12:03 to go.

7:55 p.m.: The penalty kill was a success for the Sabres, but it halted their flow, obviously, They were controlling play, but puck possession time has moved to the Lightning.

8:01 p.m.: No score with 5:16 left. And in an interesting twist down here, they serve hot dogs made by Zweigle's, the Rochester company. I'm more of a Sahlen's guy myself, but good to see a little New York flavor down here.

8:04 p.m.: Quite a few "Goose" calls for Paul Gaustad. Small crowd, but as usual there's a good chunk of Buffalo followers here. My mom is here, too, after driving down from South Carolina. And in my favorite moment at every Lightning game, we get a standing ovation for the "Hero of the Game." Tonight it's Sgt. Rene Marquis.

8:11 p.m.: Chris Butler just laid out Drew Miller, the brother of Ryan Miller.

8:14 p.m.: Every 10th of a second counts. Vincent Lecavalier chopped a backhand into the net with 0:00.6 left on the clock to give the Lightning a 1-0 lead. Shots are only 6-6 as the period ends. The goal was Lecavalier's first of the season.

SECOND PERIOD

8:33 p.m.: The second period is under way, and it's only the second time this season Buffalo has entered the middle frame in a hole.

8:36 p.m.: Buffalo gets a power play just 1:38 in when Steven Stamkos goes off for hooking. Cheap plug alert: See Sunday's notebook for a story on Stamkos and Victor Hedman.

8:42 p.m.: Tampa kills Buffalo's PP, then gets one of its one when Thomas Vanek gets a holding-the-stick call with 5:40 gone. Miller makes sure it stays 1-0 by making a glove save on Martin St. Louis' breakaway with six minutes played.

8:44 p.m.: Almost saw Hedman's first NHL goal, but Miller slides across to get his glove on the big defenseman's one-timer.

8:45 p.m.: Penalty killed, thanks to Miller.

8:49 p.m.: Back-to-back odd-man rushes allow Sabres to get a man advantage. Steve Montador blocks a shot on Tampa's three-on-one, then Andrej Meszaros takes down Paetsch when the play turns the other way. It's still 1-0 with 9:31 left.

8:56 p.m.: Lecavalier loses control of puck with chance to get his second of the game. After helping play keepaway from the Sabres on the penalty kill, Lecavalier walks in alone on Miller after no-look pass from Ryan Malone. But he loses the puck in slot before taking shot. There's 7:02 to go.

9:05 p.m.: Final minute of period, no changes.

9:08 p.m.: Be sure to tune in to the closing minute of the third period, because the final minute is apparently the only time anyway scores. Tim Kennedy rushes Hedman and deflects the defenseman's clearing pass. The puck caroms to Mike Grier, who beats a diving Smith with 45.5 seconds left. Big roar from the Buffalo backers.

End of two, it's 1-1. Shots are 20-17 in Buffalo's favor.

9:11 p.m.: Vader is here! He's taking part in a puck-shooting intermission contest. No wonder the Sabres scored.

THIRD PERIOD

9:27 p.m.: Game back on. And I hope "Star Wars in Concert" comes to HSBC Arena. It looks cool. But I think we've already used up our allotment of three concerts per year downtown. Or maybe it's three concerts every two years. Either way.

9:31 p.m.: Matt Ellis makes a run at Mattia Ohlund after the Tampa D-man hits Patrick Kaleta from behind in open ice.

9:34 p.m.: Tampa takes a 2-1 lead with 15:34 to go. Steve Montador receives a pass behind the Buffalo goal, but his stick hits the net. The puck goes to Stamkos, who walks out front to beat Miller.

9:45 p.m.: It's still 2-1 with 10:06 to go. Sabres have a 25-22 shot edge.

9:53 p.m.: Ohlund gets cross-checking penalty with 5:15 to go, giving Buffalo PP a chance to tie.

9:56 p.m.: Sabres 0 for 3 with man advantage.

10:02 p.m.: Drew Stafford scores with just 16.1 seconds left to tie the game. Going to overtime.

10:10 p.m.: Going to a shootout.

10:57 p.m.: The Sabres' Tyler Myers is the only one of 12 shooters to find the net, giving the Sabres a 3-2 win.

POSTGAME

Myers: "I wasn’t too nervous. We do a lot of shootouts in practice, and I went to my go-to move, and it seems to be working. I’m happy it went in.

"Early in my junior career I took some shots and didn’t do so well, so they stopped putting me out there. But I’m happy I scored on my first one in the NHL, and I’m happy we got the win out of it."

Miller: "We were definitely rewarded at the end. I’m happy to get that point and then get the extra one in the shootout."

Coach Lindy Ruff: "We’ve spent at length talking about the extra points you can gain in shootouts, and the difference that can make by the end of the year. When your goalie stops that many, you’ve got to take advantage of it."

