Kopecky sauced a pass across the goal crease to Campbell, who then put it past Miller
The Sabres didn't register a shot on goal until the 11 minute mark of the third period.
Totally unacceptable effort, to steal defeat from the jaws of victory.
***
3-3
Mueller beats Miller for the game tying goal with 53 seconds remaining on the second period clock.
***
3-2 Sabres
Parros beats his buddy Miller on a slot shot, just after Grigorenko hit the post and Foligno missed the open net behind Theodore.
Sulzer and Ehrhoff were badly beaten the back check.
***
3-1 Sabres
Big John Scott and Geroge Parros engage in a heavyweight brawl....
thanks, hockey-fights.com
Then, Sulzer pounded home a point bomb for the two goal lead
Vanek picks up his second assist of the day. Three points thus far for the red hot Vanek.
*** 2-1 Sabres
Vanek can dish, just as well as he can score.
Vanek finds Hodgson for the go ahead goal.
** 1-0 Buffalo
McCormick's paw is feeling just fine...
Thanks, hockey-fights.com
Thomas Freakin Vanek!
Scores again!
Vanek's goal gives him the NHL scoring lead. He was tied with Steven Stamkos. vVnek now has 8 goals and 9 assists in 8 games played. He missed last Sunday's game in Washington to to a cranky back strain.
Jason Pominville and Cody Hodgson created the goal with a series of disgusting passes.
Ryan Miller will be back in his crease today after his team collapsed in front of him ion Montreal on Saturday.
Miller was pulled after surrendering four goals to the Habs in forty minutes of play.
Nathan Gerbe is also on the ice for warm-ups. 42 was a healthy scratch on Saturday.
***
Updated 1:10 pm EDT:
Lindy Ruff discussed the Sabres injury situation with media.
Ruff said the Andrej Sekera is out of today's game. TJ Brennan will take 44's spot in the lineup.
Brennan has told me several times that he feels that his total, all-around game developed until the tutelage of present panthers coach, and former Portland Pirates coach, Kevin Dineen. Today. the student will get a chance to show his teacher that he belongs in the NHL on a full-time basis.
In two seasons at Portland, Brennan scored 62 points (21 goals) under Dineen. In Rochester under the mentorship of Ron Rolston, Brennan has improved his defensive responsibilities and has become a multi-dimensional defenseman.
Ville Leino tried to skate this morning, with no success or improvement. Ville's hip his still the same as it was.
Robyn Regehr may skate later this week. He's been walking with the aide of a walking boot (high ankle sprain).
Pat Kaleta is out for "a while'.
Thanks, Buffalo Hockey Beat
***
The great thing about this compressed, 48 game NHL season is that teams and players cannot dwell too long on mistakes, missed opportunities, and muggings, like the one that the Sabres fell victim to in Montreal less than 24 hours ago.
The Sabres got exactly what they deserved against the Canadiens, Afterwards, Lindy Ruff said that teams get paid for the way that they play. Getting their wages garnished was a fitting end to their abysmal effort in Montrteal.
We can do an autopsy on their collective dead performance, or, we can opt to turn the page. I, like Ruff, prefer the latter, not the former.
Its a new work day, with a new opponent waiting in freezing cold Buffalo.
The Florida Panthers chartered to Queen City on Saturday afternoon. Single digit temps do much for a guy's sun tan, ya know? They are feeling good about their game, having beaten Winnipeg 6-3 in Sunrise on Thursday night. They arrive in Buffalo well rested. Today's game kicks off a nasty four games in six night roadie. They play in Winnipeg on Tuesday, Philadelphia on Thursday and finally Washington on Saturday.
Kevin Dineen coached Tyler Ennis, TJ Brennan, Mike Weber and many more Sabres prospects in his stint as head coach of the Portland Pirates. He's preaching the same message of hard work and attention to details that Lindy Ruff is trying to drill into his team's heads. His team enter's Sunday's game in last pace in the Eastern Conference (2-5).
Thanks, panthers.nhl.com
A big reason for Florida's struggles in the first two weeks of the season is that they can't keep the puck out of their own net. they've allowed 27 goals against in 7 games while only scoring 16. Their -11 goals differential is the worst in the NHL.
Jose Theodore sports a pedestrian 3.39 GAA and .901 save %. His unders tudy, Scott Clemmensen is 4.80 GAA and .840 save %.
Each and every D-man on the Panthers roster is a minus player.
Scouting report: get shots on net and attack the blue. There will be rebounds and loose pucks. Bury your chances.
***
No morning skate in Buffalo for either team today do to the 3pm puck drop.
It will not surprise me in the least if Jhonas Enroth leads his team onto the ice for warm-ups at 2:30pm. Before Miller was pulled and replaced by Enroth on Saturday, the consensus opinion was that Enroth would likely get the net against the Panthers.
****
I'm expecting TJ Brennan to draw into the lineup to replace the ailing Reggie Sekera. Mike Weber will stick and stay in the lineup and will replace Robyn Regehr, who was placed on IR with a high ankle sprain.
**
The game within the game taht I'm looking forward to watching is the battle of the two young centres: Grigorenko and Huberdeau.
Huberdeau (19) was the third overall pick in the 2011 NHL entry draft.
Grigorenko (18) was selected by Buffalo twelfth overall in the 2012 entry draft.
Huberdeau's St. John Sea Dogs have a long standing rivalry with Grigorenko's Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL.
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