GDT: Sabres @ Predators - 12/21/2006 7:00pm CST

PredDave · 12-21-2006, 08:15 AM

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/preview;...gid=2006122127

Buffalo (24-7-2) at Nashville (23-8-3)

It's been three years since the Nashville Predators last faced the Buffalo Sabres. Their records suggest their could be more than one matchup between them this season.

The Predators look to extend their winning streak to six games as they host the Sabres on Thursday.

These teams haven't met since Nov. 29, 2003, when the Predators won 4-1 in Nashville. Thursday's matchup -- the only one between the teams in the regular season -- is a potential Stanley Cup finals preview as Nashville (23-8-3) is second in the Western Conference with 49 points while Buffalo (24-7-2) leads the East with 50.

The Predators matched their longest winning streak of the season with a 2-1 win over Chicago on Wednesday.

Nashville also won five straight from Oct. 26-Nov. 4, and its last six-game winning streak came at the end of last season.

Paul Kariya scored twice in the third period to help Nashville extend its streak, giving him three goals and five assists in his last five games. Kariya has only nine goals this season, but he leads the Predators with 34 points.

"He's been one of our best forwards the last little while here," Predators coach Barry Trotz said.

Chris Mason, who is expected to make his first-ever start against the Sabres, made 28 saves while starting his 13th straight game for Nashville. He is 9-3-1 since top goalie Tomas Vokoun underwent hand surgery on Nov. 27.

Buffalo has lost consecutive games -- both at home -- for the first time this season. The Sabres haven't lost three straight at home since dropping four in a row from Oct. 26-Nov. 9, 2005.

"We didn't meet one of our goals of not losing twice," said Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller, who has allowed eight goals in the two games. "It's not the end of the world, but we should feel a little ticked off."

Ales Kotalik and Jaroslav Spacek scored for Buffalo, but the Sabres lost 5-2 to Montreal on Tuesday.

The Sabres went 0-for-4 with the man advantage and are 5-of-60 (8.3 percent) in their last 11 games.

"Trying not to lose two in a row is an extremely tough task," said Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff, whose team is beginning a two-game road trip before the Christmas break. "It's going to be interesting how we react."

Kotalik scored 34 seconds after the opening faceoff, snapping his 13-game drought without a goal. He has seven goals and 11 assists in 33 games.

Sabres forward Clarke MacArthur made his NHL debut. Clarke, Buffalo's third-round pick in 2003, led Rochester of the AHL in scoring with 12 goals and 22 assists.

The Predators are 3-0-1 against the Sabres since a 2-0 loss on Jan. 6, 2001, in Nashville.

PredDave · 12-21-2006, 08:19 AM

This is by far the biggest game of the year for the Predators.

I predict that Buffalo will ultimately win this high-flying game 5-4, but I'm hoping for a miracle. While the teams are fairly identical, Miller is a superior goalie and the Preds' young defense will be exposed by Buffalo's deep corps of forwards.

I doubt the Sabres are going to lose 3 in a row, but maybe they will come out flat and take the Predators lightly...

PredDave · 12-21-2006, 08:20 AM

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....612210413/1028

PREDATORS VS. SABRES

• Where: Gaylord Entertainment Center.

• When: 7 p.m.

• TV: Fox Sports Net.

• Radio: 104.5-FM.

• Season series: First meeting.

• Sabres storyline: Buffalo has the best road record (14-3-0) in the NHL. … The Sabres are looking to bounce back after suffering two consecutive losses for the first time this season. … Left wing Thomas Vanek has a team-best 18 goals and his 35 points are third-best among the league's second-year players. … Center Daniel Briere (38 points) and right wing Maxim Afinogenov (36) are the two other Sabres who've already topped the 30-point mark. … The Sabres have posted 129 goals this season, second in the league behind Anaheim.

• Predators storyline: Nashville, which played in Chicago on Wednesday, is 7-0-1 in the second half of back-to-back games this season. … The Predators are 9-1-3 at home and haven't suffered a regulation loss at Gaylord Entertainment Center since the Oct. 25 season opener. … Nashville hasn't played Buffalo since Nov. 29, 2003, but the Predators do have three wins and a tie in their last four meetings with the Sabres.

• Sabres injuries: D Henrik Tallinder (arm) and C Tim Connolly (concussion) are out.

• Predators injuries: RW Scottie Upshall (groin), G Tomas Vokoun (thumb) and C Vern Fiddler (shoulder) are out.

PredDave · 12-21-2006, 01:28 PM

The Predators are a perfect 5-0 against the Eastern Conference this year with wins against the Flyers, Rangers, Devils, Islanders, and Senators.

The Predators are 7-0-1 in the second game of back-to-back's.

