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Bruins return to Buffalo to face Ruff-less Sabres

February 8, 2012, 3:29 PM ET [95 Comments]
Ty Anderson
Boston Bruins Blogger •Bruins Feature Columnist • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Declared the winners of the 2011 off-season before the team even began skating, things haven't gone well for the Buffalo Sabres. Not at all, actually.

A point away from dead last in the Eastern Conference, the Sabres have been crushed by the inconsistency of Ryan Miller, whose a bad game away from a sub-.900 save-percentage and goals-against-average over three. They've seen nothing of substance from big-time free-agent acquisition Ville Leino, who comes into play with just 13 points in 41 games this year -- or fewer points as Tomas Kaberle does in 25 games with the Canadiens. And for a team that's battled a multitude of injuries this year, here comes a new and rather unusual one: Head coach Lindy Ruff, thumped by Buffalo d-man Jordan Leopold during Monday's practice, will sit out tonight's game against the Boston Bruins due to three broken ribs.

Apparently declaring open season on NHL coaches (as Edmonton's Tom Renney suffered an injury that day as well), the injury to Ruff will be assistant coach James Patrick's first game as an NHL coach. In doing so, the 48-year-old veteran of nearly 1,300 NHL contests becomes the first guy not named 'Lindy Ruff' to coach a Sabres game since March of 2006.

On the ice, the Sabres will give the start to Miller for the first time since the 31-year-old got trucked by Milan Lucic. Leaving the game after two periods due to a concussion and/or whiplash in what would become another Sabres loss, this will be the first the Bruins have seen of Miller since he called the 23-year-old Lucic a "gutless piece of [expletive]."

While Miller's year has been a disappointment, the Michigan-born netminder has taken the proper strides when it comes to salvaging his year, with a 3-0-1 record in his last four starts with a .962 save-percentage.

The Bruins will counter with the 24-year-old Tuukka Rask. Riding a three-game losing streak by way of an 0-2-1 record, Rask's allowed 10 goals over that stretch, which is borderline unheard of when you notice that the Finnish-born crease-warrior allowed just 25 goals in the previous 16 games. On a more positive note regarding Rask, the B's back-up has a .924 save-percentage in five career games at First Niagara Center.

Game-Changers


B's winger Tyler Seguin may just have six games worth of experience when it comes to the Sabres, but the dude has made 'em worth it. Tallying four goals and seven points against Buffalo in his career, the sophomore comes into play on the heels of tallying his 20th goal of the season last Sunday in Washington.

The Bruins are gonna find themselves on Stafford-Watch tonight. Sabres winger Drew Stafford, even with just one goal in his last 20 games, is a notorious Bruins killer. Scoring nine goals and adding nine assists in 28 career games against Boston, the 26-year-old Stafford will skate on Buffalo's second line and could make life hell when the match-up favors the Blue-and-Gold.

Stats of Note


- The B's are 14-1-1 this year when Andrew Ference has a point.

- Bruins forward Benoit Pouliot has just one goal in his last 18 games.

- Danny Paille has two goals and an assist in 10 games against Buffalo.

- Sabres d-man Tyler Myers has two goals and three assists in 13 games since returning from a broken wrist.

- Derek Roy has 11 goals and 37 points in 45 career games against the Bruins.

- Buffalo's 11-4-0 this year when Jason Pominville has a goal.

News and Notes


On an obvious note, B's top-liner Nathan Horton did not travel with the team to Buffalo as he still suffers from the symptoms that have come with the 'mild' concussion he suffered back on Jan. 22.

To the shock of no one, B's forward Zach Hamill cleared waivers yesterday and will report to Providence.

Meanwhile, the Sabres will skate without Thomas Vanek in the line-up once again. Out since Jan. 31, the loss of Vanek for tonight's game (and any game for that matter) is huge given Vanek's impressive career figures against Boston. With 25 goals and 46 points in 42 career games against Boston, Vanek will be replaced on the Sabres' top line by Leino. Yeah, that's not a fair trade.

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