Sabres
SABRES NOTEBOOK: Miller still perfect on penalty shots
TORONTO — Ryan Miller might have struggled in shootouts last year, but stopping penalty shots in regulation has never been a problem for the Sabres netminder.
Miller kept his perfect string against penalty shots intact during Thursday’s contest 4-1 win over Toronto at Air Canada Centre after Derek Roy’s hand pass in the crease gave Niklas Hagman a breakaway with exactly a minute left in the first period.
With the puck loose and with Roy on his hands and knees trying to help Miller, the forward clearly grabbed the puck and threw it away from danger. Referees immediately pointed to center ice, signaling a penalty shot.
Hagman came in for the shot, and Miller tried to poke check him, but missed. Still, Hagman’s shot caught the right pad of Miller and said high over the net.
For Miller, that made it eight straight penalty shots turned aside.
Miller’s streak started on March 25, 2006 when he stopped Boston’s Travis Green. He’s also stopped Philly’s Mike Richards (2006), Ottawa’s Jason Spezza (2006), Minnesota’s Marian Gaborik (2007), Rick Nash of Columbus (2007), Arron Asham of New Jersey (2007) and Nashville’s Scott Nichol (2008).
•••
After individually calling out the play of Jochen Hecht after Tuesday’s loss, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff relegated Hecht to a reduced role in Thursday’s victory.
Hecht played just three shifts in the opening period, and only six more in the second period.
The former first-liner was skipped over through the first rotations of lines, but later was matched with Ales Kotalik and Adam Mair.
On the season, Hecht is minus-7.
•••
Daniel Paille left the game after taking a puck off his ankle in the first period. Pavel Kubina wound up from the point and fired a rocket that sent Paille down quickly. Play continued and Alexei Ponikarovsky banged one off the goal post.
Paille limped to get off the ice, but it was finally blow dead while the Leafs had possession in the corner.
The winger did return early in the second, but didn’t play much after.
•••
The Sabres caught a break in getting Curtis Joseph, whose only win of the season came on Tuesday against Atlanta. Joseph, now 41, is clearly a shadow of his old self, and had yet to win in eight appearances before Tuesday.
Joseph has now given up four or more goals in five of nine appearances, and coming into Thursday, his save percentage was a horrendous .855.
Contact sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.
- Sabres
-
-
Enroth’s camp at NU full of twists
While others hoped to raise their stock within the organization, Sabres goalie prospect Jhonas Enroth must have felt like he left the team’s development camp at Niagara University a notch lower than he entered it.
-
Foligno helps Blue to victory at Sabres camp
It may not actually count, but the Buffalo Sabres prospects in blue will take bragging rights over those wearing white into the long summer.
-
Extremes nothing new to Kassian
Stepping in from the scorching heat to the chilly confines of Niagara University’s Dwyer Arena might have fazed some of the prospects at this week’s Sabres Development Camp.
But for Zack Kassian, the extremes must have felt eerily routine.
-
Myers unfazed by return to camp
Forget the imposing frame — Tyler Myers’ resume stands out at an event like the Buffalo Sabres development camp, which continued Tuesday at Niagara University’s Dwyer Arena.
-
Sabres sign winger Corey Tropp
The 20-year-old third round pick from the 2007 NHL Draft signed a three-year entry level deal worth $1.76 million, according to capgeek.com. The forward will skip his senior season at Michigan State University, where he notched 20 goals and 22 assists in 37 games.
-
Pysyk makes Sabres debut at Dwyer
Pardon Mark Pysyk if he doesn’t want to spend time reminiscing with new teammates Tyler Myers and Tyler Ennis about their previous on-ice meetings.
The Sabres 2010 first-round draft choice remembers both of the team’s 2008 first-rounder vividly from his time in the Western Hockey League, and both experiences were harrowing.
-
Sabres prospects camping at Dwyer
The Buffalo Sabres don’t hit the ice until October, but the Sabres of tomorrow will be very busy this week.
-
Sabres agree to 3-year deal with D Jordan Leopold
Resigned to the likelihood the Sabres would lose two veteran defenseman in free agency, general manager Darcy Regier made it a priority to get at least one back Thursday.
-
Sabres tab Pysyk with 23rd pick
Considered a steady defenseman, Mark Pysyk stands 6-foot-1 and over 180 pounds. He played 48 games with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League last season, scoring seven goals and adding 17 assists, but had his season cut short by a broken foot.
-
Sabres season starts Oct. 8 in Ottawa
The Buffalo Sabres’ 40th anniversary season schedule was released by the National Hockey League on Wednesday.
- More Sabres Headlines
-
Enroth’s camp at NU full of twists
