Sabres 1 - 6 Blues
Final
  for this game

Blues seek to bounce back vs. Sabres

Nov 11, 2014 - 4:07 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The St. Louis Blues suffered their first loss in over two weeks this weekend, but they have an excellent opportunity to bounce back in Tuesday's home test against the lowly Buffalo Sabres.

St. Louis had won seven in a row before dropping Saturday's 2-1 decision against visiting Nashville. It was the first setback for the Blues since Oct. 23 versus Vancouver.

The Predators posted the regulation win thanks to James Neal's go-ahead score with 6:28 remaining in the third period. Jori Lehtera scored the only goal of the game for the Blues, as he tallied his third of the season with 5:30 left in the opening period.

"We didn't have a lot of energy tonight," said St. Louis head coach Ken Hitchcock. "They had better energy in the third period."

Brian Elliott stopped 33 shots for the Blues, who were trying for their longest winning streak in 12 years. St. Louis last won eight in a row during a nine-game run from Oct. 15-Nov. 5, 2002.

The setback also allowed Nashville to maintain a one-point lead over the Blues for first place in the Central Division. The clubs will meet again in St. Louis on Thursday when the Blues play the fourth part of a five-game homestand.

St. Louis is 5-3-0 as the host this season and has won two straight and seven of its last home games against the Sabres. The Blues have claimed four in a row and 14 of 16 overall in this series.

Buffalo is currently last in the NHL with only eight points on the season and the rebuilding club has dropped three straight and six of its last seven.

Elliott is 10-0-2 with a 1.74 goals against average in his career against the Sabres.

The Sabres last played on Saturday when they were pummeled at home by Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Crosby, who has registered a point in 19 straight meetings against the Sabres, dished out five assists to help the Pens destroy Buffalo, 6-1, at First Niagara Center.

Zemgus Girgensons scored the lone goal for Buffalo, while Jhonas Enroth stopped 33-of-39 shots in defeat.

"The score was 6-1 so it was definitely us more playing poorly. Any team, if you've got an effort and you can compete, it can be a close game," Girgensons said. "But if you don't try against a team like that then you see the score, the result."

Buffalo has lost two meetings versus the Pens this season by a combined 11-1 margin.

The Sabres are playing the first of two straight on the road tonight. Buffalo, which is 2-5-0 as the guest, also will visit Minnesota on Thursday.

Michal Neuvirth will start in net for Buffalo tonight. His only career appearance versus the Blues was for Washington on March 3, 2011. Neuvirth picked up the win in that meeting by stopping 25-of-27 shots.






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