Bruins and Sabres set to play meaningless hockey game

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Apr 11, 2009 12:36 AM EDT in Game Previews

Let's face it, this game means nothing. The Bruins have already locked up the top spot in the Eastern Conference and the Sabres have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Sure, the Bruins can still win the President's Trophy but Claude Julien has pretty much said that he could care less about the President's Trophy. I wouldn't be surprised if half of the Sabres show up drunk and they let a Make-A-Wish kid start in goal.

Just who are these Sabres you speak of?
Buffalo Sabres 40-32-9; 89 pts (3rd in Northeast, 10th in East)

Leading Goal Scorers

	GP	MIN	W	L	T	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2008 - Ryan Miller	59	3443	34	18	6	6	145	2.53	1773	1628	.918	5

	GP	MIN	W	L	T	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2008 - Mikael Tellqvist	5	170	1	1	0	1	8	2.82	90	82	.911	0

G A P +/- PIM

2008 - Thomas Vanek 38 23 61 -3 42

G A P +/- PIM

2008 - Derek Roy 28 42 70 -5 38

Goaltending

GP MIN W L T EGA GA GAA SA SV SV% SO

2008 - Ryan Miller 59 3443 34 18 6 6 145 2.53 1773 1628 .918 5

GP MIN W L T EGA GA GAA SA SV SV% SO

2008 - Mikael Tellqvist 5 170 1 1 0 1 8 2.82 90 82 .911 0

Guys Who Like to Drop the Gloves
Andrew Peters: 11 Fighting Majors
Paul Gaustad: 6 Fighting Majors
Adam Mair, Craig Rivet, & Patrick Kaleta: 5 Fighting Majors

'08-'09 Season Series
Bruins Record vs. Buffalo: 2-2-1
10/21 @ BUF 3-2 SO L
11/8 vs. BUF 3-1 W
11/19 vs. BUF 7-4 W
11/26 @ BUF 3-2 L
1/3 vs. BUF 4-2 L

Injury Report

Boston
The Bruins aren't saying much about injuries now that the playoffs are right around the corner.

LW Marco Sturm: Out for Season (knee)
LW P.J. Axelsson: Doubtful (undisclosed injury)
D Andrew Ference: Out for remainder of regular season (undisclosed injury)
D Dennis Wideman: Doubtful (undisclosed injury)
C Patrice Bergeron: Out (foot)

Buffalo Sabres Injuries

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Clarke MacArthur	undisclosed	04/10/2009
Patrick Kaleta	other-illness	04/10/2009
Maxim Afinogenov	other-excused	04/10/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Patrick Lalime	hip	04/06/2009

Projected Lines:

The lines for the Bruins are complete speculation at the this point. The Bruins did not have a full practice on Friday, so it is difficult to determine who will be in the lineup or what the lines will look like. Here is my best guess:

Notes:

- Patrice Bergeron did not travel with the team to Buffalo after taking a puck to the foot in Thursday night's game against Montreal.

- I would expect to see Manny Fernandez get the start in goal.

- The Bruins called up right wing Mikko Lehtonen from Providence. I'm not sure if he will be in the lineup or not but with Bergeron staying at home, the Bruins wanted to have an extra option available.

- Ryan Miller has a new Japanese tattoo inspired mask....just in time for the playoffs. Ray Bishop, the artist who painted Miller's mask has painted masks for several NHL goalies and even painted a Vancouver Canucks themed guitar for generic sounding Canadian butt rock band Theory of a Deadman.

- Aaron Ward will probably have a large cheering section for this game because we all know the fat pigs in Buffalo go wild for Wardo.

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Comments

Is Savard

playing in this game??

Sports And The City

A Toronto sports blog, where we unequivocally and unapologetically support the home team...

PLAYOFFS!!!!1

by eyebleaf on Apr 11, 2009 2:03 PM EDT reply actions

Who knows? There has pretty much been a gag order on all information regarding this team for the past few weeks. I had seen a report that Julien might give some guys a rest. http://www.thebruinsblog.net/2009/04/10/quartet-of-bruins-might-not-get-to-join-ranks-of-iron-men/

We’ll just have to see.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Serving of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Apr 11, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions

my fantasy hockey team...

…is not coping with all these guys being held out this last weekend very well! And I’m in the finals…

by jctsai12 on Apr 11, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Miller's mask

really cool, though I wonder if he could have had the artist use a palette that more closely matched the Sabre’s current blue and gold. But I like it either way.

by jctsai12 on Apr 11, 2009 3:41 PM EDT reply actions