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
Goaltending
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)
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.