[open thread] Sabres vs. Blues

Time: 7:00 TV: MSG(HD) Radio: WGR55

It's not very often that we get to see the St. Loius Blues come to Buffalo, or any western Conference team for that matter.  It should be a special game tonight as Lee Stempniak gets to come home and play a NHL game.  Stempniak was born in West Seneca, New York and graduated from St. Francis High School before going to play college hockey at Dartmouth.  Stempniak has only one goal and 10 assits in 21 games this season after having a career year last season scoring 27 goals and 25 assists for 52 points.

It will also be a homecoming for Jay McKee who played for the Sabres for nine seasons, 10 id you count the one game in 95-96.  McKee left Buffalo as a free agent in July 2006 when St.Louis signed him to a four year $16 million contract.  McKee has been plagued by injuries since joining St.Louis playing only 23 games last season and he has been a healthy scratch at times this season.

Drew Stafford will be in the lineup tonight because Andrew Peters has the flu.  Stafford was expected to miss at least one more game but will be forced into duty because of Peters injury.  The Sabres are on a five game winning streak and have scored the first goal in each of those games.

Check out these previews as well:

Sabres.com preview
BfloBlog preview

Team Leaders

Buffalo Sabres

• Goals:Derek Roy 8

• Points: Derek Roy 17

• +/-: Daniel Paille +8

• PIM: Paul Gaustad 36

St. Louis Blues

• Goals:  Brad Boyes 13

• Points:  Paul Kariya 22

• +/-: Bryce Salvador +11

• PIM: D.J. King 33

Projected Line combinations

Buffalo Forwards
26-Vanek, 9-Roy, 21-Stafford
55-Hecht, 41-MacArthur, 29-Pominville
12-Kotalik, 19-Connolly, 61-Afinogenov
37-Ryan, 28-Gaustad, 20-Paille

Buffalo Defensemen
6-Spacek, 51-Campbell
5-Lydman, 4-Pratt
44-Sekera,38-Paetsch

Goaltenders
30-Miller, 35-Thibault

As per usual this thread is meant to spur conversation and create a Buffalo Sabres community.  If you're watching the game you might as well join us and chat a little bit.  I highly recommend you create a free account and grab a beer and join us for some good conversation.