---John Vogl

No Lydman for Sabres

TAMPA, Fla. -- Toni Lydman was too sore to make it through the Sabres' morning skate today, so his groin strain will keep him out of tonight's meeting with the Lightning. Nathan Paetsch will make his first start of the season.

---John Vogl

Making it look easy

TAMPA, Fla. -- The big saves have been there for Ryan Miller. A breakaway stop late in the game in Nashville. A technically perfect stop on a penalty shot. They gave the Sabres momentum.

Lindy Ruff likes that there have been no momentum-sapping moments. Miller hasn't given up any soft goals this season. Aside from misplaying a dump-in behind his net and allowing John Tavares to score, Miller has done nearly everything right.

"Ryan’s been very good," Ruff said. "He’s done a good job on the key opportunities, and he’s done a good job on the average opportunities. I think that’s something that goes amiss. He’s just been sharp on all types of opportunities."

---John Vogl

Lydman sits out

SUNRISE, Fla. – The Sabres were without Toni Lydman today as the defenseman missed practice with a groin strain.

Lydman suffered the injury late in Wednesday’s 5-2 win over Florida. He is questionable for Saturday’s game in Tampa.

If Lydman can’t go, Nathan Paetsch would make his first start of the season.

–John Vogl

Raining points

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Hello again from Florida, where three days of nearly nonstop sun have given way to a mix of rain and sun with the Sabres off today. Oh well.

Now that I'm at a spot where the Internet doesn't crash every time I push "Publish" on the blog (thanks you wonderful, tech-savvy people at the BankAtlantic Center!), here are few things from the Sabres' 5-2 win over the Panthers on Wednesday:

*The Sabres had 14 of their 18 skaters record a point. Only Henrik Tallinder, with two assists, had more than one. Only Toni Lydman, Paul Gaustad, Clarke MacArthur and Craig Rivet missed out.

*The game wasn't pretty after the first, but a change in focus can be expected with the game out of hand so early.

"In a 5-1 game you’re going to try some high-risk plays, and our goalie made high-reward saves," coach Lindy Ruff said. "A lot of those were just created from our own misery."

*Ryan Miller (5-0-1) and Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury (8-0) are the only goalies with more than three decisions who don't have a regulation loss. Among goalies with more than two appearances, Miller's save percentage of .942 ranks second to Phoenix's Ilya Bryzgalov's .963. They are also 1-2 in goals-against average, with the Coyote posting a 1.14 to Miller's 1.65.

*The Sabres' penalty-kill unit jumped to 19th from 24th after a 6-for-7 showing. The goal came in the closing minutes after MacArthur protested an interference call and was given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Ruff liked the passion but said it's a tough way for the unit's perfect night to end.

*Dominic Moore may be healthy, but his plus-minus isn't after a minus-3 against his old team.

---John Vogl

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Live from Sabres at Panthers

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Greetings from sunny South Florida, where the locals are expected to do anything but attend tonight's game between the Sabres and Panthers. Sabres broadcaster Harry Neale, who knows just about everyone in every arena, said the Panthers are expecting only about 8,000 folks to walk through the doors of BankAtlantic Center.

One thing that's worse than the arena's attendance is its Internet system. It historically (and recently) kicks the user off, so don't expect the usual updates during the game. I'll post as frequently as possible, but it's not promising.

Traffic was light on the highway, so I got here extremely early. And in the "early bird gets the worm" category, it allowed me to see the Panthers Ice Dancers warm up. Unfortunately, they've now given way to Darth Vader and several storm troopers. "Star Wars in Concert" is coming to town at the end of the month, so Darth is dropping the ceremonial first puck as a promotional gimmick. Word is, the Sabres are going to use him in front of the net to help the power play.

"It won't hurt it, I can tell you that," said coach Lindy Ruff.

OK, so he really said that about the return of Thomas Vanek to the power play. Vanek is back after a two-game injury absence.

PREGAME

7 p.m.: The players just hit the ice for the pregame warm-up, which caught me completely off-guard as I typed Thursday's notebook about Dominic Moore. Why? Because usually there are fans to greet the players. I saw an empty building surrounding my computer screen and figured we were nowhere near game time.

FIRST PERIOD

7:43 p.m.: The Sabres must know that a solid performance will earn them a day off in the sunshine Thursday. It's 2-0 with only 1:56 gone. Jochen Hecht sends a cross-ice pass to Mike Grier, who one-times it through the pads of Scott Clemmensen with 1:11 gone.

Then, Jason Pominville puts a one-timer in on the power play. Clemmensen's night is already over, as Tomas Vokoun enters the game.

7:51 p.m: Get the suntan lotion ready for tomorrow! It's 3-0 Buffalo with just 4:37 gone. Matt Ellis pops a rebound past Vokoun.

7:57 p.m.: The Panthers might be hauling a fan out of the stands to play net at this rate. Tyler Myers' shot from the point goes off Vokoun's glove and into the net with 10:20 to go.

