While fans in Montreal have been lamenting over the struggles of the Montreal Canadiens, hockey fans in the Empire City have been doing likewise over the Buffalo Sabres.
With just a pair of wins in their last ten games, grumblings of firing head coach Lindy Ruff or trading goalie Ryan Miller have been just as common in Buffalo as lake effect snow off Lake Erie.
The Sabres netminder, responded to his owners remarks after Monday’s practice but has been giving fans every reason to cry, “Trade him!” He’s 3-9-0 in his last dozen games, and absolutely nowhere near his once All-Star level ability in his last three starts (5.00 GAA, .836 SvPct).
But like Montreal, the Sabres too have had their share of injuries. They just got defencemen Christian Erhoff and Robyn Regher back before the All-Star break, and Tyler Ennis will return to the lineup tonight. They dtill have several players out of the lineup. Paul Gaustad (upper body), Jochen Hecht (concussion), Colin Stuart (knee) and Brayden McNabb (head) all remain out for Buffalo.
Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News reported Monday that McNabb had his first workout with the team Monday, and Gaustad will be a game-time decision.
Both teams are coming off wins heading into the All-Star break. The Habs decimated an unprepared Detroit Red Wings team, while the Sabres edged the New Jersey Devils 2-1 in a shootout.
The Sabres hold a 2-0 edge in the season series.
Carey Price, getting a day off from practice Monday after a grueling All-Star weekend, gets the start in goal for the Canadiens.
MONTREAL CANADIENS PROJECTED LINEUP
Forwards
Erik Cole – David Desharnais – Max Pacioretty
Mike Blunden – Lars Eller – Andrei Kostitsyn
Rene Bourque – Tomas Plekanec – Scott Gomez
Mathieu Darche – Andreas Engqvist – Yannick Weber
Defense Pairings
Goalies
Carey Price – Peter Budaj
BUFFALO SABRES PROJECTED LINEUP
Forwards
Thomas Vanek – Derek Roy – Jason Pominville
Nathan Gerbe – Tyler Ennis – Drew Stafford
Patrick Kaleta – Brad Boyes – Ville Leino
Cody McCormick – Luke Adam – Paul Gaustad
Defensemen
Robyn Regher – Mike Weber
Jordan Leopold – Christian Ehrhoff
Goalies
Ryan Miller – Jhonas Enroth
SBN Sabres coverage at Die By The Blade
