Well, maybe it will be a lateral step.

Each team the Sabres are chasing are in action this evening. A pair (Toronto and Washington) play each other. Since Buffalo won’t be able to get too much help in terms of gaining ground, they will need to be content with keeping their head above water.

Getting wins last night and Tuesday all but guarantee the Sabres won’t be selling at the deadline. Consider Paul Gaustad safe from any suitors that may come calling. Derek Roy and Drew Stafford probably fall into the same category. Darcy Regier is in a position where he needs to make a few significant moves, but his team is in a position where those moves could potentially be detrimental.

The Sabres will not only see one of the league’s best teams tonight, they will also need to deal with one of the best goaltenders. I won’t be surprised if Ryan Miller is in net to face Henrik Lundqvist, but Lindy Ruff should know Miller needs to rest prior to next week’s road trip.

Highlighted Matchup

Robyn Regehr & Andrej Sekera vs. Gaborik. Combined with the Paul Gaustad, Pat Kaleta and Nathan Gerbe line; these two defensemen have been a shutdown tandem. Marian Gaborik has been enjoying a strong season and is a deadly scorer. The Rangers don’t necessarily have a line that needs to be shutdown, but matching this pair (and the line) against Gaborik and Brad Richards will be a key to victory for Buffalo.

Projected Goaltenders

BUF: Jhonas Enroth

NYR: Henrik Lundqvist

Last Meeting

Sabres 0 – Rangers 1 SO, First Niagara Center, 2/1/2012

*No stats due to Rangers website*

Compared to the last two visits to First Niagara Center by the Bruins, this contest was quite placid. In fact, parts of the game were downright stale. The clubs combined for only 15 shots in the first period before going off for 41 over the final two frames.

Ryan Miller was superb in net once again, turning aside 35 of the 36 shots he faced. His lone goal came on a snipe by Slovakian-born Zdeno Chara in the third period. Derek Roy made a glorious pass to feed Chara on the goal. In all seriousness, it was a well placed shot that found its way past Milan Lucic and Tyler Myers at the hashmarks.

Boston’s goal shared plenty in common with that of Buffalo’s lone tally. Slovak Andrej Sekera place a wrist shot in the top corner with some traffic around the crease in the second. Tuukka Rask made 26 saves on the night.

The Sabres pretty much held on for dear life for the final 20 minutes of the game – they were outshot 15-5 in the third – and leaned on Miller to get them to overtime. Another strong overtime penalty kill gave the Sabres a chance in the shootout where the skill players came through.

This team still needs to realize that they need to score goals if the hope to even make the playoffs. Hoping for 2-1 victories is not wise. The scoring situation on this roster needs to be addressed before this playoff push can be taken seriously.

Buffalo travels to Madison Square Garden today for a matchup with the East’s best club. I understand the Sabres are in desperate need of every point, but it would be wise for Lindy Ruff to give Jhonas Enroth a game tonight while resting Miller in preparation for a lengthy road trip next week.

• Ryan Miller’s numbers have been strong since January 1 and simply dazzling since his win against New Jersey on January 24. Miller’s strong play has buoyed the Sabres as of late, regardless of the goal support he has been getting.
• I have really liked what I have been seeing from Tyler Myers as of late. He isn’t immune to errors, but his play seems to have turned a corner. Myers has been making wise choices with the puck and has shown effective play in his own zone. Just as Miller has benefited from a healthy defensive corps, perhaps the defensive corps are benefiting from Miller playing on top of his game.
• Andrej Sekera shouldn’t be left out of that praise either. Last night may have been his best game of the season. He was active carrying the puck, strong defensively and was rewarded with a goal. He has combined with Robyn Regehr to form a solid pairing for Lindy Ruff. They’re the defacto shut down pair for this club and have been phenomenal in their role.
• I realize that different fan bases interpret things differently. But if Boston fans are under the impression that the Sabres went after Marchand because he is a small target, I’d say they’re sadly mistaken. I’m not sure if Paul Gaustad’s actions were preempted by anything Marchand did, but I have little doubt he didn’t look at Marchand and decide to mix it up with him due to his size. Don’t be silly people.
• Thomas Vanek’s slapshot is pretty awesome. It is a good thing that pucks are finding the net when they come off his stick. If he was left handed that overtime chance would have been a goal. He is playing good hockey, you can’t hate what the top line has been doing lately.
• It would be great if Drew Stafford could remember how to score goals. He has the team’s two best stick handlers playing with him every night. He needs to be the goal scorer the Sabres are paying for. If he could start to finish, the Sabres would have two true scoring lines.
• I really like Matt Ellis, he is a terrific guy and a hardworker. However, I wonder if the Sabres would be better served with Paul Szczechura playing center on the fourth line. I’d venture to guess that Regier can’t risk putting Ellis through waivers. If Zack Kassian is playing I think it would be wise to provide him with a little more offensive support.

