Sabres at Lightning
THE STORY: The Buffalo Sabres have been quite comfortable on the road. They won two games to start the season in Europe – one counting as a home game – and are unbeaten in three as they finish a four-game trip Saturday at the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ryan Miller earned his first shutout of the season at Florida Thursday and the Sabres have allowed just 10 goals in six games. Thomas Vanek, who has 22 goals in 24 career games against Tampa Bay, has six goals in six games. The Lightning ended a five-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the Islanders Thursday, allowing just 17 shots. The teams split four games last season, and play in Buffalo Tuesday.
TV: 7 p.m. ET; MSG-B (Buffalo), SunSports (Tampa).
ABOUT THE SABRES (5-1-0): Vanek and Jason Pominville are among the league leaders in points with 10 and nine, respectively. Pominville has a goal and four assists in the first three games on the trip. Ville Leino, who signed a six-year, $27 million contract as a free agent, had an assist on Pominville’s goal Thursday for his first point since opening night. Miller is 17-4 against the Lightning with a .907 save percentage. Buffalo’s other big-ticket free agent, Christian Ehrhoff, leads the defense with a goal and four assists.
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (2-3-2): Coach Guy Boucher mixed up the lines Thursday, putting Vincent Lecavalier with Marty St. Louis and rookie Brett Connolly. Steven Stamkos played with Ryan Malone and Teddy Purcell. Lecavalier had a goal and an assist and Purcell had a pair of assists, while Malone and Stamkos added goals. Lecavalier is two points from 800 for his career. Defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron has at least a point in five straight games. Mathieu Garon earned his first victory in goal against the Islanders and may start again.
OVERTIME:
1. Buffalo’s Brad Boyes and Malone are expected to play their 500th career games. Each has 150 goals.
2. Tampa Bay had the most even-strength goals (18) in the league through Thursday’s games.
3. Buffalo is 19-for-21 on the penalty kill.