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LAST GAME
Saturday, January 18
Columbus 4 at Buffalo 3 (SO)
Goals: Myers (2), Stafford
Goalie: Miller (32 saves/35 shots)
PP: 1/4; PK: 1/2; Shots: Columbus 35 – Buffalo 29
CURRENT INJURIES – (Man Games Lost: 142)
Player (injury, first game missed) – total games missed
Cody McCormick (upper body, Dec. 17; injured reserve) – 14 games
Kevin Porter (lower body, Dec. 23; injured reserve) – 12 games
Henrik Tallinder (upper body, Dec. 31; injured reserve) – 8 games
Matt D’Agostini (upper body, Jan. 18; injured reserve) – 1 game
TRANSACTIONS IN PAST 7 DAYS
1/15: Activated F Drew Stafford from IR
1/21: Activated D Henrik Tallinder from IR; Placed F Matt D’Agostini on IR
UPCOMING GAMES
Thursday, Jan. 23: Carolina at Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 25: Buffalo at Columbus, 7 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 27: Buffalo at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday Jan. 28: Washington at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 30: Buffalo at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
TONIGHT’S GAME
PANTHERS at SABRES
- This is the third of four meetings between the Sabres and Panthers this season.
- Next meeting: Friday, March 7 in Florida
- Last meeting: Florida defeated Buffalo, 2-1 (SO), in Buffalo on Jan. 9
- The Sabres are 5-2-3 in their last 10 games vs. the Panthers; 5-4-1 at home.
- This is the 78th game all-time between Buffalo and Florida; Buffalo has a 44-26-7 series record.
- The Sabres are 24-11-4 at home against the Panthers all-time.
THIS DAY IN SABRES HISTORY
- The Sabres are 6-8-4 all-time on January 21.
- January 21, 1981: The Sabres earn the 400th win in franchise history with a 6-5 victory at Quebec.
- January 21, 2011: Nathan Gerbe sets a franchise record, scoring two goals in a five-second span against the New York Islanders.
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
- Only two of the last seven games between the Sabres and Panthers were settled in regulation (one in overtime, four in shootout)
- Steve Ott has eight points (2+6) in his last eight games against the Panthers.
- Jhonas Enroth has faced the Panthers twice this season, stopping 78 of 80 shots to go 1-0-1 with a 0.96 GAA and a .975 SV%.
- With a point tonight, Christian Ehrhoff would become the 25th active defenseman to reach the 300-point mark.
GOING STREAKING
- Cody Hodgson is on a four-game point streak (2+3) since returning from an upper-body injury that sidelined him for eight games. The streak ties as the longest of his career (last: Oct. 5-12, 2013; 1+4). Hodgson has seven points (2+5) in his last eight games, dating back to Dec. 7 at Montreal.
- Tyler Ennis also enters tonight’s game on a four-game point streak (2+3). With a point tonight, he would tie the longest point streak of his career (last: March 10-19, 2012; 4+5) He has six points (2+4) in his last six games.
- Christian Ehrhoff has an assist in each of his last four games. With a point tonight, he would tie the longest point streak of his career (last: Jan. 21-30, 2010; 2+3).
ENNIS EARNS MORE ICE TIME
With 25:13 of ice time on Saturday vs. Columbus, Tyler Ennis eclipsed his previous career high (24:27, Oct. 8, 2013 vs. TBL) by nearly a full minute. With an average TOI of 20:06 in his last 10 games, Ennis has now averaged more than 20 minutes of ice time over a 10-game stretch for the first time in his career. He made the most of a career-high 20:29 four-game average in the last four games, tallying five points (2+3).
(Click to Enlarge)
CLOSE GAMES
- The Sabres enter tonight’s game having played six straight one-goal games (going 2-1-3) for the first time since March 19-30, 2013 (3-1-2).
- The team last played seven straight one-goal games from Feb. 26 to March 10, 2013 (3-2-2).
- The Sabres have also played six straight one-goal games at home (going 3-1-2) for the first time in a season since Nov. 21 to Dec. 14, 1990 (1-3-2, two ties).
- They also played six in a row between two seasons, from April 4 to Oct. 10, 2001 (3-3-0).