Game Summary/Event Summary

Los Angeles sent defenseman Jack Johnson and a conditional first-round pick to Columbus in exchange for the disgruntled center. Plenty of people in Sabres nation are likely wondering why Darcy Regier failed to acquire Carter. I say, who cares?

The most obvious issue regarding Carter’s trade is the fact that he is moving on to his third team in less than a year. There were the reports of locker room issues in Philly, there was the Dry Island debacle and now it seems his cancer spread to the locker room in Columbus as well. Additional reports of being less than pleased with his move to Ohio’s capital were floating around as well. How many of these reports are true? There is no way to be sure. But if even half of that information is true, placing him in “the worst city in the NHL” probably wouldn’t do much to pick up his spirits.

What is the true reason the Sabres weren’t involved in this sweepstakes is the simple fact that they didn’t have the pieces to send to the Kings. Buffalo’s first round pick this year is going to be in the top-10. A top-10, potential lottery pick is not the type of asset you move in a trade like this. Like it or not, Jeff Carter is not Rick Nash. In addition, there is no player on the Buffalo roster with the equivalent value to Jack Johnson. Jordan Leopold and Andrej Sekera play a similar role, but only Sekera would be close in regards to Johnson’s overall value. Tyler Myers is far superior to Johnson in a two-way role. The only way you’re seeing Myers moved is for an elite talent (see: Getzlaf, Ryan).

Taking that into consideration alone is all the evidence you need to why the Sabres didn’t end up with Carter. Darcy Regier may be vilified for overvaluing talent, but he is smart enough to know trading Myers for Carter would be a major loss for his team. The same goes in the other direction. Sekera wouldn’t be adequate return and including that first pick is unlikely.

The only way that Carter would have been acquired would have been to send a package of multiple roster players that would have taken more from the Sabres than they would have received. Losing on a trade, even if it’s for a center, won’t get the Sabres where they need to go. In that regard, Sabres fans should take solace. By not overpaying for Carter, they’re conceivably open to make more moves by Monday’s deadline.

The Sabres sit seven points out of eighth place in the Eastern Conference, the same place they were before their win on Tuesday. As you can tell, this is going to be a difficult journey. Buffalo are well within striking distance of a playoff spot and simply need to continue the run of strong play they have been on since the All-Star break. That evidence alone would lead me to believe that the organization wants to wait before determining what steps they plan on taking on Monday.

Tonight’s game will do a lot for that decision. For that matter, tomorrow’s game carries just about the same weight. If the Sabres end the weekend 0-2, they can all but kiss their chances goodbye and begin to retool on the deadline. If they come away with four points – six points for the week – there will be some careful stepping by Darcy Regier and company when deciding in what direction to move.

The last time the Bruins came to town the Sabres didn’t wilt under the weight of Boston’s physical game. The Sabres pushed back and showed they’re not completely incapable of standing up for themselves. Of course, the Sabres got handled in all three fights. But they didn’t back down.

Buffalo also enjoyed some poor goaltending and cruised to a 6-0 victory. I doubt that the Bruins will come with another poor effort tonight and the Sabres will need to be prepared. Ryan Miller has been playing terrific hockey and needs to extend that streak as it seems obvious the team still rolls with his fortune.

The Sabres simply need another full effort if they hope to win. They have proved they’re capable of playing more than 30 minutes of hockey lately, they just need to carry that swagger into this weekend’s games.

Highlighted Matchup

Pat Kaleta vs. Boston. Last time around Kaleta managed to irritate just about every player on the Boston roster. He drew Zdeno Chara into a penalty, threw with Milan Lucic and was generally effective as a pest. I would imagine Claude Julien has his troops prepared to play a more disciplined game tonight. If Kaleta is able to rile the Bruins, it could lead to more success for the Sabres.

Projected Goaltenders

BUF: Ryan Miller

BOS: Tim Thomas

As is the case with most Buffalo sports fans, Miller has fallen into a bad light with many because of his substandard play this season. However, he is enjoying a noticeable turnaround as of late. While his improved play may not be enough to vault the Sabres into the playoffs, many need to realize that he isn’t playing like the sieve he is being made out to be.

The first thing every Sabres fan needs to realize is that Ryan Miller is not Dominik Hasek. It is doubtful that Buffalo will have another goaltender of that caliber, so get over it. Stop thinking Miller is going to roll up 15 shutouts and keep his goals against below 1.90 every year. It is unrealistic and, frankly, an unfair standard to hold any player to.