The Predators are 3-0-1 against the Sabres in their last 4 meetings.

The Sabres do bring a league-best 14-3-0 record on the road, but the Predators are sporting a 9-1-3 record at home.

Best of luck to the Predators tonight!!!

Drury77 · 12-21-2006, 02:40 PM

Wish I could see this game, but unfortunately I have to work, so I'm planning on listening to it while at work.

Should be a very entertaining game with lots of action. Watch the diver Briere at work, great player but his tactics annoy me. Sabres are a well rounded team and can hurt you from any position. Preds are gonna have to stay on their toes and make sure they stay with their defensive responsiblities or it could be a long nite for us.

LemaireisGOD · 12-21-2006, 06:19 PM

I think its important in order to keep pace with Detroit and stay in the Divisional lead. Still, this has the making of one heckuva hockey game! GO WILD!!!

LemaireisGOD · 12-21-2006, 08:29 PM

ERAT!!! Shorthanded!!! 2-1 now...

trwi7 · 12-22-2006, 07:54 AM

Yeesh what happened? 7-2 final.

PredDave · 12-22-2006, 09:31 AM

http://www.nashvillepredators.com/pr...?story_id=1155

Predators fall to Sabres 7-2

The Buffalo Sabres scored three times in the second period and twice more in the third to blow open a 2-1 lead and defeat the Nashville Predators 7-2 Thursday night at the Gaylord Entertainment Center. Jason Pominville, Ales Kotalik and Maxim Afinogenov each scored twice for the Sabres while Martin Erat and Jason Arnott tallied for the Predators.

Nashville's record falls to 23-9-3 on the season. The loss is their first to an Eastern Conference team in six games this season. Thursday's highly anticipated match-up pitted the NHL's No. 2 (Buffalo) and No. 3 (Nashville) teams against one another.

"I'm very disappointed because I think there's a lot of interest in the hockey world in Nashville-Buffalo," Predators head coach Barry Trotz said after the game. "Similar markets, style of play, all those things. Tonight we got taught how to play by the Buffalo Sabres."

"We didn't play our best, that's for sure," Nashville goaltender Chris Mason said. "If you give a team like that time to do what they want, they're going to kill you. We got killed."

12-21-2006, 08:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	GDT: Sabres @ Predators - 12/21/2006 7:00pm CST http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/preview;...gid=2006122127 Buffalo (24-7-2) at Nashville (23-8-3) It's been three years since the Nashville Predators last faced the Buffalo Sabres. Their records suggest their could be more than one matchup between them this season. The Predators look to extend their winning streak to six games as they host the Sabres on Thursday. These teams haven't met since Nov. 29, 2003, when the Predators won 4-1 in Nashville. Thursday's matchup -- the only one between the teams in the regular season -- is a potential Stanley Cup finals preview as Nashville (23-8-3) is second in the Western Conference with 49 points while Buffalo (24-7-2) leads the East with 50. The Predators matched their longest winning streak of the season with a 2-1 win over Chicago on Wednesday. Nashville also won five straight from Oct. 26-Nov. 4, and its last six-game winning streak came at the end of last season. Paul Kariya scored twice in the third period to help Nashville extend its streak, giving him three goals and five assists in his last five games. Kariya has only nine goals this season, but he leads the Predators with 34 points. "He's been one of our best forwards the last little while here," Predators coach Barry Trotz said. Chris Mason, who is expected to make his first-ever start against the Sabres, made 28 saves while starting his 13th straight game for Nashville. He is 9-3-1 since top goalie Tomas Vokoun underwent hand surgery on Nov. 27. Buffalo has lost consecutive games -- both at home -- for the first time this season. The Sabres haven't lost three straight at home since dropping four in a row from Oct. 26-Nov. 9, 2005. "We didn't meet one of our goals of not losing twice," said Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller, who has allowed eight goals in the two games. "It's not the end of the world, but we should feel a little ticked off." Ales Kotalik and Jaroslav Spacek scored for Buffalo, but the Sabres lost 5-2 to Montreal on Tuesday. The Sabres went 0-for-4 with the man advantage and are 5-of-60 (8.3 percent) in their last 11 games. "Trying not to lose two in a row is an extremely tough task," said Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff, whose team is beginning a two-game road trip before the Christmas break. "It's going to be interesting how we react." Kotalik scored 34 seconds after the opening faceoff, snapping his 13-game drought without a goal. He has seven goals and 11 assists in 33 games. Sabres forward Clarke MacArthur made his NHL debut. Clarke, Buffalo's third-round pick in 2003, led Rochester of the AHL in scoring with 12 goals and 22 assists. The Predators are 3-0-1 against the Sabres since a 2-0 loss on Jan. 6, 2001, in Nashville.

