Tampa Bay Lightning – Buffalo Sabres game preview

October 23, 8:58 PMTampa Bay Lightning ExaminerAlthea Pashman

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Ryan Malone leading goal scorer for Lightning
(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Lightning

Record: 3-3-2
Last Result: Won 5-2 over the San Jose Sharks
Streak: Won 1
Next Game: Ottawa - @ home Thursday, October 29th

Buffalo Sabres

Record: 5-1-1
Last Result: Won 5-2 over the Florida Panthers @ Florida
Streak: Won 1
Next Game: New Jersey - @ New Jersey, October 28th

Tampa Bay takes to the ice on Saturday night against one of the most surprising teams in the NHL this season when they host the Buffalo Sabres. They’ll enter the contest just days removed from a 5-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks that saw many “firsts” happen.

First and foremost was the success of the numerous line changes that Coach Rick Tocchet implemented during his four-day mini-training camp during the teams off days. Needing to shake things up and disperse the scoring, Tocchet’s first order of business was pairing Marty St. Louis and rookie James Wright with Vincent Lecavalier. The move paid immediate dividends as Wright netted his first career goal just 30-seconds into the contest on some nifty passing from his linemates.

Steve Downie was moved down to the second line, skating alongside Steven Stamkos and Ryan Malone and the trio responded as they combined for five points (goals by Stamkos - 2 and Malone -1), while Alex Tanguay was sent to the third line alongside Drew Miller and Jeff Halpern. Tanguay with one of the most unselfish moves passed up the chance for his first goal when he instead passed to Steven Stamkos who scored the empty-net goal with 19-seconds left in the game.

"Classiest move I've ever seen," goaltender Mike Smith said. "That's karma. That will come back to him, for sure." Tanguay said it wasn’t a big deal… "For me, making a pass is as rewarding as scoring," he said. "The way I've been snake bit, I didn't want to miss the net."

Mike Smith picked up his first win of the year, and his first since last January stopped 32 of 34 shots faced. Smith was solid in goal, stopping numerous close-in shots and Coach Rick Tocchet said, it was his best effort of the year.

Despite not getting their first goals of the season, Lecavalier and Tanguay responded with a very strong game and each did pick a point with an assist.

"We have a few guys struggling," Tocchet said. "Obviously, the focus is on Vinny because of his stature. We've got to get him going, and it's not so much even five-on-five. He's really not getting chances the past three or four games. Hopefully, Marty can help him get back to where he has chances. There are a few things we're going to work on with him. I know he'll buy in to get his game back and those chances and Marty is a step for him."

Damien Cristodero of the St. Pete Times reports that Coach Rick Tocchet said Mike Smith will start Saturday against the Sabres. Tocchet also said the lineup will remain the same, meaning David Hale gets another start on defense and Kurtis Foster sits.
Lightning Nutz and Boltz

• Rookie James Wright's goal 30 seconds into the game against San Jose marked the first time in eight games in which Tampa Bay scored the first goal of the game. It was also Wright’s first NHL goal.
• Tampa Bay has allowed a power-play goal in all eight games on the season.
• The Lightning's victory against San Jose was Tampa Bay's first over the Sharks since March 24, 2003, a game that clinched a playoff spot for the Lightning at the time. Tampa Bay had been 0-4-1 in the past five meetings.
• The Lightning improved to 3-0-1 at home but remains winless on the road at 0-3-1.
• Mike Smith picked up his first win of the season in a 32-save effort, which was also Smith's first victory since Jan. 27.
• Steven Stamkos extended his scoring streak to four games with a pair of goals against San Jose, giving him six in eight games. Stamkos has registered a point in all but one game this season.
• Marty St. Louis extended his scoring streak to eight games, having registered a point in every game this season. His eight-point point to open the season is a franchise record, surpassing the previous record of seven set by Vincent Lecavalier in 2001-01. Entering play on the 23rd, St. Louis point total ranked him tied for fifth in the NHL.
• Vinny Lecavalier's gone 15 consecutive games without a goal dating to March 17. Despite not having a goal on the season, Lecavalier is second on the team with seven assists.
• Entering play on Friday, October 23rd, Victor Hedman led all NHL rookies in average ice time with 24:34 and in shifts per game with 29.4. He also ranked sixth in shots on goal with 17, he’s tied for second in PIM with 10 and was tied for fifth place in points with four.

Injuries

Tampa Bay: Matt Smaby, who was recalled from Norfolk following a conditioning stint, is out on a day-to-day basis with an undisclosed upper-body injury suffered following a hit from behind while playing in the minors. Smaby has returned to practice with the team but has been held out of contact drills.

Buffalo: Andrej Sekera (Ribs, October 13 – present) - will be out until at least the end of the month. Toni Lydman (Groin, October 21) - suffered a groin strain late in Wednesday's 5-2 victory over the Panthers and didn't practice Friday. Nathan Paetsch will play his first game of the season if Lydman isn't ready.

Buffalo's Ryan Miller is 13-3-0 in his career against Tampa Bay.
(AP Photo/Don Heupel)

The Sabres (5-1-1) come into Tampa Bay fresh off a 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers. Buffalo scored twice in the opening 2-minutes in which they took a commanding 4-0 lead before Florida lit the lamp.

Fourteen players added points to the score sheet with defenseman Henrik Tallinder getting a 2-point night.

The Sabres had a 10-1 shot advantage and 3-0 led after only 4:37 had elapsed.
In three of the past four games, the Sabres have forced their opponents to pull the starting goaltending. Panther’s starter Scott Clemmensen lasted just 1:56 and was moved to the bench after allowing two goals on three shots in Wednesday’s contest. The Sabres also sent Detroit's Chris Osgood and the Islanders' Dwayne Roloson to early exits.

The Sabres have scored 19 goals in the past four games after scoring just four goals in the opening three outings. Buffalo has scored first in five of six games and has a 4-0-1when this happens. Against Florida on Wednesday, the Sabres scored five goals in the first period – their highest output in one period since they scored six against the Lightning on March 19, 2008.

This is the first of four meetings between the Sabres and Lightning and will meet next in Buffalo on January 6th, 2010. Last season the two teams split the season series (2-2/1-1 at home; 1-1 on the road. Buffalo is 7-3-0 in their last 10 games against the Lightning.

• The Sabres have recorded double-digit shot totals in 15 of their 21 periods this season.
• Matt Ellis, who missed the previous game with a quadriceps contusion, returned and scored his first goal of the season.
• Henrik Tallinder had his first multipoint game of the season, recording two assists against the Panthers.
• Ryan Miller improved to 5-0-1 after stopping 41 of 43 shots against Florida. He has allowed only 10 goals this season and enters Saturday’s contest with a 1.66 GAA and a .924 save percentage which ranks him second in the NHL behind Ilya Bryzgalov of the Phoenix Coyotes.

Top Performers Buffalo/Tampa Bay

Jochen Hecht has recorded 22 points against Tampa Bay (12 G; 17 A) with Jason Pominville just behind him with 21 points (7 G; 14 A). Ryan Miller is 13-3-0 with a 2.79 GAA against the Lightning. Vincent Lecavalier leads the Bolts with 27 points against Buffalo (12 G; 15 A) with Martin St. Louis a point back at 26 (10 G; 16 A).