Sabres at Bruins
THE STORY: It wasn’t long ago that the Boston Bruins were among the lowest scoring teams in the NHL and phrases like “Stanley Cup hangover” were being tossed around with regularity. Now, the Bruins appear to be fully recovered from their collective hangover. Since the calendar turned to November, Boston has won four straight by a combined score of 24-8. The incredible surge has jumped the Bruins all the way up to third in the NHL in scoring. Boston will be looking to move over .500 for the first time this season when it hosts the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. The Sabres have won four straight as well and seem to be a mirror image of the Bruins in terms of team statistics, ranking in the top 10 in the NHL in both scoring and defense. However, a goaltending controversy might be brewing in Buffalo due to the continued struggles of former Vezina Trophy winner Ryan Miller.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG (Buffalo), NESN (Boston)
ABOUT THE SABRES (10-5-0): Jhonas Enroth turned in a 36-save performance as Buffalo cruised to a 5-1 win over Ottawa on Friday. Enroth has won each of his five starts and has gotten the nod in three of the last four games. Miller will likely get another chance on Saturday. The United States Olympic hero has allowed at least three tallies in four straight starts. The offense - behind Thomas Vanek, Jason Pominville and Derek Roy - has so far glossed over any goalie issues.
ABOUT THE BRUINS (7-7-0): Milan Lucic has tallied in five straight games while linemate Tyler Seguin has five goals in the past three contests. Those two, along with fellow-top liner Nathan Horton, have been at the front of Boston’s streak. The Bruins had totaled 22 goals in their first 10 games. Tuukka Rask started the past two games in goal, but reigning Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas is expected to be back on Saturday.
OVERTIME:
1. Miller is 20-5-7 with a 2.62 goals-against average in 32 career starts against the Bruins.
2. Derek Roy has six points - three goals - in the past two games for the Sabres.
3. Buffalo took the final four meetings last season.