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Flames-Sabres Preview

Nov 12, 2009 - 10:46 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Calgary (11-4-1) at Buffalo (10-4-1), 7:30 p.m. EDT

The Calgary Flames are surging even though they aren't getting much scoring from anybody other than Jarome Iginla. They may need more offensive balance at Buffalo if they want to continue their run.

Winners of four straight thanks in part to Iginla's four-game goal-scoring streak, the Flames look to end a six-game road skid to the Sabres on Friday night.

Calgary (11-4-1) has matched its longest winning streak of the season despite getting just nine goals during that span. Iginla has five of them, the most recent coming in the Flames' 1-0 victory over Montreal on Tuesday night.

Scoring against the Sabres (10-4-1) would give the veteran right wing a five-game goal streak for the first time since Dec. 11-18, 2007. He was named the NHL's first star of the week Monday.

Iginla, however, has one goal in his last seven games versus the Sabres - numbers that match his team's level of road success in the series.

Calgary is 0-4-2 at Buffalo since a 5-5 tie Feb. 18, 1997. The Flames have scored two goals or fewer in every game during the skid.

They will face a Sabres club that is 4-0-0 against Western Conference teams and 6-2-1 at home on the season, holding opponents to 2.22 goals per game there.

Rene Bourque, who leads the Flames with 18 points (six goals, 12 assists), was held off the scoresheet in his only matchup with the Sabres, a 5-2 Calgary win Jan. 28.

He did add to his assist total against the Canadiens.

"He's been playing like a horse," Iginla said.

Calgary mostly has Miikka Kiprusoff to thank for its fast start. Kiprusoff made 25 saves Tuesday for his first shutout of the season in the opener of a three-game trip, giving him a 0.99 goals-against average in the last four contests.

He is 10-3-1 with a 2.49 GAA in 2009-10, and 2-1-1 with a 1.97 in four career games versus Buffalo.

Kiprusoff's counterpart with the Sabres, Ryan Miller, has been even better this season, going 1.82 GAA with a 10-2-0 mark. He has not been as dominant in his career versus Calgary, though, posting a 3.36 GAA in two games.

Miller will finally have Patrick Lalime as his backup again Friday. Lalime, out since Nov. 2 due to a groin strain, is expected to return.

Buffalo may be without one of its best penalty killers, as Mike Grier is nursing a groin injury suffered in the second period of a 3-1 win over Edmonton on Wednesday night. Grier missed practice Thursday and is day to day.

"We don't anticipate it being too long but he could miss a little bit of time," coach Lindy Ruff told the Sabres' official Web site. "He could, but I mean there's still a chance he could play (Friday) too."

Even without Grier, Buffalo killed off a late 5-minute penalty against the Oilers. The Sabres stopped six of seven power-play opportunities, helping them win after allowing nine goals in losing their previous two contests.

Buffalo had been slumping following an 8-1-1 start.