The Buffalo Sabres hosted the Boston Bruins at the First Niagara Center Wednesday night. 2 on Your Side's Ben Hayes provided continuous updates of the action here in our live game blog.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff did not coach Wednesday night as he recovers from the broken ribs he suffered in a collision during practice on Monday. Assistant coach James Patrick served as the Sabres head coach.
This is the first game Ruff did not coach since March of 2006 when he missed a game to be with his daughter who was sick at the time.
Ben Hayes game blog:
7:21: Ruff is in the press box for the game tonight, just walked by very slowly.
7:40: Game is underway here, Ryan Miller starting in goal. His first game against the Bruins since he was knocked out by Milan Lucic back on November 12th.
7:43: Cody McCormick and Shawn Thornton drop the gloves, good fight on both sides.
7:47: Ryan Miller acknowledged for setting Sabres all-time record for most wins (235), polite clap from a very quiet crowd.
7:50: SABRES 1-0 - Christian Ehrhoff
Defenseman gives Buffalo the 1-0 lead on shot from just inside the blue line. Ehrhoff's 4th goal of the season.
7:54: Sabres getting outshot 6-3 early, but Regehr with a blast that Rask had to make a nice save on.
7:55: Bruins goal by Lucic is wiped out due to contact with Miller. Sabres still lead 1-0.
8:03: Another fight as Kaleta takes on Lucic, who takes Kaleta down to the ice. Kaleta pops up and pumps up crowd.
8:10: SABRES 2-0 - Pominville
Sabres captain puts Buffalo up 2-0, scoring on a backhand off a nice spinning pass across from Ville Leino. The 18th goal of the year for Pominville.
Pass was one of the best plays of the season by Leino.
8:17: End of the 1st Period / Sabres 2 - Boston 0
8:35: Second period underway
8:36: SABRES 3-0 - Tyler Ennis
Ennis does it all by himself racing up the ice and scoring to push the lead to 3-0. Tim Thomas now in goal for Boston to replace Rask. 4th goal of the year for Ennis.
8:40: Chara puts big hit on Kaleta, gets penalty for interference. Sabres on power play.
8:42: Sabres will great chances on Power play but can't beat Thomas. Pominville robbed twice.
9:05: Sabres back on the power play. McQuaid 2 for delay of game
9:09: Power play over, Sabres with a few shots but Thomas keeps them out. Sabres up in shots on goal 19-17 overall.
9:12: SABRES 4-0 - Pat Kaleta
Kaleta fires one past Thomas to push the lead to 4-0, his fifth of the season. Big game for Kaleta tonight, fight, forced a penalty and scores a goal.
9:14: Mike Weber with a quick fight against Thornton late in the second period, Sabres third fight of the night.
9:18: Scrum in front of Miller as Lucic gets a little to close
End of the second period, Sabres up 4-0
9:36: Start of third period
9:39: SABRES 5-0 - Pominville
Sabres captain scores his second of the night on another nice pass from Leino. Pominville now tied with Vanek for team lead in goals with 19.
9:41: Miller with nice save, stopped all 20 Boston shots. Looking for second shutout in last three games. Of course Buffalo lost the other one in a shootout to the Rangers.
9:44: Sabres last five goal night was a 5-4 win against Toronto on December 16th.
9:54: Miller with two more saves, now has 30 on the night, hasn't allowed a goal since the first period since 1st period against Islanders (was perfect in shootout too).
9:58: Looks like Sabres have this one all but final, up 5-0 with under seven to play. Signing off blog to get set for postgame. Will have game recap and interviews posted here later tonight.
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