12-21-2006, 02:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
Drury77 Hockey Community Mod Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Clarksville, TN Posts: 894	Wish I could see this game, but unfortunately I have to work, so I'm planning on listening to it while at work. Should be a very entertaining game with lots of action. Watch the diver Briere at work, great player but his tactics annoy me. Sabres are a well rounded team and can hurt you from any position. Preds are gonna have to stay on their toes and make sure they stay with their defensive responsiblities or it could be a long nite for us. __________________ Visit Traci's Card Place \| Stop by the Bruins Forum \| Stop by the Predators Forum

12-21-2006, 06:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
LemaireisGOD Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 504	I think its important in order to keep pace with Detroit and stay in the Divisional lead. Still, this has the making of one heckuva hockey game! GO WILD!!! __________________ "Why mess around with PT Boats when you can have a Destroyer?" ~ Al Strachan (Hockey Night in Canada)

12-21-2006, 08:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
LemaireisGOD Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 504	ERAT!!! Shorthanded!!! 2-1 now... __________________ "Why mess around with PT Boats when you can have a Destroyer?" ~ Al Strachan (Hockey Night in Canada)

12-21-2006, 08:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	This is by far the biggest game of the year for the Predators. I predict that Buffalo will ultimately win this high-flying game 5-4, but I'm hoping for a miracle. While the teams are fairly identical, Miller is a superior goalie and the Preds' young defense will be exposed by Buffalo's deep corps of forwards. I doubt the Sabres are going to lose 3 in a row, but maybe they will come out flat and take the Predators lightly...

12-21-2006, 08:20 AM	#3 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....612210413/1028 PREDATORS VS. SABRES • Where: Gaylord Entertainment Center. • When: 7 p.m. • TV: Fox Sports Net. • Radio: 104.5-FM. • Season series: First meeting. • Sabres storyline: Buffalo has the best road record (14-3-0) in the NHL. … The Sabres are looking to bounce back after suffering two consecutive losses for the first time this season. … Left wing Thomas Vanek has a team-best 18 goals and his 35 points are third-best among the league's second-year players. … Center Daniel Briere (38 points) and right wing Maxim Afinogenov (36) are the two other Sabres who've already topped the 30-point mark. … The Sabres have posted 129 goals this season, second in the league behind Anaheim. • Predators storyline: Nashville, which played in Chicago on Wednesday, is 7-0-1 in the second half of back-to-back games this season. … The Predators are 9-1-3 at home and haven't suffered a regulation loss at Gaylord Entertainment Center since the Oct. 25 season opener. … Nashville hasn't played Buffalo since Nov. 29, 2003, but the Predators do have three wins and a tie in their last four meetings with the Sabres. • Sabres injuries: D Henrik Tallinder (arm) and C Tim Connolly (concussion) are out. • Predators injuries: RW Scottie Upshall (groin), G Tomas Vokoun (thumb) and C Vern Fiddler (shoulder) are out.

12-21-2006, 01:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	The Predators are a perfect 5-0 against the Eastern Conference this year with wins against the Flyers, Rangers, Devils, Islanders, and Senators. The Predators are 7-0-1 in the second game of back-to-back's. The Predators are 3-0-1 against the Sabres in their last 4 meetings. The Sabres do bring a league-best 14-3-0 record on the road, but the Predators are sporting a 9-1-3 record at home. Best of luck to the Predators tonight!!!

12-22-2006, 07:54 AM	#8 (permalink)
trwi7 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 140	Yeesh what happened? 7-2 final.

12-22-2006, 09:31 AM	#9 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	http://www.nashvillepredators.com/pr...?story_id=1155 Predators fall to Sabres 7-2 The Buffalo Sabres scored three times in the second period and twice more in the third to blow open a 2-1 lead and defeat the Nashville Predators 7-2 Thursday night at the Gaylord Entertainment Center. Jason Pominville, Ales Kotalik and Maxim Afinogenov each scored twice for the Sabres while Martin Erat and Jason Arnott tallied for the Predators. Nashville's record falls to 23-9-3 on the season. The loss is their first to an Eastern Conference team in six games this season. Thursday's highly anticipated match-up pitted the NHL's No. 2 (Buffalo) and No. 3 (Nashville) teams against one another. "I'm very disappointed because I think there's a lot of interest in the hockey world in Nashville-Buffalo," Predators head coach Barry Trotz said after the game. "Similar markets, style of play, all those things. Tonight we got taught how to play by the Buffalo Sabres." "We didn't play our best, that's for sure," Nashville goaltender Chris Mason said. "If you give a team like that time to do what they want, they're going to kill you. We got killed."