Bruins looking to bounce back in Buffalo

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Dec 15, 2010 9:01 AM EST in Game Previews

The Bruins and Buffalo Sabres will meet tonight for the third time this season as the B's travel to Western New York to take on their Northeast Divisions foes. The Bruins have won both contests so far this season, including a 3-2 overtime win at TD Garden last Tuesday.

The Bruins enter tonight's contest looking to bounce back from a 2-1 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night, a game that ended with Marc Savard giving Mike Richards and the Flyers an early Christmas gift by turning over the puck on a no-look drop pass to no one that turned into the game-winner for the Flyers with three seconds left in overtime. The Bruins have dropped two of the last six games, but thanks to the charity point system are currently riding a six-game point streak that started back on the December 1st with a 3-0 win over the Flyers.

The Sabres have won three of their last five games (3-1-1), but are looking to rebound from a 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins HSBC Arena on Saturday night. Buffalo currently sits in fourth placed in the Norteast Division with 28 points, two points up on Toronto in the basement and one point behind Ottawa for the third spot. The Sabres have dealt with some injuries to key players lately, but are expected to get a few players back tonight. Tim Connolly (groin) and Drew Stafford (shoulder), and Rob Niedermayer (knee) are expected to be back in the lineup tonight.

Notes:

- With both teams off since Saturday, I would expect to Tim Thomas and Ryan Miller in net tonight.

- Tyler Seguin missed Saturday's game with flu-like symptoms, but has practiced with the team this week and appears ready to play. Seguin rotated with Daniel Paille on the left wing on a line with Marc Savard and Michael Ryder during Tuesday's practice at Ristuccia Arena in Wilmington.

Bruins Projected Lines & D-Pairs (based on Tuesday's practice):

Milan Lucic - David Krejci - Nathan Horton
Blake Wheeler - Patrice Bergeron - Mark Recchi
Tyler Seguin - Marc Savard - Michael Ryder
Brad Marchand - Gregory Campbell - Shawn Thornton

Zdeno Chara - Johnny Boychuk
Dennis Seidenberg - Steven Kampfer
Andrew Ference - Adam McQuaid

- Thomas Vanek is the Sabres' leading goal scorer with 13 goals on the season, while Derek Roy has recorded close to a point per game with 29 points in 30 contests.

- The Sabres are 10-8-3 with Ryan Miller in goal compared to 2-6-1 with either Patrick Lalime or Jhonas Enroth between the pipes.

- The Sabres have sent forwards Mark Mancari and Luke Adam back to the Portland Pirates.

- The game gets started at 7:00 PM ET and will air on NESN and 98.5 The Sports Hub.

- The Stanley Cup of Chowder Public Skate open thread starts right here at the usual start of a half hour before game time.

- For more on the Buffalo Sabres, check out SB Nation's Die By The Blade

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Comments

Naoko Funyama was saying on twitter that they might sit Seguin for Paille.

Shoot me.

Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: Matt Kalman: Have you no sense of decency, sir? (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 15, 2010 1:22 PM EST reply actions

Hey Claude, how about playing the kid who’s going to be here next year

by TomServo42 on Dec 15, 2010 1:33 PM EST up reply actions

Hey Claude, how about sending down the Danny pAHLle

Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: Matt Kalman: Have you no sense of decency, sir? (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 15, 2010 1:46 PM EST up reply actions

which would you rather have on your lineup?

Daniel Paille

Breakdown:
Assets

Is a jack-of-all-trades type. Skates well and plays a sound positional game. Can excel in any role. Has great defensive instincts.

Flaws

Doesn’t own the high-end scoring skills needed to excel as a top-six winger in the NHL. Also lacks the dominant size or mean streak of a power forward.

Career Potential

Two-way winger.

VERSUS

Seafood Paella

Assets

Is a jack-of-all-trades type. Has a good balance of rice, chicken and various shellfish including mussels, shrimp and sometimes lobster. Can excel in any role, whether it be as a lunch, dinner or late night meal. Pairs well with a good beer or wine. Huge morale boost for the team when they can eat it after the game.

Flaws

Doesn’t skate. Prone to making mistakes in the defensive zone. Can block shots when in the correct defensive position, but typically doesn’t have the mobility to doso. Lacks any offensive talent. Big liability on the ice.

Career Potential
*Delicious ethnic food and the national dish of Spain.

i voted for the paella.

by delta on Dec 15, 2010 4:00 PM EST up reply actions 5 recs