Sabres Team Report

INSIDE SHOTS

The Sabres received some good news before their 5-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night. Captain Craig Rivet(notes), who left late in Friday’s win over Philadelphia with a leg injury, was able to briefly participate in the optional morning skate and isn’t expected to miss too much time.

“He’s doing better,” coach Lindy Ruff said. “He’s pretty sore, but it isn’t as bad as first indications looked like. It’s a combination of both, a little bit of ankle and a little bit of knee.”

In a nasty-looking collision, Rivet fell feet-first into the end boards after Flyers forward Arron Asham(notes) got his stick tangled in Rivet’s legs. Rivet stayed on his knees with his forehead to the ice for a couple of minutes before heading directly to the dressing room.

The news wasn’t as positive with center Paul Gaustad(notes), though. The league leader in faceoff percentage will be lost for at least a couple of weeks with what Ruff said is a knee injury. Gaustad limped to the dressing room in the second period after he crashed into the boards while trying to hit Philadelphia forward Scott Hartnell(notes).

The gritty pivot also provides the Sabres with a down-low presence in front of the opposing net on power plays.

Sabres 5, Hurricanes 1:   Down by a goal after 40 minutes, the Sabres stormed back Saturday to win their second straight. Ryan Miller(notes), who made 30 saves, kept Buffalo in it with a brilliant diving save on Carolina captain Rod Brind’Amour(notes) late in the second period while the Hurricanes were shorthanded and ahead by a goal.

NOTES, QUOTES

• The Sabres are 2-4 in the second game of back-to-backs.

• After traveling to Toronto to play the Maple Leafs on Monday, Buffalo will play five straight at home, its longest homestand of the season.

• Buffalo won for the first time this season when trailing after the second period (1-7-0).

Quote To Note:   “Guys were a little discouraged. We talked about doing what we need to do. It comes back to executing on the ice, and the guys did a really good job of getting pucks to the net.”—G Ryan Miller on Buffalo’s big third period against Carolina, in which the Sabres scored five times.

ROSTER REPORT

Goaltenders:   Ryan Miller, Patrick Lalime(notes).

Defensemen:   Chris Butler(notes), Andrej Sekera(notes), Toni Lydman(notes), Steve Montador(notes), Henrik Tallinder(notes), Tyler Myers(notes).

First Line:   Thomas Vanek(notes), Derek Roy(notes), Jason Pominville(notes).

Second Line:   Clarke MacArthur(notes), Tim Connolly(notes), Drew Stafford(notes).

Third Line:   Jochen Hecht(notes), Tim Kennedy(notes), Mike Grier(notes).

Fourth Line:   Nathan Paetsch(notes), Matt Ellis(notes), Adam Mair(notes).

Player Notes:  

• RW Patrick Kaleta(notes) was suspended for two games by the NHL for his major boarding penalty incurred in Friday’s game in Philadelphia against Flyers forward Jared Ross. He’ll also miss Monday’s game at Toronto and is eligible to return on Thursday against Montreal.

• D Andrej Sekera dressed for only the second time in five games, replacing injured D Craig Rivet. Rivet is day-to-day with a leg injury.

• RW Mike Grier scored for the first time since potting goals in back-to-back games on Oct. 21 and 24. It was a nine-game goal-less string although Grier missed five of those games because of a groin injury.

• LW Jochen Hecht snapped a seven-game point-less streak.

Medical Watch:  

• C Paul Gaustad suffered a leg injury Nov. 27 and is out indefinitely.

• D Craig Rivet suffered a leg injury Nov. 27 and is day-to-day.