About the Sabres - 12-29-09
A preview of the Sabres.
When and where: 7 p.m., HSBC Arena.
TV: FSN Pittsburgh, MSG-Buffalo, RIS.
Record: 23-11-4, 50 points. The Sabres are in third place in the Eastern Conference and first place in the Northeast Division.
Leading Scorer: Derek Roy, 30 points (nine goals, 21 assists).
Last Game: 5-3 road win against the Blues, Sunday. Tim Connolly and Mike Grier each had two goals and an assist for the Sabres.
Last Game against the Penguins: 2-1 home shootout loss Dec. 19. Sidney Crosby scored the Penguins' only goal.
Sabres Player We Would Bet Money On Scoring: Tim Connolly. He's in the midst of a three-game scoring streak.
Ex-Penguins on the Sabres: Patrick Lalime, G.
Ex-Sabres on the Penguins: Jason Botterill, assistant general manager; Bob Errey, broadcaster; Jay McKee, D.
Useless Sabres Trivia Vaguely Related to the Penguins: Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller (above) has worn No. 30 for parts of seven seasons with the Sabres. The player with the second longest tenure in franchise history with that number is former Penguins goaltender Tom Barrasso who spent parts of six seasons in Buffalo.
Best Sabres YouTube Video We Could Find: The pregame video from the Sabres' home opener this season:
Notes:
-With a game in New Jersey Wednesday, the Penguins have not announced if Marc-Andre Fleury (22-10-1, 2.44 GAA, .909 SV%) or Brent Johnson (4-2-0, 2.68 GAA, .912 SV%) will tonight. Ryan Miller (21-8-3, 1.98 GAA, .935 SV%) is your expected starters in net for the Sabres.
-For the Penguins, defenseman Mark Eaton (knee) is probable.
-For the Sabres, forwards Patrick Kaleta (leg) and Derek Roy ("upper body") are doubtful. Forward Nathan Gerbe (groin) is on injured reserve.
-The Penguins' haven't been getting a ton of offense from their defense as of late.
-This road trip won't be easy for the Penguins.
-Should Tyler Kennedy play tonight (PG+)?
-Dan Bylsma, Tony Granato, Mike Yeo and several members of the Penguins' support staff actually had to push the team's bus through a snowy Buffalo street last night.
-Sabres forward Drew Stafford, who was a healty scratch for Sunday's game in St. Louis, has gone 15 games without a goal.
-By the sounds of things, Sabres forward Derek Roy is dealing with a head injury.
-Our live blog, direct from Buffalo (weather permitting), will begin at approximately 6 p.m. Please tune in.
(Photo: Claus Andersen/Getty Images)