Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) -- Tim Connolly has maintained through most of his 16 game point streak that he was more concerned with the team than that. It came to an end Wednesday with Connolly putting up 25 points in those games. As far as the streak being gone Connolly said, "It's alright as long as we got the win, that was the important thing." As far as if the streak meant anythng to him Connolly said, "Not really, I really didn't think about it too much. As it was happening the team was winning and were playing well so that's all that really mattered." Connolly did admit that the streak could've taken on a different dimension had it kept going, "If it had kept going maybe, but to be honest with you, I wasn't thinking about it too much at all, just going out and playing and trying to help the team." The Sabres were 8-4-4 during the streak.
Lindy Ruff always talks about how hard it is to score goals in the league now. Ruff talked about Connolly's streak saying, "I am surprised because I think scoring and trying to be on the score sheet every night is extremely tough, it really is."
Connolly has 11 more points than Derek Roy who's been headed in the other direction. Ruff said, "I'm pushing Derek to be better, to be as good as Tim, I think he can be. His game isn't where it needs to be and it's something I've discussed with him. I think Derek Roy has as much talent . I think if you look where Tim's game was at and where it is now, it's been a total turnaround. Now it's my job and Derek's job to get his game back a month from now where you'd say it's a total turnaround and that's what I plan to do."
Toni Lydman and Steve Montador were healthy scratches on Wednesday. For both it was the first time that had happened to them as Sabres. Lydman didn't have much to say, but you could tell he didn't think he needed to be pulled from the line up, "I had no idea, I was very surprised. My play wasn't good enough for sure but, lets leave it at that." Lindy Ruff said "It was based on two games that they ended up out of the line up, the San Jose and the Vancouver games so, we've got to get them back in, they've been an important pieces of our team." The Head Coach added, "It's tough, it's never an easy decision and I think that you have to make tough decisions sometimes. The message was we lost four in a row, that pair had played poorly, we thought about taking one out , but finally made a decision to take them both out." Many players can see a benching coming, but Ruff knew these two didn't, "I don't think either one did, but I think the message was loud and clear, we need better play. I think we could've won both games with that pair playing better."
Lydman and Montador weren't the only ones banished to the Press Box against the Devils. Clarke MacArthur joined them. Ruff's explanation was, "The Vancouver game, I looked at the two plays that cost us two goals along with Toni and Steve, he knows that and that was just for me focus, being ready in those situations to pick up your assignment and I told him, five on five we've got to be a better team, and five on five I have to be more demanding of positioning and playing and he understands that. He wasn't happy with his play and at the same time there's no excuse for those plays to be made."
The team skated for about 30 minutes today as they try to rest and get ready for Boston tomorrow.
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