04:02pm, 03/17/10

Snow Closing Texted to Your Phone

Add WBEN as Your Friend on Facebook

Voice of Buffalo Forum

Local Line: 716.803.0930Toll Free: 800.616.WBENCell Phone: *930

E-Mail Story

View a Printer-friendly version of this story

Print Story

Lalime in net

Paul Hamilton Reporting

Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) -- Patrick Lalime will get his first NHL start since November 21st in Ottawa. It will be his third start in eight days as he got two with Portland last week. This season, he's 0-2-0 with a 4.54 goals against and .836 save percentage. Ryan Miller had started eight straight games and went 5-3-0 in that time.

Lindy Ruff says Tim Connolly's hip feels better and is OK to play. That means Nathan Paetsch, Paul Gaustad and Mike Grier are out.

With his assist last game Jason Pominville has two goals and five assists in six games.

Join Schopp and the Bulldog from the arena for the pregame beginning at 6:30. They'll be joined by Lindy Ruff, Lalime, former Sabre Brian Campbell and South Buffalo's Pat Kane.

Buffalo plays the Rangers on Saturday. Lindy Ruff said it wasn’t a matter of holding out Miller for a conference foe.

“We took into consideration that Patrick knows some of these [Blackhawks] guys. It’s his former team. Ryan needs a break and it’s a back-to-back. You can look at it a lot of different ways. As a staff, we decided to give Patty the start.”

The Sabres backup isn’t concerned about his long-term future in Buffalo.

“I don’t want to start thinking about this and that and what could happen. I just want to go and play. The rest will take care of itself.”

With the Islanders set to get Rick DiPietro back next week, New York could try and unload a goalie. You have to wonder if Buffalo would revisit the idea of adding Martin Biron.