GAME THREAD: NHL: BUFFALO (3-3) at MONTREAL (2-4)

NHL: BUFFALO (3-3) at MONTREAL (2-4)

<h3>Sabres' offense look to get back on track vs. Canadiens</h3>

<div class="pre">Buffalo (3-3-0) at Montreal (2-2-0) 7:00 pm EDT</div>

MONTREAL (Ticker) -- The losses of Daniel Briere and Chris Druryare already starting to show for the Buffalo Sabres.

The Sabres will try to bounce back from their first shutout in95 games when they visit the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday in abattle of Northeast Division foes.


Buffalo was the league's top offense last season, scoring 308goals en route to an NHL-best 53 wins and the franchise's firstPresidents' Trophy. The team was not held scoreless all season.

However, the Sabres were held to just 21 shots in absorbing a3-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday.


It was the first shutout against the team since being heldwithout a goal at Toronto on April 1, 2006. The last time theyhad been shut out at home was December 2, 2005 by San Jose.

Centers Briere and Drury, who both left as free agents in theoffseason, combined for 69 goals with Buffalo last season.

The Canadiens are looking to halt a three-game losing skid.Carey Price, who was making his second career start after beingselected fifth overall in the 2005 draft, looked solid but stillcame up on the short end in a 4-3 setback to the OttawaSenators on Thursday night.


Montreal has been led by captain Saku Koivu this season. The32-year-old Finn has tallied a team-high four assists and sixassists. Alexei Kovalev leads the squad with three goals.

Cristobal Huet, who will likely get the start, is off to a slowstart. The Frenchman has posted a 1-1-2 record with a 2.17goals-against average and .929 save percentage this season.

On the other end of the rink, the Sabres will likely turn toRyan Miller, who has enjoyed a lot of success against theCanadiens in his career. The Michigan native is 8-1-2 with a2.48 GAA against the division rival.

 

NHL: BUFFALO at MONTREAL

<div class="pre">NHL AT MONTREAL
STARTING GOALIES: BUF - RYAN MILLER
MON - CRISTOBAL HUET

OFFICIALS: REF - DENNIS LARUE, STEPHANE AUGER
LIN - DEREK MANSEN, MICHEL CORMIER</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at MONTREAL

<div class="pre">BUFFALO VS MONTREAL - SCRATCHES

BUFFALO MONTREAL

J SPACEK SHOULDER G MURRAY ANKLE INJURY
A PETERS HEALTHY J GORGES HEALTHY
A KASTITSYN HEALTHY</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at MONTREAL

<div class="pre">BUFFALO VS MONTREAL - SCRATCHES

BUFFALO MONTREAL

A PETERS HEALTHY G MURRAY ANKLE INJURY
J GORGES HEALTHY
A KASTITSYN HEALTHY</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at MONTREAL

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 0
MONTREAL 0 19:55 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at MONTREAL

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 0
MONTREAL 1
1ST PRD: MON - (PP) BRYAN SMOLINSKI 1 (ROMAN HAMRLIK, MIKHAIL
GRABOVSKI) 2:34</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at MONTREAL

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 0
MONTREAL 1 16:18 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at MONTREAL

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 0
MONTREAL 1 12:12 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at MONTREAL

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 0
MONTREAL 1 8:17 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at MONTREAL

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 0
MONTREAL 1 3:23 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at MONTREAL

<div class="pre">NHL END OF THE 1ST 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
BUFFALO 0 0
MONTREAL 1 1 END OF THE 1ST

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: MON - (PP) BRYAN SMOLINSKI 1 (ROMAN HAMRLIK, MIKHAIL
GRABOVSKI) 2:34

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
BUF 7 7
MON 12 12

GOALIES: BUF - RYAN MILLER
MON - CRISTOBAL HUET</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at MONTREAL

<div class="pre">------------------------
Buffalo 0 --0
Montreal 1 --1
------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Montreal, Bryan Smolinski 1 (power play)
(Roman Hamrlik, Mikhail Grabovski), 2:34. Penalties: H Tallinder, Buf
(hooking), 0:40; D Roy, Buf (goalie interference), 6:46; S Koivu, Mon
(tripping), 8:11; T Plekanec, Mon (goalie interference), 10:14; N
Paetsch, Buf (hooking), 10:14.

Shots on goal:
-----------------------------
Buffalo 7 --7
Montreal 12 --12
-----------------------------

Goalies : Buffalo, Ryan Miller (12 shots, 11 saves). Montreal,
Cristobal Huet (7 shots, 7 saves). Referees: Dennis Larue, Stephane
Auger. Linesmen: Derek Mansen, Michel Cormier.</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at MONTREAL

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 0
MONTREAL 1 19:55 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at MONTREAL

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 0
MONTREAL 1 16:21 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at MONTREAL

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 1
MONTREAL 1
2ND PRD: BUF - (PP) PAUL GAUSTAD 1 (TIM CONNOLLY, BRIAN CAMPBELL) 4:12</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at MONTREAL

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 2
MONTREAL 1
2ND PRD: BUF - DEREK ROY 5 (THOMAS VANEK) 4:21</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at MONTREAL

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 2
MONTREAL 2
2ND PRD: MON - KYLE CHIPCHURA 1 (UNASSISTED) 7:10</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at MONTREAL

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 2
MONTREAL 2 11:58 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at MONTREAL

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 2
MONTREAL 2 8:35 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at MONTREAL

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 2
MONTREAL 2 3:48 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>