8:05 p.m.: Two cross-ice passes by the Panthers result in a Steven Reinprecht goal with 5:49 left. It's 4-1 Buffalo.

8:13 p.m.: And it's now 5-1 with 3:12 left as Vanek scores on scrum in crease. Shots, amazingly, are 16-16.

8:18 p.m.: End of period (and possibly the end of the blog for the night with an unbelievably bad Internet connection), and it's 5-1 Sabres. The shots are 17-16 in favor of the Panthers.

---John Vogl

Eastern Conference injuries

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The Sabres will return to full strength tonight when Thomas Vanek and Matt Ellis play against the Panthers, but two Eastern Conference rivals are hurting.

Boston, which is already without Milan Lucic (broken finger), has lost leading scorer Marc Savard to a broken left foot. Like Lucic, Savard will miss four to six weeks.

Pittsburgh, which is off to an 8-1 start, will miss defenseman Sergei Gonchar for the next six weeks. He suffered a broken wrist Tuesday.

---John Vogl

Paille deal signals change in divisional attitude

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Buffalo Sabres have played the Boston Bruins 245 times during the regular season, most of any opponent. They have met eight times in the playoffs, producing some of the more memorable moments in Sabres history.

But until Tuesday, the 39-year-old rivals had never made a trade of players under contract. Daniel Paille changed that.

The Sabres, faced with a logjam at left wing, sent Paille to the Bruins in exchange for two draft picks. The Sabres will receive Boston’s third-round selection in the 2010 entry draft and a conditional fourth-round pick next June.

Paille set a career high with 19 goals two seasons ago but has slid down the depth chart since. He dipped to 12 goals last year, and the 25-year-old started even slower this season.

He was a healthy scratch in the Sabres’ first four games. After recording one assist during the past two contests, he was scheduled to head back to the press box tonight when the Sabres meet the Florida Panthers. Left wings Thomas Vanek and Matt Ellis have returned from injury, leaving no room for Paille.

The Sabres also have two high-profile prospects who play left wing, Nathan Gerbe and Philip Gogulla.

"I initiated it awhile back, not specifically with Boston, but I contacted a number of teams about our situation, that we had a lot of forwards," Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier said by phone. "[Rookie Tim Kennedy] makes our team in the middle, and he pushes people out to the wing. Next thing you know, you’ve got an abundance of left wingers. That’s really the only reason that we were able to make this move.

"We’ve got some young guys that we’ll probably have to make room for at some point in the not-too-distant future. I’m not suggesting it’s going to be this year, but we’ve got some younger guys that are going to play."

Paille was a first-round selection in 2002, 20th overall. The native of Welland, Ont., played 195 games over parts of five seasons in Buffalo, recording 35 goals and 42 assists.

"Danny is just a very solid player," Regier said. "Like all players, they have strengths and weaknesses. For me, Danny doesn’t even have a weakness, per se. He’s a good, quality player."

Paille flew from Florida to Boston on Tuesday night and is scheduled to play for the Bruins today when they host Nashville. Boston, a preseason favorite to win the Stanley Cup, is only 3-4 and in need of a left winger. Power forward Milan Lucic underwent surgery for a broken right index finger over the weekend and is expected to miss four to six weeks.

The trade was Regier’s first in-season deal not near the trade deadline since November 2002, when defenseman Jason Woolley was sent to Detroit. Like all the previous Buffalo GMs, it was Regier’s first deal with the Bruins.

"I didn’t know that, but it’s not surprising given the divisional rivalry," he said. "What it really speaks to is the economics of the National Hockey League today. Ironically, I was one that always wanted to place a player in the Western Conference. It’s not always doable, and in this case it wasn’t doable. So you make the best deal you can in the Eastern Conference, and it happens to be in our division.

"Where teams are with the salary-cap situation, I think you have to make the deal that is best for your organization. I think the days of not dealing with teams in your own division or own conference are gone. … You just have to hope that the player you’re dealing helps that team beat the other teams in your division."

---John Vogl

Paille traded to Bruins

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The Sabres have eased their logjam at forward, trading left wing Daniel Paille to the Bruins for two draft picks. Paille, a first-round pick in 2002, was sent to Boston in exchange for a third-round pick next June and a conditional fourth-round pick, also in 2010.

Paille, who set a career high with 19 goals two seasons ago, dropped down the Sabres' depth chart last season with only 12 goals. His intensity was often not up to coach Lindy Ruff's liking.

Paille was a healthy scratch in four of the Sabres' six games so far this season and was set to head back to the press box with the return of Thomas Vanek and Matt Ellis from injury.

The trade is the first ever between the Sabres and Bruins, according to the Bruins' Web site.

---John Vogl

Ratchuk traded to Columbus

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Buffalo native Michael Ratchuk, a second-round pick of the Flyers in 2006, has been traded to Columbus for prospect Stefan Legein.

---John Vogl