Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) -- Lindy Ruff is showing his team he's dead serious about holding them accountable. Ruff is sending winger Maxim Afinogenov and D Henrik Tallinder to the press box. Up to replace the slumping Afinogenov is the AHL's second leading scorer Mark Mancari. Playing on a line with Buffalo's Tim Kennedy, Mancari has scored 11 goals and 14 assists in just 14 games with Portland. He will play on a line with Paul Gaustad and Dan Paille. Mancari's has the AHL's hardest shot and will get a chance tonight on the Sabres power play.
"It's very exciting. I can't even explain it. I've been waiting for it for a year so I'm very pleased right now."
Coach Ruff wasn't shy about the message sent to the lockeroom. He doesn't want soft players in his lineup and Maxim Afinogenov wasn't getting it done on either side of the ice.
"Part of it is production and part of it is defensive play. Play away from the puck is important and those stats aren't good. His stats offensively aren't that good. I told the players, I'm not going the easy route anymore. Our grit guys that are playing gritty aren't coming out of the line-up. Hold yourself accountable for your play."
Tallinder has not fared well lately. Ruff had a similar mindset with the blueliner.
"It's the same thing. It's about how hard you're playing. If you're not playing well enough, you're going to have to come out. I'm not going to have an extra defenseman sitting there and we have a lack of focus and a lack of determination in some situations."
Coach Ruff spoke with Tallinder about the benching and told the veteran what he's looking for on the ice.
"He doesn't like my toughness in our own end. Maybe I have to try to battle a little bit harder. I have to try and be a little more solid, maybe. He's the coach. I just have to move on from here."
Tallinder does say that he'll use this benching as motivation to be better.
"Well, I'm not gonna sit around and feel sorry for myself. I'm just gonna keep working harder and listening to the coach and try to do all of the small things better."
Ryan Miller will be back in goal while Philadelphia counters with Miller's former back-up Martin Biron. Biron's play is improving as he's 2-1-1 in his last four games with a 1.97 goals against and .930 save percentage. Miller is heading the other way going 1-3-1 since recording two shutouts with a 4.44 goals against and .848 save percentage.
Be sure to tune in at 6:30 for the Buffalo Sabres pregame show to hear from Lindy Ruff on why he's benching two regulars. Schopp and the Bulldog will also have Tallinder's views on his benching as well as interviews with Mancari and Paetsch.
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