They have been going in the right direction. They managed to compete with the top team in the Eastern Conference. They even found a way to finally beat the Islanders, including after being down by two.
Perhaps the Sabres have become a desperate team, as they should.
Buffalo have put together three wins in the past four games, collecting seven of eight possible points. However, since they haven’t played since Saturday, they have slipped to 14th in the Eastern Conference.
The Sabres are 11 points behind the 8th placed Senators, but do have four games in hand against them and have a few meetings against Ottawa.
Tonight, the Sabres host the defending champions. The teams have met twice this season, with the Bruins taking both games. One of those games was the Milan Lucic/Ryan Miller incident and a couple of weeks later it was Boston winning in a shootout.
With four meetings left, including tonight, there could be some intense action against the Bruins.
Miller is 3-0-1 in his last four starts, and has allowed just five goals during the span, with three of them coming in the game against the Islanders.
“I’m proud of being a Buffalo Sabre,” Miller said. “I was really excited coming in as a young player, looking up to Dominik Hasek. To be here that long, and to play with some great teams and great players. And to play for a coaching staff and a support staff that has had my back for a number of years now, it’s nice. I get a source of pride from that.”
Tuukka Rask is expected to get the start for the Bruins.
Due to the three broken ribs suffered in a collision with Jordan Leopold at practice earlier this week, Lindy Ruff will not be on the bench. James Patrick will be taking over.
Tonight marks the first of four straight and eight of the next nine at the First Niagara Center.
The game will be broadcast live on NBSCN and the puck will drop at 7:30 P.M.