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Sabres-Bruins Preview

Nov 7, 2009 - 5:20 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Buffalo (9-2-1) at Boston (6-7-2), 7:00 p.m. EDT

After finishing as the highest scoring team and the top seed in the Eastern Conference last season, the Boston Bruins are still trying to reclaim that offensive form in 2009-10.

A potential meeting with goaltender Ryan Miller and the stingy Buffalo Sabres could be a major test.

The Bruins look to snap a three-game slide Saturday night when they host the Northeast Division-leading Sabres.

Boston (6-7-2) finished last season with 274 goals, second behind Detroit's 295. That potent offense was key to the Bruins finishing atop the East for the first time since the 2001-02 season and accumulating 116 points to come one point shy of San Jose for the Presidents' Trophy.

The Bruins haven't been nearly as effective offensively this season, averaging 2.13 goals to rank near the bottom of the league. Part of their problems can be attributed to a broken left foot that has sidelined Marc Savard since Oct. 17 and the departure of Phil Kessel, traded to Toronto in the offseason.

Savard and Kessel combined for 61 goals and 148 points last season.

Boston hasn't scored more than two goals in a game since a 4-3 shootout win at Ottawa on Oct. 24, going 1-3-1 since while getting outscored 7-4.

The Bruins fell again Thursday, losing 2-1 in a shootout to Montreal after getting shut out in each of their previous two.

Patrice Bergeron, though, provided one of the few bright spots against the Canadiens, scoring with 52 seconds remaining in regulation to snap a goal drought of 192 minutes, 6 seconds. After being assured of at least a point by Bergeron, Boston missed all three shootout attempts.

"At least it's out of our heads now," said Bergeron, who leads the Bruins with five goals and nine points. "It's one step forward to get that goal and get that point. But one point is not good enough."

Boston's offensive struggles have included the power play, which tied Anaheim as the fourth-best in the NHL last season, converting 23.6 percent of chances. The unit is now at the bottom of the league with a 10.9 percent success rate, and is 0 for 20 over the last seven games after coming up empty three times against the Canadiens.

Now, they'll have to contend with the Sabres (9-3-1), who have allowed a league-low 29 goals but have dropped two of three.

Miller has been a big part of that stifling defensive play, but is coming off a subpar performance in Friday's 5-2 loss to Philadelphia. He gave up a season-high four goals on 36 shots, but still ranks among the league leaders with a 9-2-1 record and 1.86 goals-against average.

Miller posted a 3-2-0 mark with a 3.36 GAA in five games against Boston last season. He won his last two meetings with the Bruins, allowing two goals in each contest.

Buffalo went 4-2-0 against the Bruins last season, including 1-2-0 in Boston.

If the Sabres opt to rest Miller, they'll turn to veteran backup Patrick Lalime, who lost his only start of the season 4-2 against Atlanta on Oct. 17. He gave up two goals on 14 shots in relief in his only other appearance, a 5-0 loss to the New York Islanders last Saturday.