Sabres/Bruins Preview

This game is big for both of these teams, with the Bruins being in the 8th spot and Buffalo 6 points behind them in 11th spot. These two teams meet twice this week, the first tonight in Boston. The Bruins have been a thorn in the side of the Sabres this year, taking the win all three times. The last Sabres win was April 5, 2007.

The Sabres will be led again by Ryan Miller who gave Buffalo a collective heartattack when he went down in the second period of the Thrashers game. He is going to be fine, only suffering a knee bruise and will most likely start. Maxim Afinogenov will not be though due to another tweak in his groin during practice. Neither will Tim Connolly. For the Bruins, it seems that Glen Murray won't be able to play tonight, but maybe able to return for the rematch on Friday. Marc Savard missed practice with the flu on Monday will play and Tim Thomas will start in net.

**Last minute edit, it looks like Clarke Macarthur is going to be out of the lineup due to the flu. Kaleta was recalled again to replace him.

From the Bruins Blog here are the expected lineups:

Sturm-Savard-Kessel
Lucic-Metropolit-Kobasew
Axelsson-Krejci-Schaefer
Reich-Sobotka-Thornton

Chara-Wideman
Stuart-Ward
Ference-Hnidy

Thomas

Here now are the stat breakdowns for the game:

Buffalo Sabres Leaders
Goals: Roy (19)
Assists: Pominville and Campbell (30)
Points: Pominville (43)
Plus/Minus: Paille (+12)
Penalty Minutes: Peters (60)
Majors: Peters (8)
Minors: Lydman (24)

Boston Bruins Leaders
Goals: Kobasew (19)
Assists: Savard (46)
Points: Savard (59)
Plus/Minus: Kobasew (+12)
Penalty Minutes: Chara (81)
Majors: Lucic (9)
Minors: Chara (28)

Goalie Stats
Buffalo: Miller - 2.43 GAA, .913 SV%, 2 SO; Thibault - 3.78 GAA, .855 SV%, 1 SO
Boston: Thomas - 2.28 GAA, .930 SV%, 1 SO; Auld - 3.02 GAA, .897 SV%, 2 SO

Special Teams
Buffalo: Power Play (17.6% - 16th); Penalty Kill (83.7% - 10th)
Boston: Power Play (19.3% - 5th); Penalty Kill (78.7 - 29th)