Miller’s career numbers have hovered right around 2.50 goals against with a save percentage right around .910 to .920. His elevated play in 2009-10 produced significantly better numbers (2.22 GAA and .929 SV%) which obviously raised expectations.

Last year and this year have brought more scrutiny to his game, even though it hasn’t been much different than it had been in years past. Goaltending is often more objective that just looking at the numbers. Say what you will about career statistics, but an eye test will tell you that Miller is the guy you want on a nightly basis compared to Marty Biron, for example.

Without any tangible proof, I’ll stay away from calling Miller a big-game goalie. He has stepped up and performed for his team when they have needed him (see the wins in last year’s playoffs). Add to that his success in the shootout over the course of his career. Many argue that Miller isn’t worth the money they’re paying him. I’d say those people are dead wrong. They also say the money would be better spent elsewhere, that is a valid argument that would be worth exploring. But don’t try and say Miller is the reason the Sabres are floating around the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

The hot start to Miller’s season cooled after a tough outing against Philadelphia and his subsequent concussion against Boston. Those two games combined with his horrific performance against Pittsburgh dragged his numbers to the bottom of the league’s goaltenders. However, as he has gotten further from the pair of concussions he suffered in less than a year, his play has improved.

Miller’s numbers since January 1 have been solid. He has appeared in 18 games, getting the start in 17. His record is 9-7-2 in that span with a 2.40 GAA and .915 SV%. The win-loss record is hampered by the inability of the Sabres to score goals. Five of those losses came during Buffalo’s dismal road losing streak when scoring once per game was typical.

Miller truly turned his game around at the All-Star break. Beginning with his victory against New Jersey, Miller has 11 starts and 12 appearances since that game immediately prior to the break. In those games Miller is 7-2-2 with a 1.84 GAA and a .934 SV%*. That looks like all-world goaltending to me. He is even passing the eye test. While he is still prone to “Miller shutouts” he is making big saves in big moments.  This is the type of play everyone has been waiting to see from the face of the franchise.

What truly interested me was the fact that Miller’s numbers have been so strong independent of the fact that he took a couple bruises against Philadelphia last week. He allowed four goals in just over 30 minutes of play. That roughly translates to a goals against average of eight for that game. If you take the Philly relief effort out of the equation, Miller has a 1.49 GAA and a.940 SV% since the break. His 2012 numbers improve to 2.25 and .920.

He is still a ways off from righting the ship in terms of his season-long numbers. He would need to stretch this level of play for another half-dozen games at the very least. But considering he was staring at a sub-.900 save percentage and a goals against well above 3.00, Miller has been steadily improving over the past couple months.

Considering this improvement, there is little disgruntled fans can point to regarding his play. Miller has help up his end of the bargain and the team has picked up 20 points since the New Year (16 since 1/24) thanks to his play. This is the type of play you want to see from Miller, getting the proper goal support will be the next important step.

*I’m aware these numbers aren’t identical to those published in TBN, I’m not sure why there is a discrepancy. Probably because I’m not Elias.

Brad Marchand likes to try an injure people, he does not like Buffalo.

When Joffery Lupul first started ragging on the city, Buffalo as taken some heat from athletes in the NHL and NFL for the fact that the city isn’t as nice as the ones they call home. Lupul, Tom Brady and now Marchand have all had their pot shots as of late. Sure it stings to hear people say our city stinks, but are they really that off base?

This just in, Boston is a cooler city and has more things to do than Buffalo. Yeah, no kidding. Also in the new today, it is cold out, the sky is blue and Marchand’s nose would be mistaken for a shark fin if he was doing the backstroke. Comparing Buffalo to Boston or Toronto would be like trying to compare Channing Tatum to Tom Hanks. There is no common ground for comparison, aside from the fact that Buffalo and Boston are both indeed cities.

Where I take offense is not so much in the comments made by Marchand, but in the fact that Buffalo is still treading water rather than attempting to improve the city. Sure the swarm of bees becomes infuriated when the nest gets poked, but everyone is content to stay inside unless otherwise provoked.

To take stock in the actual comments made by Marchand would be foolish. He isn’t the type of hockey player you respect or want on your team. He is a pest/rat who is out there to stir the pot and piss you off. I don’t even rope him into the “guys you hate to play against but love to have on your team” category. I save that for players like Steve Downie or even Milan Lucic. Marchand doesn’t register in that group. For that reason, I don’t take much stock in his opinion. What I do take stock in is the way Buffalo and the people of Western New York have chosen to respond to comments made by Brady, Lupul and Marchand.

