Marc Andre Gragnani will be the odd man out tonight in his hometown of Montreal. Gragnani must be disappointed that his family and friends cannot see him play live in person.
Too bad. Lindy needs wins, and he will ice the team that he feels gives him the best chance of leveraging two points from the Habs.
Lindy has healthy choices in Regehr and Ehrhoff to play in Grags' stead. Things will get more interesting this week with a healthy McNasty ready to draw back in.
Might this be a foreshadpow of a trade of Gragnani?
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According to Kevin Snow, Ennis will centre for Stafford and Gerbe.
Ennis played the pivot in junior at Medicine Hat. He also played center with the Portland Pirates. Now that Jochen Hecht is out for a prolonged amount of time, its hero time for Ennis.
Sabres are 8-5-2 (.600) with 63 in the lineup this year; 30-8-5 all-time when he has a point
Goose is a game time decision, which to me says that he will play. Lindy head fake.
Which forward sits? Ellis? McCormick? Boyes?
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Ryan Miller will get the start. Miller needs just one more win to tie Dominik Hasek’s franchise record of 234 in his 491 games with the Sabres.
Carey Price will tend the bars for Montreal.
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Tortarella will sit Hank Lundqvist tonight vs. the Devils. Its the first time since 2006 that the Rangers have used a goalie other than Lundqvist vs. the Devils.
Biron starts tonight. Lundqvist tomorrow night in Buffalo.
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SABRES at CANADIENS PARTICULARS:lla will
-Third of six meetings between the Sabres and Canadiens this season.
-Last meeting: Buffalo defeated Montreal in a shootout, 3-2, in Montreal on Nov. 14.
-The teams meet next on Friday, Feb. 17 in Buffalo.
-The Sabres are 6-4-0 in their last 10 games vs. the Canadiens; 7-2-1 on the road.
-This is the 250
th game all-time between Buffalo and Montreal; the Sabres are 113-100-36 against the Canadiens (47-66-13 on the road).
STORYLINES
Tonight’s meeting between the Sabres and Canadiens marks the 250
th game between the two teams. The Sabres are 113-100-36 in these games. Buffalo has only faced Boston more times (259 GP).
Tonight’s game is the final of a season-high seven consecutive games on the road for the Sabres. Their next home game is on Wednesday, Feb. 1 vs. NYR.
The Sabres are seeking consecutive wins for the first time since winning four straight from Nov. 4 to Nov. 11.
*BACK FROM THE BREAK*
The Sabres return to action tonight after a six-day layoff. Buffalo is 15-16-4 all-time in their first game back from the All-Star break, including a 2-2 record in these games since the lockout in which they have outscored their opponents by a margin of 18-10. Three
Sabres have performed at a point-per-game pace or better in those games:
Pominville: Five points (1+4) in four games
Stafford: Four points (4+0) in three games
Hecht: Four points (1+3) in four games
*FINISHING STRONG AFTER THE BREAK*
Buffalo is 526-395-180 (.561) all-time in games after the All-Star break. This includes a record of 75-42-18 (.622) in those games since the lockout.
*Note: These totals do not include games after breaks for the Olympic Games.
IT’S ALMOST MILLER TIME
After stopping 27 of 28 shots (plus three of four in the shootout) en route to last Tuesday’s 2-1 shootout victory at NJD, Ryan Miller needs just one more win to tie Dominik Hasek’s franchise record of 234 in his 491 games with the Sabres. Miller has appeared in 429
games for the Sabres.
Hab D-man, Josh Gorges, says his team is not looking past the Sabres. Two desperate teams head down the dark alley together tonight. Itys a huge four point game in the so-tight-they-are-squeaking Eastern Conference standings.
Thanks, Habs TV
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Thank to the Mighty Artie Kwitchoff at the legendary Towne Ballroom.
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