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Sabres look to end skid against Lightning

Oct 30, 2008 - 10:35 AM Tampa Bay (2-3-3) at Buffalo (6-1-2), 7:00 pm EDT

BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- After solving every team in the early stages of the season, the Buffalo Sabres are now scrambling for answers.

Hoping to avoid a mild three-game losing streak, goaltender Ryan Miller and the Sabres host the struggling Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday.

Beginning the season with six wins in seven games, Buffalo suffered a 2-1 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.

The Sabres then fell for the first time in regulation on Monday, when the Ottawa Senators skated to a 5-2 victory. Playing in place of Miller, former Senator Patrick Lalime was the victim of two goals by Jason Spezza and a power-play tally by Dany Heatley.

Miller has been terrific, posting a 5-0-1 record and a league-best 1.60 goals-against average through six games. Left wing Thomas Vanek has provided plenty of support for the former Michigan State standout and 2001 Hobey Baker Award winner, netting eight goals.

The Lightning are coming off an impressive 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, thanks to two goals by captain Vincent Lecavalier. Mike Smith made 37 saves and has now yielded more than two goals just twice in six games this season.

The top pick in this past June's draft, Steven Stamkos recorded his first career point when he set up Lecavalier's second goal of the game. The 18-year-old prized prospect was held scoreless in his first seven games, and a lack of playing time may have been the reason.

Coach Barry Melrose has given Stamkos an increase in ice time over the past few games, however, as the teenager logged 12 minutes, 58 seconds on Tuesday. Stamkos ranked 46th among NHL rookies before Wednesday with an average ice time of 11:10.

Tampa Bay, which has scored a league-low 14 goals, has yet to register more than three in a game this season. All eight of its contests have been decided by one tally.