The Buffalo Sabres are coming off an 8-2 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers on Saturday night and the Nashville Predators are coming off a 3-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings at home on Saturday as well. The Sabres need to continue their winning ways to keep the other teams at bay in the Eastern Conference. The Sabres have only beaten the Predators once in Buffalo, February 27, 2008, and they are 9-5-2 against the Western Conference this season.
Every time the Sabres and Predators meet, the topic of the two longest tenured coaches in the league comes up. Lindy Ruff and Barry Trotz are two of the longest tenured coaches in the National Hockey League as Trotz was hired by the Predators on August 6, 1997 and Ruff was hired on July 21, 1997. Each coach has been with their first team in the league and each is regarded as a top-tier coach. Here are the rest of the quick notes for the game.
- Pekka Rinne earned his first shutout in the National Hockey League against the Buffalo Sabres the last time the Predators came into Buffalo. Rinne shutout the Sabres 1-0 on October 10, 2009. All that being said, Anders Lindback will get the start against the Sabres. Lindback is 10-5-2 this season, his first in the league.
- Brad Boyes has 10 career goals against the Nashville Predators, the most against any team in the league.
- The starting goaltender for the Sabres isn't really known but don't be surprised if it is Ryan Miller.