Canadiens Take Down Sabres and Look Ahead at Leafs

The Canadiens came back from a two goal, first period deficit to beat the Sabres last night 3-2.  Many of the new Canadiens got into the scoring action with Brian Gionta scoring the first goal off of a tip from former Sabres defenseman Jaroslav Spacek.  The Sabres lost the lead early in the third period off a shot from Gregory Stewart.

Ryan Miller faced 21 shots while Carey Price stopped 29 of 31 shots in the game.  The two Sabres goals came from Clarke MacArthur who scored early in the first period and Nathan Gerbe who scored on a short handed goal in the first.  Patrick Kaleta was given a game misconduct after receiving a boarding penalty stemming from a hit on Tom Pyatt.  Paul Gaustad was also given a game misconduct after receiving an instigator penalty in a fight in the second period. 

The Sabres now head west to face the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Center tonight.  This will be both teams final preseason game before they start the season this week.  The Leafs will start on Thursday at home against the Canadiens while the Sabres wait until Saturday to host the Canadiens.  Since Ryan Miller was in net last night, we should expect to see Patrick Lalime play the full game tonight.  

Since the Sabres sent down seven players yesterday to Portland, it leaves them with 27 players left on the roster, 16 forwards, nine defensemen, and two goalies.  Hence, tonight's game is going to be a make or break game for a handful of players on the roster.  With roughly three forward spots left up for grabs and two defensive spots, the push to make the roster for some might end tonight.  Expect to see major pushes from Tim Kennedy, Nathan Gerbe, and Tyler Myers during tonight's game.  

Game time is 7pm and as always with this season's preseason games it will be radio only.  After this game, it will be six days until opening season and we actually get to see games that count.