VS
Team LeadersGoals * Mike Cammalleri 2
* Derek Roy 4
Assists * Tomas Plekanec 2
* Tyler Ennis 4
Points * Mike Cammalleri 3
* Derek Roy 5
Plus/Minus * Mike Cammalleri 4
* Drew Stafford 2
Due For A Big Game*Brian Gionta (3GP 0-1-1, -1)
*Thomas Vanek (4GP 0-0-0, -4)
(Points of interest from yahoo!) http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/preview?gid=2010101502 The Canadiens head to Buffalo to face the struggling Sabres on Friday night in a likely matchup of goalies looking for defensive help.
Carey Price made 43 saves in a 4-3 overtime loss to Tampa Bay on Wednesday. He’s faced 110 shots, the most of any goaltender who has started three or fewer games.
The Canadiens (1-1-1) allowed 38 shots in a 3-2 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday and 27 in a 3-2 season-opening loss to Toronto, ranking them 27th in the NHL with 36.7 shots allowed per game.
While Montreal’s defense in front of Price is a concern, Buffalo is having trouble providing offense for Ryan Miller.
It’s the first time since 1993-94 that Buffalo has lost its first three home games.
Defenseman Tyler Myers, the Calder Trophy winner last season, has one point and is second-to-last in the league with a minus-6 rating.
Derek Roy, the Sabres’ leading scorer the past two seasons, has a goal and four assists centering the top line with Drew Stafford and Jordan Hecht
. Tyler Ennis is second among NHL rookies with four points.
The Sabres will again be without forward Jason Pominville, whose streak of 336 consecutive games ended Wednesday after he sustained a concussion against Chicago on Monday.
Shaone Morrison will also be out after suffering a groin injury against the Devils. He’s expected to miss two games.
Miller went 4-1-1 with a 1.97 GAA and a shutout against the Canadiens last season.
Buffalo will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the franchise’s first home game, which coincidentally was against Montreal on Oct. 15, 1970.
40th Anniversary Night @ HSBC Arena!The Buffalo Sabres announced today they will be celebrating the team’s 40th anniversary this Friday night – 40 years to the day of Buffalo’s first home game against the Montreal Canadiens on October 15, 1970. Game time vs. Montreal is 7:30 p.m., and tickets are still available.
The Sabres will wear their new white jerseys at home for the first time this season, and the Canadiens will wear their traditional red home jerseys. The pre-game festivities will include a ceremonial faceoff featuring former Sabres captain Floyd Smith and Canadiens legend Henri Richard. Smith was part of the ceremonial faceoff at opening night in 1970. Renowned tenor Ronan Tynan will perform the Star Spangled Banner for the first time ever at a sporting event, and former Sabres public address announcer Milt Ellis will also appear throughout the night making several in-game announcements.
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"Let's just trap Sekera in the caverns underneath HSBC arena." -BlueandYellow
Reporter: "Steve, you guys now lead the league in defensive scoring."
Montador: "It's probably because of how good-looking we are."