Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) -- Now that Buffalo's three game winning streak is over, Toni Lydman will return to the line up from a groin injury. Lydman has only played four games this season. His last was October 21st at Florida. That means Andrej Sekera and Nathan Paetsch are the healthy scratches. Mike Grier skated this morning, but is still out with a groin injury.
After letting in five goals Wednesday vs Florida, Miller is now second in the league behind Antero Nittymaki of Tampa Bay in goals against and save percentage.
Clarke MacArthur netted his 6th of the season against the Panthers breaking an eight game goal less skid, but he was far from thrilled with his game. If you heard the postgame show Wednesday MacArthur was as angry as I had ever seen him with his play. Lindy Ruff went to three lines and benched him for a stretch. MacArthur said, "I just want to come out and compete better tonight. I want to get off to a good start, be consistent at both ends. I want to be a threat every night and I need to do that." MacArthur's goal came late on the power play and he hopes to build on that, "It's always nice to get a goal and just take that as a positive and try to move forward with that." MacArthur is on a pace for 27 goals and 23 assists, but he's also on a pace to be minus 27. All six minuses came in the last six games. Lindy Ruff said, "As a coach you deal with the ups and downs of players. Very few players will stay on top. Some will drop off, some will slump and you've got to get them back. Some will go well and you go back to the times where they aren't going well and show them video of when the were going well, the things they were doing good so I've had that conversation with Clarke and he totally understands. It's a tough pace to maintain, but there are little things that creep into your game that probably make you not as effective as you should be."
Chris Butler logs the most ice time for the Sabres, but he's fallen to minus eight. He's minus nine in his last nine games.
For the Bruins, Tim Thomas got his regular game off Monday against the Islanders. He was supposed to start last night in Atlanta, but Tuukka Rask wound up in goal. Thomas backed up and is nursing an undisclosed injury. He did participate in this morning's optional morning skate. Marc Savard was also one of the four skating. He's been out since October 17th with a foot injury. He's very close to returning.
Former Sabre Dan Paille has played 14 games for the Bruins and has scored two goals and four assists. Michael Ryder seems to be getting going a little bit with three goals in three games. He hadn't scored in ten games before that. David Krejci has a goal and three assists in three games after going pointless in six.
Join Schopp and the Bulldog at 6:30 for the pregame where Ruff, Lydman and MacArthur are their guests.
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