As a region, it is far past the time for some progressive thoughts and actions to start turning this rust bucket into a desirable location. Terry Pegula and Ted Black want the Sabres to be a primary destination for free agents. If the city had some interesting attractions for these players to do with their down time, perhaps Buffalo would truly be Hockey Heaven.

It is nice that the city is full of great architecture and there is loads of historical significance throughout the region. But the fact of the matter is that none of these “attractions” carry much weight with the 18-34 crowd. Side note, most star hockey players fall into that age category.

I’m not saying Buffalo needs casinos, strip joints and blocks of nightclubs. I’m just saying that the general lack of things to do – particularly in most neighborhoods downtown – is the main reason these athletes take free shots at the city.

At what point will the citizens and City of Buffalo stop talking and actually start taking action to prove people wrong? When will we be able to point and a tangible object and say, “No Brad. This isn’t the worst city in the league.”

Maybe if this actually got done people wouldn't bag on the city so much.

I’m not asking for Disney World. I don’t even need to see the Galleria gutted and placed on the waterfront. But perhaps a handful of bars and restaurants could get the ball rolling. Perhaps someone will realize that a permanent concert venue placed on the waterfront would not only be more effective than the temporary setup used in the summers, but that it would benefit the city as a whole. Something tangible around the arena would be nice considering that has been promised every year since Y2K.

The case of some development being better than no development certainly doesn’t ring true. But there are plenty of opportunities to turn the corner on having actual attractions in the city year-round. I’m not talking about public art and lawn chairs either.

Maybe when these steps are finally taken there will be reason to believe that Buffalo shouldn’t be roped in with Winnipeg, Newark and Uniondale as stale bergs with nothing to do. But until that happens, stop pretending to care about the state of the city while little is done to make changes.

The trade deadline is fast approaching and teams that sit on the playoff bubble are nearing the point where they need to decide if they’re contenders or pretenders. The Sabres will need help for a while longer if they are to climb into the eighth or ninth spot in the conference.

However, more performances like tonight will certainly help matters. Ryan Miller was brilliant yet again in goal, turning aside 30 of 31 shots and the Sabres received another smart performance from Tyler Myers along the way.

The obvious problem of not having the “right” players still exists. It appears that teams who remain in the hunt but realize their shortcomings are beginning to sell off pieces. The Sabres certainly fall into that boat, but have plenty of skill on the roster that may just need the right amount of glue to get them on a playoff run.

Frankly I see too many issues that need to be addressed before the Sabres are capable of making a true run in the playoffs. They could certainly get the ball rolling at the deadline and carry that momentum into the off-season. In the meantime, their push towards eighth will be an uphill battle and they will need those above them to stumble along the way.

• Thomas Vanek scored on a pretty feed from Derek Roy, the goal would count as the game winner. When Thomas Vanek scores it is a good thing. He has had a little bit of a bumpy ride since returning from injury. But it is obvious he remains one of the top offensive threats on this roster.
• Tyler Myers has had a nice run of strong games these past few weeks. He has shown some good vision from a defensive aspect and has made great choices jumping into the play. While I’m still waiting to see more of a physical edge to his game, I’m very pleased with the results he is coming up with.
• Ryan Miller’s breakaway save on Brian Rolston and the two-pad stack that followed was Hasekian. His cross-crease stop late in the game was brilliant as well. He has been sharp since the New Year and has been giving this team a chance to win on a nightly basis.
• I really like what I have been seeing from Ville Leino. It would be great if he could hit a real nice run of points to help raise his season totals. You can tell he has grown comfortable with his role and his teammates.
• Derek Roy and Paul Gaustad have been doing quite a bit for their trade value lately. Both continue to play strong hockey for a club who has needed quality play from its pivots all season.
• Jordan Leopold had a rough go this evening. He had a handful of turnovers and was caught floating in his end a handful of times. Maybe he figured he’d give any scouts watching a red herring in the event his name is floated in trade talk.
• Matt Martin has officially fought a different Sabre in every game between these teams this season. He took a mouthful of fists from Zack Kassian early in the year, Joe Finley took care of him pretty well on the Island, Pat Kaleta went toe-to-toe with him recently and tonight he jumped in with Mike Weber. Let me say that was a prime example of an instigator, not sure how it wasn’t called. But what a hit by Weber and he did a good job not getting knocked out in this tilt.