- Buffalo has had seven consecutive home games decided by a single goal (or less) in one season just twice in franchise history: Nov. 28 to Dec. 26, 1986 (4-2-1) and Feb. 17 to March 14, 1974 (3-2-2)
IT’S MILLER TIME
Ryan Miller has posted a .927 save percentage so far this season, ranking him seventh in the NHL. In 2009-10 – his best season in terms of save percentage – Miller ranked second in the league with a .929 SV% and won the Vezina Trophy. In his last 12 games, Miller is 7-2-3 with a save percentage of .945 and a goals against average of 1.84.
CHANGING OF THE GUARD
On Jan. 9, the Sabres hired Tim Murray to serve as the seventh general manager in franchise history. Murray, a 20-year veteran of NHL front offices, comes to the Sabres after most recently serving as the assistant general manager for the Ottawa Senators, a post he held for seven years. Part of his duties as assistant general manager included serving as general manager of Ottawa’s American Hockey League affiliate, the 2011 Calder-Cup champion Binghamton Senators.
The Sabres also hired Craig Patrick as a special assistant and advisor to the hockey department. Patrick, whose career as a hockey executive spans more than three decades, comes to the Sabres after having served as a senior advisor in the Columbus Blue Jackets’ front office since December 2011.
PLAYING FOR THEIR COUNTRIES
- The following Sabres will represent their countries at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia: Ryan Miller (USA), Jhonas Enroth (Sweden), Henrik Tallinder (Sweden), Girgensons (Latvia)
- Interim head coach Ted Nolan will serve as the head coach of Team Latvia.
- Sabres 2013 first-round picks Rasmus Ristolainen and Nikita Zadorov were both named to the media All-Star Team at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship in Malmö, Sweden, joining Mike Moller (1982), Brian Campbell (1999) and Jake McCabe (2013) as the only players ever to earn this honor while in the Sabres’ system.
- Ristolainen, who scored the golden goal in the gold-medal game, also received the Directorate Award as the tournament’s best defenseman, joining Maxim Afinogenov (1999) as the only other Sabres player to earn a Directorate Award.
- Mikhail Grigorenko also found success at the tournament, leading bronze-medal winners Russia in scoring with eight points (5+3) in seven games.
BUF-FLA CONNECTIONS
Drafted by the Sabres in the sixth round of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, FLA D Brian Campbell played in Buffalo for parts of eight seasons (1999-00 – 2007-08). As a member of the Sabres, Campbell tallied 176 points (32+144) in 391 games. Campbell was selected as an NHL All-Star in 2007 and 2008.
FLA RW Brad Boyes skated as a member of the Sabres from 2010-2012. During his two seasons in Buffalo, Boyes played in 86 games, recording 37 points (13+24).
BUF D Alexander Sulzer was a member of the Panthers briefly during the 2010-11 season, recording one assist in nine games.
BUF C Zenon Konopka played alongside Campbell for the Ottawa 67’s (OHL) during the 1998-99 season.
Sulzer played with FLA C Marcel Goc for the Nashville Predators from 2009-11.
BUF LW Matt Moulson played with FLA LW Sean Bergenheim for the New York Islanders during the 2009-10 season.
Moulson and Boyes were teammates for the New York Islanders for the 2012-13 season.
BUF RW Matt D’Agostini played together for the Montreal Canadiens during the 2009-10 season.
D’Agostini and Boyes were teammates for the St. Louis Blues from 2009-11.
BUF G Ryan Miller and FLA D Mike Weaver played together for one season at Michigan State University.
D’Agostini and Weaver both played for the St. Louis Blues during the 2009-10 season.
Miller was teammates with FLA G Tim Thomas at the 2010 Olympic Games.
Thomas, FLA D Tom Gilbert and BUF RW Drew Stafford all represented the United States at the 2008 World Hockey Championship.
FLA C Nick Bjugstad (19th overall), FLA D Erik Gudbranson (3rd overall) and BUF D Mark Pysyk (23rd overall) were all selected in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
Gudbranson played with BUF LW Marcus Foligno for Team Canada at the 2011 World Junior Championship held in Buffalo.
BUF G Jhonas Enroth, BUF D Mike Weber, BUF D Jamie McBain and FLA C Shawn Matthias were all drafted in the second round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. Enroth was the 46th overall selection, Matthias was selected by Detroit with the 47th overall selection, Weber was the 57th overall selection and McBain was chosen by Carolina 63rd overall.
Campbell and BUF LW John Scott were teammates with the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2010-11 season.
