[Sabres Fan]

Tonight marks Buffalo's first visit to Columbus since March 29, 2004, when the Sabres shutout the Blue Jackets by a 6-0 score. Several players hit career milestones in the game. Dmitri Kalinin led the Sabres with three points on two goals and an assist. The three points and two goals still stand as the defensman's career-highs. Martin Biron made 23 saves to pick up the shutout and record his 100th career victory.

It was Buffalo's last shutout until Ryan Miller and Biron posted back-to-back shutouts in the final two games of the regular season last year. Current Sabres assistant coach James Patrick, who is in his first year behind the bench, scored Buffalo's fifth goal of the game, which turned out to be the final goal and point of his 21-year NHL career. The former first-round draft pick of the New York Rangers finished his career with 639 points (149+490) in 1,280 regular season games.

LOOKING AHEAD: With the All-Star break now behind them, the Sabres have 33 games (16 home, 17 road) remaining in the regular season, and the battle for playoff positioning will heat up. Of those 33 games, 28 will be played against Eastern Conference teams, and 13 of those games are against Northeast Division opponents - four against Boston (3 home, 1 road), four against Toronto (1 home, 3 road), three against Ottawa (2 home, 1 road), and two against Montreal (1 home, 1 road).

Buffalo will also play 15 games against teams that held a playoff spot entering the All-Star break, which includes three games against both New Jersey and Ottawa, a pair of matchups with Atlanta, Montreal, and Pittsburgh, and single games against Calgary, Minnesota, and Tampa Bay.


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[Sabres Fan]

Rosters, Streaks

BUFFALO:

Ryan Miller
Martin Biron

D Toni Lydman
D Jaroslav Spacek
C Derek Roy
R Ales Kotalik
C Jiri Novotny
L Daniel Paille
R Drew Stafford
C Adam Mair
C Chris Drury (C)
L Thomas Vanek
D Teppo Numminen (A)
C Paul Gaustad
R Jason Pominville
D Nathan Paetsch
D Dmitri Kalinin
C Daniel Briere (C)
D Brian Campbell
L Jochen Hecht
R Maxim Afinogenov
L Andrew Peters

STREAKS:
Goals
( no players )
Assists
Games (Assists)
Brian Campbell - 3 (3)
Jason Pominville - 3 (4)
Maxim Afinogenov - 3(3)
Thomas Vanek - 2 (2)
Points
Games (G - A - P)
Brian Campbell - 3 (1-3-4)
Daniel Briere - 3 (2-3-5)
Jason Pominville - 3 (1-4-5)
Maxim Afinogenov - 3 (1-3-4)
Thomas Vanek - 3 (1-2-3)
_______________________________________________

COLUMBUS:

Fredrik Norrena
Ty Conklin

D Anders Eriksson
D Ron Hainsey
R David Vyborny (A)
R Nikolai Zherdev
C Alexander Svitov
C Gilbert Brule
L Jason Chimera
C Manny Malhotra
L Fredrik Modin
D Aaron Johnson
L Jody Shelley
C Dan Fritsche
D Adam Foote (C)
D Ole-Kristian Tollefsen
L Rick Nash (A)
R Anson Carter
C Sergei Fedorov (A)
D Rostislav Klesla

STREAKS:
**None**

 

[Sabres Fan]

Sabres look to avoid sting in Columbus

After earning MVP honors at the All-Star game, Buffalo's Daniel Briere is ready to help his team build on a remarkable first half.

The Sabres look to get the second half of the season started on the right foot Friday when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first game for each team after the All-Star break.

Briere had a goal and four assists in Wednesday's All-Star game, and was named the MVP despite the East's 12-9 loss to the West. Briere joined seven other players who have finished an All-Star game with five points, one shy of Mario Lemieux's 1988 record.

"I had no clue that six points was the record," Briere said. "You know when you're playing the game, you're getting assists when guys are finishing. I knew I was up to the five. But it wasn't something I thought about."

Briere leads the Sabres (33-12-4) with 57 points and has already set a career high with 39 assists. He was joined on the Eastern Conference team by two Buffalo teammates, goalie Ryan Miller and defenseman Brian Campbell, along with coach Lindy Ruff. Campbell did not record a point.

"Daniel was the star and he deserved it," said Miller, who stopped nine of the 12 shots he faced in 20 minutes. "He had a great night of productivity and was key on some great plays."

Rick Nash, the Blue Jackets' lone All-Star, had two goals and two assists and was named the second star of the game.


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[BE-LEAF-ABLE]

What a finish. The BJ's won it late. Their commentators went absolutely nuts when the puck was chipped passed Miller!!! (as did the crowd) :laugh:

Norrena stopped 36 of 28 shots on net, including a penalty shot to the Sabres.

That was huge for Columbus, but is is too little too late for the playoffs?