Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) -- Thomas Vanek will not be able to play tonight, but he did skate this morning. Dan Paille will take his place with Derek Roy and Drew Stafford. Paille's numbers fell off a little last season scoring 12 goals and 15 assists in 73 games. The year before he netted 19 goals with 16 assists in 77 games. He has not dressed yet this season waiting his turn. Lindy Ruff said, "I expect a rock solid effort out of him. A lot of energy, a lot of enthusiasm. He's going to go right up there with Roy and Stafford because I don't want to mess with the other lines right now. Danny's a guy that's had a history of scoring 19 goals one year so it's always interesting to see how a player will step in and how he'll do." Paille has been inconsistent in his four years in the NHL. The former number one pick is now 25 years old and Ruff says he's learned how to handle him, "I think some players a kick in the butt works, but I don't know if that works with Dan. He operates a little bit differently, he has a little bit different personality and sometimes a arm around the shoulder is better for a guy like Danny."
Ryan Miller will get the call in goal. In 14 games vs the Islanders, Miller has been average going 8-6-0 with a 3.00 goals against and .897 save percentage. Miller's 1.23 goals against is second in the NHL amongst the starters. His .945 save percentage is also second. It's surprising Martin Biron will not tend goal against his former team since he was 4-0 last season with Philadelphia against Buffalo. Dwayne Roloson is also a former Sabre and got chased by Buffalo last season in a game at Edmonton. Roloson has never beaten his former team going 0-4-1 with a 2.94 goals against and .887 save percentage. He and Biron have been alternating in the Islanders crease.
When Biron found out he wasn't going back to Philadelphia he started negotiations with the Sabres. Marty said, "We were fairly serious, to be honest this wasn't about money, it wasn't about anything other than trying to get a fit where I was going to get to play and put myself in a position that on January 1st, I can look for a long term deal with the organization that I'm with. This is a unique year because it's an Olympic year and because it was a lot of games. I knew that a situation like Buffalo would've been a situation where I would've gotten in to play some games, more than usual but at the same time I think this situation will give me the best chance to play on a regular basis and not sit for a couple of weeks or four or five games. Now, was I excited about possibly, maybe coming back? Very. I know 95-percent of these guys personally and I was excited about maybe coming back, but you make sacrifices."
I had a nice chat with Roloson today and he cleared up a misconception that has been here in Buffalo since he left. In 1998-99, Roloson started 15 games behind Dominik Hasek, but only eight the second year. He was 7-15-5, but was expected to win games after being on the bench for two months. Many felt Roloson didn't like Lindy Ruff and clashed with him for the way he was used. Roloson said that couldn't be further from the truth. He said he's actually very good friends with Ruff and was very excited to get the call from him last April that he was coaching Team Canada and Roloson in the World Championships. Roloson is still biter about his experience in Buffalo, but he said Ruff had zero to do with it. He declined to elaborate what did bother him.
After a great win against Detroit on Tuesday, there could be a worry about a let down playing a 0-1-3 team. Lindy Ruff said, "No not worried at all. I think what we've talked about is the focus and our work ethic. Practice was good and I think everybody realizes it's a young season and we've only played four games and you've got to establish yourself over a good period of time and not base it on one game or two games."
Tune in at 6:30 for the pregame with Schopp and the Bulldog as Biron, Paille and Ruff will join them.
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