Game Summary/Event Summary

Buffalo are still well within striking distance of a playoff spot, as are the Islanders. New York sits six points behind Toronto and Buffalo is seven back of the Leafs. There is still plenty of hockey to be played, but with the deadline looming you have to wonder how some teams in the East will move forward based on their current roster.

The Sabres are stuck in the middle. They’re only seven points out of a playoff spot and could conceivably push that gap to one point if they were to sweep this week’s games and get some help. While that isn’t the most realistic scenario, the ability for the Sabres to snag six points is well within reach. This team did cobble together a short streak of points recently. A strong week would likely set the team up to try and make one final push for the playoffs. Dropping three or more points could potentially set the table for a trade deadline of selling.

Personally, I just want to see this team play some strong, consistent hockey. Their last six-goal performance on national television was followed with two average efforts. If this team is serious about making a run, they need to prove their capable of being dominant for a number of games.

Highlighted Matchup

The Gaustad line vs. the Tavares line. Buffalo made Frans Nielsen look like Gretzky last time these two teams met. His success was mostly thanks to some poor defensive efforts. Buffalo has three points in their last two games, a big part of that has been the success the team has had in shutting down their opponent’s top line. Paul Gaustad is quickly making himself a commodity many teams will want at the deadline and Pat Kaleta and Nathan Gerbe have been effective in their roles. If this line is capable of another shut-down effort there is a good chance of grabbing two points.

Projected Goaltenders

BUF: Ryan Miller

NYI: Al Montoya

Last meeting

Sabres 4 – Islanders 3 SO, Nassau Veterans Coliseum, 2/4/2012

*no stats today*

As always, let us know your thoughts on the product. @2ITB_Buffalo @3rdmanin

Brad Boyes represents the first major step in the Pegula era. Boyes was acquired at the deadline without needing to send money out. It was a straight acquisition of a player expected to help the Sabres’ playoff push.

Since being acquired, Boyes has enjoyed a terrific early run, a dismal playoff showing and now a nearly invisible regular season. A great many have piled on Boyes, accusing Darcy Regier of acquiring a useless winger who makes too much money. What they are forgetting is how key he was for the team during the stretch run.

Boyes’ contributions played a large role in the Sabres sneaking into the playoffs last season. While his cold streak began at the very end of the regular season – and has continued almost a full calendar year – he was a pivotal player for a good portion of February, March and April. Of course, all of that production has disappeared and he is now an afterthought on a team over-saturated with second-line wingers.

While Boyes possesses some traits that make him an attractive option for many teams, his lack of production has destroyed any sort of value he may bring on the trade market. One way or another, Bard Boyes will be wearing a different uniform next season. The question is; can the Sabres get some return for him before losing him?

It is my contention that grabbing a fourth-round pick at the deadline for Boyes would not only be fair return for the winger, but it would ultimately be an equal trade for everything that Regier has done since last February. Remember, Boyes was traded for a second-round pick which was all but replaced by Calgary in the Regehr trade. The Sabres sent their fourth-round selection to the Islanders for Christian Ehrhoff’s negotiating rights. Buffalo could fill that void if they are able to find a trade partner for Boyes.

Keep in mind that Boyes is not a former 40-goal scorer on the downside of his career. He is caught on a roster with an abundance of offensive talent and has been bumped down the depth chart for a host of reasons. His lack of production is alarming, but putting him in a situation where ice time will not be a premium will surely spark his goal scoring touch.

Teams like Minnesota, Los Angeles, Colorado and Nashville are all in a situation where a scoring winger could do them good. Depending on the type of investment they wish to make will determine what kind of player those teams chase. I would have to assume Boyes is on their radar, at the very least. Given the thin crop of wingers expected to be available, there are surely going to be a few teams seeking his services.

Expecting to receive anything higher than a fourth seems a little foolhardy to me. The market is thin and the potential to steal picks is certainly there, but Boyes’ lack of production this year has to be concerning for any team that will be looking closely. Having the ability to replace the pick they lost to acquire Ehrhoff would not only mean that Boyes helped them make the playoffs, but that brining Ehrhoff on came with a minimal loss.

What Regier will need to determine prior to the 27 is if dropping Boyes from the roster will have any affect on the team as the year winds down. Boyes is getting time on the power play and is seeing time on the wing and at center. With a minimal chance of making the playoffs, there is no reason to hold onto a winger/center who has been forced down the depth chart.

Keep an eye on the playoff teams – or those just on the bubble – who are in need of some secondary scoring. These will also be teams who could be interested in Drew Stafford, but the price for Boyes will be significantly lower than for Stafford.

The Sabres are in a situation to sell an affordable piece (in terms of return) before losing him for nothing in July. Even selling Boyes for a loss will be a small victory.