• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Bruins host Sabres in opener of home-and-home series

Feb 5, 2008 - 1:59 PM Buffalo (23-21-7) at Boston (27-20-5) 7:00 pm EST

BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Bruins sit six points ahead of the Buffalo Sabres, partially because of their play against the Northeast Division rival.

The Bruins will look to get their home-and-home series off to good start on Tuesday night when they host the Sabres.

Boston is 3-0-1 this season against Buffalo. In the team's most recent meeting, Alex Auld made 44 saves and All-Star Marc Savard had a goal and an assist in the Bruins' 4-1 triumph on December 10, 2007.

Despite Auld's success in the last meeting, Boston will most likely turn to All-Star Tim Thomas in the crease. Thomas, who has surrendered just six goals over the last four games, is 18-12-3 with a 2.28 goals-against average on the campaign.

The Sabres, who will make a trip to New Jersey before hosting the Bruins on Friday, will look to bounce back from last Friday's 5-4 shootout loss to the Atlanta Thrashers.

Goaltender Ryan Miller left that contest after the second period with a bruised right knee and is listed as day-to-day. He is 21-17-5 with a 2.43 GAA and two shutouts, but backup Jocelyn Thibault will likely get the nod Tuesday.

On Friday, Thibault allowed the game-tying goal with 18 seconds left in the third period before losing in the fourth round of the bonus format.