FLA LW Tomas Fleischmann played for current BUF AC Joe Sacco as a member of the Colorado Avalanche during the 2010-11 season, when Sacco served as the team’s HC.
BUF C Mikhail Grigorenko shares a birthday with Fleischmann. Grigorenko, born on May 16, 1994, is exactly 10 years younger than Fleischmann, who was born in 1984.
BUF C Steve Ott and FLA LW Krystofer Barch played together for the Dallas Stars from 2006-2012.
D’Agostini, Tallinder and Barch all played for the New Jersey Devils during the 2012-13 season.
BUF C Ville Leino played alongside FLA RW Tomas Kopecky during the 2008-09 season on the Detroit Red Wings.
Leino (Oct. 6, 1983) was born just one day before FLA LW Scottie Upshall.
BUF C Kevin Porter played with Upshall for the Phoenix Coyotes for two seasons from 2008-10.
Porter was also teammates with Fleischmann for the Colorado Avalanche during the 2010-11 season.
Porter and FLA D Ed Jovanovski played together for the Phoenix Coyotes from 2008-10.
Ott and Boyes were both first-round draft selections in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. Boyes, selected by Toronto with the 24th overall pick, was selected just one pick ahead of Ott, who was picked 25th overall by Dallas. The pair also played together for Team Canada at the 2001 and 2002 World Junior Championships, while Upshall was a member of the 2002 squad as well.
Boyes and BUF D Christian Ehrhoff were teammates briefly with the San Jose Sharks during the 2003-04 season.
Ehrhoff and Goc played together for four seasons on the San Jose Sharks from 2005-2009.
Goc also played with Ehrhoff on the German Olympic Team for the 2006 and 2010 Winter Games.
Miller (1980) and Bjugstad (1992) were both born on July 17.
D’Agostini and FLA C Scott Gomez both played for the Montreal Canadiens during the 2009-10 season.
SABRES REAL-TIME STATS LEADERS
Shots: Moulson (112), Ennis (108), Stafford (102)
Hits: Ott (154), Foligno (113), Weber (108)
Blocked Shots: Weber (71), Ehrhoff (69), Myers (61)
SABRES’ RECORD IN 10-GAME SEGMENTS [W-L-OTL (PTS), GF/GA, PP, PK]
1-10: 1-8-1 (3), 13/28, 3/35, 27/32
11-20: 3-7-0 (6), 23/35, 5/24, 29/37
21-30: 2-7-1 (5), 15/28, 4/26, 20/28
31-40: 5-3-2 (12), 20/22, 3/36, 27/29
41-50: 2-2-3 (7), 15/20, 5/26, 20/24
OVERTIME RESULTS (2-3; 96-96 all-time)
October 10 vs. Tampa Bay: L, 3-2 (GWG-Killorn, 1:50)
November 29 vs. Toronto: W, 3-2 (GWG-Ehrhoff, 0:38)
November 30 at New Jersey: L, 1-0 (GWG-Bernier, 4:19)
December 14 vs. Calgary: L, 2-1 (GWG-Stajan, 0:42)
December 23 vs. Phoenix: W, 2-1 (GWG-Pysyk, 3:47)
SHOOTOUT RESULTS (6-4; 56-45 all-time)
October 17 at NY Islanders: W, 4-3 (GDG-Ennis)
November 5 at San Jose: W, 5-4 (GDG-Hodgson)
November 12 vs. Los Angeles: W, 3-2 (GDG-Moulson)
December 10 vs. Ottawa: W, 2-1 (GDG-Girgensons)
December 27 at Toronto: L, 4-3 (GDG-Lupul)
December 29 vs. Washington: W, 2-1 (GDG-Ott)
January 9 vs. Florida: L, 2-1 (GDG-Boyes)
January 12 at Washington: W, 2-1 (GDG-Hodgson)
January 15 at Toronto: L, 4-3 (GDG-Lupul)
January 18 vs. Columbus: L, 4-3 (GDG-Johansen)
MILESTONES APPROACHING (Player … Needs … Milestone)
Games Played
Matt D’Agostini … 4 games … 300 career games played
Goals
Steve Ott … 1 goal … 100 career goals
Assists
Tyler Myers … 7 assists … 100 career assists
Points
Christian Ehrhoff …1 point … 300 career points
RECENT MILESTONES
Cody Hodgson … 100th career point … Jan. 15 at TOR
Tyler Myers … 300th career game … Jan. 18 vs. CBJ
